One of the most tantalizing tech announcements this year was that both Spotify and Apple Music would be partnering with Dubset Media , a company focused on developing services for music rights holders. Dubset had developed a potentially groundbreaking solution for hosting the DJ mixes and remixes previously absent from streaming services due to copyright issues.
While this content was previously the domain of SoundCloud , there was now the prospect of it being properly monetized on subscription streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, with appropriate revenue streams opening up for the artists sampled, as well as the DJs creating the mixes and remixes. While it’s been unclear exactly how the technology would be deployed, rollout has begun with unauthorized remixes now being set live.
TechCrunch reports that the DJ Jazzy Jeff remix of the Anderson.Paak song “Room in Here” is one of the first unauthorized remixes to reach the services. It’s a private rework that was commissioned neither by the artist nor his label (see the stream below).
The site received confirmation from Spotify that the remix represents only a small component of Dubset integration, with DJ mixes next on the agenda, though there’s no definite timing at this stage of when this functionality will be made available.
However, there’s a big obstacle still remaining that could severely limit the extent to which the tech can be used. While Dubset has finalized deals with many different music publishers, it’s yet to sign any of the major labels to its service. This means that, for the moment, none of hefty catalog of music from the Universal, Sony or Warners labels could be featured.
