Another Crack in the Scene

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 and let Peter 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 and told him once he speaks with his boss and gets the method of payment sorted to let me know.

Later in the week I received an email from a well-known Peter Rauhofer. Unlike Tom’s email this email was not of praise.

Now before I tell you what he said. Let me first tell you when an artist gets asked to do a remix its discussed upon delivery of the remix or before how the artist will be paid, and all the fine details that go with this; will it be a percentage or a flat fee? Normal questions, I mean we all want to know how much, and when we’ll be paid for a job right?

Joe had me ask the standard questions, “what kind of advance payment, or is it a percentage?” And “is it one big advance with no percentage?” “Who else is doing the remixes?” And finally “what date will it be released?”

Rauhofer replied,

“Miss Raquel Richards,

After reading your email below (above) I will REFUSE to even listen to the remix.

It is REJECTED.

Peter Rauhofer, Star 69 Entertainment, Ltd.”

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.