Steps to Music Licensing Success
Introduction ď ˝
Music licensing is the legal, most regulatory, and most comprehensive way to attain royalties for your music. By licensing your music to others, you allow them the lawful right to use your copyrighted material for use in their commercial, movie, or TV show as well as radio play, downloading, and in performance.
Steps to Music Licensing Success
Research licensing companies online Talk with other artists you know Decide if you want to license your music yourself Send out a professional sound Make it clear that you own your music rights
Research Licensing Companies Online ď ˝
You want to make sure that the company you are going to sign with is a legitimate, experienced company that is going to make money for you.
Talk With Other Artists You Know
ď ˝
Word of mouth is a powerful tool in the music business. If you know other singers or songwriters who have already licensed their music, find out who they have worked with. Ask if they have been satisfied with their deals and with the money they have received. The way a company treats one artist is a sign of how they’re going to treat you.
Decide If you Want to License Your Music Yourself ď ˝
Licensing by yourself means that you are going to do the legwork and the phone calling to get your music into the hands of music publishers. Doing this requires more work on your part, but you can retain a higher level of control. Joining an agency gives up a little of that control, but can benefit you with broader exposure.
Send Out a Professional Sound
It is important that your music be up to “industry standard” if you want to get serious consideration. This means that you can’t expect to just sing into your cell phone, upload it to YouTube, and be taken seriously. Music publishers and supervisors want to hear your best sound.
Make it Clear That You Own your Music Rights ď ˝
This will make the publishers more interested in working with you. A lot of publishers will be interested in licensing from new artists because they think they can move the deal more quickly, and probably cheaper. And if you’re trying to get started, this is probably true.
Find a Performance Rights Organization to Join ď ˝
A PRO is a company that you join and become a member. Then that company works with you and your music, and collects the royalty fees from outside entities that want to use your music. If you are creating your own music, then you are a songwriter and/or composer; if you are performing it or writing it down, then you are a publisher.
Read the Contract Carefully ď ˝
When you are joining or affiliating yourself with a PRO, part of the process includes signing a contract. While the contracts are generally a fairly standard part of the music industry, and you will likely see names and faces of artists you know and trust, you should always read the contract carefully yourself and understand it.
Manage Your Account
ď ˝
The big PROs make it easy for you to manage your account. You will have secure login access, so that you will be able to see where your songs are being played and how your royalties are calculated.
Who I Am‌ ď ˝
Michael Tatzber is a musician, composer and sound engineer who has been involved in the music business for around 30 years. He is now offering his knowledge of the creative process and the business aspects online, by offering simple step by step articles, so that people who are new to the music industry don't have to "re-invent the wheel".