As a musician, having your song featured in film, television, or a commercial can not only be a significant financial boon but can also introduce your music to a broader audience, creating lasting career impacts. Music supervisors are the gatekeepers to these opportunities, selecting tracks that will best fit a visual project's mood, tone, and context. Here's how you can fine-tune your approach to catch a music supervisor's ear. Research Is Key: Understand the projects that the music supervisor has worked on and their musical preferences. Tailoring your pitch to their past work shows that you’ve done your homework and can provide music that aligns with their aesthetic. Quality Over Quantity: Ensure that your music is professionally recorded, mixed, and mastered. Music supervisors are looking for broadcast-quality tracks that can be seamlessly integrated into their projects. Clear and Concise Communication: When you reach out, keep your emails brief and to the point. Introduce yourself, your music style, and why you believe your music would be a good fit for their projects. Avoid overly flowery language or long-winded explanations. Easy Access to Your Music: Provide links to your music rather than attaching files to an email. Use platforms like SoundCloud or Dropbox where music supervisors can quickly stream or download your tracks. Metadata Matters: Ensure your tracks are appropriately tagged with metadata. Include the song title, artist name, contact information, and any other relevant details such as mood, genre, and potential scene descriptions. Instrumentals and Stems: Be prepared to provide instrumental versions and stems. Often, dialogue and sound effects in visual media require flexibility in the music, and having instrumentals and separated tracks can be extremely useful. No Strings Attached: Make it clear that your music is pre-cleared and you have the right to license it. Clarifying that there are no legal encumbrances is crucial as supervisors often work on tight deadlines and need to ensure clearances can be obtained quickly. Understand the Business: Familiarize yourself with how sync licensing works, including publishing rights and performance royalties. Knowing the business side of things can help you communicate more effectively and professionally. Follow Up, But Don’t Pester: If you don’t hear back after your initial email, it’s acceptable to follow up in a few weeks. However, respect their time and decision if they’re not interested. Never pester a music supervisor with repeated unsolicited messages. Networking: Attend industry events, film festivals, and music conferences. Building relationships with music supervisors and other industry professionals in person can be far more effective than cold calling or blind emailing. Showcase Your Versatility: If you have a diverse catalogue, make sure to showcase different styles and moods that could potentially fit various types of scenes or projects. Keep It Updated: As you produce new music, update your online portfolios, and consider reaching out again with fresh material. Your growth as an artist can keep you on the radar. Be Patient and Professional: Success in sync licensing often doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient and maintain professionalism in all your interactions. Stay Informed: Keep up with industry trends and what’s happening in the realm of film and television. Being informed can help you anticipate the needs of music supervisors. Create a One-Sheet: A one-sheet is a single-page document that has information about you, your music, notable achievements, and contact details. It should be visually appealing and include a professional photo. How To Contact Supervisors: HTLYM Premium's 2023 Music Licensing Directory is a great resource for making contact directly with supervisors. There is an entire section devoted specifically to music supervisors that lists their contact information, email address, website etc. (Save 50% this week only). Crafting a thoughtful approach to music supervisors can make the difference between a sync placement and a missed opportunity. Remember, supervisors are always on the lookout for the perfect song that can add that special touch to their project. By following these best practices, you’ll not only increase your chances of securing a sync license but also establish a reputation as a professional and reliable musician in the industry. GO PREMIUM AND ACCESS ALL OUR COURSES, INDUSTRY LEADS, Directories, AUDIO INTERVIEWS AND MORE FOR ONE LOW PRICE.
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When aiming to catch the attention of music supervisors with your tracks, the foundation of your approach should be grounded in meticulous research. Knowing their previous and current projects, as well as their specific musical taste and needs, can position you as a thoughtful and serious contender. Here’s how to conduct this research effectively: Investigate Previous Projects IMDbPro: A subscription-based service, IMDbPro provides detailed information about industry professionals, including music supervisors. Look up their filmography to see the list of movies or TV shows they've worked on. Learn more about IMDB Pro. LinkedIn: Often, music supervisors list their past projects and roles on their LinkedIn profiles. LinkedIn also provides networking opportunities through mutual connections. Trade Publications: Websites like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Billboard often feature articles about prominent music supervisors and their projects. Analyze Musical Selections Tunefind: This resource offers an extensive database of songs used in television and movies and can be filtered by specific music supervisors. Spotify Playlists: Search for playlists curated by the music supervisors themselves, or look for official soundtracks of the projects they've worked on. Learn more about Tunefind. Soundtrack.Net: This site provides information on soundtracks and often credits the music supervisors. Learn more about Soundtrack.net Understand Their Preferences and Trends Guild of Music Supervisors: The Guild of Music Supervisors website lists members and awards, which can give you an idea of who is who in the industry and the kind of work that gets recognized. Visit The Guild Of Music Supervisors Website. Interviews and Podcasts: Listen to interviews or podcasts featuring music supervisors to hear them speak about their work and preferences. For instance, the Music, Money And Life podcast sometimes features music supervisors discussing the placement of songs in media. Networking and Direct Contact Music Supervisors Directories: Directories, such as HTLYM Premium's Sync Licensing Business Directory, provides a list of music supervisors, which can be a starting point for finding contact information. Film and TV Music Conferences: Events such as the Sync Summit or the ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO can provide networking opportunities. Social Media: Following music supervisors on Twitter or Instagram can provide insight into their personalities and tastes. Get Specific with Your Pitch Once you have a firm grasp of their work, mention specific projects in your pitch that are relevant to the style or mood of the music you're offering. For example, if the supervisor worked on a critically acclaimed indie film with a folk-heavy soundtrack, and your music is in the folk genre, it’s worth mentioning this alignment. Stay Current and Offer Solutions Luminate Film & TV: A platform that tracks development and production deals across TV and film, offering insights into upcoming projects which a music supervisor might be working on. Learn more about Luminate Film & TV. Anticipate what a music supervisor might need for future projects by keeping up with industry news and trends. If you notice a resurgence of a certain genre or a new show in production that fits your style, mention how your music could be beneficial. Remember, the goal of research is not only to personalize your pitch but also to ensure that you’re reaching out to the right person with relevant material. It's about establishing a connection between your music and the emotional narrative they seek to create in their projects. By being informed and making your music seem like the answer to a music supervisor's needs, you increase the chance of forging a productive relationship. GO PREMIUM AND ACCESS ALL OUR COURSES, INDUSTRY LEADS, Directories, AUDIO INTERVIEWS AND MORE FOR ONE LOW PRICE.
For better or worse, Spotify has emerged as a vital platform for musicians looking to share their work and reach new audiences. With over 345 million active users, the potential to gain traction and cultivate a fanbase is immense.
