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Licensing Cover Songs
Although licensing cover songs is a little more complex than licensing original songs, there are plenty of examples of high profile placements of indie artists covering more well known songs in TV,Films and Ads. Here are a few:
-During the final season of The O.C., Music Supervisor, Alexis Patsavas asked several groups to record cover songs - including Nada Surf, Matt Pond P.A., and The Youth Group.
-Weeds used cover versions of "Little Boxes" in Season 2 and 3 for the opening credits.
-50 First Dates featured several reggae and ska renditions of 80's cover songs
-I Am Sam and Across the Universe both put a new spin on The Beatles repertoire
-Michael Andrews and Gary Jules' "Mad World" (originally by Tears for Fears) in Donnie Darko
-Scala's "Creep" (originally by Radiohead) in The Social Networktrailer
-"I Melt With You" (originally by Modern English) has seen the original and covers alike used in ads for Hershey, Burger King, Ritz, M&Ms, and Taco Bell
-Indie sensations Pomplamoose's covers have been used in Toyota and Hyundai commercials
Usually the rights to use cover songs are cleared by the production team or agency licensing the song, so this isn't something you as an artist needs to deal with. With that said, a lot of publishers and libraries aren't interested in taking on cover songs since you as the writer don't own the copyright. It's better in this case to go straight to the source and find supervisors who are specifically looking for covers of specific songs. If you're song gets picked up they'll deal with clearing the rights to use your version of the song.
How do you find out about opportunites for licensing cover songs? Well as I've said many times before, it's all about networking, making connections and keeping yourself in the loop. A few supervisors have websites where they list specifically what they're looking for, but most don't. So in most cases, you'll have to make contact, introduce yourself and find out what they're looking for.
Registration Period For 30 Day Music Licensing Workshop Ends Sunday
Want to find out about a ton of music licensing opportunities and get an in depth education about the music music licensing business?
My upcoming 30 day workshop about how to get your music in TV and Films will be starting on June 27th. The workshop is a comprehensive course about how to make money by licensing your music in TV and Films. The workshop includes phone coaching, email coaching, daily licensing leads (three a day), in depth video tutorials about the music licensing industry, my ebook, The A To Z Of Music Licensing, eight audio interviews with music licensing professionals, The 2011 TV and Film Music Business Directory, A new member's only forum, sample licensing contracts.... and more!
This course is the only one of its' kind that I'll be offering this summer and you'll finish the course with plenty of time to license your music in the upcoming Fall TV season, which is when most decisions are made as to what music gets used in the new season.
The last day to register, if slots still remain is this Sunday.
Visit
for all the details.
Happy Songwriting!
How To License Your Music.com / Music Licensng 101.com / Renegade Music Marketing / Advertise
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