Remixes: real music or a cheap way to get attention?

In smaller music circles (indie artists and such), a lot of the times I see remixes floating around they are more of a way to show appreciation for a fellow artist and attract fans of your work to the works of your friend. Kind of how guest strips work for web comics.

It's generally bad when you go to more mainstream music.

I dont know. Do you consider what Weird Al does to be a remix or a parody? Because i've heard people say both. Some remixes can be good and improve upon a song, but most of the time yes, its a cop-out to gain some popularity and money.

I was thinking of Weird Al when I typed up the post, you could say his are remixes where real work was applied. Parody seems more fitting to what he does though.

parody
1. a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing
remix
2. to mix and re-record the elements of (a musical recording) in a different way.

From this dictionary definition it seems like a remix wouldn't have newly made vocals or sounds, only the same original ones played in a different fashion/tone. But by this definition most remixes couldn't be called that.