Getting Permission to Synchronize Music-Part 4


Hopefully by now you've read parts 1, 2, and 3 and have a good understanding of how to go about getting permission to synchronize music with your audio or video production. If you are like a lot of people, you may find the lengthy process to be a lot more involved than you were hoping for. Now for the good news! There is an easier route to take: The Music Library.

The Music Library

A production music library is music company that creates a large catalog of music and licenses it directly to anyone who needs to synchronize music with their productions. The key here is that the music library has the ability to provide you with ALL of the permissions you need, and because this is their primary concern, the entire process can be completed fairly quickly. In the case of some royalty free music libraries, the entire licensing process can be done online in a matter of minutes.

Production music libraries come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some have small exclusive catalogs of music, while some have enormous catalogs. Some music libraries spend a lot of money to create very high quality music, while others take a less expensive route. Lastly, some music libraries charge you a fee each time you use a piece of music and that fee can vary based on how the music will be used. On the other hand, royalty free music libraries (also called buyout music libraries) typically charge one price and grant you a lifetime license to synchronize that music as many times as you like on as many projects as you like.

Traditional Music Licenses

Traditional music libraries offer synchronization licenses in a number of ways:

Per Use License - This type of music licensing is also called Needle Drop or Laser Drop. With this type of license you pay a fee to synchronize the song one time. Each time you use the song, you pay another fee. In this type of licensing, the fee will vary depending on how you plan to use the music. If you are doing a nationally televised sitcom, you will pay a higher needle drop fee than somebody who is doing a advertisement for a local car dealership.
Annual Blanket - In an annual blanket license, you would pay a flat yearly fee to the music library for access to a predetermined quantity of music. In some cases it might be 100 CDs of music. In other cases, it might be the music library's entire catalog. During the course of your annual blanket license, you would have the ability to synchronize as much music as you with. A typical annual blanket license is from 1 to 3 years long. It is very similar to leasing a car. The longer lease you sign, the better yearly rate you will get.
Production Blanket - A production blanket is a license that allows you to use as much music as you like on a single production. For example, if you are working on a documentary and you know you will need lots of music library tracks, the production blanket might be right for you. You would pay the music library a flat fee for your production and then have a license to use an unlimited amount of music for that production. Once again, the pricing will vary based on the length and the scope of your project.

Royalty Free Music Licenses

Royalty free music libraries, also called buyout music libraries, offer a more affordable and simpler option than even the traditional music library. With a royalty free music library you pay a one time fee in return for a lifetime synchronization license. What this means is that after you have paid the the licensing fee, you can use the licensed music as many times as you like, on as many different productions as you like.

With all music libraries there are occasionally additional licenses needed in addition to the synchronization license such as a mass duplication license or a direct performance license. Each library handles these licenses differently and has a different pricing structure for them. A quick preview of their website should give you most of the answers you are looking for.

Now you should have all the tools you need to start your hunt for the perfect music for your next production.