Electronic music enthusiasts and aspiring producers worldwide have a rare opportunity to reimagine a pop icon’s signature track as Madonna, in collaboration with Beatport, Warner Music Group, Rhino Entertainment, and LabelRadar, launches an ambitious remix contest for her 1998 Grammy-winning single “Ray of Light.”
The contest, which begins on August 28, 2025, invites participants to download official stems from the William Orbit-produced classic and create innovative reinterpretations that honor the track’s groundbreaking fusion of trance, techno, and pop elements. Madonna has expressed her passionate appreciation for remixing as an art form and encourages participants to push creative boundaries with their submissions.
Remix masters, prepare to elevate Madonna’s electronic masterpiece with your unique sonic vision starting August 28.
Participants have until September 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT to submit their remixes exclusively through the LabelRadar platform. The competition rules explicitly prohibit the use of generative artificial intelligence tools in creating submissions, ensuring the contest remains focused on genuine human creativity and production skill.
The grand prize package, valued at over $12,000, includes cutting-edge production hardware, premium software bundles, and a vinyl copy of “Ray of Light” personally signed by Madonna. The grand prize winner’s remix may also receive label approval for release, adding professional credibility to their portfolio. Additionally, all contestants receive Excite Audio’s Bloom Drum Machine Lite plugin, valued at $29, simply for signing up.
“Ray of Light” represents a pivotal moment in Madonna’s career, marking her shift toward electronic and ambient-infused pop music. The album sold over 16 million copies worldwide and secured four Grammy Awards, cementing its place in music history nearly 27 years ago.
Contest organizers will announce winners on October 15, 2025, via Beatportal, Beatport’s editorial platform dedicated to DJ culture. While participants must keep their remixes exclusive to the contest platform during the competition, Madonna, Warner, and Beatport reserve rights to share entries across their social media channels, potentially providing significant exposure for emerging talent.
Open to producers of all experience levels globally, the contest represents more than just a chance to win valuable prizes—it offers industry recognition and potential label attention for remix signing. This opportunity could lead to valuable sync licensing deals that many successful producers rely on for substantial income in today’s music industry.
The collaboration reinforces Beatport’s position as a central platform for electronic music discovery while providing producers an extraordinary opportunity to engage with a landmark recording that helped define electronic music’s integration into mainstream pop culture. Producers are encouraged to develop a consistent brand story throughout their promotional efforts to maximize visibility should their remix gain traction in the competition.