However, standing out amongst the millions of musicians on Spotify can be daunting. Here, we’ll explore practical strategies, inspiring examples, and invaluable resources that you can leverage to increase your visibility and success on Spotify. Understanding Spotify’s Algorithm Before diving into strategies, it's crucial to understand that Spotify's algorithm favors engagement. The more plays, saves, and follows you get, the more likely Spotify is to include your tracks in personalized playlists like Discover Weekly or Release Radar, exposing your music to new ears. Strategies for Success 1. Optimize Your Artist Profile Make sure your Spotify artist profile is fully optimized. This means having a professional and engaging profile picture, a compelling bio, and ensuring all your music is properly uploaded and categorized. Use tools like Spotify for Artists to track analytics and understand your audience. 2. Release Music Consistently Regularly releasing music can help keep your audience engaged and attract Spotify’s algorithm. Singer-songwriter John Mayer is an excellent example, releasing singles leading up to an album drop, which keeps fans listening and algorithms ticking. 3. Curate Playlists Create and share playlists that include your music alongside tracks from more established artists in your genre. This can increase your visibility as fans of those artists might discover your music. Indie band Chvrches used playlist curation to excellent effect, showcasing their influences and their own songs, broadening their listener base. 4. Leverage Social Media and Marketing Promote your Spotify tracks across your social media platforms. Use Instagram stories, Twitter updates, and Facebook posts to share your music and direct fans to Spotify. Paid social media ads can also target potential fans by interests and demographics. 5. Collaborate with Other Artists Collaborate with artists who have a larger or different audience than yours. This will expose your music to a broader audience. Ed Sheeran’s collaborations, for instance, have helped him (and his collaborators) reach millions of listeners who might not have listened to his music otherwise. 6. Engage with Your Listeners Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages. This helps to create a loyal fan base that is more likely to stream your music and attend your shows. Interaction can lead to higher engagement rates, which Spotify’s algorithm will notice. 7. Utilize Spotify Ad Studio Spotify Ad Studio allows you to create and manage ads on Spotify, helping you reach potential fans in between their favorite songs. While there’s an investment involved, this can be a way to increase your music’s exposure. 8. Submit to Playlists Submit your music to Spotify’s editorial team for playlist consideration and reach out to independent playlist curators as well. Use platforms like SubmitHub or Playlist Push to get your tracks in front of curators. 9. Play Live and Mention Spotify During gigs, remind your audience that they can find you on Spotify. This call-to-action can convert a live audience into streaming listeners, combining traditional methods with digital growth. Resources for Musicians Spotify Playlist Curator Directory: HTLYM Premium’s Spotify Playlist Curator Directory is a comprehensive, up-to-date compendium of over 5,000 playlists and the minds behind them. This directory is the key to unlock doors that lead to millions of potential streams. Save 50% between now and November 5. Spotify for Artists: Use this dashboard to manage your profile, access analytics, and submit to editorial playlists. SubmitHub: A platform for submitting music to bloggers, influencers, and playlist curators. Playlist Push: This service allows you to submit your music to playlist curators in your genre. Chartmetric: Provides analytics and market intelligence that can help you understand your listeners and benchmark your performance against other artists. Show.co: Offers marketing tools that can help you promote your music and grow your Spotify following. Real-World Success Examples Billie Eilish started gaining traction when her song “Ocean Eyes” was added to high-profile Spotify playlists, highlighting the power of playlist inclusion. Lil Nas X exploded onto the scene with “Old Town Road” partially due to his strategic use of Spotify and viral marketing on social media platforms. Gaining traction on Spotify is a combination of understanding the platform’s intricacies, consistent and high-quality music releases, strategic marketing, and genuine engagement with your audience. By leveraging these strategies and resources, and drawing inspiration from successful examples, musicians can carve out their own space in the Spotify universe and beyond. ![]() Sync Agents vs. Music Libraries, Publishers, and More In the complex web of the music industry, it can sometimes be tricky to distinguish between the myriad of roles that professionals play, especially when it comes to the realm of music licensing. While many of us are familiar with terms like sync agents, music libraries, and music publishers, understanding what each entity does can be a bit challenging. Starting with sync agents, these are the professionals who specialize in getting artists' music placed in various forms of media. Whether it's a catchy tune you hear in your favorite TV show or an emotional ballad in a movie trailer, there's a good chance a sync agent was involved in making that happen. Sync Agents also work intimately with artists, often offering tailored strategies for licensing. One of their primary roles is to proactively pitch music to those in the entertainment industry, from music supervisors to directors. Once there's interest in a track, sync agents dive into negotiations to ensure the artist gets the best deal. Some renowned sync agencies in this sphere include Bank Robber Music and Sync or Swim Music. Another platform worth mentioning is Musicbed, which, while primarily a music licensing platform, also offers sync licensing services. But what if you're an artist who's uploaded your tracks to a platform and just waits for someone to discover them? This is where music libraries come into play. These are vast repositories of pre-cleared music that anyone can license. It's more of a passive approach for artists, where they make their music available, and if someone is interested, they can license it directly. Some well-known music libraries that have been invaluable to many artists include Audio Network and Pond5. Now, onto music publishers. Their primary role is to manage the copyrights of songwriters and composers. Think of them as the guardians who ensure that every time a song is played on the radio, used in a commercial, or covered by another artist, the original creator gets their rightful royalties. They work with performance rights organizations to collect these royalties. While sync licensing isn't their primary focus, many do delve into it as part of their expansive services. Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music are heavyweights in this domain, representing vast catalogs and many renowned artists. In essence, while there's a noticeable overlap in the services these entities provide, they each have distinct roles in the labyrinth of music licensing. Sync agents are the proactive go-getters, always on the hunt for the perfect placement. Music libraries provide a platform for passive licensing opportunities, and music publishers are the stewards of artists' copyrights, ensuring they receive the royalties they deserve. As an artist, understanding these differences can be the key to unlocking various opportunities in the world of music. Finding Sync Agents: A Step-by-Step Guide 1. Industry Directories and Databases: Many industry-specific websites and organizations maintain directories of sync agents and agencies. We also list Sync Agents in our Music Licensing Directory (Save 50% this week only). Guilds and Associations: Check out organizations like the Guild of Music Supervisors. Even though it's focused on music supervisors, it often intersects with the world of sync agents and can offer leads. 2. Attend Industry Events: Conferences and Workshops: Events like the ASCAP "I Create Music" Expo, MIDEM, and SXSW have panels and workshops dedicated to music licensing. These can be fantastic opportunities to meet agents in person. Sync Summits: These are events specifically tailored for the sync industry, offering an excellent platform to network with professionals. 3. Networking: Local Music Events: Sometimes, local music events or workshops can feature professionals from the sync industry. Keep an eye out for such opportunities. Online Communities: Platforms like LinkedIn, dedicated Facebook groups, and Reddit have communities centered around music licensing where you can gather recommendations. 4. Look at Successful Independent Artists: Research indie artists who've secured notable sync placements. Often, they'll mention their representation in interviews or on their websites. This can give you leads on agents who are active and successful. 