Style / Specific types of releases / Remixes and mashups
| Status: This is an official style guideline. |
Application
This guideline covers remix and mashup releases and release groups, as well as recordings (and tracks) which are a remix or a mashup even in otherwise non-remix or non-mashup releases.
Guidelines
Remixes and mashups should generally follow the normal guidelines, with the below exceptions.
Releases and release groups
Official remix releases should be credited to the credited artist as usual. This is most commonly the original artist(s) rather than the remixers, but the correct artist might be the remixer for an official compilation of remixed material from multiple original artists.
A release that was created without any participation from the credited artist (e.g. a remix or mashup album that was created without the knowledge of the original artist(s)) should be credited to the artist who created and released it (the remix or mashup artist) instead of to the original artist.
Remix release groups should use the "Remix" secondary type.
Examples:
- The Remix, an official remix album released by Lady Gaga, is credited to the artist credited on the cover, which is the original artist, Lady Gaga.
- Most of the Remixes..., an official remix album released by Soulwax, is credited to the artist credited on the cover, which are the remixers, Soulwax (but each track is credited to the original artist for that remix).
- Secret Chiefs 3: The Kid MarsCat Remixes, an unsanctioned remix album of Secret Chiefs 3 recordings, is credited to the remix artist who put it out, Kid MarsCat. This is done even though “Secret Chiefs 3” is credited on the album's Bandcamp page.
- The Grey Album, an unsanctioned mashup album of Jay-Z and The Beatles recordings, is credited to the mashup artist, Danger Mouse.
Tracks and recordings
A track/recording that is a remix of another recording should typically be credited to the original recording’s artist, not to the remixer. The remixer may be credited instead if the tracklist explicitly credits the track to the remixer rather than to the original artist.
In any case, the artist who remixed the recording should be linked via a remixer relationship. The remixed song’s title (including any extra title information like the remixer’s name) should be preserved.
If a recording is a mash-up of two (or more) recordings the artist should be set to the mash-up artist. Put any "versus" artist titles into the recording name like so: "Track Title (Artist A vs. Artist B)". Note that this only applies to the recording; the associated track(s) should be credited as they appear on the release.
Examples:
- Daft Punk Is Playing at My House (Soulwax Shibuya mix) is credited to LCD Soundsystem and contains a remixer relationship linking Soulwax.
- Yeke Yeke (Hardfloor mix) is credited to Mory Kanté and contains a remixer relationship linking Hardfloor.
- Human Behavior (Underworld dub mix) is credited to Björk and contains a remixer relationship linking Underworld.