How Music Libraries Work
How Music Libraries Work
A Music Library is not what you think. It is not a place where you can
check out music and scores and bring them home, and then return them later.
However, this is kind of the premise behind the daily functioning of a
music library. A real music library licenses selections from their collection
of music and sound effects to end-users, typically production companies
and TV Stations, for use in a particular project. Every time a piece from
a library is used, the library charges a fee.
Many libraries don't just license a tune, but they look at how you use
it, for how long, and how your final project is released to determine a
fee. This often results in costly licensing bills for many production houses.
These fees, however, are how the music libraries make their money.
So how does a composer fit in? Depending on the library, a composer either
grants a library rights to distribute and license a piece in exchange for
royalty payments, meaning they get a portion of the proceeds from each
license. Other times, composers may sell their music outright for a flat
rate. Most cases, libraries license a composer's works exclusively for
a contractually set amount of time for approximately a 30% to 50% share
of the final license fees.
Productiontrax.com is a different type of music library. Productiontrax.com
works with composers and sound designers to distribute and license their
music to end users directly online. Composers who register with Productiontrax.com
maintain all the rights to their music, and may elect to sell their music
other places as well, as long as their other agreements to not conflict
with the Productiontrax.com
license agreement. This allows composers to
maximize their income, as well as their distribution options, while maintaining
control over their work.