When asked about the benefit of remixing, Jesse Houk (Scumfrog) talked about using remixes to break new artists relating his work with Lucy Woodward. Dave Aude disagreed, saying that the artist gets lost because it is often more about the remix - "we aren't remixing anymore; we re-produce and build new tracks." Debra Eriksen continued, saying that for Def Jam, when we hire a remixer, we want a production and a remix reel. Johnny DeMairo (Atlanitic) contrasted Europe and the US saying that Europe has a dance music culture, but here in the US it seems that the big names play only their own records because the DJ is a celebrity as opposed to the original artist.
Remixes often don't get a commercial release. Chris said there is a contingent of dance music fans who want to get the music, but it doesn't make financial sense to labels because they release a retail single and it sells very few copies.
There are also a plethora of dance records being released. At the distributors, the arteries are clogged. Panelists said that star power will sell a record.
Ellis stated that we are at a loss for dance artists. "People want to buy music not because of the musical quality but for something tangible." 19 year-olds don't want to buy a 30 year old producer, they want a charismatic artist. Jesse agreed, saying that artists need to do everything and have talents in every area, not just be able to sing.
When asked for advice to give to people, Jesse suggested that you can't wait to be discovered, you must "build your own foundation by excelling in everything and making people aware that you bring more to the table."
Ellis agreed suggested learning a lot of skills - programs, software, music theory, instruments, music. Like any other job, you have to work in music. Also, you have to "do a lot of independent stuff, don't wait for remixes- just do your own thing." He used the analogy that "remixing is like a centerfold, you do it to lead to other things." He said that he is concerned by 19 year-old guys who want to be a remixer, saying they should want to be a producer or a writer, not a remixer.
Chris also recommended to do your own stuff with original productions and then deal with remixes and not to get caught up in technology. Dave Aude jokingly added that "buying a computer and playing with reason and acid doesn't make you an artist".
