My music career is built on live performances and sync licensing. Sync licensing is when projects pay an artist to use their music in a project like TV, Film, Video games, etc. As I've grown I've learned some things that may help other artists so, here we are :). I hope this helps someone.
If you want to get your music placed in TV, film, or video games, then you need to be aware of the process of publishing. Publishing is essentially the business of licensing and exploiting musical works. By understanding how publishing works, you can give your track the best chance of being used in a project.
The first step in publishing is to create a demo of your track. This demo should be high quality, as it will be used to pitch your track to potential buyers. Once you have a demo, you need to find a publisher who can help you license your track. A publisher will typically charge a fee for their services, which can vary depending on the size and scope of the project. Sometimes, they will also take a percentage of any royalties earned from the track.
The publisher will then pitch your track to potential buyers, such as Music supervisors on TV, video game, or film projects. If your track is selected, the buyer will then negotiate a licensing deal with you. Understanding how publishing works is essential if you want to make a living from your music. So, let's take a look at some of the key things you need to know...
When it comes to music publishing, there are two key things you need to be aware of; copyright and performance rights.
Copyright is the legal right that allows you to control how your music is used. This means that you can decide who can use your music, and how they can use it. For example, you could give someone the right to use your track in a film, but not allow them to sell it on iTunes.
Performance rights, on the other hand, are the rights that allow performers to perform your music in public. This includes things like live concerts, radio broadcasts, and TV shows.
If you want to make money from your music, it's important that you understand both of these types of rights. Otherwise, you could miss out on a lot of potential revenue.
So, now that we've covered the basics of music publishing, let's talk about how you can actually get started in the business.
The first step is to find a publisher. A publisher is basically a middleman who will help you get your music out there.
They'll typically take a percentage of the royalties that you earn, but they can also help promote your music and get it placed in films, TV shows, and other forms of media.
Once you've found a publisher, the next step is to start writing songs. A lot of times, publishers will have songwriters on staff who can help you write hits.
But if you're just starting out, it's important that you write as much music as possible. The more songs you have, the better your chances are of getting one placed in a movie or TV show.
Finally, once you have a few songs under your belt, it's time to start shopping them around to labels. It's important to remember that not all labels are created equal.
Some specialize in certain genres, while others are more open-minded. But no matter what kind of label you're looking for OR if you're keeping it independent, the important thing is to keep writing and producing great music.
If you do that, sooner or later, you'll find the right home for your songs. Thanks for reading!