The Profits That Accompany Music Licensing

Movies, TV shows, webisodes, videos and video games are given a different level of entertainment when music is added to them

. One very important aspect of a musician's career is licensing music in these many areas. This is something each and every composer should know if they want to receive substantial earnings and recognition of the music they've created. When we mention the term music licensing, this does not actually mean selling one's work to a certain company or an individual. You have the full right of ownership but having it licensed is like renting it to companies that desire your music. Your music is used (for whatever purpose they intend) in exchange of an agreed fee or payment.

The applicable fee depends on how and where the music will be used. Needless to say that the more frequent the music is used, the more lucrative it is for the creator. Currently, advertising, gaming companies and the film industry are the common markets of licensed music.

The positive aspect about music licensing is that in many cases it is not subject to exclusivity so a musician can license his music to different companies for different purposes. The copyright is retained by the composer and the composer has the discretion to where the music is to be licensed. That's the benefit of creating good music; have it licensed, have it used and making earnings.

To understand how and where composers and publishers get profit from music licensing, here are some examples of the royalties and/or fees collected from licensed music:

Performance royalty- is collected when a song or music is used in live stage performances done in public venues. The scope of such royalty is not limited to live performances only but also for songs played on radio broadcasts or TV simulcast.

Downloading royalty- music is easily accessible on the Web and each time a song is downloaded a royalty is collected. While there are no strict downloading laws, the countries in the Western part of the world have created a strict monitoring and policies against illegal downloading and distribution.

Synchronization license and royalty- a synchronization license is applicable when music is placed on TV, film, radio, video, etc. The royalties are paid to publishers and composers for the use of compositions as background music in a film, commercial or TV show.

Print royalty- royalty compensation based on the sales of printed sheet music.

Mechanical license and royalty- a mechanical license gives permission to reproduce copyrighted music on CD's, cassettes, records and other media. The royalty is where composers and publishers get part of every record sold.

Although there are other avenues to license music these that we've just discussed cover the basics. It is very important for the beginner as well as the advanced composer to perfectly understand the importance and benefits of music licensing; it is both for recognition and even above recognition earnings that could possibly last beyond a lifetime.

The Profits That Accompany Music Licensing

By: Alexis Wright

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