Become A Music Library Composer
What it is. How it works.How you get paid.
THE PLAYERS
MUSIC LIBRARIES
Music libraries are companies that license music from their catalogue (library) for use in any kind of production that requires music: commercials, tv series, movies, internet productions and more. They operate similar to an indie record label; they release albums and promote them with the goal of selling licenses. They employ production, promo, sales and accounting people. In order to have their music represented all over the globe the Music Library works with sub-publishers, usually 50-60 of them who each represent the Library’s music in a specific territory.
THE COMPOSER
This means you - the artist – and anybody you bring on to your team from co-writers to musicians, producers, engineers and beyond. Your job is to deliver fully produced and mixed tracks and you are responsible for compensating these third parties, not the Music Library.
THE COMPOSER
The Composer creates an album’s worth of songs (usually 10). This includes writing the songs and producing finished, fully mixed tracks. A concept – style and vibe – is discussed and agreed upon with the Music Library before work begins and all songs and mixes are subject to the Library’s approval.
In addition to a main mix The Composer is also tasked with delivering sub-mixes, edits and stems for each track.
Sometimes the Composer is asked to record short promo videos or studio documentaries to help promote the album.
THE MUSIC LIBRARY
The Music Library masters the album, creates artwork and promo materials and starts pitching the songs in their territory. The Library sends the album out to all the sub-publishers who then start marketing the songs in their respective territories. The Music Library registers the song titles with your performing right’s organization (PRO).
The Music Library owns these tracks and the underlying compositions outright in perpetuity. They are solely in charge of deciding how your tracks are used as well as pricing.
The Music Library collects all payments made for the music licensed except for performance royalties which the songwriters collect directly from their PRO.
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?
When a company licenses a track from the Music Library they pay a licensing fee for the usage (also called a synch fee). 50% of that fee is for the use of the master (the recording), the other 50% is for use of the underlying composition (the song).
The company files cue sheets and the songwriters receive performance royalties directly from their respective PROs.
HOW THE MONEY IS DIVIDED
50% - THE COMPOSER
The Composer receives 50% of all synch fees collected by the Music Library.
The songwriters collect the Writer’s Share of performance royalties directly from their PRO.
50% - THE MUSIC LIBRARY
The Music Library keeps 50% of synch fees collected*.
The Music Library collects the Publisher’s Share of performance royalties directly from their PRO.
*The sub-publishers deduct their share of synch fees (percentage varies) before sending the remainder to the Music Library for distribution.
NEIGHBORING RIGHTS
Neighboring rights refer to royalties generated from a public performance or broadcasting of sound recordings on non-interactive digital services such as satellite and internet radio as well as on terrestrial radio outside the U.S., television, cable music channels, cinemas, public spaces, and businesses. The top ten countries for neighboring rights revenue are the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Italy, Spain, Canada, and Australia.
As a performer on library tracks you are eligible to collect Neighboring Rights royalties from the countries that pay those. As the Music Library has no part in these royalties it is up to the performers to collect these royalties themselves. There are agencies who specialize in collecting Neighboring Rights Royalties, i.e. Soundexchange in the US and NRG in Europe.
KONTAINER MUSIC - WHAT WE DO
Kontainer Music acts as a talent scout and executive producer overseeing every aspect of the creative process. We will guide you from start to finish to make sure that the music you create for The Music Library has the best potential to be successful; song concepts, musical direction, arrangement and the production. At Kontainer Music our passion is to produce artist based, song driven albums. We work with libraries who value the artist driven productions and who have their distribution chain (the sub publishers all over the world) in place to maximize income for all parties involved.
OUR ARTISTS
Big Mouse - Heavy Synth Pop
Girl Electric - Groovy Electronic Swagger Pop
Girl Electric - Come Together
Girl Electric - New Sensation
Big Mouse - Dream On
Saint & Friends - Lover And A Rebel
Saint & Friends - 60's Retro Electronic Pop
Colbonix - Soulful Electro Pop