BOSTON — Fenway Park DJ Kahleil Blar looks down on the field at Fenway Park Tuesday night, while watching the Boston Red SoxHost the Toronto Blue Jays, waiting. Blair is perched on a Mac running QLab software, listening to songs like “Levitating”, by Dua Lipa, and “Fireflies”, by Owl City. The drums of “Hollaback Girl”, by Gwen Stefani are also playing.
Blair and John Carter (the president of Red Sox Productions) argue about what song to play through the Fenway Park speakers throughout the game. A fan visited the booth earlier in the day and asked for Justin Bieber. Blair then queued up “STAY”, the song by The Kid LAROI, between the second- and third innings.
Red Sox right-hander: Nathan EovaldiBlue Jays DH strike Zack CollinsCarter launches a finger gun in the air to start the third innings. Blair will then play the “WOOWOO” whistle to indicate a strike out. This April evening, the wind blows through the Fenway Park control rooms on the fifth floor behind home plate. Blair, Carter and Henry Mahegan are seated in the front row, all wearing winter coats. From April to October, the windows are kept open so that they can hear the feedback of the crowd.
Blair stated that you can’t predict everything. Blair said, “You have to follow the vibe.”
There has been a noticeable shift in the vibe at Fenway Park. Jersey Street is seeing a shift in the vibe. For over ten years, the electric guitar riff from “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band was heard before the first pitch.
TJ Connelly is a mainstay of Fenway left his postAfter the 2020 season, the Red Sox lost their ballpark DJ. This was the first time that the team had been without one in 15 years. Sarah McKenna was the senior vice president of fan service and entertainment for the Red Sox. She asked her self a series of questions as she searched for his replacement.
McKenna explained that Fenway Park’s uniqueness is that it changes constantly, but it remains the same. “So how can you maintain that fabric while continuing to evolve?”
The gravelly voice of Springsteen still makes its appearances, along with other Fenway favorites, but in between there is the sound of a new generation of Bostonians, including tracks from more contemporary musicians like “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers, “Butter” by K-pop megagroup BTS or “DÁKITI” by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny.
Not one, but three DJs play at Red Sox home games this season. They are: Blair, a Boston DJ known as Maverik, Liv Dulong (2021 Suffolk University graduate), and Jeff Jackson (known as DJ Action Jackson). The DJs share playlists, and they discuss ideas for how to make Fenway Park more lively and attract a younger and more diverse crowd to Boston’s baseball games.
Fenway Park this season sounds completely different. it looks different. The Red Sox have added the 521 Overlook space to the Red Sox’s right-field bleachers. There are also new video boards and a TV studio for pre- and post-game shows.
Fenway Park was attracting more and more people back over the course of the 2021 seasons. This led to team employees, fans, and media members noticing the new sounds. The changing sound of the soundtrack was a result of demographic changes. Data from the United States Census showed that Massachusetts was significantly more diverse between 2010 and 2020. White population dropped from 76.1% in 2010 to 67.6% in 2020 due to growth in Black, Latino, Asian, and multiracial populations. This change is even more apparent in Boston’s capital. Boston has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. a majority-minority cityWith a diverse and growing immigrant community, Michelle Wu was elected to the office of the mayor of the city.
McKenna stated that the Red Sox needed to adjust to the changing city.
“We wanted Fenway a more vibrant place. We wanted it to feel more alive and diverse. McKenna explained that these were our goals. “We want it be more inclusive and more of an entertainment venue. People still come to watch baseball games, so it’s working on finding the right balance.
That balance was found by searching for new DJs. The team conducted interviews via Zoom in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020-2021. It asked applicants what music they would listen to in particular situations. New York YankeesThe bottom of the ninth; or in an April cold, rainy game with the Red Sox trailing.
“[It is about]Dulong said that this makes it more interesting for younger people and encourages them to attend games. A Sunday afternoon game is not going to have the same music as a Friday evening game. It’s different demographics. We were asked by the team to consider who will be attending the games and what type of music they would like.
Blair, a Bostonian dreamed about DJing at Fenway Park. However, as the son and daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Blair said he wanted to make Red Sox games more welcoming to people from all walks of life.
Blair stated, “My Boston experience was that I’ve been the diversity all my life.” “I can relate with someone who is new to Fenway Park, and I can relate with people who are born and raised in Boston as well as those just starting to see what it’s all like.”
Jackson stated that the DJs wanted to mix their musical tastes. The group created a unique formula last season that allowed them to set the mood. They played hip-hop and Latin music during practice and then incorporated rap, pop, country and indie rock throughout the night. To get the crowd going, they use house music for late-inning games.
Jackson admitted that some people have complained about the changing sound on social media. The group however stressed the importance and necessity of making changes.
“We joked about the fact that K-pop has never been played at Fenway.” [last]Jackson explained that we focused on bringing BTS, Blackpink and Super Junior to Fenway this year. I see that older fans complain about Latin music on Twitter, but they are old-school. They don’t seem to get it. They are stuck in the 1970s and 1980s. They claim we are playing too much Latin music. However, the musicians and the crowd were enjoying it.
Many children growing up in Boston will associate this with childhood Red Sox games. Jackson believes it is a crucial step in the evolution and growth of baseball across the country.
Even if it doesn’t happen overnight.
Jackson said that although people hate change, they must accept that change is necessary. “Baseball will be a changing sport. If we don’t adapt with the times, it will pass us by.” It will not be good for the fans. It won’t be good for the city. There will be growing pains to make changes in the city. But those growing pains will yield dividends in the long-term.
Fans of old school shouldn’t be too worried: The nightly tradition to play Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” before the eighth inning, isn’t ending.
Carter stated that Carter had never spoken of Sweet Caroline in a meeting. “If Fenway Park goes down, I’ll still hear that song.”