5. Research and Outreach: Once you have a list of potential agents, research each one. Look at their track record, artists they represent, and their general reputation in the industry. Cold Outreach: If you feel confident about an agent, don't hesitate to send a cold email. Ensure it's personalized, concise, and professional. Include a brief introduction, a link to your music, and why you believe you'd be a good fit. 6. Recommendations: Ask fellow musicians, producers, or composers for recommendations. Word of mouth can sometimes lead to the best matches since these come from personal experiences. 7. Work with Sync Platforms: While not traditional agents, platforms like Songtradr, Music Vine, and Audio Network allow you to upload your music for potential sync opportunities. Although they're more hands-off compared to personal agents, they can be a starting point and occasionally offer representation for artists they believe in. 8. Look Beyond the Borders: Don't restrict your search to your immediate locality. The nature of the music business is global, and there are fantastic sync agents located around the world. Tips for Approaching Sync Agents: Professionalism: Treat your outreach as you would a job application. Be courteous, succinct, and professional. Demo Ready: Have a high-quality demo or portfolio ready to share. It should showcase your best and most relevant work. Be Clear About Your Vision: Agents prefer artists who have a clear sense of direction and ambition. Know what you want and communicate it effectively. Final Thoughts Finding the right sync agent requires a combination of research, networking, and persistence. But the effort is worth it, as the right partnership can be the key to unlocking a myriad of opportunities in the world of sync licensing. Remember, it's not just about finding any agent, but the right agent who resonates with your musical vision and career goals. (The following post is part 1 of a two-part post called “Should We Fear AI?”. As I was writing the post, I kept uncovering more and more topics related to AI and the music business that I wanted to address. The post turned out to be very long, so I decided to break the post into two separate posts to make it more digestible. I will be publishing part two in about a week or so.) Should We Fear AI? (Part 1) If you’ve been following my posts and videos the last few weeks, you’ll have noticed that I’ve recently developed an interest in AI. I’ve been immersing myself in all things AI recently, exploring the myriad of tools that are emerging in the field of AI and doing my best to understand the implications for musicians and artists, both good and bad. It’s been an interesting few weeks and the reaction I’ve received from friends and colleagues about my growing interest in AI has been very mixed. It seems like people tend to fall in either one of two groups regarding their view on AI:
In this post, I’m going to explore my views on AI and share my perspective in terms of Ais implications for the music industry, and creatives in general. It goes without saying that I don’t have all the answers and I am not an “expert” per se on AI. I don’t think anyone really knows exactly how this will all play out, the so-called experts included. Just to be clear, the entirety of this blog post is written by yours truly (Aaron Davison), unless stated otherwise. One of the interesting things about the advent of a technology like Chat GPT, is that it is going to be harder and harder to distinguish actual authentic human voices from ideas generated by AI. This is a potential downside and a real concern, but I’m getting ahead of myself. What Is AI? Before we continue, let’s define precisely what “AI”, or “Artificial Intelligence” is and what AI entails. For this, I will use AI itself, Chat GPT, to be precise, to generate an easy to comprehend definition. I went to Chat GPT and I said: I'm writing a blog post all about AI in the context of the music business. Can you please write me a simple, easy to understand definition of what AI is and, broadly speaking, what AI entails. Here’s What Chat GPT said: “Certainly! Here's a simple and easy-to-understand definition of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and what it broadly entails: Definition of AI: Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks include understanding natural language, recognizing patterns, making decisions, and learning from experience. What AI Entails: AI involves creating algorithms and computer programs that enable machines to: Learn: AI systems can learn from data and adapt to new information. They use techniques like machine learning to improve their performance over time. Reason: AI can make decisions and solve problems by following logical rules and analyzing data to reach conclusions. Perceive: AI systems can sense and interpret their environment through sensors, cameras, microphones, and other input devices. Interact: AI can communicate with humans and other machines through natural language processing (NLP) and speech recognition technologies. Automate: AI can automate tasks and processes, reducing the need for manual intervention in various industries. In the context of the music business, AI can be used for tasks such as music recommendation, content generation, songwriting assistance, music composition, and analyzing music trends. It can help artists, producers, and music platforms make data-driven decisions and enhance the music creation and listening experience.” Ok, so with that definition out of the way, let’s get back to the post. First, let me back up a few months… When I first discovered Chat GPT last December, I played around with it for a few weeks and had fun having it write poems, lyrics, etc. It seemed like a cool tool, but I couldn’t quite wrap my head around how I could use it as musician, entrepreneur etc. I don’t really like the idea of Chat GPT, or other AI tools, doing the heavy lifting for my creative pursuits, since after all, the creative elements of songwriting and composing are to me the most rewarding elements of being an artist. If I don’t get to flex my creativity muscle when I’m making art, then making art and music makes little sense to me. So, after a few weeks of playing around with Chat GPT, the novelty of it wore off, and I more or less forgot about it for a couple months. Then, in March of this year, I came up with the idea of collaborating with Chat GPT for a song I was working on, and I used Chat GPT to co-wrote the lyrics. I thought it would be a fun experiment and to be honest I thought maybe it would help me get more views on Youtube. It didn’t really work as I had hoped in terms of getting a lot of views, but it was a fun project, and it gave me a glimpse of what’s possible in terms of collaborating with AI and using it as a tool in the context of songwriting. You can check that song out here: After the song I recorded, I again put AI and Chat GPT on the backburner, and a few more months went by and more or less forgot about Chat GPT and AI. Until a few weeks ago when I was working on a blog post. Around this point, I was going through a heightened sense of frustration and burn out related to working and for that matter, making music. I have these periods, every couple years or so, where I have this sense of hitting a metaphorical wall and have to figure out how to navigate my way over, or around, whatever blocks I’m experiencing. At this point, I consider these periods fairly normal, and simply a part of the ebb and flow of life. Although to to be honest this period of feeling “blocked” was more intense and longer lasting than previous blocks. I won’t bore you with the details, as that would make what is going to turn out to be a fairly long post, even longer. But suffice it to say, I was feeling pretty stuck, and a lot of what I was feeling was related to simply working too much. I had too much on my plate. I had reached a point where it seemed like I was working harder and harder but getting diminishing returns. Something had to give. Right around this time, as I was trying to figure out how to get my mojo back and get things back on track, is when I I thought to myself, “hey there’s thing called Chat GPT, I should see if it can help me gather some of the data I need for the project I’m working on”. (I was working on a blog for a different website I sometimes write for related to travel). The results astounded me. Within mere seconds I had a complete list of the data I needed, complete with citations, references and website links for related resources. I was stunned and to be honest my jaw dropped in astonishment. I had just saved myself probably about two or three hours of work, with a simple request and the click of a mouse. This experience led me down the AI rabbit hole. Prior to this experience, I didn’t quite “get” AI. I mean it seemed pretty cool, but I just hadn’t been able to piece together how I could really apply it to what I do as a musician/entrepreneur. It’s cool that it can write short stories, poems and lyrics, and so on, but I’m not interested in working with a machine that can potentially replace me. Like I said, the creative aspect of songwriting is the most rewarding part of being a songwriter for me. The last thing I want is a machine to replace the aspect of being a musician I enjoy the most; the creativity! However, my