Post by Martin John Butler on Nov 19, 2017 14:52:26 GMT -6
I have a friend who's song got 1.6 million downloads, and got a $45 check. So basically, we've been screwed.
The main lesson I learned about success is you need to be in the culture you're trying to succeed in. When I got a major label record deal I was playing all the time, had a hot band, and went out every single night to hang with other musicians, artists, photographers. We'd inevitably meet producers, managers, etc. When I had a good ten year run as a writer/producer of music for radio and television, (mostly commercials), I was hanging with people who owned ad agencies, and they asked me if I'd like to submit something. I'd known them from when they were still in art school.
I haven't been in a culture for a long time now, and I haven't had anything picked up for a long time. They go hand in hand. That's not to say there aren't exceptions, but that's the basic rule.
I have some friends who've had some big placements in TV shows. One was a 1 1/2 minute scene featuring girls dancing in their bedrooms to his song on the biggest show in England. He got $200. That's mainly because it was listed in some service that offers cheap songs to people who need them for productions, and they happened to find his song which was a perfect fit. If he'd been the sole publisher, he might have gotten much more.
So, I'd say, keep control of your own publishing. Send peripheral music to the agency's that might score you a few hundred dollars for placements, keep the best for yourself, and get out and meet people. It doesn't matter if you're in NY or New Zealand, somewhere near you, someone is placing songs on TV and for movies.
I'd say in the end, it's about personal connections. I have a friend who's a huge creator/writer/producer of television shows. He used to put my songs all over his shows. I'd be coming out of a radio on a episode, or in the background of an airport. I'd never have had that happen if we weren't friends.
I'm preaching to myself too. I've been out of the loop for way too long. I'll see if I can work my way back in soon.
The main lesson I learned about success is you need to be in the culture you're trying to succeed in. When I got a major label record deal I was playing all the time, had a hot band, and went out every single night to hang with other musicians, artists, photographers. We'd inevitably meet producers, managers, etc. When I had a good ten year run as a writer/producer of music for radio and television, (mostly commercials), I was hanging with people who owned ad agencies, and they asked me if I'd like to submit something. I'd known them from when they were still in art school.
I haven't been in a culture for a long time now, and I haven't had anything picked up for a long time. They go hand in hand. That's not to say there aren't exceptions, but that's the basic rule.
I have some friends who've had some big placements in TV shows. One was a 1 1/2 minute scene featuring girls dancing in their bedrooms to his song on the biggest show in England. He got $200. That's mainly because it was listed in some service that offers cheap songs to people who need them for productions, and they happened to find his song which was a perfect fit. If he'd been the sole publisher, he might have gotten much more.
So, I'd say, keep control of your own publishing. Send peripheral music to the agency's that might score you a few hundred dollars for placements, keep the best for yourself, and get out and meet people. It doesn't matter if you're in NY or New Zealand, somewhere near you, someone is placing songs on TV and for movies.
I'd say in the end, it's about personal connections. I have a friend who's a huge creator/writer/producer of television shows. He used to put my songs all over his shows. I'd be coming out of a radio on a episode, or in the background of an airport. I'd never have had that happen if we weren't friends.
I'm preaching to myself too. I've been out of the loop for way too long. I'll see if I can work my way back in soon.
