HOW TO GET YOUR MUSIC IN FILM and TV

By Brent McCrossen

Can Anyone Help Me Submit My Music to the Right Project?

There are number of companies out there to support artists in finding placements. Some are subscription-based and others work more like publishers and share in the profits from any one placement.

Music Licensing Agencies

Music licensing agencies represent all types of music for placement in film and TV. Audiosocket is a music-licensing agency that has built a large catalog of all types of music for placement in every form of media. There is an iTunes-like music player that allows music supervisors to search by genre, sub-genre, mood, song type, keyword and a number of other things.

Pump Audio, Sir Groovy and Rumble Fish are other agencies that do similar work. Taxi, while different from Audiosocket and Pump Audio, provides a shopping service but on a subscription-based basis.

Most music licensing agencies work in a non-exclusive relationship. This is great for musicians because it allows them to have a number of reputable people shopping their songs for placement. Logic would dictate that this should increase your chances of success.

Check out all of these companies for the terms of their agreements and make sure it’s the right fit for you. As always, read the contracts thoroughly or have a lawyer look them over for you.

How Do I Stand Out Above the Crowd?

Knowing that music supervisors are constantly getting inundated with music, it’s crucial that an artist find a way to stand out amongst the crowd.

The greatest way to separate yourself from the pack and increase demand for your music is to have a unique and original sound. If you can create a sound that is appealing in a way that no one else can, then you’re going to get noticed and be in high demand.

Norah Jones is a great example. There are hundreds of female jazz vocalists in the world, but when she comes on the radio you instantly know it’s her. Also, if you have a sound that is similar to a unique talent that has achieved a good deal of success there is great value in that as well. A producer might like the fact that he can get your song, which sounds a lot like Norah’s, for considerably less.

Just remember, if your sound is all too familiar, or if you create a type of music that is a dime a dozen, it’s going to be much harder to garner placement. The law of supply and demand will be working against you. In the end it’s important that you do what’s needed to be done to sound unique in your style while not appearing contrived.

Great music producers have taken common talent and mixed their records in a way that made them sound far from commonplace. Push your limits as an artist, seek new avenues for expression, write great songs and you’ll get noticed.

Brent McCrossen is President of Audiosocket — a music licensing agency that represents all types of music for placement in film, TV, video games, advertising and new media