Hey, it’s TJ Miller, you want some game? Let's Tip Unda The Hat!  

This week Music Libraries - Let’s go -  

Everybody wants to be on TV, or the movies right? So how do you get there….well get your music there? Music supervisors are one way, but few of us know them or how to get to them. Another source is music libraries. Music libraries represent large amounts of catalog music for the purposes of securing synchronization licenses. Basically, they are the middleman that connects your music to those supervisors and key decision makers for music to film, tv, games, ad agencies etc. You place your music in a library, they in turn get that music to their clients (one of the aforementioned). Now how do you find these magical mystical libraries? You can ask Uncle Google of course. I’ve placed a few right here to help get you started.   

So you know, this is not the sexy part of the music game. You can have as many as 100 songs placed in a library or even placed and nobody knows your name. This is not about making hits, it’s about making content that fits into a story or completes one. And just to add, for you beatmakers and hip hoppers, NO SAMPLES, can you dig it? NONE.  

As for the deal agreement - get an entertainment attorney. But know this, there is no statutory rate for a sync or master fee, so negotiate the best you can with each library. One of those deals is a 50/50 split with the library. This means the sync and the master license is combined into a single fee. The other is an up front fee, if this is the case the library will usually keep 100% for the duration of the contract, but the writer will usually keep the writers share of the public performance royalty. The Work for hire (there is a WFH copyright) means they get it all, copyright and all, if you do this, get all you can. This is where it gets sticky and trust me they have a music attorney, do yourself a favor and get you one - ok? Ok! 

This week's  #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week is singer, songwriter Ruby Camille if you are in the Nashville area, be sure to go by Lighthouse on the Lake on Dec 12th 6 - 8 to catch her performance. It will be a night to remember!

For more information or to hire Unda The Hat as your brand or label consultant send a message via undathehat.com. See you next Tuesday.