Remix Nation:

I've been predicting this for a LONG time, and now it's happening: Radiohead is releasing the separate components or 'stems' (bass, voice, guitar, strings/FX and drums) for download and remixing (and then allowing users to upload their own versions of the song to a site where everyone can vote on the ones they like best). This is going to be HUGE -- I always thought (and still think) that the Beatles (or at least the owners of the Beatles copyrights) could make about a billion dollars re-releasing -- say $0.99 per song) the individual tracks to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and allowing buyers to come up with their own remixes ... How cool would it be to be able to come up with your own version of "A Day in the Life"? Not to mention every other band that has a similarly large and loyal following. People will gladly pay for the privilege -- remixing is great fun, and lets a lot of people who have deep interest in the music but no way to express it creatively to get into the act. The RIAA is probably going to have a fit about some of the other remix sites (Mixwit, Muxtape), but that will fade into insignificance as recording artists realize how much they have to gain by exploiting this passion on their listeners' part ...