First, let's define "PRO." PRO stands for "Performing Rights Organization." PRO's are responsible for collecting performance royalties on behalf of composers and publishers. Why should you join?
You may have a band, you may be well known in your area, and your music may be on the radio. Did you know that when your music is played on the radio, you can earn money? It's true! If you don't have a PRO, you may be missing out on your royalties.
Let's not forget, you may decide to begin licensing your music out to be used in TV and Movie productions. Without a PRO, you're going to have a tough time collecting your royalties.
Joining a PRO as a writer is often free, joining as a publisher is often not. However, joining as both is essential. Joining as a writer means you will collect a "writer's share" which is intended to pay the writer of the song(s) being broadcasted. Joining as a Publisher will allow you to collect royalties on behalf of the musicians, writers, etc., that need to be paid for their work on the song(s) broadcasted.
The 3 major PRO's in the US are BMI, SESAC, and ASCAP.
How do PRO's work?
In the most common of scenarios, when your song is licensed to use on radio, TV, etc., cue sheets are sent by the production company, network, or cable company are sent to the PRO. A cue sheet lists all the data on how your song is used.
Each PRO works differently in how they pay their artists. According to BMI, one of the popular PRO choices, they generate a royalty amount by calculating your song's performance worth x viewer count. Your song's worth is decided based on when it was aired, how long it was aired, whether it was the focus or was used as background music, whether your voice was heard, what time of day it was aired, etc. Your song may be wroth 7 cents, it may be worth 1/2 a cent, it may be worth less. This is mainly for TV. For various other types of uses and how they're calculated, visit: http://www.bmi.com/creators/royalty_print/basic
If you manage to get your music on TV, congratulations! Now the waiting game begins. This can be the most painstaking part of the music business - waiting for your royalties. It can take as long as a year or longer to receive a royalty check. It is important to stay in check with your PRO and licensees to make sure that cue sheets were sent and properly filed.
Joining a PRO is vital to your music career because your songs, no matter what anyone else thinks, are worth something. A PRO's purpose is to prove that by demanding royalties for when your work is performed or broadcasted for others to hear. It's free to join as a writer/composer, so there's no reason not to. It is only going to benefit you in the long run.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Introduction
Hello!
My name is David Crandall. I am a musician, recording artist, composer, and audio engineer.
Over the next several days, maybe even weeks, I'm going to teach YOU how to make money with music - no strings attached. I'm not asking for money, donations, or for you to buy something from me. The fact is, is over the last year, I have been diving deeper and deeper into this wild, crazy thing we call "The Music Business." It can be crazy, shady, exciting, fun, disappointing, annoying, frustrating, enticing, and overall crazy.
THIS blog post is merely an introduction as to what is to come. At LEAST once a week for the next several weeks, I'm going to lay down some "Music Business" tips, insights, and facts EVERY musician needs to know about making it in the biz. I'm going to cover a lot, so it's imperative you keep coming back at least once a week if you want to stay updated.
So, having said ALL that, let's get started!
Ways to make money with music:
This is going to be a summary of ways to make money with music. Over the next several weeks, I'll dive into details for each subject.
METHOD 1: Be a touring artist/band
This is the most popular choice. Everyone wants fame, recognition, etc. The fact is, not everyone is cut out for this. You need great skill, perseverance, and the willingness to sleep in your van/car for several days in a row. Touring is not as glamorous as it may seem. People picture touring as fun traveling and performing. But, we fail to look at the cost of lodging and travel expenses - especially when you go on your first tour. You may not get paid for your gigs for the first few tours, so be prepared to cough up some hard earned money.
That's not to say touring is awful. It's the gateway to recognition. There is an endless audience out there that wants to give you a chance and wants you to rock their world. If you're successful, you could get some great exposure, free word-of-mouth exposure, more fans, and a career.
Becoming the next big thing isn't ALL that comes with touring artists. There are jobs that may not make you famous, but can keep you busy. Consider starting a wedding band, tribute band, or lounge band for cruises, banquets, parties and other events.
METHOD 2: Be a music teacher
Private music lessons is often the first thing a musician thinks of when he/she realizes: "I need a job." Musicians are very artistic, creative people. Not all of them have the personality to work in retail or behind the counter at the BK Lounge. (NOTE: this is often code for "I'm too lazy to get a job.") If you're in a small town, like me, it's not really a great choice for a career. However, if you want a career teaching music, consider going to school for it. Get your teaching credentials, then study advance music theory and the instrument of your choice. You may be the next local High School's/College's band teacher - and believe me, those guys get paid LOTS. More than the average bear, anyway.
