Volumo: The Independent DJ Music Store Championing Discovery and Fairness in 2025
- Undrtone Blog
- Aug 12
- 3 min read
In a digital music landscape dominated by algorithms, pay-to-play front pages, and the constant churn of streaming, Volumo is quietly building something different. Launched by a team of long-time DJs and music heads, the platform positions itself not just as another download store, but as a space where genuine discovery is at the heart of the experience. We recently caught up with Julia, the Chief Marketing Officer, and Sam, the Press Officer / Director Of Communication at Volumo for a chat about what makes it such an important potential player in the industry's potential future.
It all began when two of the co-founders, both professional DJs, realised the existing stores weren’t delivering on what selectors actually needed. Beatport was their main go-to, but the experience felt like it was designed for someone else. “We thought, what if there was a place where you could actually find music on your own?” they explain. “Not what’s being pushed, not what everyone else is listening to, but tracks that really speak to you.”
That ethos has guided Volumo since day one. The store doesn’t sell banner placements or skew recommendations based on promotional deals. Instead, it lets DJs dig without interference, surfacing hidden gems and underground releases that might otherwise get lost in the noise.
This curatorial approach is deliberate. “We didn’t build Volumo to be the biggest, we built it to be the most honest,” they say. “Mainstream platforms do a great job covering popular sounds, but we wanted to create space for artists and labels working outside that spotlight. Voices that deserve to be heard, even if they don’t have big budgets behind them.”
It’s a stance that extends to how Volumo treats its users. The platform sells WAV, AIFF and MP3 files at the same price, removing the upsell that’s become standard elsewhere. When DJs create charts, they receive 5% of the income from any sales generated, rewarding community contribution in a tangible way. Those charts can also be turned into slick shareable videos for social media, a feature designed with the realities of modern self-promotion in mind.
One of the core beliefs behind Volumo is that downloads still matter in 2025. “Streaming is convenient for the car or a small party,” they say, “but can you imagine a top DJ at a festival starting their set by logging into a cloud account? Downloads are more reliable. Once you buy it, it’s yours, no one can take it away from you.” That sense of ownership, they argue, is not just about stability, but about sustainability for artists. A download sale puts real money in a creator’s pocket, rather than fractions of a cent from a stream.
The company’s independence from venture capital is another defining factor. “We’re not chasing investor metrics. We’re building for longevity, not for a quick exit,” they explain. Without shareholders to please, they can move fast, take risks that benefit users, and avoid pricing gimmicks designed purely for profit.
The culture behind Volumo is rooted in the spirit of rave. Not the commercial spectacle, but the raw connection and authenticity that defined underground scenes. “A true rave isn’t about image,” they say. “It’s about honesty and shared experience. We built this platform as an honest reflection of our belief that the music world can be better, more fair, more open, more real.”
Curation is handled by a team of DJs who “live the culture,” digging into niche scenes, talking directly to artists, and looking for tracks that would stand up in real sets. The goal isn’t to chase trends but to highlight music with identity. “We focus on quality, identity, and integrity, not hype,” they add.
For artists and labels, Volumo offers control without compromise. Pricing, creative direction, and release strategies are left in their hands, with no hidden fees or restrictive contracts. And for DJs, there are no subscriptions or paywalls blocking access to high-quality tracks.
The challenges of breaking into a market dominated by major players haven’t been small. Growth has meant balancing ambition with integrity, and the team has resisted the temptation to inflate its presence with aggressive marketing or artificial hype. Instead, they’ve built through persistence, word of mouth, and a close connection to their community.
Looking ahead, Volumo’s vision extends beyond its own platform. “We believe in a future where digital platforms put creators first, where music isn’t soullessly filtered by algorithms or controlled entirely by whoever dominates the market,” they say. It’s about building a healthier ecosystem for everyone involved: artists, labels, DJs, and fans alike.
In an industry where visibility often depends on budget, Volumo’s refusal to play by those rules feels quietly radical. It’s a platform that isn’t trying to be everything to everyone, but for those who care about depth, ownership, and honest curation, it’s already becoming an essential part of the digger’s toolkit.
Volumo
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