Razormaid!
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Razormaid! (a.k.a. Razormaid Productions) is a subscription based remix service for DJs which releases 12" records and CDs containing special remixes of songs by various artists. The company was started in 1984 by Art Maharg and Joseph Watt, financed by a US$1000 bank loan.
Existing next to the other services of the time (Disconet, Hot Tracks, Ultimix, and DMC), Razormaid was soon praised for their innovative sleeve designs and interesting choice of songs. It was unusual for an American company to keep in touch with the European dance music scene, as well as actually asking permission from record companies to remix the tracks of their signed artists.
Razormaid has released remixes of tracks by several well-known dance artists, including 2 Unlimited, Depeche Mode, New Order, Erasure, Madonna, Pet Shop Boys, Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, Cabaret Voltaire, Yello, Telex, Eurythmics, Human League, Dead or Alive, Gary Numan, Jean Michel Jarre, Kraftwerk, Red Flag, Underworld and Orbital. They also have the distinction of being the first remix service to have their remixes featured on 12" releases by the major labels.
In 1989, Joseph Watt produced the band Red Flag's first album, Naïve Art -- which went on to see success in the dance and synthpop genres.
Razormaid created 1000 copies of each issue in vinyl through the 80s and early 90s, before becoming the first CD-only DJ service in the world. Since then, they perfected a 'burn-to-order' model where they create custom CDs for their members.
Nearly all remixes are still available to registered subscribers via the Razormaid website.
Copyright Issues
Razormaid is notorious for meticulously adhering to copyright rules. This involves demanding the removal of cover art, tracklistings, and release info of their releases posted on websites<ref>[1] The Razormaid "Situation" / Razormaid's Compliance Statement, thefirstcut.net</ref> and shutting down eBay auctions of any non-commercial releases containing any of their remixes<ref>[2] Replica, Counterfeit Items and Unauthorized Copies, eBay</ref>.
See also
