Welcome to Sport DJ Spotlight, our series celebrating the people behind the music played at sporting events across the world.
From stadium announcers and DJs, to music curators and media teams, each team or event across the world of sport will have someone picking the songs that set the tone in the build up to the start of the sporting action and inbetween it – whether in the stadium/arena itself, or in a fanzone or the finish line. Our Sport DJ Spotlight Q&A brings you insight into how these people got their start, what influences the choice of music they play at their team’s matches and more.
Our latest feature is with DJ Jamie Anne – Matchday DJ for Manchester City Men’s and Women’s sides.
Sport Playlists: When did you begin DJing for Manchester City?
Jamie Anne: I started in 2018.
SP: How did you initially get into the role?
JA: I was asked to cover a shift for a friend DJing in the Tunnel Club – a hospitality space where guests dine before the game. I loved it and was really lucky to be asked to come back and have since had lots of opportunities to progress with my DJing with the club – from players arrival, to in bowl and at fanzones. It has been such an incredible journey that I am so grateful for.
SP: Did you go to watch much live football or other sports when you were younger? If so, can you remember your earliest experiences of that?
My dad is a huge Newcastle fan and has had a season ticket since the first day you could get one. From being very young, I imagine five or six, I have been to the games with him. I remember the atmosphere, the goosebumps, the energy and just thinking “wow, I love this!” That feeling has never left me.
SP: In your time at Man City, who’s the best player you’ve got to see in action?
JA: I mean, I don’t think you can get much better than [Erling] Haaland, especially at the minute. He is on such a hot streak!
@djjamieanne 8 incredible years working with @Manchester City … I have loved every single minute ⚽️🩵 #mcfc #mancity #manchestercityfans #sportsdj #forupage ♬ original sound – Vtshop
SP: What’s the best moment or game you’ve seen in your time DJing at Man City?
JA: The 2023 Champions League Final. Wow!
SP: How different is your preparation for DJing at a sporting event than it would be in another setting, such as a corporate event or at a nightclub?
JA: With sports events it is completely tailored to the fans, I love to use traditional singalongs that they love and know and incorporate them into my sets – they may be edits of the original to create a different kind of energy. I also love to include new tracks that fans may not have heard before but the core of my sets for the men’s matches is tailored to the fans, the history of the club and the music of the city.
For the Womens’ games it is really different as we have a younger audience, so a lot of my research will be based on trends on TikTok and tracks that are current. However for both games I love house and trance tracks which give that euphoric feeling. I think that energy suits sport so well.
The other area I love DJing at is the fanzone, this is all Indie / Manchester style music and is so different to any other gigs I play which is fun to do.
SP: What influences the choices that go into your playlist ahead of a matchday – is it completely your call on what gets played, or do you have players, club staff, fans etc. requesting you to play certain tracks?
JA: I have a lot of flexibility at Man City, I mainly have full control of what I play and I do get a lot of Instagram messages requesting tracks which is great. I always try to fit them in if they are suitable.
SP: What sort of atmosphere do you like to create in the build-up to kick off at the Etihad & Joie Stadiums with the music you select? Has that changed over time the longer you’ve been DJing for the club?
JA: I love to create an atmosphere in both stadiums that gives fans goosebumps, gets the excitement going and gets people pumped for the match starting. Really taking me back to how I felt growing up, going to and watching the games. I think the core has always been singalongs and trance-style build ups, to give that euphoric effect but if a player has a new song about them I always try and put that track in there to get the crowd involved.
View this post on Instagram
SP: What’s your go-to in terms of the music and genres you like to select for your setlist? Any favourite artists you gravitate towards playing on a regular basis?
JA: House, Progressive House and Trance. I love Morgan Seatree, Ben Hemsley, Third Party, Hannah Laing, Camelphat etc – artists that suit these genres and are very sport event friendly.
SP: Who is your favourite artist/band of all time?
Oh that is a hard one haha! I love so many! I honestly couldn’t say… but I do have a major obsession with Jamiroquai, so maybe them haha!
SP: Are there any other sports events or teams that you’ve DJ’d at along with Man City? If so, what have those experiences been like?
I had the most amazing opportunity to go to the Champions League Final with Manchester City, it was my birthday too. It was in Istanbul and I played at the fan zone. It was one of those experiences I will never ever forget: Sunshine, fans singing, everyone just on such a high… and then the result, the treble – epic! The celebrations were just as good haha! Oh and DJing the parade too, amazing!
SP: What are the biggest lessons you’ve learnt and taken from your time DJing at Man City.
I think to be confident in what I do, I really struggle with my confidence but I think working at Manchester City for so long has really helped me to be confident in my skills as a DJ and allowed me to really settle in to the sports events world. Also, that enjoying your job is everything. Theres not a single gig in the past seven years I have not loved and I mean that genuinely. So lucky!
