Who is a remixer
A remixer creates a new version of an existing recording – working with the original material and reshaping it. It is a creative role with a clearly defined place in distribution. And it comes with obligations that cannot be bypassed.
What does a remixer do?
A remixer takes an existing sound recording – typically the stems, vocals or loops from the original recording – and creates a new version from it. They may change the tempo, genre or arrangement, add their own production, or keep only the vocals from the original material. The result is a remix as a separate recording, which in legal terms is an adaptation of someone else's work within the meaning of Section 2(4) of the Copyright Act (Act No. 121/2000 Coll.).
A remix is fundamentally different from a cover version: A cover is a new interpretation of an existing song with its own recording, whereas a remixer works directly with the original sound recording. This distinction is not just a matter of terminology – it determines which rights the remixer needs for their work.
Two layers of rights – and you need both
Every music recording carries two independent layers of rights. A remix touches both, and you need permission for each of them:
Rights in the musical work
The copyright of the composer and lyricist. You need the consent of the author or of whoever manages their rights – for example a music publisher or OSA.
Rights in the sound recording
The rights of the producer of the sound recording – the label, record company or the artist themselves who financed the recording. These rights are entirely independent of copyright in the work.
The two layers are independent and one does not replace the other. Even if you have the consent of the composer, you cannot distribute the remix without the consent of the producer of the sound recording. For details of what a licence must contain, see the article What a proper licence agreement must include.
What rights does a remixer have?
The remixer is the author of the adaptation – if the remix is sufficiently creative, they acquire copyright in the adaptation of the work. At the same time, however, this right exists only within the limits of the consent obtained from the holders of the original rights. Without their permission, the remix cannot legally be released – no matter how substantially the original material has been reworked.
The remixer has no copyright in the original work or in the original recording – those remain with their original owners. They only have rights in their own creative adaptation.
How is a remixer credited in distribution?
The remixer has a dedicated field of their own in the distribution system – they are not a primary artist, and they are not a featured artist. Mixing up these roles causes errors that block the release. Read more in the article A remixer is neither a primary nor a featured artist.
| Role | Where it is entered | How platforms display it |
|---|---|---|
| Primary artist | Automatically from your account + the “Additional primary artist” field | As the main name of the release |
| Featured artist | The “Additional featuring artist” field | After “feat.” in the track title |
| Remixer | The “Remix” section of the track | In the track credits |
The same rules apply to the remixer's name as to the producer – a pseudonym or artist name is enough, and it does not have to be registered with any collecting society. Separate multiple remixers with a comma. The remixer is always a different person from the primary artist of the release – in the form, you enter the person who remixed your recording, not yourself.
How to title a remix correctly
The title of a remix must make it unambiguously clear that it is a remix. The industry standard, which platforms accept without any problems, looks like this:
Example: Letní noc (Jan Novák Remix). The name in brackets is the remixer's artist name. Do not put the featured artist in the title (not even for a remix) – they belong in the Additional featuring artist field and platforms add them to the title automatically. The form will not even save a title containing “feat.”. For a detailed overview of all formats and how they are assessed, see the article Rules for remixes.
Checklist before releasing a remix
- You have written consent from the author (composer, lyricist) to release the adapted work.
- You have a licence from the producer of the sound recording (the label or the artist themselves) to use the original recording.
- The track title is in the format Song Title (Name Remix).
- In the REMIX section, you have ticked that the track is a remix and filled in the remixer's name.
- You are able to provide proof of the licence on request – see How to provide proof of a licence.
A recording marked as a remix in its title will be blocked in distribution if the remixer is missing. You enter the remixer directly in the track form – which also includes a special confirmation of the remix rights. For more on the whole process, see the article Rules for remixes.