There are essentially two different paths you can take to get your music licensed. In today's newsletter I will discuss both paths as well as their pros and cons. I've touched upon this topic in previous newsletters but today I'll take a slightly different slant.
1) Getting Your Music Placed In Libraries Or With Publishers - There are an abundace of libraries and publishers who will help you get your music in tv and films by shopping your music on your behalf. Some are exclusive and some are non exclusive. Some will keep all of your publishing and others just a percentage. There are large companies such as Pump Audio and others that are much smaller and boutique.
I suggest that you pursue as many different non exclusive libraries as you can. The more seeds you can plant the better. With respect to non exclusive libraries/publishers, as I've stated before, you really have to evaluate these opportunities on a case by case basis. If a publisher has a great track record of placing lots of music then it might make sense to place a few of your songs with them. I have placed a number of songs this way personally.
How to find who to contact? The best and most comprehensive directory that I know of is The Film And Television Music Guide. Check it out here.
2) Be Your Own Publisher - A more time consuming, yet potentially more lucrative approach, is to be your own publisher. This path involves going directly to supervisors, television producers, etc and pitching your music yourself. This approach is more time consuming as it requires researching what projects supervisors are working on, but it's more lucrative in that you keep both the writer's and publisher's royalty if you place your music this way. If you are an ASCAP member make sure you form a publisher's company as well so that you can list yourself as the publisher when you register your titles. If you're a BMI member you still have to list yourself as both the publisher and writer, but you're not required to create a separate publishing company.
How to find supervisors to contact? Again, the best and most comprehensive directory that I know of is The Film And Television Music Guide. This directory contains 338 pages of contact info for supervisors, publishers, libraries and more. Check it out here.
Want more in depth information on how to get your music in TV and Films? Check out my comprehensive program, The A To Z Of Music Licensing.
The A To Z Of Music Licensing Online Edition - My original program on music licensing that includes The 2009 TV and Film Music Business Directory, How To Program, Audio Interview with Michael Redman of My Music Source.com and much more. The entire program is accessible online upon check out.
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The A To Z Of Music Licensing Online Edition With Email Coaching - The A To Z Of Music Licensing Online Program with additional coaching via email. I'll work with you one on one after you review my program via email to make sure you're ready to start licensing your music.
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The A To Z Of Music Licensing Online Edition With Phone And Email Coaching - The A To Z Of Music Licensing Online Program with additional coaching via phone and email. After you review the program we'll schedule a half hour phone consultation to answer any additional questions you have and then I'll work with you via email as well to make sure you´re fully prepared to start licensing your music.
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Thanks!
Aaron