U-MYX - that software that enables artists to give their fans the opportunity to remix one of their tracks on their PC - has announced its first online venture. In the past artists have made the U-MYX service available via a multi-media session on a CD release, but Paul McCartney is giving his fans the chance to remix his stuff via his website.
Macca has picked bits from his recent album 'Chaos And Creation In The Back Yard' and put them online using the U-MYX system. Fans are being encouraged to create their own remixes, and to upload them back up on to the site. McCartney will pick his favourite which will get a download release via the site. I'm assuming he has someone helping him plough through all the entrants, because the promotion is being promoted by AOL and over 400 remixes were uploaded on the first day alone.
Commenting on the promotion, U-MYX founder Olly Barnes told CMU: "2005 has been an incredibly exciting year for U-MYX. The international demand we've seen grow for our product has been extraordinary. This new downloadable version of U-MYX will let us reach a significant amount of fans, and generate considerable new revenue for artists and labels alike."
AOL's Ben Wardle added: "The opportunity to remix a pop legend is proving irresistible for our members and the reaction is particularly pleasing for us at AOL since we're all massive Macca fans."
It's not the first time McCartney has dabbled in the ever-growing bootleg remix culture. He gave access to pretty much his whole solo catalogue to mash-up meister Freelance Hellraiser earlier this year, which led to the Twin Freaks album which got a limited release by EMI earlier this year and will hopefully get a much bigger release at some point in the future, because it's very very good.