NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Madonna speaks onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at … [+] Barclays Center on September 12, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS)
Despite dealing with a serious infection that led to the postponement of her highly anticipated The Celebration Tour, Madonna has been far from idle in 2023. In a strategic move, the pop icon has quietly released a series of remix albums throughout the year. These albums, while not achieving significant commercial success, serve as a testament to Madonna’s business mindset and her never-ending release schedule. Even as she recovers and adapts her plans, the singer’s calculated approach to these remix albums reveals a smart move that extends beyond financial rewards.
Throughout the year, Madonna has unveiled no less than seven remix albums, each of which focuses on one or two of her most beloved songs. These collections provide fans with a variety of reworkings, ranging from a few alternate versions to more than 10 distinct remixes. While these releases may not be breaking sales records or pushing individual tracks back onto the charts (for the most part), they serve a much more thoughtful purpose.
Beyond their financial viability, Madonna’s remix albums serve an incredibly important purpose: keeping her devoted fan base engaged and satisfied. Fans are perpetually hungry for new music, but the creative process takes time and requires careful attention. She has given them new tunes to enjoy in 2023, including hits with the likes of Sam Smith and The Weeknd, but the appetite these days among some listeners is insatiable.
Madonna’s commitment to her health, family, and tour responsibilities necessitates a balanced approach, as she can’t only be busy in the studio. These remix albums provide her dedicated followers with something to enjoy as they eagerly await further updates, performances, and perhaps even new singles from the iconic performer. They’re new and interesting enough to fill her calendar, and that’s likely plenty for many fans.
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One of the key reasons these remix albums make solid business sense is their cost-effectiveness. Madonna’s collaboration with a select group of musicians to remake her hits likely doesn’t involve exorbitant expenses. She’s not reaching out to superstar producers or remixers for these works, so they shouldn’t come with a hefty price tag.
Without full-fledged promotional campaigns or physical distribution to stores, the process of sending these albums to streaming platforms remains remarkably inexpensive. By making these albums available for streaming, they can continue to accumulate streams over time, potentially yielding a return on investment sooner rather than later.
Another advantage of Madonna’s remix albums is that they demand minimal effort from the artist herself. While Madonna is likely involved in overseeing their creation, the extent of her contribution remains unclear. Her label or team may handle the bulk of the production process, allowing her to focus on other aspects of her career, such as recovery from her health setback and preparing for her tour. The absence of music videos and extensive promotional efforts further simplifies the release strategy, giving Madonna more time to dedicate to her health and artistic pursuits.
Super fans have been enjoying Madonna’s remix collections, and even if the general public isn’t as aware of them as, say, a brand new album of new songs, they’re still important. Pleasing the top followers is key for many musicians, and these sets are doing just that, and likely with minimal effort from the star herself, which makes them even a very good move on her part.
