When writing songs for television and Film there are a number of points to consider. By anticipating what some of the general needs are you can greatly increase your odds of your music actually getting used. There are a number of factors to consider, today we'll look at three areas that are important to keep in mind when writing for television:
1) Subject Matter - Music in television and Film is used to enhance plotlines. Generally speaking songs are matched with scenes based on subject matter. The lyrical content of the music that you're pitching needs to make sense with the scene that your song is being considered for in order to get placed. I'm typically not writing for specific scenes or even specific TV shows for that matter. So how do I know what to write about? Well one very safe bet is to write songs about relationships. Think about it, almost all stories, be it in television or film, involve relationships. Whether someone is falling in love, falling out of love or longing for love - just like in our real lives, relationships are central to most plotlines. Turn on the radio and what are 90% of the songs about? That's right relationships - and usually romantic relationships. This is a very good area to start writing about when writing for general placements.
2) Arrangements - When it comes to arranging songs that work best for licensing opportunities, there are several points to consider. If your song has lyrics, make sure they come in fairly quickly. Long intros usually aren't appropriate. Keep in mind that in the vast majority of cases, only part of your song will be used. Maybe 30 seconds or 60 seconds depending on the scene. So make sure that your song gets to the point fairly quickly. It's also best to avoid fade outs. It's easier to edit songs that have an abrupt ending if the end of the track is being used. This isn't to say that songs that fade out never get licensed, but in general it's easier to work with tracks that end abrubtly as opposed to fading out.
2) Production Quality - Although it's true that the production standards for music used in television isn't nearly as rigid as it is for studio albums, it's still very important. There is a lot of competition in this industry and like in any industry the best quality "product" rises to the surface. It is possible to submit great quality songs recorded in home studios that will get placed. As a matter of fact all of the songs I've had placed we're recorded in this manner. Most of them done in Pro Tools. However, in retrospect I've realized that most of my songs that have not been picked up were due to poor production quality. My publisher has confirmed this suspicion for me too. If you're not great at engineering and producing then find someone who is to work with. All of the songs I've had placed I've had someone else help me with the producing. It's not my forte and I know it!
Want more great information on how to make money by licensing your songs in TV and Films? Check out my program,
The A To Z Of Music Licensing. This program is an in depth multimedia program that explains in step by step detail how to license your music in Film and Television. Recently updated with even more content, The A To Z Of Music Licensing includes:
- A Songwriter's Guide To Music Licensing Ebook
-2011 TV And Film Music Business Directory
- How To Audio Program
-Three Audio Interviews With Music Licensing Professionals
-Sample Licensing Contracts
-How To Form A Publishing Company Audio Program
-And more...
Already have a good grasp on how the music licensing business works? The 2011 TV and Film Music Business Directory is also available by itself:
