Some of my experience with adding to music databases comes from RateYourMusic, so I kinda have that mindset with MusicBrainz, I want to add some songs that were free downloads to MusicBrainz, but I’m not sure on how to go about it.
I assume that free downloads that aren’t bootlegs can be added just fine, but what is MB’s stance on bootleg remixes? For example, I want to add a bootleg remix which was released simply as a MediaFire link. Do I add it as a credit to the remixer or the artist that was remixed?
Another part of this is free downloads that have since been removed from the original site. Can I use other sources, like news articles that are still up, and the Internet Archive, to try and find info on it, or does it have to come from a valid audio source, like iTunes, SoundCloud, etc?
if it exists, it can be added! there’s some grey area with some ‘digital bootleg albums’ are just somebody’s ipod playlist, and those shouldn’t be added. but bootleg/unauthorized remixes definitely belong here usually ones posted on places like mediafire would be standalone recordings rather than releases though, unless you feel it was treated like a single by the artist. but that’s up to you as a listener of those artists to decide
for me, this depends on how it’s released. if DJ Cool remixes a Beyonce track, is it called “Lemonade (DJ Cool remix)”, “Beyonce - Lemonade (epic speedy remix)”, or “Lemonade (Beyonce remix)”? for the first two i would enter Beyonce as the credited artist, and for the second i would enter DJ Cool as the credited artist. others may disagree so i welcome them to comment as well but this is how i’ve been doing it. don’t stress too much though. if others disagree with how you added it, they’ll vote to change it, and you can have a conversation about it!
you can definitely use other sources for info! just make sure they’re as accurate as possible of course. news articles and internet archive definitely seem like perfect sources haha.
When it’s unofficial remixes, I usually just only credit the remixer. I look at it as a cover, we don’t credit the original artist for that. However, on official remixes, we aren’t supposed to credit the remixer, but put them as a remixer on the recording via relationships and only credit the original artists.
usually ones posted on places like mediafire would be standalone recordings rather than releases though, unless you feel it was treated like a single by the artist. but that’s up to you as a listener of those artists to decide 