ASK DERAJ

 
 
What is "work for hire?" pitching & licensing royalties & money songwriting & producing

“Work for hire” is when a composer is paid an up-front fee for writing music and in
return, the composition(s) becomes the property of the employer.

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Would you recommend having a full project complete before pitching and what does that process look like? pitching & licensing songwriting & producing
Up until this point, I haven't released an album in years. I've only done EPs and Singles. There are no rules when it comes to sync. It is really up to you.
 
 
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What is a good starting point for a producer trying to break into sync? custom music pitching & licensing songwriting & producing
Definitely start with the "Directory" as a starting point. Do your research on each individual library to see how you can service their needs. Understand your strengths and compare that to what songs the library/agency has placed or licensed.
 
 
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Do I have to have a one-stop agreement in place for every song? agreements & contracts one-stop & easy clear songwriting & producing
You don't have to, but it is good practice to have a one-stop in place. It makes it easier to pitch and license music with other parties.
 
 
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Can I submit instrumentals for sync? custom music pitching & licensing songwriting & producing
Absolutely! 60% of advertisement music used in the most recent Superbowl were instrumentals. You can pitch instrumentals the same way you pitch full songs.
 
 
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Can I pitch my own music as an independent artist? master & publishing rights pitching & licensing songwriting & producing

1000% correct! This is not something that is only available for companies and people within the industry. This is why we created the Indie Music Xcelerator. A link to the module will be linked below to learn how to pitch your own music.

 
If you were a part of the creation of a song, until you sig...
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What does a trailer composer do? songwriting & producing trailers
A trailer composer that specializes in sound design and big production for sync. You can find them by doing research online. Look on IMDB and Instagram and other online platforms.
 
Other Resources: Group Coaching 02/15/22 @ 45m 44sec
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Are covers acceptable in sync? pitching & licensing publishers songwriting & producing
Covers are 100% acceptable in sync as long as you have permission from the publisher of the original song. Without the publisher's clearance, you have no chance of getting that cover cleared for commercial use.
 
Other Resources: Guest Interview 02/02/22 @ 1hour 11min 18sec
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How can I find specific producers, composers, and artists that work in sync? mindset & goals songwriting & producing
IMDB is a great tool to see who has worked on what projects. IG and Music credits from DSPs (i.e., Apple Music, Spotify) can provide songwriter and producer credits on popular projects.
 
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Should I focus on making one great song? mindset & goals songwriting & producing
Let's not get precious about one song. Our goal should be to create so many songs that we increase our chances of getting placements. I have songs which I thought would get placements that I haven't heard back on. Don't stop creating.
 
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What is a copyright? master & publishing rights songwriting & producing
The moment you create something original and tangible, it is a copyright within itself. If the time ever comes where you need to prove in in court that this is yours, you can do so by providing timestamps from your Digital Audio Workstation. You can also formally copyright your music via copyright.g...
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As an artist that fits into multiple genres, how should I approach pitching music? music supervisors pitching & licensing songwriting & producing
If you have identified what you want to be known for, only pitch that stuff. Showcase the best of what you're creating. However, you don't have to if you are able to create and fit into multiple genres. It is entirely up to you. Make it clear to music supervisors what you're pitching, especially if ...
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Should I have an agreement in place with my collaborators? agreements & contracts master & publishing rights pitching & licensing songwriting & producing
If you're working with a producer (Beatstars, Soundclick, etc.), you should know what that producer has given allotment for when it comes to sync licensing. It's important to have an agreement in place before pitching. It can be as easy as talking and having a plan before pitching. The same goes for...
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What is "Spotting Session?" songwriting & producing

The “spotting session” is typically the first creative meeting between the director and composer. Both parties watch the film in its entirety to discuss and determine musical placement and function.

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What is "Composition?" songwriting & producing

The "composition", as it pertains to sync, means the, lyrics and melody structure of a song.

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What is a "Composer?" songwriting & producing

A person who writes the music, melodies and harmonies, rhythms and dynamics, and song structure.

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What is "Work on Spec?" custom music pitching & licensing songwriting & producing

If you’re writing “work on spec” you’re composing a piece of music without a
guarantee that it will be used. If the person who commissions the music likes what
you’ve written then you get paid, if not then you don’t.

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What is "Work for Hire?" pitching & licensing royalties & money songwriting & producing

“Work for hire” is when a composer is paid an up-front fee for writing music and in
return, the composition(s) becomes the property of the employer.

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What is "Temp Music?" songwriting & producing tv/film

Temp music is music that a director may have temporarily cut into a film or TV show
before the actual music is composed and / or selected. This is often a problem for
music supervisors as directors may become so hooked on these tracks (which are
likely to be difficult or far too costly to license) t...

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What is a "Stinger?" songwriting & producing tv/film

A stinger is a short piece of music used for many purposes such as logos,
highlights, transitions between scenes, etc.

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