PostmodernJukebox Relies On Large Collection Of DPA Microphones

Pianist Scott Bradlee started PostmodernJukebox (PMJ) as a creative side project in the early days of YouTube and viral videos.

Mixing modern pop hits with styles of the past, Bradlee and his musically inclined friends created a new phenomenon. A decade later, PMJ has grown to more than five million YouTube subscribers, which has earned them appearances on national television, along with a live audience following for their in-person performances. To keep the musical fun going strong, and easy to hear, PMJ relies on a large collection of DPA Microphones.

"I have always loved these really old styles of music, like ragtime and swing, so I started putting together different experiments, which I posted on YouTube," Bradlee explained. "At that time, in 2011, YouTube wasn't a place for professional musicians to post content, but I was intrigued by it. At first, it was a fun way to experiment and create a business card—a destination for people to discover me."

One of the first music mixes he posted was a variety of hits from the 1980s, from iconic groups such as Bon Jovi, Rick Astley and Journey—with a twist. Instead of covering the songs as they were, he set them to ragtime-style piano playing and it went viral. "I realized then that we had something special," he recalled. "I didn't know what it is was at the time, but it was the first time I was ever able to connect with an audience and generate conversations about my work."

As the YouTube page grew in success, Bradlee recognized a growing need to have reliable audio equipment that would provide the clarity and performance necessary to ensure that PMJ’s unique performances were heard as they were intended. Often, the PMJ musicians will record live, together in the same room, to help capture the authenticity of the era they are recreating.

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