Welcome 2009! In this new year, one of my main areas of focus will be on online music licensing, and using online resources to earn money from my pre-composed music.
Back Catalogue of Music
I have an enormous back catalogue of music, in all sorts of styles: classical, orchestral, epic, intimate, pop, contemporary, avant-garde, ethnic, pastiche, sound-a-likes and sound design.
Most of it was written for media – film, television, animation – and I retain copyright for most of that having licensed out the music for use in a particular project.
So, this music has the potential to be re-licensed and used by any filmmaker, animator, director or producer out there.
It’s a shame to keep it locked up in the archive when it could be out there being heard and earning its way!
Online Music Licensing Sites
I recently posted about using two online licensing sites, Cuepop and YouLicense. So far, YouLicense has come out on top. I’ve licensed one track through the site (Moving On), licensed more music from my own site on this music page on a link that the client followed from YouLicense, and sold the same YouLicense track for private use.
Cuepop… not a peep. No Joy. Nada. So, although it may work for some, it sure ain’t doing it for me.
As a result of this, I’ve gone pro on YouLicense so I can add more tracks (the free subscription only allowed a limit of 10 tracks) and this also means I don’t have to pay any commission on any more tracks that get licensed.
If you make music of your own, it may be worth adding your tracks to the site. Will keep you posted on whether this trend continues. Or we’ll see if it was just a fluke! 
{ 9 comments }
Hi Heather,
Interesting comments about Youlicensce. I have just signed up with them. Can you recommend any other good licensing companies? I will check out your songs when I can find a little time.
Regards Pete
Hi Pete – thanks for your comment!
I’ve put music up on CuePop with no luck to date. I’m also trying out Music Dealers http://musicdealers.com/, and hopefully setting up a site to license music directly as part of my own site very soon.
So far, YouLicense is the only one with any results though.
Will keep the blog up-to-date with any successes
Heather, have you tried Audiosparx http://www.audiosparx.com , Revostock http://www.revostock.com , or Audio Micro http://www.audiomicro.com ?
I’m not a fan of their commission rates to be honest, which has made me shy away. Have you had any success with them?
I have had some basic success at all of them however not any major, royalty producing sales yet. I am trying to get on CuePop but their site appears to be down
Hi Heather,
I think that you are doing a great service to producers and composers, by discussing this topic. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Charlie Mac
Producer/Engineer
http://www.whosthehottestrapper.com
Hi,
I have been with youlicense.com and have my own whitelabel store, but to be honest i have only had 7 license’s since i joined and even though i have high play volumes, there are no sales?
I think more people listen to artists and buy MP3′s from the site.
I sell alot on Audiosparx.com and production trax every month …so i may get rid of my youlicense store and save $50.00 and put it towards advertising on other sites.
I look forward to your thoughts.
Rob Neary
Hi Rob,
Thanks for commenting! I find that though my sales/licenses are relatively low on YouLicense or my own white label store, on average I’m generally in profit, and a few of the contacts made through the site do get in touch to commission bespoke music for other projects, so there is a secondary marketing purpose to the site.
I’m now looking into audiosparx and production trax as I type…
This is great! Thanks for the info, I have signed up to YouLicense in the past, haven’t had any placements as of yet so I’m not exactly eager to upgrade my account lol. Maybe I’ll use some of my placement earnings (wink wink).
I did just sign up to Music Dealers after checking it out, free is def. better than not for the same type of situation. Plus almost an hour after signing up my C.A.R.E rep wrote me. Great people over there…
Thank you again!
Michael