What Does A "Good" Music Licensing Contract Look Like?

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[@SyncMyMusic]

If you want to learn more about TV/Film Music Licensing, make sure you Subscribe and Hit the Notification 🔔 so you don't miss out on any new videos or when I Live Stream! 😁

[@nathansoundz883]

Did that.

[@G.Rudi.B]

Jess ur great bro..I’m a new fan/ student watching daily as I dive into this industry thanx bro ‼️💯

[@tybuszynskimusic58]

Jess thx so much for all your information!!!!!!your awesome!!!!!!,

[@JimMcGuirk1]

Another very good, highly informative video. Thanks.

[@CortneyWarren2050]

Thank you Jesse!

[@bmmusic]

thank you, great content all your videos.

[@SyncMyMusic]

Thank you!

[@GeorgePMusic]

Thanks for another informative video:))

[@nazihitler7962]

Good man

[@bennidproduction]

Good video. I wish you could explain what you've gone through personally.

[@nathansoundz883]

Im eating it bro!!!

[@6mjproduction]

"Licences may be granted in perpetuity for life" is dat a red flag in a contract? I can't afford a lawyer just started out and I got a Sync representation agreement contract and I need help before this week ends. Tnx

[@kazpermusic]

Have you you ever gotten media footage sent to you to write music to, do scenarios like that ever happen?

[@SyncMyMusic]

All the time - those are called "Custom jobs" where you have to write music specifically tailored to a particular scene.

[@davidwatson3456]

Can you talk about Retitling

[@pseudomino3]

Nice video. I have a doubt, tho: how does the signing of the contract work. I want to start to work with licensing with libraries located in US but I live in South America and I'm not an US citizen. Is the signing totally virtual? You said in one of your videos that you work with libraries outside America. So, how does it work? (Btw, awesome content in your channel)

[@SyncMyMusic]

Yes you usually can sign agreements digitally (I use Digisigner). Talk to your Library about what they require from you as a foreign citizen, but usually you'll have to fill out the W-8BEN form with the IRS so that the US government can collect any owed taxes on the income you generate in the US.

[@AxonRiseMusic]

I want to maintain ownership of my music and be able to release it through distributors like CD Baby or Distrokid but I also want to be able to license it as well. Is it common for companies you submit music to to ask for all the rights to your music and prevent you from selling it through online stores like iTunes and the like?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Some exclusive Libraries will indeed want those rights so that the track you submit to them are ONLY found through their publishers & sub-publishers. This is why many bands/artists will create separate catalogues JUST for TV/Film licensing (apart from their "fan focused" tracks).

[@CassTheMuse]

Is it weird that they outline the "main points" i.e. 100 writers share.. non exclusive etc... but they say that they'll send the full contract after the track is submitted?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Depends. I could be their usual way of doing things, but I usually like paperwork signed before anyone gets my tracks.

[@alexmuli]

Great info here!Noob question here...before you send your music to a library for consideration do you put it out for distribution first or it stays strictly in your vault?Who registers the music?is it you or the licensing company?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Go through my free 5 day course. It'll teach you the entire process: www.syncmymusic.com/freecourse

[@alexmuli]

@@SyncMyMusic Thankyou!On it past day one.

[@dexterbartis3216]

Hey man, as someone who is looking to establish a music library/ e-commerce website for producers, what do you regard as a fair deal? I also intend to provide an audio engineering service where I mix/master their tracks before uploading it for sale. I was thinking something along 28% per sold lease (to cover engineering labor and hosting of website) and 20-25% of royalties (acting as profit). Is this a decent package?

[@SyncMyMusic]

it all comes down to the size and quantity of placements you can secure for your writers. The bigger the placements and the more you can secure, the larger the percentage you can command. Also, if you're gonna require that the writers keep their music exclusively with your company, you might have to pay consideration fees to get the HIGH QUALITY stuff out there.

[@billfallon2372]

Is there a version of this for lyrics instead of music? What would that library be called? Who would you seek out to contact for that? ASCAP and BMI?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Lyricists usually have to be vocalists as well to be players in this business. I've never hired just a "lyricist" in this industry - vocalists, yes!

[@billfallon2372]

Are there libraries for vocalist/lyricists as well?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Vocalists that can record themselves - absolutely! Lyricists? Not so much.

[@Ahmad-Mounir44]

Hey Jesse, I just received a contract from some library yesterday. It says that I am going to receive 50% of gross receipts and I shall be entitled to the entire writer's share of public performance income that paid by my PRO. I think "Entire Writer's Share" means 100% but they didn't mention 100%. They just said I will be entitled to the entire writer's share. What do you think?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Yes sounds like 100% to me, but it's worth asking them to clarify.

[@deltavistastudio124]

Thanks for opening my eyes to this revenue stream. BTW, better pop filter on this one, cudos.

[@JesusSaves010]

When you sign to a music library do you have to get a manager and a lawyer and split percentages with them?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Good question! No, you don't need a manager or a lawyer if you don't feel you need them (I never used either in my career).

[@acrossthesnow8341]

Is it common for libraries to give you 100% of the writers share but take all of the publishers share? Is that a standard deal or do you usually expect to also get a portion of the publishers share?

[@SyncMyMusic]

No, that's a very common deal structure with music libraries. It's an even split on backend royalties 50/50.

[@acrossthesnow8341]

Music Makes Cash Awesome, thanks man!

[@NanoverseProductions]

I just got offered a potential opportunity for a TV show but it's not through a library. I was contacted directly. What would be a good way to proceed with this opportunity?

[@SyncMyMusic]

Congrats! You should ask them to send you a contract that outlines the details of the deal. In this situation YOU will have to handle all the business aspects of the interaction (registering tracks, negotiating contracts, etc.)

[@Slynell1]

3 years on, how did it go?

[@CacciTunez]

Is it typical for a library to take 100% of the publishing? Seems okay to me in this case as I'd get 100% of the writer's share.

[@SyncMyMusic]

Yes those are the standard terms in the sync biz👍

[@GeoZero]

I know this is 4 years old, but how's the industry now? More exclusive deals or non-exclusive??

[@SyncMyMusic]

Still much more exclusive these days.

[@GeoZero]

@@SyncMyMusic Dude that was a quick response!! And thank you so much for your channel and content!!

[@tiphaniedoucetoff]

If a Sync company wants to sign with me, shall I get an entertainment lawyer to look at the contract??

[@SyncMyMusic]

I don't give legal advice, but if YOU feel you need a professional to look over your contract then that's exactly what you should do.

[@tiphaniedoucetoff]

ha yeah I am not sure but I don't understand all of it, and even if it's a year exclusive contract I feel yeah I should make sure all is good... it's quite pricy but in a way I would learn for later