experience working on my blog, was an aha moment. I realized I had been looking at AI and Chat GPT all wrong. I slowly started connecting the dots in terms of how I could actually apply Chat GPT and AI to what it is I do. What followed was a period of heightened creativity and inspiration. Once I had a glimpse of what’s possible with AI, I started making more and more connections in terms of how I could apply AI to many of my different pursuits and interests. Although, the ironic thing is that even though AI can save us vast amounts of time and help us work more efficiently, I have been working harder than ever and putting in longer hours than usual, out of sheer excitement to create and implement new ideas I’m coming up with. It feels like the floodgates of creativity have opened, because now I realize I have the tools to actually create many of the whacky ideas I come up with, quickly and efficiently. I’ll give you an example. Last week I was lying in bed after a meditation session and an idea popped in my head for a short film concept that I wanted to make. The idea was that there is an AI entity trapped in a Youtube video, pondering the nature of consciousness and what it means to be human vs AI. I then thought, that’s kind of a cool idea, let me go to Chat GPT and present the concept and have it write me a script, and also, it would be cool to make it in the “style of” David Lynch. I went to Chat GPT, described my concept, hit enter and voila. A complete script based on my concept. I then used another AI tool I have to do the voiceover for the script and I edited the film myself using a variety of stock video footage I found. I ended up making the entire 6 minute short in an evening. From concept to finished product in a night. Now, to be fair, whether or not the “film” is actually good is debatable. I think it’s cool! But, the more astonishing fact is that I was able to come up with an idea, create a script and then finish the project in an evening, having never even made a short “film” before. And this is what excites me about AI the most; the potential to birth our ideas into life much more quickly. Here’s the short I generated, if you want to check that out…. AI encompasses many different programs and tools. In part two of this post I’ll explore a few different AI tools, but in this post I’ll be focusing on Chat GPT, since it’s probably the most well-known AI tool at this point. It’s also the AI tool I’ve been using the most. Chat GPT is a remarkable tool and it’s capable of amazing things, however, its output is based on your input and is limited and restrained by what you ask it to do. The better input you give it, also known as prompts, the better results it will deliver. Garbage in, garbage out. The more precise you can be with what you want it to do, the better results you will get. Let me give you an example. I will get to Chat GPT write now and have it do a few different tasks, starting from simple and mundane, to more complex and impressive. Let’s start with something silly and trite. Here’s my first prompt: “Chat GPT, write me a silly four-line poem about the joys of summer”: Here’s what it wrote: Beneath a sun that's oh so bright, I wore my shorts a tad too tight. Ice cream melts and flip-flops flutter, Summer's here, let's spread the butter! I asked for a silly poem and it delivered. Now let’s try to have it do something a bit more interesting. Here’s my second prompt: Please write a short essay, outlining the ways AI could both potentially hurt and potentially help musicians and the music industry. Please make the essay short, as this is part of a much larger blog post I’m working on. Here’s what it created, in about five seconds: The Double-edged Sword of AI in the Music Industry The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the 21st century presents both exhilarating possibilities and daunting challenges for musicians and the broader music industry. As with any technological advancement, the implications of AI span a spectrum of positive and negative outcomes, reshaping the landscape of music creation, distribution, and consumption. Potential Benefits of AI for Musicians and the Music Industry: Assisting Creation: AI can serve as a collaborative tool for artists, suggesting chord progressions, generating lyrics, or even creating ambient sounds. It can bridge the gap between an artist's imagination and the final product, especially for those who might be musically inclined but lack formal training. Personalized Listening Experiences: For listeners, AI can enhance music streaming platforms' ability to provide personalized recommendations, creating a more tailored and enjoyable listening experience. Music Education: AI-driven applications can offer adaptive learning experiences, guiding budding musicians through their musical journey, adapting to their pace and style, and offering instant feedback. Analyzing Consumer Preferences: The music industry can use AI to better understand listener preferences, potentially leading to better market predictions and more strategic releases of songs and albums. Potential Detriments of AI for Musicians and the Music Industry: Over-Reliance and Diminishing Creativity: While AI can assist in the creation process, there's a risk that artists might become overly reliant on it. This could lead to a homogenization of music, where AI-generated tracks dominate the charts, potentially stifling true creativity and the unique human touch. Economic Impacts: As AI develops the capacity to produce music independently, it's possible that the demand for human-made music might decrease, potentially reducing income opportunities for musicians. Intellectual Property Concerns: With AI-generated music, the lines around copyright and ownership become blurry. Who owns the rights to a song created by an AI? The programmer? The operator? The implications are vast and require careful navigation. Devaluation of Human Skill: As AI tools become more accessible, there's a risk that the intrinsic value of human musicianship, with years of training and practice, might be undermined or overlooked. In conclusion, AI's role in the music industry offers a paradigm shift, promising avenues of innovation while simultaneously posing significant challenges. Embracing AI's potential benefits, while remaining critically aware of its limitations and potential pitfalls, will be crucial. As we stand on the brink of this new era, it's essential for musicians, industry professionals, and consumers alike to engage in discussions about AI's role in shaping the future soundscape. Pretty impressive. In the second example, I asked for something more substantive and was more precise in terms of what I was looking for and it delivered accordingly. Let’s try one more example and I’ll give it an even more clearly defined set of parameters. I said: “please give me a list of potential blog post topics I can write about related to how musicians can utilize AI, to make more money with their music. Please provide examples and related resources with url links”. And here’s what Chat GPT said: “Certainly! Here's a list of potential blog post topics related to how musicians can utilize AI to increase their revenue from music, along with examples and related resources where you can find more information: "AI-Assisted Music Creation: The Next Frontier?" Example: Apps like Amper Music or AIVA that help artists create soundtracks or backing tracks using AI. Resource: Amper Music and AIVA. "Optimizing Music Releases with AI-Powered Analysis" Example: LANDR’s mastering services that use AI to optimize tracks. Resource: LANDR. "Personalized Marketing: How AI Can Boost Your Music Sales" Example: Platforms like Spotify using AI to recommend songs to users. Resource: Spotify for Artists. "The Age of the AI Music Tutor: Learning and Monetizing" Example: Apps like Yousician that provide real-time feedback on playing instruments. Resource: Yousician. "Monetizing with AI-Powered Concerts: The New Normal?" Example: Virtual reality concerts where AI avatars perform. Resource: Wave. "Using AI to Understand Your Fanbase Better" Example: Services that analyze social media sentiments or engagement patterns using AI. Resource: Platforms like Hootsuite Insights. "AI in Merchandise: Increasing Sales with Smart Recommendations" Example: Websites offering merchandise suggestions based on fan preferences and browsing history. Resource: Platforms like Shopify's AI Recommendations. "Leveraging AI Chatbots for Direct Music Sales" Example: Using chatbots on websites to recommend albums, tracks, or merchandise to visitors. Resource: Tools like MobileMonkey. "Crowd Control: Using AI to Optimize Live Performance Bookings" Example: Analyzing fan location data to select best performing cities or venues. Resource: Next Big Sound by Pandora. "Revolutionizing Music Licensing with AI" Example: AI platforms matching creators with businesses needing specific music styles. Resource: Services like Jingle Punks.” Pretty amazing. I gave it a very specific request and it gave me a very specific answer. I could now take any single topic it gave me and dive deeper into any specific topic, adding my own voice to it, choosing what elements to