Industry veteran James Hwang joins the buds to break down today’s NYC nightlife, from booking DJs and filling rooms to changing crowds and culture.

Industry veteran James Hwang joins the buds to break down today’s NYC nightlife, from booking DJs and filling rooms to changing crowds and culture.

The first Buddy Awards are here. The records that saved sets, the trends that burned out, the edits that carried rooms, and the moments DJs will actually remember from 2025.

A focused look at Rick Wonder’s rise from open format roots to a signature New York dance identity. He breaks down his approach to edits, reading rooms, and finding new music, plus the crew covers the month’s top trends.

The buds are back with Knowpa Slaps, the chef-turned-DJ behind San Francisco’s R&B and RIBS. They break down the Bay’s soulful sound, the connection between food and music, and what’s next for his signature day-party series. Plus, this month’s Music News Minute, top-charting tracks, Throwback or Throw Out classics, and Halloween-season Quick Picks to keep your sets fresh.

The buds celebrate two years of the pod with special guest DJ Spider! They cover everything from the MTV Video Music Awards winners and Song of the Summer nominees to the just-announced Coachella 2026 lineup — then dive into charts, throwbacks, quick picks, and 10 questions with Spider on what it takes to thrive as an open-format DJ today.

This month, the budders sit down with DJ Kaos—San Diego’s finest, Sirius XM selector, and the man running both the booth and the bookings. From throwing his own parties (Wish You Were Here), to touring with Pitbull, Kaos breaks down what it really takes to stand out in today’s open-format game. He shares tips for getting booked, how to move in your own market, and the dos and don’ts every DJ should know.

This Pride Month, the budders are joined by Mike Taylor—artist, DJ, and certified crowd-controller—for a deep dive into queer spaces, live sets, and running the night right. From West Hollywood to global stages, this one’s loud, proud, and live!

The buds catch up on what’s hitting in the clubs, on the charts, and in their cities—plus a few hot takes nobody asked for. This month, they’re joined by NYC legend Jason Smith—a DJ’s DJ who’s played everything from sweaty basement parties to the actual London Olympics. They chop it up about the love of the craft, what still keeps him fired up, and how he stays sharp in a scene that changes faster than a TikTok trend.