How To License MORE Music!
Published: Mon, 12/06/10
Today's newsletter is an excerpt from my new newsletter, available to members of The Music Licensing Mastermind. The Music Licensing Mastermind is a new monthly service for songwriters who want to license their music in TV and Films. Via The Music Licensing Mastermind I provide A TON of regularly updated and ongoing information about the music licensing business, including bi-monthly audio interviews, a bi-weekly in depth newsletter, a regularly updated licensing directory, monthly licensing leads and a whole lot more! Between now and December 15th you can join the mastermind for just ten dollars month (normally $15.00). Learn more here: http://www.howtolicenseyourmusic.com/mastermind
In today's newsletter I'll be discussing the two areas you need to work on in order to improve your chances of getting your music licensed. The more you understand these two areas, as they relate to the music licensing industry, the easier licensing your music will become.
The two areas you need to be aware of can broadly be defined as:
1) Your Music
2) Marketing
Your Music
"Your Music" includes everything from the way your songs are arranged, the lyrics of your songs, the production of your music and so on. Essenitally everything about your music. If you're just getting started in the music licensing business you probably aren't writing music for very specific projects, so it's impossible to anticipate exactly how and where your music will be used. However, by understanding some generalities about how and why music is licensed, you can greatly increase the chances of the music you write being licensed.
"Your Music" includes everything from the way your songs are arranged, the lyrics of your songs, the production of your music and so on. Essenitally everything about your music. If you're just getting started in the music licensing business you probably aren't writing music for very specific projects, so it's impossible to anticipate exactly how and where your music will be used. However, by understanding some generalities about how and why music is licensed, you can greatly increase the chances of the music you write being licensed.
Why Music Is Licensed
Music that is licensed from independent artists is generally used in lieu of more well known songs that would be more expensive to license. This is really the reason licensing is such a great opportunity for unknown artists. Since licensing well known songs can be quite expensive, many music supervisors turn to indie music as a cost effective alternative to licensing well know songs. What this means is that often times supervisors will have a well known song or artist in mind for a scene but then look for music that has a similiar "vibe" to replace it. I'm not suggesting that you go out and try to write music that intentionally soounds like somebody else, but be aware of who and what you sound like so that you can accurately represent yourself. A lot of musicians seem to have a really hard time defining what kind of music they make. Make sure you can accurately describe your music, what genre you fit into, who you sound like, who your influences are, etc. I often get pitched music for projects from artists who think they sound like somebody who in fact they don't sound anything at all like. Ask your friends who your music reminds them of, if you have a hard time being objective on your own.
Music that is licensed from independent artists is generally used in lieu of more well known songs that would be more expensive to license. This is really the reason licensing is such a great opportunity for unknown artists. Since licensing well known songs can be quite expensive, many music supervisors turn to indie music as a cost effective alternative to licensing well know songs. What this means is that often times supervisors will have a well known song or artist in mind for a scene but then look for music that has a similiar "vibe" to replace it. I'm not suggesting that you go out and try to write music that intentionally soounds like somebody else, but be aware of who and what you sound like so that you can accurately represent yourself. A lot of musicians seem to have a really hard time defining what kind of music they make. Make sure you can accurately describe your music, what genre you fit into, who you sound like, who your influences are, etc. I often get pitched music for projects from artists who think they sound like somebody who in fact they don't sound anything at all like. Ask your friends who your music reminds them of, if you have a hard time being objective on your own.
Subject Matter
In terms of your music's subject matter, generally speaking the subject matter of your music needs to enhance the storyline of the project in which your music is being licensed for. Again, it's impossible to know where your music will be used in advance, but certain subjects tend to work well in a broad variety of situations. Themes like relationships, love, heartbreak, making up, overcoming adversity, etc. tend to be repeated in a lot of different stories. The more universal the better. The more obscure the subject matter, the fewer scenarios in which your song will work and make sense. I'm not suggesting you water down your music, but be aware of this reality of music licensing when you're writing songs with the hopes of potentially licensing them.
In terms of your music's subject matter, generally speaking the subject matter of your music needs to enhance the storyline of the project in which your music is being licensed for. Again, it's impossible to know where your music will be used in advance, but certain subjects tend to work well in a broad variety of situations. Themes like relationships, love, heartbreak, making up, overcoming adversity, etc. tend to be repeated in a lot of different stories. The more universal the better. The more obscure the subject matter, the fewer scenarios in which your song will work and make sense. I'm not suggesting you water down your music, but be aware of this reality of music licensing when you're writing songs with the hopes of potentially licensing them.
Music Production
I have written at length about production previously and will continue to explore this topic in the Music Licensing Mastermind, mainly becasue it's such an important topic. Your production needs to sound great! The simplest way to know whether or not your production is where it needs to be is to listen to other artists that are being licensed and compare your production with theirs. I often use the term "broadcast quality" to describe the level your music production needs to be at. Broadcast quality simply means.....
I have written at length about production previously and will continue to explore this topic in the Music Licensing Mastermind, mainly becasue it's such an important topic. Your production needs to sound great! The simplest way to know whether or not your production is where it needs to be is to listen to other artists that are being licensed and compare your production with theirs. I often use the term "broadcast quality" to describe the level your music production needs to be at. Broadcast quality simply means.....
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