Ever wondered how the soundtrack to the world’s biggest sporting events gets made? On this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record, sports DJ and music curator Grayson Repp shares how he found himself at the intersection of sports and music — and what it takes to build the perfect setlist for sports leagues like FIFA, the NBA and the NFL and events like the Olympics. From playing local clubs to stadiums packed with tens of thousands of fans, Repp breaks down how every match, crowd and city requires its own approach, especially when top global leaders are watching. He also explains his World Cup playlist prep and how he turned his love of sports and music into a career as one of the world’s biggest sports DJs.
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Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.
Grayson Repp:
The World Cup, and it kind of just, like, launched me into this position of being one of the world’s biggest sports DJs. Now, I DJed for, for the FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar. I just played it like I was at a nightclub. After the tournament, FIFA was like, “Hey, we really enjoyed that. Would you like to be this guy that curates the music for us in stadiums?”
Kristin Robinson:
It sounds like that was your first major sporting event.
Yes. A lot of the same colleagues that I have for FIFA are actually the same people that I work with all around the world doing the Olympics, NFL, NBA.
Walk me through preparing for a World Cup game.
I started working on the music playlists about six months in advance. Since it’s very regional and can be, uh, sensitive, you really do have to do your research.
Do you ever get stage fright knowing that there are some of the most powerful world leaders watching you DJ at the World Cup?
I would think I was more nervous to do this podcast.
The World Cup is back, this time spanning all of North America, including games in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. And for decades now, music has played a pivotal role in defining this event. Since 1990, FIFA has selected top global stars to pen anthems tied to the World Cup. From Shakira’s iconic “Waka Waka (This time for Africa)” to this year’s track, “Lighter,” by Jelly Roll and Carín León. But the musical tie-ins don’t end there. Today’s guest, Grayson Repp, has performed as the official World Cup DJ and music director in Qatar in 2022 and has managed to forge a career around his love of both sports and music, also DJing at events for the Olympics, the NBA, and the NFL.
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