I’ve been interviewing a lot of people lately for my podcast, Music, Money And Life. I’ve been interviewing publishers, supervisors and songwriters all actively working in the music
licensing industry.
One of the questions I ask everyone I bring on my show is whether it’s better to write what you’re inspired to write, or to try and write songs that you think will work for licensing. Unanimously, without hesitation, everyone I ask that question to says more or less the same thing, which is that you should focus on writing music that you’re inspired to write. That you shouldn’t worry too much about
whether or not your songs work for licensing.
It might seem strange to say that you shouldn’t worry too much about licensing when you’re trying to write songs for licensing. Shouldn’t you think about how the songs you’re writing would work in the context of licensing? Shouldn’t you try to write themes that work best for licensing?
Here’s the way I see it:
It’s important to take into account what types of songs work for licensing. If you’re too far outside of the realm of the kinds of songs that work licensing wise, you’ll greatly limit your odds of your music being used for licensing. But what everyone I speak with in this business indicates is that you should still simply aim to write amazing, authentic and inspired music. Music supervisors are first and foremost music fans. There’s a reason they go into the music
business, which is that for the most part, they love music and they love discovering great music.
If you’re focusing on trying to write music you think will sound like a specific artist or that’s overly concerned with trying to fit into a certain mold it will most likely come across as insincere. This isn’t to say that there aren’t writers out there trying really hard to write music for licensing that have a degree of
success. But the unanimous consensus from people actually working actively in the business is that you should first and foremost just try to write amazing songs.
Don’t get too bogged down with trying to force your songs into some sort of specific, pre conceived box. Write from the heart. But as you’re doing that just pay attention to how they might work in the context of licensing. Avoid things like
getting overly specific with lyrical references and be aware of styles and trends that seem to get the most love from music supervisors. We are all influenced and affected by other music and musicians. There’s nothing wrong with having influences. But don’t force it and don’t try to be something you’re not. Find your voice and write from that place.
Be aware of what works and what doesn’t in the context of
licensing and then just focus on writing great music. Great music finds a way to the top.
