Putting It All Together
Your Music Library
(c) 2002 Lynne Robin Green Worldwide rights reserved

In today's market a Songwriter -Performer needs to have a calling card of their material that's USE ready for film,TV and commercials consideration .This calling card is your own music library CD. When I say music library I mean (you own all the rights to the recordings,as well as the songs on it), and thereby you solely can legally offer it to be licensed for all such usages. In fact you should have it copyrighted on the SR form in your company name as claimant and as protection demonstrating that you solely own the masters. In past columns I have discussed the importance of getting a musician/vocalist release signed off on any masters or demos that you record with others -at your own expense. It may be a straight work for hire form -(or you may also provide for an additional royalty on licensing uses to be paid to the players, singer etc.on the back end), but you must OWN the rights to the Master and control it legally for all purposes . This Cd of your songs and masters is your own shopping tool to film and TV music Supervisors and Indy Film Producers,as well as licensing agents and Ad Agencies. So you'll probably ask - WHAT DO I WANT TO PUT ON THIS SAMPLER CD?
My answer would be:
1. Is it originally planned to be an Indy Cd album you will distribute or
2. A music library-sampler only ? If it's an album it must reflect a theme, sound and vision and continuity of your own material so that it feels like an album all the way through.

Wherein the Artist's vocal sound and style is self evident and the songs genre and feel are all there . If its a sampler (your music library disc) then here's what I suggest you put on it : LIST THE MUSICAL STYLE- then put 2 song/masters of each style you write in. But heed the warning that if you put a genre like Surf, and the song/track doesn't feel authentically even like a surf song -you lose credibility. So be sure if you label it a certain style that it definitely IS your best representation of that style of song and recording. I remember receiving a music library sampler disc last year with 6 different styles listed- as blues, surf, R&B pop,etc, that totally obliterated those styles and sounded as if the writer had no knowledge of those genres at all. In other words it wasn't just formulaic IT WAS JUST ALL WRONG and it sounded really bogus. The music genres didn't sound authentic but sounded like someone who didn't know Surf music, nor any of the other styles purported to be on the Cd at all. Weak. So if you're gonna do a music library sampler be sure you WELL know the styles that you are trying to capture musically. This goes for instrumental music too. Too often we receive tapes purported to be instrumental songs, which sound exactly like background score (lots of string synthesizers, big production and no melody lead line or musical hooks at all).

There is a difference. Examples of great instrumentals would include - Watermelon Man, Shaft, Europa, The Lonely Bull .Why? Because they sound like a real song with a lead melody line and HOOK -and not just a music background score piece . Bear in mind that Film and TV production companies have their own in-house score composers who write all the background music for a show or film, and the rest of the outside music licensed for FILMS and TV is actual SONGS ! The right song can be integral to a scene, and can have total impact on a show or films identity. Best example would be the usage of Barry White's material in Ally Mc Beal .They even ended the show's run with having Barry himself sing on the last show. So right about now your probably thinking that there is a big difference between an unknown song and a hit used on a TV show. Well I live to tell you, after a new song is used it is no longer an unknown song- if its effectively placed . It can provide instant exposure (and credibility) for a new Artist/Writer in ways that no other medium can do. So whether you do your dream album and use it for exploitation or you do a music library sampler of your Songs/Masters in genres, the point is it should be ONLY master quality vocals and musicianship and cleanly mixed songs with great arrangements and production - no matter what the style is. What you have against your competition pitching other unknown songs IS -Your own uniqueness, songwriting craft and creative approach, so make it the best calling card - sales tool you can and then get it out to all the right folks who can place it .I recommend the Film and TV Registry Guide -their yearly Film & TV Music Guide @1-800-377 7411 is your best resource for finding music supervisors, networks, production companies and more.

For brief comments -email Sixties1@aol.com