Quote from a friend.



Actually, when I was a working DJ, and these so-called DJ Mix cds received permission to be made by the music labels to make the mixes. They made these mixes strictly for the club, in order to promote the song. I do know of some Remix Services that just make a mix illegally, without label permission, and they have been silently attacked over the past 10 years in the DJ community. If you're a DJ, you know who I'm talking about.

If I'm an artist on, say, Arista, I have basically given up my right to say how my music should or shouldn't be distributed

Actually, that's not the case. In the DJ Remix community, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and several other artists have prevented several remixes of their songs to be done by DJ's who create mixes for special promo cds. In the mid-to-late 80's, we had A LOT of Remix Services, like dozens, because artists and their labels were really open to 3rd party remixers, but today, we are down to maybe 3 that actually still make remixes and compilations. And one of them is still technically making remixes without 100% approval from the labels.

The dance scene and clubs do rely on these special remixes to keep people coming back. In fairness to the RIAA, they could be talking about the thousands of self-professed DJ's, who are a dime a dozen, who mix tracks and put them on a cd of their own, and then are selling them for profit in the stores. I've seen this on several occasions.

This is not right. These "DJ's" are ruining the reputation of legitimate producers who make their cds exclusively for club play. Also, the legitimate cds should NOT be put in public access, where anyone can buy them. Every single store I've been to, just anyone can buy a legit Remix Service cd, as long as they have the money. No questions asked.

It used to be when legit remix cds were in not-so-obvious stores, and only DJ's knew where to get them. Not anymore. The remix music is much more public than what it used to be.

But to get back on track, there are several artists who restrict their mixes to their own labels, and forbid ANY outside remixing. I suppose if you're not that well-known, then yes, you probably wouldn't care if some DJ remixed your music for club play. It would be interesting to see just what exactly was pulled from these stores, and who the cds belonged to.

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