There’s a wide variety of licensing deals out there. Some placements pay absolutely nothing upfront and only generate a small amount of royalties, whereas others pay thousands of dollars, or more, upfront and generate substantial backend royalties. The question, of course, is how to get the big dollar placements?
How can you find deals that actually pay you well? How you can learn to discern the difference between the types of placements that pay well and the plethora of placements that generate “chump change”.
Well, the good news is that “big money” deals are out there. But, you’re going to have to do some research to find them. If you’re just blindly signing with any company that
expresses interest in your music, there’s a good chance you’re going to be missing out on the real money there is to be made.
Here’s a few things to consider when looking for licensing opportunities:
- Big budgets equal larger synch fees – If you’re placing your music on a show or production that has a small or
non-existent budget for music, then this is going to be reflected in how much you get paid. More popular shows and commercials, tend to have more budgets for music and are willing to pay more upfront for music they want to use.
- The more in demand your music is, the more you’ll get paid – Supply and demand exists in the music business, just like it does in any other business. If your music is sought after by music
supervisors, they’re going to be willing to pay you. Write great music that is accessible and you’ll see more interest in your songs for licensing opportunities.
- Cut Out The Middleman – I often advocate that writers start licensing their music via publishers or libraries, and I stand by this. It’s advantageous on many levels, and it’s certainly easier to get started this way. But, financially, it’s not as
lucrative per deal for the obvious reason that you’re splitting your profits with someone else.
There are placements out there that pay substantial sync fees. But they’re most likely not going to fall into your lap. Focus on shows and projects that are successful and popular. Listen to what kind of music they’re using and what kind of taste in music the supervisors have. Then, find out how to submit your music
using the various resources that exist.
For example, if there’s a TV show you like that has music similar to yours, check IMDB to find out who the music supervisor is. Then use a resource, like the directory my company publishes for example, and contact the supervisor to find out how to submit your music.
Being successful in licensing your music is about planting a lot of seeds. Some might come to fruition a few weeks from now, and some might take a couple years. Don’t worry about any particular seed, but instead focus on continuing to “plant” and doing the day to day work of building relationships.
