Remix service


A remix service is a company that provides remixed music to disc jockeys.

History

In the United States, the disco craze of the late 1970s led to the release of extended "disco" versions of songs, typically released as 12" vinyl singles. Many of these were not easily beatmixed, so DJs started to laboriously edit songs by splicing reel-to-reel tape copies, making their own, unique versions better structured for a dance floor.
Disconet, the first remix service, launched in 1977. Similar companies gathered DJs and producers together to create monthly, promotional-only compilation albums containing re-edits, remixes, or medleys that were intended specifically for club DJs.
By 1994 there was a saturation of remix services, most of which typically remixed the same tracks as their competitors. At that point the RIAA got involved and began notifying remix services of their obligations regarding permission from music publishers, or else face litigation. Coincidentally the services that survived the fallout all featured remixers that had radio mix-shows. In exchange for granting a remix of certain tracks, remixers could be counted on by the labels to help "break" the new song they were trying to promote by featuring the track heavily in their mix-show.
While some services decided to ultimately cease operations, mixes began to pop up at most DJ record shops. An effort was made by one of the larger services to clear a way for all services to become legal. The idea was for every service to pay either a flat fee or a percentage of sales to a commission who would then allocate the money to the publishers whose tracks were used. This idea was rebuffed by the labels.

Modern mixes

Over the years the remixes featured on DJ compilations have varied from simple edits to full-fledged, digital, multi-track remixes that barely resemble the original track. Many remix services have focused on a specific style of music or type of remix.
Most remix-services companies have long since folded due to financial or legal reasons; remix services are required to work with the original record label or artist to get permission to edit and release a track, although various bootleg services do not.

Distribution

Most remix-service companies required a DJ subscription agreement to buy the records or CDs, with each issue typically limited in quantity. As a result, many such compilations have become sought-after collector's items. While a remix-service version of a song might be released commercially by the artist's record label, the vast majority of remix-service records remain exclusive to DJ subscribers.

Notable companies

Some of these companies helped launch the careers of many well-known remixers/producers.
Chris Cox worked for Hot Tracks. Armand Van Helden created mixes for Mega-Mixx and X-Mix. Markus Schulz, C. L. McSpadden and Aaron "The Pimp" Scofield made mixes for Powerhouse - after the company folded Scofield and McSpadden offered remixes through Culture Shock, while Schulz releases remixes and original compositions through his own Coldharbour Recordings label. Ben Liebrand released numerous remixes with DMC. A few companies/artists besides Schulz have also developed their own commercial record labels to release new tracks.
The UK-based DMC remix service probably has the most members in the world, with offices in nearly every country; they sponsor the yearly World DJ Championships as well as releasing many commercial compilations.
Some of the better known remix services :
Many remix services issue megamixes, containing multiple songs mixed together, sometimes in rapid succession. They can consist of a single artist or multiple artists. Some may follow a theme as well. Megamixes are sometimes called medleys.
Megamixes are also commonly found on commercial releases, sometimes using the same mix previously released to DJs on a remix service. The earlier Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers series of '50s and '60s megamixes were originally released on the Music Factory Mastermix service.
Among modern services, Ultimix is well known for producing several megamixes every year based on popular songs of the year as well as some single-artist megamixes. Culture Shock has Hit "AC" Megamixes on their main series derived from their now defunct radio show, as well as the satellite series Use Alternative Routes which contains Modern rock megamixes. Similarly, the UK-based DMC and Music Factory Mastermix remix services frequently include megamixes on their issues.