Why Some DJs Buy Mixcloud Plays — and Others Avoid It Entirely
In the world of online music discovery, Mixcloud stands out as a platform that still respects the long-form mix, the live set, the journey of a DJ’s vision. But like every platform where visibility equals opportunity, growth is a numbers game—and numbers can be bought.
That brings us to a polarizing topic in the DJ and producer community: buying Mixcloud plays. Some do it quietly. Others dismiss it outright. But in 2025, with platforms more saturated than ever, is there a case to be made for boosting your plays? Or is it just smoke and mirrors?
We’ll break it down: what buying plays really does, who’s doing it (and why), and when it might actually be the right move.
The Case for Buying Mixcloud Plays
Let’s be real: Mixcloud is no longer the underground-only corner of the internet it once was. With major brands curating channels, radio stations uploading daily, and influencers stepping in with genre-bending mixes, it’s easy to get buried—even if your set is gold.
Buying Mixcloud plays can, at face value, do one thing: increase your visible play count. That’s not a feature tweak—it’s psychological leverage. Higher numbers get people curious. It signals that something’s happening here.
And that can shift the algorithm in your favor. Mixcloud doesn’t operate on pure virality like TikTok, but tracks with more plays are more likely to get picked up in charts, search results, and category recommendations.
In short: more plays = more eyes. And for some, that’s reason enough.
Who’s Buying Plays?
Not just bedroom DJs, that’s for sure.
- Event DJs prepping for club gigs might buy Mixcloud plays on their latest set to give it credibility when club promoters check it out.
- Freelance producers using the platform as a portfolio often feel the pressure to show engagement before pitching clients.
- Radio show hosts and podcasters use it to attract sponsors, since many partnerships require minimum thresholds for reach.
- Even some well-known names will quietly inflate their numbers before a release drops on another platform. It’s all optics.
That said, no one’s bragging about it. Buying plays for a Mixcloud-hosted mix isn’t something most DJs post about. It’s a quiet tactic in a noisy industry.
The Ones Who Won’t Touch It
On the flip side, there’s a crowd that stays far away from this approach—and they’re not necessarily wrong either.
For one, purists see it as cheating the process. Mixcloud, unlike more mainstream platforms, still holds onto its reputation as being community-driven and organic. Inflating numbers can feel like violating an unspoken code.
Then there’s the concern about quality. Not all services that let you buy Mixcloud plays deliver real, safe, or sustainable results. Some are spammy. Some trigger platform red flags. And no one wants to wake up to a suspended account or an email from Mixcloud support.
There’s also the philosophical stance: if your music can’t generate interest naturally, maybe it’s not ready yet. Harsh—but fair, depending on your perspective.
The Third Group: Strategic Buyers
Interestingly, there’s a third type of creator who approaches this whole thing more like a chess game than a street brawl. They’re not buying plays for vanity—they’re doing it as part of a wider strategy.
Think about it like this: if you’re about to pitch your set to a blog, or run a campaign to get more playlist placements, having 5000 plays on your mix instead of 147 might just make the pitch stronger. It’s a psychological edge.
For this group, it’s less about “faking it” and more about creating momentum. You’re stacking the odds in your favor for your next move—not trying to make your entire career off one purchase.
Does It Actually Work?
Short answer: sometimes.
It depends on your music, your timing, and how realistic your expectations are. Buying Mixcloud plays won’t get you a record deal. It won’t replace good mixing or bad cover art. And it definitely won’t save a lifeless set.
But if you’re already doing the right things—polishing your branding, staying consistent, promoting on socials—then giving your mix a boost can increase the chances it gets heard by people who might actually stick around.
What it won’t do is build a fanbase for you. That still takes time, care, and content.
Choosing the Right Way to Buy
If you’re leaning into it, it’s worth doing it right.
Stick with services that offer:
- Real, active plays, not bots or click-farms
- Gradual delivery, to keep things natural and avoid platform suspicion
- Anonymity, because discretion still matters
- Refund guarantees, in case things don’t go as planned
You’re not looking for a firework show. You want a subtle boost that supports your long-term growth without compromising your account.
Also, don’t go overboard. If you have 200 followers and suddenly a mix gets 50,000 plays in one day, people are going to raise eyebrows. Keep it in scale.