Remixes have become increasingly important on streaming platforms. Some artists have even made a name for themselves almost entirely thanks to this strategy. Take The Magician for example, with his remix of Lykke Li’s “I Follow Rivers.” Remixes have tons of advantages, such as opening up to a new audience and bringing a different touch to your tracks.
In this article, we share tips on how to make the most of remixes in your music promotion strategy, both to get your tracks remixed and to find opportunities to remix other artists.
1. Why use remixes?
1.1 To start a collaboration with other artists
A remix project is a good way to start collaborating with other artists, with greater ease than a track feature. The artist producing a remix can work independently and remotely, after an initial brief.
In electronic music, it’s common for artists to start working together via a remix before producing music for 2. In music, many projects are made on the basis of human relationships and a good understanding. If the collaboration goes well on the remix, an idea for a track feature could naturally emerge!
1.2 To capitalize on your complementary audiences
A remix allows you to associate two artists together and reach their respective audiences. The artists’ names will be visible to both fan bases when the remix is released. Those who like the track might become interested in the artist they don’t yet know, and start following them.
On release, the track can be broadcast simultaneously to the 2 artists’ audiences. This can happen through a collaborative Instagram post for exxample, or via the artists’ profiles on streaming platforms. Upon release, it’ll be useful to keep an eye on the platform analytics to measure the effect on your listenership and audience size.
1.3 To find new opportunities
Being remixed can be an opportunity to give your track a new sound that will open new doors for you. For example, if you produce indie pop, you could get an artist to do a remix in the chillout style.
With this remix, you could appear in playlists that favor a calm style or a vacation theme. Listeners who don’t normally listen to your style of music could discover your track and become more interested in your project. To find the right media, playlists and radio stations, you can use a music promotion platform.
Remixes can even bring you unexpected opportunities, such as joining a radio station’s music programming or getting an ad placement. A well-known example is the placement of Flume’s remix of Disclosure in a Lacoste ad. Producers of films, series and commercials are always on the lookout for new talent, so you just might have a chance too.
2. How can I get my tracks remixed?
Convinced of the benefits of remixes for developing your musical project? Here are some best practices for getting remixed, from finding the right artist to promoting your track.
2.1 Selecting the right artist
Choosing the right artist to collaborate with is a decisive step in your remix project. It can be tempting to target well-known producers, thinking that you’ll benefit from their notoriety. However, it’s difficult to contact them, and they’re likely to demand a high fee. It’s also likely that they’ll impose their own conditions on you, with little room to ask for adjustments.
To get started and find the right artist, here are a few methods you can use:
- List the remix producers you know or like
- Look at artists from your own universe, and see which producers have remixed them
- Consult YouTube channels, Spotify playlists, music media, etc.
- Ask people around you for suggestions, via acquaintances or social media: the network is often a powerful way of finding the right people!
2.2 Negotiate terms
In terms of agreements, several solutions are possible. If the two artists produce remixes, it’s common to do an exchange: each artist will remix a track by the other, usually a few months apart. This has the advantage of leading to a long-term partnership, without the need to allocate a budget. It’s a win-win agreement: the two artists have everything to gain by promoting each other.
You can also agree on a paying partnership. Remuneration can be a fixed fee for the production of the remix, followed by a share of the revenue generated by the distribution of the track.
Once you’ve reached an agreement, remember to detail the steps involved: timetable, validation stages, promotional resources, etc. It’s best to plan ahead as much as possible, so that each artist knows what to expect. If you discuss them verbally, remember to summarize the various points in writing. This will avoid any misunderstandings and can serve as a reference during the collaboration.
2.3 Ensure the quality of the remix you produce
If you select the right artist, you should get a remix in a style you like. The idea is to give the remixer enough freedom to express their creativity and add their own personal touch. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a say in the remixed track. Don’t forget that the track is still in your name, so it’s totally legit for you to give your opinion.
To facilitate collaboration, here are a few points to bear in mind:
- Discuss your vision and expectations before entering into an agreement. This will make sure you’re on the same wavelength.
- Prepare as detailed a brief as possible, with things you’d like and things to avoid. This will facilitate the production of the remix and avoid additional back-and-forth.
- Plan validation stages with precise dates, so as to arrive at the final result on schedule.
- Prioritize verbal exchanges (by video or telephone) to share your feedback. This will avoid misunderstandings that can occur in writing. Don’t focus solely on the negative.
With these best practices, you should be able to set up a good collaboration to achieve the desired result!
Careful promotion
As we’ve already mentioned, remixes are sometimes just as popular as original tracks, if not more so. So why not promote it like an original track? When both artists are involved in the promotion, you can maximize the track’s airplay with these tips:
- Tease the release to mobilize your audience
- Develop storytelling around the track. For example, you could talk about how you met and why you decided to collaborate
- Contact media outlets and radio stations via the Groover platform
- Create collaborative Instagram posts to announce the release
- Do a cross-video interview to talk about the remix
If you’re looking for even more promotional methods, you can also use our 5 simple ideas to increase your online visibility.
3. How do I remix tracks?
3.1 Find opportunities in your network
If you want to get into remix production, you can start by collaborating with people you know from near and far. This will increase the likelihood that the artist will accept, and the collaboration will be that much smoother.
Here are a few ways you can get started:
- Suggest a remix to artists you know through your network, label, or joint concerts
- Contact artists you like and offer to remix them
- Advertise on your social networks, explaining that you’re looking for artists to remix
Finding the right opportunity will certainly take a few months: stay on the lookout and spread the word so that as many people as possible are aware of your remix projects.
3.2 Enter remix competitions
Artists and music sites regularly organize remix contests. Generally, the winner sees their remix officially released, which is a significant boost to visibility. For example, before he became a household name, French producer Upsilone won a remix contest in 2018 for David Guetta’s “Like I Do.”
A remix contest is also a good way to practice: you have access to the stem files (the different parts of the track) to produce the remix, and you’ll avoid copyright issues. It’s also common for participants to be featured, even those who don’t win the contest.
To find remix contests, keep an eye on :
- Music labels like Spinnin’ Records and Armada, which regularly run remix contests
- Electronic music platforms like Beatport
- Music services like Audius and Splice
- Social networks and newsletters of your favorite artists, media and labels
3.3 Remixing your favorite tracks
Remixing your favorite songs can be a good exercise: you already know the track well, and you could benefit from the track’s existing notoriety.
However, it can be risky, particularly for copyright reasons. If you don’t have the rights to the track, it will be impossible to put it on platforms like Deezer and Spotify. More remixes can be found on YouTube and Soundcloud, but these platforms also have advanced systems for managing rights, and it’s highly likely that your track will be blocked. It would then be a shame to have spent time producing a remix that can’t be broadcast.
Another difficulty is finding “stems,” i.e. the different parts that make up the track. Without these files, it will be more complicated to produce a quality remix.
However, it is still possible to remix your favorite tracks. You can contact the artists to ask for their authorization. Even if it’s not an official release, it’s possible that the artist will agree to let you share a remix, especially if they’re an independent artist looking to develop his visibility. To convince them, you could share an excerpt of what you have in mind for the remix. Finally, you can take advantage of remix contests, as mentioned in the previous section.
And if you want to offer your own interpretation of your favorite tracks, you can also create a cover and release it legally on streaming platforms.
With these tips, you’re ready to incorporate remixes into your project, whether to be remixed or to remix other artists. Prioritize collaborations with artists with whom you have a good understanding, especially when you’re just starting out. This will make the project smoother and more enjoyable, both in terms of production and promotion of the track. When the remix is available, remember to send it to the media and music professionals via Groover!
– Translated by Kole Wright –
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