Pirate Studios, which currently manages 750 rehearsal spaces and studios for music creators in 24 cities around the world, is partnering with Pioneer DJ and Pioneer Professional Audio to outfit its facilities with DJ equipment, loudspeakers and subwoofers.
“I like to say that our partnership with Pioneer DJ and Professional Audio was pre-destined,” says Liz Regan, Head of Operations, Pirate Studios, U.S. “Several years ago, DJ rehearsal rooms weren’t a thing. So we responded to customer demand by retrofitting an existing band rehearsal room in Birmingham, England. We equipped the space with a desk, two Pioneer DJ CDJ-2000NXS2s, a DJM-900NXS2, and two XPRS10 monitors, and thus our premium DJ rooms were born.”
With locations that include Los Angeles, Chicago, New York; Berlin, Germany; Dublin, Ireland; Edinburgh, Liverpool, and London, the organization serves DJs, musicians and bands as well as recording, podcast, and dance studio uses. Founded by David Borrie and Mikey Hammerton as a “passion project” among musician friends, Pirate operates a unique business model for artists, offering 24-hour, keyless and contactless, affordable rehearsal spaces that turned out to be an especially good fit for clients during the pandemic. Customers can go to pirate.com to sign up and book a session. The customer is then sent the codes for admission, letting them use the studios at the most convenient times.
“Pirate Studios is changing the way rehearsal and recording spaces are managed. Most rehearsal spaces are based on long-term, expensive, month-to-month rental agreements, and the spaces are usually empty, requiring the artists to load in their own sound systems and back-line equipment,” states David Sullivan, Sales Manager, Pioneer Professional Audio. “We’re very proud that Pioneer Pro Audio and Pioneer DJ has been selected as the manufacturer of choice for professional-grade DJ equipment, sound systems and other products to support Pirate Studios’ mission to offer affordable, high-quality, professionally-managed artist spaces.”
All Pirate sites are designed around a standard template and include ready-to-use, professional-grade equipment. For most sessions, customers only need to bring a minimum of their own gear, such as laptops, hard drives, and/or personal instruments. Further, the organization is constantly working to identify the different types of studios and tools that artists need to rehearse, create and capture their inspirations.
Regan explains that as Pirate Studios opened more facilities across the UK, the range of products offered expanded. The introduction of recording rooms, pro DJ rooms, as well as podcast and dance studios created more opportunities for the Pioneer Pro Audio partnership to develop.
“Not only was Pioneer DJ and Pioneer Professional Audio able to provide industry-leading equipment to help our customers develop their creativity and hone their craft; they also had a unique appreciation for the speed and scale of our equipment and procurement processes,” Regan adds. “Both Pioneer Pro Audio and Pioneer DJ were well-positioned to supply gear to 20+ UK sites, Ireland, Germany, and bi-coastal sites in the U.S., all in an efficient and resourceful way.”
Pioneer Professional Audio XPRS loudspeakers are installed in all band rehearsal rooms and HDJ-X5 headphones are in in all recording and podcast studios. Pirate Studios has designed all DJ spaces around Pioneer Pro Audio and Pioneer DJ products. DJ studios specifically now include:
— CDJ-2000NXS2 professional DJ multi players
— DJM-900NXS2 4-channel professional DJ mixers
— XPRS Series active loudspeakers and subwoofers
— HDJ-X5 Professional over-ear DJ headphones
“In 2022, we’re already planning to roll out the CDJ-3000 at all-new Pirate sites. We ran some very successful tests with customers in London, and the global audience cannot wait to get their hands on the new kit,” Regan says. “Pioneer DJ is at the forefront of supplying artists with the tools they need to perform, and by us staying close to new equipment, we make sure we are also staying true to our shared mission. Pioneer DJ and Pioneer Professional Audio are a global leader in the DJ space; what more is there to say?”
Pirate Studios ambassador DJ Jubilee recently had the opportunity to try out the Pioneer equipment at a Pirate testing studio and notes, “I finally got to play on a Pioneer DJ CDJ-3000, and it’s like a spaceship. It makes me really excited to re-enter nightclubs and festivals. Pirate Studio customers are going to love having access to this level of equipment.”
