I tell ya not much surprises me anymore working in this scene, but every once in a while something does.
I received an email from an associate of mine at Star69 Records who I’ll call Tom and he asked if one of my DJs who I’ll call Joe could do a remix of a popular track. I said sure, let Joe know and off the studio he went.
Tom told me Joe’s remix would be “an awesome package for Europe” and that he was “…so excited to hear (the) mix, this release is gonna be so huge”
Once the track was finished I sent it in, and Tom simply loved it and was astonished by the turn around time and quality of production. He later asked in an email “if there (was) any way Joe could make a dub mix too?” He continued to say, “We don’t offer percentage but I can get him a flat fee for his work… Maybe we can work out a deal for 2 or 3 remixes? Maybe we can get him on a new release or two as well in the future (have a couple big ones lined up)…”
As you can guess, I was very pleased. I told Tom that once he spoke with his boss and had the method of payment sorted to let me know.
Later in the week I received an email from a Tom’s boss: Peter Rauhofer. Unlike the emails from Tom, Peter’s email was not of praise.
Now before I tell you what he said, let me first tell you when an artist like Joe gets asked to do a remix, it’s discussed upon delivery of the remix – or even before – how the artist will be paid, all the details. We all want to know how much, and when we’ll be paid for a job right?
Joe had also only asked me to inquire for him standard industry questions: “What kind of advance payment? Or is it a percentage? Or is it one big advance with no percentage? Who else is doing the remixes?” And, finally “what date will it be released?”
Here’s Peter Rauhofer’s email response:
“Miss Raquel Richards,
After reading your email below (above) I will REFUSE to even listen to the remix. It is REJECTED.”
Seriously?
See, some things are surprising. I mean to not even listen to the mix and refuse it upon commonly asked questions is not only unfair it’s unprofessional.
But then again this scene isn’t made up of that many professionals to begin with.
