Major Labels Stall On Remixes

TORONTO‹Despite widespread international use of dance-oriented remixes for pop, alternative, and rock releases, the practice has yet to fully catch on with Canadian major labels.
"The U.S. singles I receive have four or six mixes, but with Canadian singles you usually only get one remix," complains Scot Turner, PD/music director of top 40 CING Burlington, Ontario. He adds that Canadian-based major labels "are starting to think more about [dance-styled] remixes, but many [executives] are afraid about the image of their artists."
What's irksome to the dance community here about the Canadian labels' unwillingness to do remixes is that a significant number of Canadian remixers have already forged strong international reputations. Among the leading remixers, primarily operating within the independent-label sector, are the Boomtang Boys (Rob DeBoer and brothers Tony Grace and Paul Grace), Derek Brin, Nick Fiorucci, Brad Daymond, Ritchie Hawtin, GYR-8 (Colin McMillan), Mitch Winthrop, the James Gang (John Acquaviva and John James), and Stickmen (Greg Zwarich and Paul Mintsoulis).
Daniel Caudeiron, coordinator of the Cheer DJ Pool in Toronto, contends that "labels here are not after anything radical or risky. All they're looking for is [a remix] that will bring the club people into the pop dimension."
Mintsoulis of Stickmen agrees. "I've spoken to a few major-label [representatives], and it's the same song and dance every time," he says. "They'll say, 'We don't really have a budget. Can you do it on spec? If we like it, we'll give you $500 [Canadian].' "
Boomtang Boys' Tony Grace argues that many Canadian labels are overlooking sizable opportunities for their acts. "You expand [an artist's] audience with remixes," he says.