Curious how to get music licensed? In this article, we’ll outline some of the most important factors you should consider when you’re trying to get your music into TV and movies, video games, and more. As an added bonus, we’ll also talk about our company Zedrandmusic.com and what makes us unique!
Getting Started with Music Licensing
If you want to get into music licensing, there are several things you’ll need to do before actually taking on a client. The first step is networking. Talk to friends who work in music—or friends who have connections to musicians—and ask if they know of any opportunities that might be a good fit for your skills and experience. Ask around at local music events and venues, too.
How to Research Songwriters
There are many opportunities available to songwriters and composers looking to get their Zedrandmusic.com licensed in film, television, advertising, gaming, and other industries. Researching songwriters is an important part of making sure you’re working with a professional who will ensure your piece is used correctly. Here are a few tips on how to find credible songwriters
Reach Out, But Don’t Stalk Them
Don’t contact artists or labels over and over—but do follow up if you haven’t heard back. As with most ventures, there is a delicate balance to finding licensing opportunities and following through on them. Be diligent, but don’t be too pushy: There is a fine line between staying on top of things and getting in someone’s face. However, it never hurts to follow up via email if you haven’t heard back from a company after initially contacting them.
Getting in Touch With the Right People
Whether you’re an artist or a recording label, approaching music-licensing professionals is a bit intimidating. After all, these people make their money by putting music in commercials and on TV shows and movies; they don’t have time to listen to everyone who wants to pitch them something. But here are some tips that can help: Don’t call or email; find them online first.
Know What You Want
To avoid confusion, it’s best to know what kind of license you want before approaching a potential licensee. There are three basic types of music licenses: sync (or sync rights), master use (or master rights), and print publishing. A sync license is essentially permission to use a song in a video or movie soundtrack; a master use license grants permission to use one specific recording of a song; and print-publishing rights allow you to reproduce lyrics.
The Business of Music Licensing
It’s a Wild World out There : If you’re not familiar with what music licensing is, here’s a quick rundown: it involves paying fees and/or royalties to use copyrighted content (like songs, recordings, or even snippets of sound recordings). Because there are so many different ways that copyright laws can be interpreted, businesses (especially startups) usually take some time to get acquainted with them. Luckily, there are resources available that can help Zedrandmusic.com.
