Music libraries

[Denis]

Is anyone else trying to get their music into tv/film/commercials?  I know my stuff isn't exactly top 40 so a while back I decided to try my hand at this type of thing.  I started by joining Taxi.com which wasn't cheap but opened a door or two.  Since then, I've had my tunes accepted by about a dozen libraries, signed a bunch of non-exclusive 50/50 split contracts and I'm always submitting to more libraries.  I've read that it can take several years, lots of tracks and patience, not to mention you're music has to be what they're looking for, until something happens.  I'm hopeful but it can be frustrating.  Every so often, an email comes in that seems promising.  One library told me that the tracks I'd sent them were sent to the Discover channel's internal catalog.  Only time will tell. 

[GeeNorm]

Denis,

Hope something comes of this.

I think all amateur songwriters wonder if their music will ever find an outlet. You are showing the way with talent and now persistence.

Best Wishes,
Norman

[Denis]

Thanks Norm.  It can be frustrating but I'm lucky and I guess my music must have some redeeming qualities.  This was posted just a few minutes ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA6o2niT2Ng

[Mr_LV19E]

Thanks Norm.  It can be frustrating but I'm lucky and I guess my music must have some redeeming qualities.  This was posted just a few minutes ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA6o2niT2Ng

He even has your look and head movements. Better watch he doesn't steal your identity. 

[Denis]

Well, this is my first license.  I got paid a grand total of $6.92.  Won't be quitting my day job just yet!

http://kpax.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=V&c=26498&s=7415815&i=1#SD

[ducktrapper]

Sorry to inform you that there likely isn't much money to be had in music anymore unless you're Lady Gaga. Besides, no one wants to pay for it. For instance ...

"There was a window in the 120 years of the record business where performers made loads and loads of money out of records," Jagger says. "But it was a very small window — say, 15 years between 1975 and 1990."

 

[Denis]

No, maybe I'll never be a millionaire doing this but at least I'm giving it a shot.  If I never get to quit my day job but make as little extra cash on this side, that's good enough for me.  And if it comes with a little "Hey, I really like your music!" or "Where can I find the tabs for your tunes?", why would I stop trying...even if Mick says I'll never make loads and loads of money from records.  I'm not really looking to sell records/cds/downloads anyway.  That's secondary.  At this point, I would be ecstatic is I got an adult diaper commercial or have one of my tracks played during an episode of Cake Boss or some other cheesy reality show. 

[ducktrapper]

No, maybe I'll never be a millionaire doing this but at least I'm giving it a shot.  If I never get to quit my day job but make as little extra cash on this side, that's good enough for me.  And if it comes with a little "Hey, I really like your music!" or "Where can I find the tabs for your tunes?", why would I stop trying...even if Mick says I'll never make loads and loads of money from records.  I'm not really looking to sell records/cds/downloads anyway.  That's secondary.  At this point, I would be ecstatic is I got an adult diaper commercial or have one of my tracks played during an episode of Cake Boss or some other cheesy reality show. 

Hey Denis. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to discourage you, I was just generalizing and pointing out that things have changed. For the worse, unfortunately. I've been through all of this myself back when there was money to be made. Doh!     

[Caleb]

Denis, more power to you either way you slice it.  You're one heck of a musician. 

[Denis]

Hey Denis. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to discourage you, I was just generalizing and pointing out that things have changed. For the worse, unfortunately. I've been through all of this myself back when there was money to be made. Doh!     

I know Tom, just keeping it real.  No worries.  Habs need a win tonight btw.  

While it's true that record companies aren't making money anymore it's probably because no one needs them anymore.  No, you won't get the big marketing machine behind you or anything but artists have more control now than ever before.  You have to do your own marketing, looking for opportunities, websites, Facebook...there's much to do.  Finding the time to write and record is the hard part.  But it's pretty easy to get music out there and available for purchase.  Anyone can do it.  No need to send demos you recorded and hope they make it into the hands of the all important A&R guy that's going to love your music.  The artist retains control and ownership of their music.  You self publish.  No signing your life away. And if people like what they hear and actually buy it, the profit margin is pretty high.  If I sell one track on iTunes at $.99, I get $.62.  Not bad considering I didn't have to pay to have anything made or ship it anywhere.  I bet when a Rolling Stones tune sells at $1.29 on iTunes, Mick gets a lot less than $.62 of it!  

Now if only more people started buying/using my music, I can retire early.  So get to it people!  

[JOYCEfromNS]

Denis, more power to you either way you slice it.  You're one heck of a musician. 

[ducktrapper]

I know Tom, just keeping it real.  No worries.  Habs need a win tonight btw.  

While it's true that record companies aren't making money anymore it's probably because no one needs them anymore.  No, you won't get the big marketing machine behind you or anything but artists have more control now than ever before.  You have to do your own marketing, looking for opportunities, websites, Facebook...there's much to do.  Finding the time to write and record is the hard part.  But it's pretty easy to get music out there and available for purchase.  Anyone can do it.  No need to send demos you recorded and hope they make it into the hands of the all important A&R guy that's going to love your music.  The artist retains control and ownership of their music.  You self publish.  No signing your life away. And if people like what they hear and actually buy it, the profit margin is pretty high.  If I sell one track on iTunes at $.99, I get $.62.  Not bad considering I didn't have to pay to have anything made or ship it anywhere.  I bet when a Rolling Stones tune sells at $1.29 on iTunes, Mick gets a lot less than $.62 of it!  

Now if only more people started buying/using my music, I can retire early.  So get to it people!  

I'll say this, it's become an awful lot easier to make music for nothing.    

[Denis]

I'll say this, it's become an awful lot easier to make music for nothing.    

For now!   

[dermot]

from the other side of the edit suite.....

- I tend to look to APM & SelectTracks, listen to Jammondo for Creative Commons licenced material with a sense of honesty, and i listen to CBC radio 3 & UCLA's campus radio station for tracks that are fresh & to get a sense of where mainstream will be in six months

- I do have your CD's on my system Dennis, and have tried some of your tracks with cuts i am working on, so far nothing has jelled, but i do give it a shot if it's even close...

- We pay FAR more than $6.92, add a maybe three more zero's... and that's for a national Canadian buy - 6 months / tv only

- We send hours and hours and then more hours listening to tracks, currntly we are searching for a music bed for  a national campign for fall/winter that i'm starting editing in two weeks, and just hired a composer for another commerical yesterday... this one an international A list brand, i have done another project with him, he's good, and he's fast and he has an Oscar... so yea, a bit more than $6.92  as well...

There is money at the end of the rainbow.. going over the last months projects...
1) short film - scored
2) move of the week - scored
3) feature doco, scored
4) national commerical - Select tracks
5) internalional commerical - scored
6) national commerical - APM

Even John Renbourne has his un-released stuff on APM... and one reason we have not heard much from him recently is that he went back to school and got his masters in compostion

I would keep going....

d/

[ducktrapper]

For now!   

Hard work often pays off, in my experience. I'm rooting for you to be one of those, "I knew him when's." 

[Denis]

Thanks guys.  I like to think it will pay off one day...in the meantime, it's back to work

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OxtZVho74U

[dermot]

One more thought on this...  Finding the right match between the music track and the message is huge, and the expence of getting it wrong far out weighs the expense of doing it right from your clients point of view.....

d