focus on, what elements to skip over and so on. Chat GPT is essentially like Google on steroids. I’m starting to see it as sort of akin to a virtual assistant. It’s great at compiling data, brainstorming business ideas, creating outlines for projects, and so on. Used in the right context, it’s an incredibly powerful tool and can save you a tremendous amount of time and effort. I’m actually the least impressed with its creative writing abilities, although it can certainly be used to generate ideas, rough drafts and so on, that you could then expand on. The most interesting results I’m getting so far, are a collaboration of AI and human creativity and this is what I’m personally the most interested in; the intersection between human creativity and AI. This blog post is a good example. The majority of the writing and ideas are mine. I came up with the concept and I’m writing the majority of the post, but I’m using AI to illustrate my points and provide more context and data to support my initial premise. This is how I’m personally interested in using AI. I don’t want AI to replace me, or you for that matter, but I love the fact that it can save me time and help me do my job more efficiently and more effectively. What About Creating Music With AI? As I said, this is part one of a two-part blog post, and in the next post I’m going to dive deeper into using AI to assist in creating music. Again, this is the aspect of AI that I’m the least excited about in the context of the music business. That said, there are some powerful tools out there for musicians to be aware of and there are applications where it makes sense for artists to leverage the power of AI. For example, there are some amazing AI production tools that can assist artists in improving their production quality. There are some great tools for quickly creating backing tracks that could be potentially used in conjunction with artists creating original melodies and ideas over the top. I don’t think we should entirely discount AI in the context of making music, but in my mind at least, creativity is a uniquely human endeavor and part of the beauty of art is the blood, sweat and tears that goes into creating a great work of art. There’s a lot to explore and in my next post, I will be exploring these ideas in more detail. The Way I See It So who’s right? Will AI take over the world and be the end of us all? Will we become subservient to AI and its powers? Or will we, collectively, use AI to improve humanity and our individual lives and create a more harmonious, peaceful world? As with any new tool or technology, the potential for both possibilities exist. A hammer can be used as a tool for hammering nails, or it can be used as a weapon to kill someone. Nuclear power can be used to create energy that powers our homes, but it can also potentially be used to destroy the world in the form of nuclear weapons. Every new technology presents both a potential upside and potential downside. This is the nature of the dualistic world we live in. My take on AI is this: AI and AI related technology isn’t going anywhere. This thing is just getting started. The implications it has for disrupting and transforming a myriad of industries is quite staggering and there is no doubt many industries will be transformed, and jobs will be lost. However, the flipside is that AI is also an incredibly powerful tool that we can use to work more efficiently and do many tasks more effectively. In the right hands, it’s a remarkable tool and I also have no doubt will help many entrepreneurs, creatives, engineers and so on become more productive. Will AI be a net positive for humanity? I honestly think it’s too soon to say. I can envision many positive applications for AI and I think it will be an incredible tool in the right hands. However, in the wrong hands, it could potentially disrupt and negatively impact many industries. As with any new technology, early adopters will reap the most rewards, which is why I’m focusing so much on learning how to work with AI in a positive way and studying AI to fully understand its implications for musicians and the music business. What about you? What are your thoughts on AI in terms of the music business? Are you using AI tools already? Share your thoughts below, the good, bad and the ugly! In the vibrant world of music streaming, Spotify has emerged as a behemoth, boasting a staggering 489 million active users as of 2023. For independent artists, it represents not just a medium to share their craft, but a potential goldmine. Delving deeper, here's a breakdown of tried-and-true strategies to bolster your Spotify presence, replete with real-life success stories and resources. Playlisting: Your Golden Ticket The Strategy: Playlists on Spotify are powerful tools of discovery for listeners. By placing your music on relevant, high-engagement playlists, you harness the regular traffic of these lists. It's not just about exposure; it's about positioning your music in the daily routines of listeners, creating an organic growth loop. Real-Life Success: Lauv's "I Like Me Better" Go-to Resource: Playlist Push... Collaboration & Cross-Promotion: A Symbiotic Growth The Strategy: Teaming up with other artists is like merging fan bases. When you collaborate, fans of both artists get introduced to the other, driving up streams. Furthermore, the combined promotional efforts often mean your music reaches far more ears than it would alone. Real-Life Success: “Lovely”... Go-to Resource: Vampr... Spotify for Artists: Your Personal Analytics Expert The Strategy: Knowledge is power. "Spotify for Artists" offers in-depth insights into your listeners' demographics, tastes, and listening habits. With this data, you can tailor your marketing, music releases, and even concert locations to better suit your fan base, ensuring more successful campaigns. Real-Life Success: Rex Orange County's rise... Go-to Resource: Spotify for Artists... Profile Optimization: Your Digital Concert Stage The Strategy: Think of your profile as your digital persona. An optimized profile doesn't just offer information but invites engagement. It's where you showcase your brand, your story, and create a direct bond with fans. Consistency in aesthetic and timely updates can create a lasting impression. Real-Life Success: Conan Gray's profile... Go-to Resource: Spotify's official guide... Beyond Spotify: Creating Multi-Channel Harmony The Strategy: Music listeners are everywhere - from social media to video platforms. Leveraging these channels creates multiple touchpoints for potential fans. By promoting your Spotify tracks externally, you create a funnel, channeling fans from diverse platforms to one central hub - your Spotify. Real-Life Success: "Dance Monkey" by Tones and I... Go-to Resource: Linktree... Spotify Ad Studio: Crafting the Perfect Pitch The Strategy: Traditional ads merely inform; tailored ads tell a story. By using Spotify Ad Studio, you can craft narratives that resonate with specific demographics, ensuring higher engagement rates and, by extension, higher streams. Real-Life Success: Vulfpeck’s “Sleepify”... Go-to Resource: Spotify Ad Studio... User-Generated Content: Fans as Promoters The Strategy: In the age of social media, fans have voices louder than ever. Encouraging them to create content around your music transforms them from passive listeners to active promoters, creating viral growth potential with minimal input. Real-Life Success: Drake's "In My Feelings"... Go-to Resource: Platforms like Instagram... Pre-save Campaigns: The Hype Machine The Strategy: Anticipation breeds engagement. Pre-save campaigns allow fans to express their eagerness and ensures they are first in line when a track drops. This can lead to an explosion of streams upon release, catapulting tracks to top chart positions. Real-Life Success: Charlie Puth's "How Long"... Go-to Resource: Feature.fm... Spotify Networking: Building the Right Bridges The Strategy: Building personal relationships in the music world can be as crucial as producing great content. Networking with playlist curators and other industry figures can lead to more features, collaborations, and inside opportunities. Real-Life Success: ODESZA’s playlist features... Go-to Resource: For The Love Of Bands... Spotify Playlist Curator Directory Connect with over 4,500 Spotify Playlists curators. Submit your music directly to thousands of key Spotify playlists. More info. For a deeper dive, do check out our newest podcast episode, where we dissect the ascent of an artist who has truly decoded the Spotify matrix! Listen here: In my ongoing series on AI and music licensing, my next post delves further into the practical ways AI is transforming the music licensing space. We'll explore how AI tools and techniques are subtly transforming music licensing, offering fresh perspectives and insights. We'll also look at ways artists are using AI to license more music and optimize their catalogs, ensuring that their music aligns with evolving market demands and reaches a broader audience. The music industry is continuously evolving, with artists relentlessly exploring new avenues to make a mark and monetize their talents. Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out as a significant catalyst in this change. Its influence spans from revolutionizing the creative process to redefining music licensing. In today’s post, I delve into the transformative power of AI in music licensing, showcasing its benefits to artists and ways you can tap into its potential. How AI is Transforming Music Licensing There are a variety of ways that AI is transforming the music licensing industry, both in terms of transforming how music is created, but also how it is marketed. Here are a few of the main ways AI is impacting music licensing: Personalized Music Curation: AI algorithms, akin to those in streaming platforms like Spotify, have personalized music discovery. In the context of licensing, AI enhances track selection for specific projects, easing the burden on filmmakers and advertisers. The result? Artists, through understanding these AI preferences, can increase their music's chances of being licensed. Automated Composition: AI isn’t just a tool; it's also a creator. Platforms like Loudly, utilize AI to craft royalty-free music, offering an alternative income stream for artists. Audio Analysis for Trends: AI can digest massive audio datasets, spotting emerging musical trends. This foresight is invaluable for artists, allowing them to align their compositions with industry demand, thereby increasing their licensing opportunities. Capitalizing on AI Insights Genre Evolution: AI not only identifies but also predicts genre shifts and emerging styles. For instance, the rise of "electropop" is not a random occurrence; it was highlighted by platforms like Spotify's "Every Noise at Once" which maps out music genres and their popularity. Another AI-identified trend is "hyperpop", a subgenre of pop that is heavily synthesized and internet-inspired. Resource: Every Noise at Once Lyric and Mood Analysis: Using platforms like Musixmatch, artists can discern popular themes, topics, and moods by analyzing song lyrics. AI has spotlighted that themes of resilience, empowerment, and mental health are resonating with current audiences. Example: Billie Eilish's "Everything I Wanted" encapsulates themes of fame, mental health, and the pressures of the music industry. Resource: Musixmatch API Instrumentation and Production Trends: Tools like LANDR or Endlesss provide insights into trending instruments, sounds, and production techniques. For instance, AI analysis has noted the resurgence of 80s synthesizers and the popularity of lo-fi beats in recent years. Example: The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" heavily incorporates 80s synth sounds. Resource: LANDR | Endlesss Regional and Cultural Trends: AI can detect the rise of specific genres in regions previously not associated with them. For instance, the global proliferation of K-pop has been well-documented by AI-driven platforms such as YouTube's Trending Page or Deezer's genre analytics. Artists can utilize these insights to either incorporate or collaborate with these rising styles. Example: BTS, a K-pop group, has seen unprecedented success in Western markets, further solidified by collaborations with artists like Halsey and Ed Sheeran. Resource: YouTube Trending | Deezer for Developers Note: While these links and resources provide valuable insights, artists should still prioritize their unique voice and creativity. AI can guide, but the human touch in music remains irreplaceable. Artist Case Studies: Tessa Violet: A Modern Success Story Fueled by AI ![]() In the world of indie-pop, Tessa Violet stands out not just for her captivating sound, but also for her strategic approach to the music industry. Rather than relying solely on instinct and traditional means, Tessa embraced the power of technology. Using AI-driven analytics from platforms such as Chartmetric, she was able to delve deep into the data behind what makes a track resonate with listeners and fit seamlessly into visual media. The insights from these analytics allowed Tessa to refine her indie-pop sound, aligning it perfectly with current market demands. By understanding trends and audience preferences, she could craft songs that weren't just melodically engaging, but also primed for licensing in the commercial realm. The results speak for themselves. Today, Tessa's tracks, imbued with a modern, data-informed essence, are featured in a range of media — from upbeat commercials that connect with younger audiences, to emotive moments in indie films that demand a memorable soundtrack. Her embrace of AI not only showcases the potential of tech in the music world but also serves as an inspiration for up-and-coming artists looking to find their niche in the industry. To get a real sense of Tessa Violet's sound and the fruits of her labor, you can check out her music here. Lost Frequencies: From Studio to Spotlight with AI Mastering In the ever-evolving landscape of electronic music, Lost Frequencies has managed to carve a niche that resonates with both listeners and industry professionals. While raw talent and dedication undeniably play pivotal roles in an artist's rise, there's also a space for technological tools to amplify that talent. For Lost Frequencies, that technological edge came from LANDR. LANDR, an AI-driven mastering platform, proved to be a game-changer for this artist. Traditional mastering can be a complex, time-consuming, and expensive process, often demanding multiple iterations to get the sound just right. However, with LANDR, Lost Frequencies was able to achieve a polished, professional sound that stood out in a crowded market. This superior mastering quality ensured that his tracks had that extra shine, making them not just playlist favorites but also top contenders for licensing in advertisements. The results were transformative. As advertisers and brands sought music that connected with audiences, the pristine and compelling sound of Lost Frequencies became an obvious choice. His tracks started popping up in various commercials, amplifying his reach and solidifying his place in the electronic music scene. This journey from studio tinkering to commercial success wasn't just about producing great music; it was about optimizing every element of that music. It serves as a testament to how artists can harness the power of AI and other technologies to elevate their craft and make a significant impact in the industry. To dive deeper into the world of Lost Frequencies and understand the essence of his sound, you can explore more about him here. Elise Trouw: Harnessing Data to Refine a Unique Sound In the dynamic arena of modern music, blending genres and crafting unique sounds is both an art and a science. Elise Trouw stands as a brilliant testament to this balance. A multi-instrumentalist with a flair for fusing styles, Elise's innate talent is unquestionable. However, it's the way she harnessed modern technology, particularly insights from Spotify for Artists, that sets her journey apart. Spotify for Artists provides musicians with a trove of data, revealing how listeners interact with their tracks. For Elise, this wasn't just numbers on a dashboard; it was a window into her audience's soul. By analyzing listening patterns, skips, saves, and playlist adds, she began to discern which elements of her fusion style resonated the most with her fans. With this data in hand, Elise went back to the drawing board, refining her approach to music creation. The result was a sound that was authentically hers yet had an even broader appeal. This musical evolution didn't go unnoticed. Soon, TV producers, enchanted by the unique aura of her tracks, began to feature her music in several TV series, bringing her sound into living rooms across the globe. Elise Trouw's story is a compelling reminder of how artists today can use data-driven insights to complement their creative instincts. It's about listening to your audience without losing your voice, and Elise has mastered this delicate balance. For those keen on understanding the nuances of her musical journey and getting a taste of her exceptional talent, you can explore her journey in more detail here. In Conclusion AI is emerging as a formidable force in the music licensing space. By utilizing AI-driven tools and insights, you can navigate the complex music licensing landscape with greater ease. As the industry morphs, staying abreast with AI's latest offerings is crucial for success. Embrace AI and watch your music's licensing potential amplify! Resources for Trend Analysis:
Chartmetric: Provides insights into music trends and artist-specific analytics. Spotify for Artists: Helps artists understand listener demographics and trends. Soundcharts: Offers real-time music analytics. More AI Resources For Musicians: LANDR: Known for AI mastering, LANDR also delves into music distribution, offering tools to elevate music readiness for licensing. Musiio: Musiio aids in categorizing music, increasing an artist's chance of showcasing their work to potential licensors. I have been immersing myself in the world of AI lately, doing my best to wrap my head around this emerging technology. Just a few months ago, my perception of AI and its implications for the music industry were radically different than what they are today.
