The Musician's Guide to Licensing Music: How to Get Your Music into Film, TV, Advertising, Digital Media & Beyond
Plug your music career into the lucrative new income streams of the digital marketplace\ \ Record deals are so twentieth century. Today, music licensing is the fastest route to widespread exposure and a steady income. Creators of films, television shows, commercials, video games, ringtones, podcasts and other digital-age media hunger for music perfectly suited to their projects—providing endless, lucrative opportunities for savvy musicians. Whether you’re an unknown composer, an...
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Plug your music career into the lucrative new income streams of the digital marketplace Record deals are so twentieth century. Today, music licensing is the fastest route to widespread exposure and a steady income. Creators of films, television shows, commercials, video games, ringtones, podcasts and other digital-age media hunger for music perfectly suited to their projects—providing endless, lucrative opportunities for savvy musicians. Whether you’re an unknown composer, an up-and-coming songwriter, an independent-label performer, or a big label star, there’s a place for you in this fast-growing field—as long as you learn to master the game. How does music licensing work? Where are the most abundant and rewarding opportunities? Find the answers in this authoritative, up-to-the-moment overview of one of the most effective ways to market your talent. It’s all here: The key players in the music licensing business and the best ways to make contacts and bring your music to their attentionTypes of licensing agreements and how to understand themAn inside look at the licensing selection process and how to get a jump on music requestsNegotiating payment and protecting your music in the open marketplace, including international venuesGetting music licensed for television shows, films, commercials, digital media, and less obvious markets like colleges and universities, theater companies, corporate training videos, and restaurantsFirsthand advice from top music executives, marketers, music supervisors, lawyers, talent managers, and filmmakers
Introduction xiiiChapter 1 The Business of Music Licensing 1What Is Music Licensing? 1Benefits of Getting Music Licensed 3Licensing Songs versus Composing Scores 4Soundtrack Albums 8Music Libraries and Production Music 9Demand for Independent Music 10Chapter 2 Music Licensing Players 13Music Supervisors 13Music Editors 17Music Production Houses 17Getting Representation versus Self-Representation 18Music Publishers 22Lawyers 28One-Stop Licensing Services 30Chapter 3 Music Licensing Agreements 33Master License 35Synchronization License 37Master License versus Synch License 38Broad Rights/All-In Licensing Agreements 42Soundtrack Album License 43Festival Use License 46Licensing Rights in Disguise 47Request Letters 47Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) 50Chapter 4 Licensing-Related Agreements and Terms 54Nonexclusive Song Marketing Agreements 55Nonexclusive Copublishing Agreements 58Exclusive Music Publishing Agreements 61Blanket Licenses 66Options Clauses 66Chapter 5 Protecting Your Music 68Band Agreements 68The Protection of Copyright 71Copyright Infringement 73Unauthorized Use 74Sampled Content 75Work for Hire 77Employee or Collaborator? 79Common Contractual Terms and Provisions 80Chapter 6 Show Me the Money! 88Valuing Your Talent and Skills 88Cash Advances from Publishers 90Mechanical Licenses and Royalties 91Front-End Fees 92Back-End Royalties 93Step-Up Agreements 96Chapter 7 What Music Works Best for Licensing? 98Understanding the Emotion of Music 98Getting Acquainted with Musical Content 100Where Different Genres Fit 101Music Clearance and Racing Clocks 103Music Requests 105Cover Songs 108Cleared Music 110Chapter 8 Making a Game Plan 113Mental Preparation 113How Songs Get Chosen 115Honing Your Sales Pitch 118Budgets 120Is Free Worth the Price? 120Preparation Exercises 124Chapter 9 Cultivating Contacts and Relationships 126Starting Out 126Initiating Relationships 128Chance Encounters 130Creating a Network 131Following Up 133Being Someone They Want to Work With 133Resources 136Events and Support 140Chapter 10 Presentation Tools 142Packaging Your Music Effectively 142Presentation Styles 145Submitting Music 146Following Up 149Marketing Songs Online 151Chapter 11 Getting Music Licensed in Television Shows 155The Licensing Trend 156Multiple Revenue Streams 158Deadlines and Clearance Requirements 159Getting in the Door 160Theme Songs 161Agents and Composing for TV 163Music Uses 164Chapter 12 Getting Music Licensed in Films 169The Lure of the Big Screen 170Music Uses in Film 172Understanding Filmmaking 173Indie Film Advantage 175Musicians' Union 178Breaking In 180Chapter 13 Getting Music Licensed in Advertising 183Benefits of Licensing Music for Advertising 183Forming a Network 184Radio Commercials 186Television Commercials 188Income Stream from Commercials 190Breaking into Commercials 192Interpreting Music Requests 192Lines of Command 194Chapter 14 Getting Music Licensed in Brand Entertainment and Sponsorship 198Traditional Sponsorship versus Brand Entertainment 199Qualifies That Attract Product Sponsorship 202Going for Sponsorship Deals 204Sponsorship Backlash 206Being Proactive 208Additional Licensing Options 212Chapter 15 Getting Music Licensed in Digital Media 213The Digital World 214Digital Licensing Basics 215Games, Loops, Ringtones, Internet Radio, and Podcasts 217Peer to Peer Music Networks 227Buying and Selling Songs Online 230Key Points to Remember 232Chapter 16 Getting Music Licensed in Less Obvious Markets 233The World Outside of TV, Film, and the Internet 233Getting to the Right Person 235Licensing Music in Colleges and Universities 237Licensing Music for Live Performances 238Licensing Music for Corporate Training Videos 241Licensing Music for Music Compilations 243Licensing Music for Restaurants 245Licensing Music for Massage Therapy Centers 246Licensing Music for Resorts and Hotels 246Licensing Music for Educational Purposes 247Licensing Music for DJ Remixes 248Licensing an Idea 249Capitalizing on the Unexplored 250Chapter 17 Making Money Internationally 252Foreign Royalties 252International Performing Rights Organization Affiliates 253How Royalties Get Collected 255International Royalties for Performing Artists 259Tapping into Foreign Licensing Opportunities 260MIDEM and Popkomm 262Chapter 18 Frequently Asked Questions 265Chapter 19 Advice from the Pros 272Acknowledgments 279Index 283About the Authors 290
