Following on the heels of the beatport sponsored remix contest where remixers were charged for the track's original parts, in a trend that seems to be increasingly common among established bands, Radiohead is now also charging artists for stems in their latest remix competition.

Having participated (successfully) in my share of remix competitions, I am acutely turned off at the notion of having to spend my hard-earned money on remix “parts”. It is not the price that I object to, but the height of hubris behind playing off the aspirations of adoring remixer-artist-fans for economic gain, under the auspices of a “remix competition”.

For an established artist, remix competitions are an exceptional chance to collaborate with upcoming artists and artist-fans. These contests are also an excellent opportunity to dip one's toes back into the underground and link with future musical movements. Therefore the act of charging remixer-artist-fans to participate is wholly antithetical to the collaborative spirit inherent in the remix.

Furthermore, the rights of the remix always belong to the record-label or artist, not the remixer. So now, remixers pay to participate, but only one will win, only to have his/her intellectual property summarily handed over to the record label in exchange for perhaps the promise of a release, in other cases merely free software titles and music production kit.

Charging artists for stems/parts reeks of exploitation and I'm sorely disappointed to see a forward thinking and influential band like Radiohead stoop to such levels.