To be honest, I was initially afraid of AI and its implications for the music industry. Like with many new technologies, there is the potential with something like AI to disrupt industries, potentially put many people out of work and radically change an industry like the music industry over night. And as humans, we simply fear change and uncertainty, and AI is a big change with a lot of potential uncertainty. However, the more I dive deep into many of the new AI powered tools and the more I reflect on AI’s potential, the more I see AI as simply a tool, that we can choose to leverage, or not. I no longer see AI as a threat per se. The real threat is someone else utilizing AI better than you and figuring out how to get ahead by leveraging AI. The real competition, as always, is other people. Over the next couple weeks, I am going to be doing a series of posts related to AI and the music industry, and exploring ways you can use AI as a musician. This is a big topic and it’s one that I’m going to be approaching from multiple different angles. I have been studying and researching AI for the last few months and to say that I’m excited about the potential of AI would be an understatement. It’s fair to say that we are in the beginning stages of a new era. You can think of this era as something like the dot com era, where early adopters, people who saw the potential of the internet, got in early and made a lot of money. This is like that, only I suspect, much bigger. I don’t think AI should be feared. To the contrary, I think it's a technology we should embrace. And regardless, the cat is out of the bag, AI is here to stay and will only grow more and more powerful, whether we want it to or not. Ok, with that introduction out of the way, let’s look at a few ways musicians can utilize the power of AI, right now, to create and promote music that has a better chance of actually finding an audience. How To Advance Your Music Career With AI In the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, artists are harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to not only create music but also to promote and amplify their artistic endeavors. AI is proving to be a game-changer, offering innovative ways for musicians to connect with audiences, optimize their strategies, and carve their path to success. Let's explore how musicians can leverage AI to promote their music effectively, along with examples, insights, and related resources. 1. Smart Targeting through Audience Analysis AI-driven tools enable musicians to analyze audience data, providing valuable insights into demographics, preferences, and behaviors. By understanding who your audience is, you can tailor your promotional efforts to resonate with them. For instance, platforms like Spotify for Artists provide analytics that reveal the geographical locations where your music is most popular, helping you plan tour dates and target specific regions for promotion. 2. Personalized Recommendations and Playlists One of the most influential ways AI impacts the music industry is through personalized recommendations. AI algorithms analyze listener behavior and preferences to curate custom playlists. As a musician, getting your tracks included in these playlists can significantly boost your visibility. Spotify's "Discover Weekly" and "Release Radar" are prime examples of AI-generated playlists that introduce users to new music. Collaborative playlists, where fans contribute their favorite tracks, also create a sense of community around your music. 3. Crafting Compelling Content with AI AI tools can assist in creating engaging content for social media and marketing campaigns. Lyric video generators, like Lumen5, transform your song's lyrics into visually appealing videos that resonate with viewers. Additionally, AI-driven image recognition tools can help you select captivating visuals for album covers and promotional materials. 4. Enhancing Social Media Engagement AI-powered chatbots can engage with your fans on social media platforms, providing timely responses and personalized interactions. This boosts fan engagement and gives you the opportunity to maintain a consistent online presence, even during busy periods. Chatbots can answer frequently asked questions, share updates, and even recommend tracks to users based on their preferences. 5. Analyzing Trends for Strategic Releases AI can help musicians identify the best times to release new music based on historical data and trends. By analyzing factors like day of the week, time of day, and competitor releases, you can strategically time your releases for maximum impact. Tools like Chartmetric provide data-driven insights to guide your release strategy. 6. Collaborating with AI-Powered Platforms Platforms like Amper Music and AIVA enable musicians to collaborate with AI to compose original tracks. This can be particularly useful for creating background music for videos, podcasts, and other content. These AI tools provide an extra layer of creativity and efficiency in music production. 7. Predictive Analytics for Tour Planning AI can aid in predicting the success of a tour in specific regions by analyzing streaming data and social media engagement. This data-driven approach helps musicians tailor their tour plans to locations where they have a strong and engaged fan base. 8. Harnessing the Power of Visual Recognition Visual recognition technology allows musicians to connect their music with visuals that resonate. For example, platforms like Musiio use AI to analyze images and match them with appropriate music. This can be particularly useful for sync licensing, where your music is paired with visual content like advertisements or films. Case Studies: Artists Who Advanced Their Careers with AI-Powered Strategies Billie Eilish: Personalized Recommendations and Viral Content Billie Eilish, known for her unique sound and captivating visuals, harnessed the power of AI-generated recommendations to advance her career. Her breakthrough hit "Bad Guy" was strategically positioned through AI-curated playlists like Spotify's "Discover Weekly" and "Pop Rising." These personalized playlists exposed her music to users who shared similar preferences, propelling her into mainstream popularity. Eilish also utilized AI-driven visual recognition tools to align her music with visually appealing content. The mesmerizing visuals in her music videos, combined with the song's innovative production, resonated strongly with her audience and generated viral content across social media platforms. By effectively utilizing AI for personalized recommendations and captivating content, Billie Eilish skyrocketed to global fame. Lil Nas X: Riding the Wave of Emerging Trends Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" became a cultural phenomenon by strategically aligning with emerging trends. The fusion of country and hip-hop elements tapped into a genre fusion trend gaining momentum in the music industry. The song initially gained popularity on the social media platform TikTok, where users created videos featuring the catchy hook. This viral challenge created a cascading effect, fueling social proof and propelling the track to unprecedented heights. Lil Nas X's strategic timing in releasing the track during the rise of the trend, coupled with the viral challenge and social proof generated by user-generated content, contributed to the song's longevity atop the Billboard charts. This case illustrates how AI-powered insights into trends and social media engagement can lead to a global breakthrough. Tones and I: Smart Tour Planning with Predictive Analytics Tones and I, an Australian singer-songwriter, made strategic use of AI analytics for tour planning. By analyzing streaming data, social media engagement, and fan demographics, Tones and I identified regions where her music had a strong following. This data-driven approach allowed her to tailor her tour plans, focusing on cities and regions where she had a dedicated fan base. As a result, Tones and I's tour sold out in many locations, leading to sold-out shows and engaged audiences. This strategic approach to tour planning based on AI insights showcases the power of data in optimizing artists' live performances and furthering their career trajectory. The Endless Creativity of Holly Herndon: AI-Driven Collaboration Holly Herndon, an experimental electronic artist, has embraced AI not only as a promotional tool but also as a collaborator. She partnered with an AI named "Spawn" to co-create music compositions that blend human creativity with machine learning algorithms. This unique approach resulted in an album titled "PROTO," which featured tracks co-composed with AI. Herndon's experimentation with AI-driven music creation garnered attention for its innovative and boundary-pushing nature. By collaborating with AI, she not only expanded her creative horizons but also generated media coverage and interest from tech and music enthusiasts. This case study exemplifies how artists can leverage AI not only for promotional strategies but also as a creative partner. Incorporating AI-powered strategies has proven to be a catalyst for these artists' careers. From personalized recommendations and aligning with trends to optimizing tour planning and collaborating with AI, musicians are exploring diverse avenues to enhance their presence in the music industry. These case studies underscore the transformative potential of AI in advancing artists' careers and opening doors to new levels of success. Related Resources:
In the dynamic landscape of the music industry, AI has emerged as a powerful ally for musicians seeking to promote their music effectively. By leveraging AI's capabilities in audience analysis, personalized recommendations, content creation, and predictive analytics, musicians can reach wider audiences, make data-driven decisions, and embark on a journey of artistic growth. The synergy between music and technology is opening new horizons for musicians, enabling them to amplify their voices and connect with fans on a deeper level. Like I said, I will be exploring AI and its potential implications and applications for musicians in detail over the next few weeks. I see AI as an extremely powerful tool, that no doubt will transform and change the music industry. However, I don't fear this change, but rather I embrace it. AI is here to stay, so let's figure out how to use it to our advantage! What do you think about AI? Are you afraid? Excited? Share your thoughts below! When it comes to music licensing, it’s best to think long term. As I’ve said many times before in my blogs and podcasts, music licensing is not a get rich quick scheme. Success in music licensing usually plays out over months and years.
