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Welcome to the world of Electronic Music...a world of Mix-Remix contests, computer software, and cloud computing
...where the dreams and hopes of many appear to be a wish on a star.
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Some established bands and mixer bands, online remix communities, and corporations sponsor mix and-or remix contests. Some are premium contests whereby the contest winner(s) receive money and-or publishing deals and some are non-premium contests where the winner(s) may receive software, band or community advertising clothing, a free DVD, and sometimes an advertising company's computer music hardware or a mixing session with the sponsoring band (sometimes online or over the phone). This is great for new musicians who are trying to develop their skill. For artists who have reached the level of creating their own original competing mixes, it is a tool they can use to keep their minds sharp and stay up with the genre of the day. This article mainly pertains to the non-premium contests. Most of the corporations fall under the premium contest category, which is a way, even if stems are used, for musicians to advance up the ladder of success..
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How does this work? The established bands or mixers create a mix of their own, put it out for sale, then hold a remix contest (sometimes within a week of each other) and then later release for sale 'The Best of the Best' remix CD-DVD, ITunes, etc. of the same tract. As part of a remix contest, you must download stems (various parts of the original material - some of it may be raw) which erases any claim the contenders might have on their original material. You can usually choose what stems you want to use, but you have to use, at least one or whatever the requirements are, to enter the remix contest. Since the established band already marketed the original tract, the remixers are then creating under a Remix Creative Commons License even if they only use their chosen stem(s) in a few measures of their tract and, therefore, can never retain the rights to any of their original work unless they are able to negotiate with the band or online community who is sponsoring the contest.
Have you ever seen computer music creation programs or watch the making of a complete, mastered mix or remix? Let's just say that if you have ever done extensive photoediting, you will, then, have some idea of what it takes to create a winning mix or remix. Here is a video from a reputable music creation software company giving you some idea of what is involved in creating the new face of music. They make it look easy, but you have to know the program, know something about music, create a melody and-or chorus if you want one, have vocalists, a sound-proof room & recording equipment if you want to include vocals, have additional instruments for effects (keyboards, guitars, turn table(s), mixing equipment, noise makers, etc), additional sounds to create the music (many sounds are plug-ins that you might have to purchase in many of the premium music creation software programs), include hooks, riffs, and bridges, etc.
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At face value, the remix world does not seem like a bad system. The little guys have an opportunity to learn a new skill, enhance skills they already know, and receive exposure in the world they want to work in. The established bands hear new techniques that might enhance new work they create. Some of these established bands are mix artists, themselves, and when they hear something new, know what to do to create the sound. It's one thing to hear something on the radio to try to duplicate it - it's something else when you have hundreds of entry's to listen to in private. The winners, if there work is published, have media to back them up, but what about all of those remix entries that did not win? They have already signed away the rights to their work and if an established band uses it, it is lost to the new remixer forever. In my opinion, the problem with the system, is that the majority of the remixers will not advance up the ladder of success. At times, what seems to be the best remix in a contest is not the winner and makes you wonder what the criteria was to win.
It seems to me the only way many of them will ever get anywhere in the music business is to create their own music label and push themselves, unless they happen to be in the right place at the right time. Otherwise, they will always be creating and giving away their work to someone else for someone else's profit. The music world is no longer a place where you can expect a label to pick you up (a prodigy? - maybe) --- the remix community is flooded with too many talented newcomers out there wishing on a star who are willing to do it for almost nothing and the big labels no longer have to do much of the work that entitled them to the enormous kickbacks they may still receive.
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This article "Changes to the Face of Music" is an opinion that was authored and written by ©PonGoad 2012. All Rights Reserved aka ©LadyGs Creations 2012. All Rights Reserved. - based on impressions of the Mix-Remix music arena.
