DJs/Remixers song rights a problem? -ACID Product Family

Subject:DJs/Remixers song rights a problem? Posted by: dimensionzero Date:10/2/2003 11:59:17 AM I was wondering how many remixers here have been frustrated with the rights they have with their mix after they remix someone else’s song. I have seen a lot of remix contests for major label artists and I know personally I haven't been motivated because: 1) I have a slim chance of winning the contest. If I spend a couple of months working on a great mix of a major label song, and then I loose, I will have a great mix I can't show anybody and two months of "practice." 2) Say I do win the contest, well, then I loose the rights to the song under most major publishing contracts. I feel that remixes are usually 90% the remixers and 10% the original artists yet I use all control. I entered a remix contest for the Public Enemy Revolverlution album. Luckily, my remix was selected by Chuck D and published. However, I had to sign my rights away to their major publisher. No publishing royalties or any type of publishing control. I don't feel like entering any remix contests anymore because it takes a lot of effort to make a good mix. If you don't win the contest, all that effort has gone to waste since it's not the remixers song. I would be much more inclined to do remixes if I actually owned the song after the remix was finished so I could do whatever I wanted to with it. I don't understand why artists don't allow this. It's a great promotional opportunity for them to have a remixer promote their work for free. I think people hold onto their song rights too tightly. Any other remixers found this to be a problem? If so, please reply to this thread, I'm interested to see if I am the only one that feels like this. I'm also putting my money where my mouth is and fighting the trend here: http://www.mixkits.com Monty
Subject:RE: DJs/Remixers song rights a problem? Reply by: Iacobus Date:10/6/2003 1:53:35 PM Hi Monty, 1) Having a slim chance is all very subjective in terms of what the judge is looking for. What you think is garbage is actually gold to others. You have nothing to lose by trying. 2) You may lose rights to the song, but then again it wasn't totally your project in the first place. Without their material, you wouldn't have anything to base your project on. Also, if you won, you would have not only bragging rights but something to add to your résumé. It's not like you're forced to keep quiet about your achievement. It could actually lead to other opportunities as well. How much effort you put into a remix is also, IMO, subjective. You may put a lot of work into it and may end up with something not sounding all that great, or you may put little effort into it and come out with something stellar. It would all probably depend on how much of your creativity is flowing. And there's always your own original work (if you're the musician type). Iacobus ------- RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid mD's ACIDplanet Page

Subject:DJs/Remixers song rights a problem?

Date:10/2/2003 11:59:17 AM

I was wondering how many remixers here have been frustrated with the rights they have with their mix after they remix someone else’s song. I have seen a lot of remix contests for major label artists and I know personally I haven't been motivated because:

1) I have a slim chance of winning the contest. If I spend a couple of months working on a great mix of a major label song, and then I loose, I will have a great mix I can't show anybody and two months of "practice."

2) Say I do win the contest, well, then I loose the rights to the song under most major publishing contracts. I feel that remixes are usually 90% the remixers and 10% the original artists yet I use all control.

I entered a remix contest for the Public Enemy Revolverlution album. Luckily, my remix was selected by Chuck D and published. However, I had to sign my rights away to their major publisher. No publishing royalties or any type of publishing control.

I don't feel like entering any remix contests anymore because it takes a lot of effort to make a good mix. If you don't win the contest, all that effort has gone to waste since it's not the remixers song. I would be much more inclined to do remixes if I actually owned the song after the remix was finished so I could do whatever I wanted to with it. I don't understand why artists don't allow this. It's a great promotional opportunity for them to have a remixer promote their work for free. I think people hold onto their song rights too tightly.

Any other remixers found this to be a problem? If so, please reply to this thread, I'm interested to see if I am the only one that feels like this.

I'm also putting my money where my mouth is and fighting the trend here:

http://www.mixkits.com

Monty

Subject:RE: DJs/Remixers song rights a problem?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:10/6/2003 1:53:35 PM

Hi Monty,

1) Having a slim chance is all very subjective in terms of what the judge is looking for. What you think is garbage is actually gold to others. You have nothing to lose by trying.

2) You may lose rights to the song, but then again it wasn't totally your project in the first place. Without their material, you wouldn't have anything to base your project on.

Also, if you won, you would have not only bragging rights but something to add to your résumé. It's not like you're forced to keep quiet about your achievement. It could actually lead to other opportunities as well.

How much effort you put into a remix is also, IMO, subjective. You may put a lot of work into it and may end up with something not sounding all that great, or you may put little effort into it and come out with something stellar. It would all probably depend on how much of your creativity is flowing.

And there's always your own original work (if you're the musician type).

Iacobus
-------
RodelWorks - Original Music for the Unafraid
mD's ACIDplanet Page