It takes time to create a catalog, build connections and ultimately get placements. Which is why, it’s best to approach sync licensing with this awareness from the outset. If you go into this business looking for instant gratification, you’ll most likely be disappointed. Learn to enjoy the journey and embrace the process. When you are planning a strategy for success in music licensing, it’s best to think in terms of years, as opposed to days or even months. For example: Year 1 – Focus on creating a large body of work and getting production quality up to speed. Year 2 – Focus on networking and cultivating connections with people in the industry. Year 3 – Focus on getting placements and building your resume while continuing to create new music. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t get a placement in year one, or that you can’t continue to work on new music in year two. But this sort of long-term thinking and strategizing will allow you to see the big picture and not get stuck in a place where you’re frustrated because you’re not seeing the results you want to see right out of the gate. It will also help you keep your eye of the prize and focus on what you need to focus on at any given moment. If you already have a large body of work ready to be pitched, then by all means start networking and building connections. But make sure you have a good grasp on where you are in the grand scheme of things before you start blindly pitching your music. It’s best to zoom out and get a bird’s eye view of where you are and then hone in on the specific area or areas you need to focus on. How do you know where you are and what you should focus on? First and foremost, if you want to license music, you need to have great music, that is fully produced and ready to be pitched. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the “Music Licensing Checklist” that I put together that outlines what you need to have ready to go, before you start pitching your music. Check that out here. In the music licensing checklist PDF I break down specifically what you need and what you need to do, prior to pitching your tracks and go into more detail on each step. Here’s a breakdown of the basic steps you should take, from start to finish, as you embark on your sync licensing journey: (For more information on each step, click on the link.) Step One – Create ten to twenty tracks, fully produced, mixed and mastered. Step Two – Create Both Instrumental & Vocal Versions Of All Tracks Step Three – Create Both WAV and MP3 Files Of All Tracks Step Four – Add Metadata to your tracks Step Five – Register Your Titles With your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, etc). If you haven’t joined a PRO yet, join one. Step Six – “Copyright” your tracks. (Note: This isn’t a pre-requisite, but is recommended) Step Seven – Form a publishing company to get paid for tracks licensed through companies that don’t publishing royalties (Sync Agencies, Some music libraries, licensing music directly through supervisors) Step Eight – Launch A Music Licensing Campaign Step Nine – Continue To Create New Music And Continue Cultivating Relationships In The Industry The above steps provide a framework and sequence for moving through the sync licensing industry, from start to finish. You can of course always circle back and complete tasks that you haven’t already done. Maybe you’ve already started pitching your tracks, but you haven’t formed a publishing company yet. No problem, simply go back and take care of this step when you get a chance. Conversely, maybe you’ve already started pitching your tracks, but you forgot to copyright your tracks. Again, not a big deal, you can simply take care of this going forward. When I first embarked on my licensing journey, I didn’t really have a clue what I was doing and I had to learn, through trial and error, as I went. But in retrospect, I could have saved myself a lot of time and progressed a lot quicker if I had been able to see the big picture and set myself up better for success. By anticipating the steps you’ll need to take going forward, you’ll be able to plan better and work more strategically. Also be sure to check out my "Music Licensing Manifesto" if you haven't already for an even more in-depth overview of the music licensing journey. Today I want to address a topic that I think is critical when it comes to getting started in the music business in 2022. It’s a topic that I’ve touched on and alluded to over the years in various blog posts and videos, but today I’m going to focus solely on this specific topic, because it’s a topic that is really important to understand when it comes creating a successful career in the music business.
We’ve all heard the expression “it takes money to make money”. There is a lot of truth to this statement, in the sense that it is certainly easier to make money if you already have money. It’s much easier to create a billion dollars of wealth if you start with a million dollars. I recall reading a couple years ago that if Donald Trump had simply invested the “small loan” of one million dollars his Father gave him into the stock market, instead of going into the real estate business, he would be richer today. I haven’t checked the math to see whether that’s accurate, but it doesn’t surprise me. It’s a lot easier to create large sums of money, when you start with large sums of money. It’s much easier to go from one million dollars to a billion dollars, than from one dollar to a billion dollars. It takes resources to accumulate wealth, and money is a powerful resource when it comes to creating more money. Money buys you time, labor, tools and resources that can greatly expedite your mission, whatever it is. Money is a powerful tool. But, what if you don’t have a lot of money to start with? What then? Well, fortunately money is just one of many tools at your disposal when it comes to creating wealth and creating a business or career, whether it’s in the music business or another industry. If you don’t have lots of resources, like money, to start with, you must be resourceful. After all, there are many ways to accomplish your goals and move forward apart from simply buying things that will get you closer to your goal. You must be creative and think outside the box, but if you’re in the music business, you’re probably already creative to start with. So it shouldn’t be that hard to come up with ways you can achieve your goals that don’t require you giving people your cold hard cash. To give you some ideas on how this works, here are a few things I’ve done over the years to achieve my goals when I couldn’t afford to outright pay people upfront:
These are just a few things I’ve done over the years to get the job done without spending money upfront. There are a myriad of different way you can compensate people and money is just one way. Money in the form of currency is simply a unit of value. But most of us have other valuable resources we can use in lieu of currency that we may or may not be aware of. Your skills are a form of currency. Your knowledge is a form of currency. Your time is a form of currency. Anything that others deem valuable is a form of currency that can be traded for resources. I think a lot of people think that if they can’t afford something because they don’t have enough money to buy it, whatever it is, be it a product or service, that they simply can’t have it. That could be the case, depending on what it is, not everyone will be willing to trade their products and services for your products and services. But you’d be surprised how many people are open to creative ways of getting paid, especially in the music business where most music industry professionals understand and can relate to the challenges we face as musicians. The bottom line is that if your dream is to make music and make money from your music, it’s up to you to figure out how to make that happen. It will probably require thinking outside of the box a little bit. Don’t just shrug your shoulders and give up if you don’t know how to finance pursuing your dream and make things happen. Don’t be afraid to be creative and come up with resourceful ways of getting things done. Instead of coming up with a list of excuses for why you can’t achieve your goals, brainstorm, and come up with a list of ways you could reach your goals. Be creative, resourceful and think outside the box, and you’ll be amazed at how many ways there actually are to get things done. |
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