Teaching music isn't the most popular choice, but is worth considering as a career, or as a 2nd source of income.
METHOD 3: Become A Youtube Partner!
This is almost as easy as becoming a famous touring artist - it's not. Sadly, most youtubers will never discover you unless they search for your content. This means you'll have to do covers of today's popular music. But...you're not really supposed to do that without the proper license. It is still possible, though! There are small loopholes to make it happen. As long as you've got amazing skill on your instrument/voice, there is hope for you. Keep in mind, this is a very LONG process, and you may find yourself giving up hope just before you skyrocket into success.
METHOD 4: Music Licensing - Get your music on TV, Movies, and Video Games
I've actually done this one. My music has been on NBC, Syfy, Travel Channel, Discovery, and more..and I'm only 22 years old. Go figure, right? Well let me tell you, this industry is very awkward and can be very difficult to make a career. BUT, it's worth trying. If you're trying to make it as a touring musician/artist, having your song in a TV show that broadcasts to over 7 million viewers world wide can be decent exposure - and even if you don't, you'll still get paid for it.
METHOD 5: Start a record label
Maybe you love music and you're very business-oriented. Starting a label is a great way to make money. Start one for yourself and/or for other musicians/artists. It's another rough business, but a very popular choice. We'll go into what a label does, how to develop one, and what to do once you sign your first artist.
METHOD 6: Music Production
Whether you start your own studio, or play in someone else's, becoming a music producer or session musician is a great way to earn a living. Studios, bands, singers, etc., are all over the world looking for talent you may be able to offer. Just like any other music-related career, it takes time to be successful and start generating a steady income. Don't lose hope, it's possible. Patience is the number 1 virtue of the music industry.
SOME OTHER THINGS WE WILL BE LEARNING:
We'll also be learning the importance of joining a performing rights organization, copyrighting your material, producing quality products (i.e: CD's), distribution, getting "signed", promotion, sales, and more.
Now, I'm probably not going to post these things in order. I just want to give YOU, the reader, an idea of what to expect. Tune in at least once a week, learn something, then go make something of yourself and your art.
My name is David Crandall. I am a musician, recording artist, composer, and audio engineer.
Over the next several days, maybe even weeks, I'm going to teach YOU how to make money with music - no strings attached. I'm not asking for money, donations, or for you to buy something from me. The fact is, is over the last year, I have been diving deeper and deeper into this wild, crazy thing we call "The Music Business." It can be crazy, shady, exciting, fun, disappointing, annoying, frustrating, enticing, and overall crazy.
THIS blog post is merely an introduction as to what is to come. At LEAST once a week for the next several weeks, I'm going to lay down some "Music Business" tips, insights, and facts EVERY musician needs to know about making it in the biz. I'm going to cover a lot, so it's imperative you keep coming back at least once a week if you want to stay updated.
So, having said ALL that, let's get started!
Ways to make money with music:
This is going to be a summary of ways to make money with music. Over the next several weeks, I'll dive into details for each subject.
METHOD 1: Be a touring artist/band
This is the most popular choice. Everyone wants fame, recognition, etc. The fact is, not everyone is cut out for this. You need great skill, perseverance, and the willingness to sleep in your van/car for several days in a row. Touring is not as glamorous as it may seem. People picture touring as fun traveling and performing. But, we fail to look at the cost of lodging and travel expenses - especially when you go on your first tour. You may not get paid for your gigs for the first few tours, so be prepared to cough up some hard earned money.
That's not to say touring is awful. It's the gateway to recognition. There is an endless audience out there that wants to give you a chance and wants you to rock their world. If you're successful, you could get some great exposure, free word-of-mouth exposure, more fans, and a career.
Becoming the next big thing isn't ALL that comes with touring artists. There are jobs that may not make you famous, but can keep you busy. Consider starting a wedding band, tribute band, or lounge band for cruises, banquets, parties and other events.
METHOD 2: Be a music teacher
Private music lessons is often the first thing a musician thinks of when he/she realizes: "I need a job." Musicians are very artistic, creative people. Not all of them have the personality to work in retail or behind the counter at the BK Lounge. (NOTE: this is often code for "I'm too lazy to get a job.") If you're in a small town, like me, it's not really a great choice for a career. However, if you want a career teaching music, consider going to school for it. Get your teaching credentials, then study advance music theory and the instrument of your choice. You may be the next local High School's/College's band teacher - and believe me, those guys get paid LOTS. More than the average bear, anyway.
Teaching music isn't the most popular choice, but is worth considering as a career, or as a 2nd source of income.
METHOD 3: Become A Youtube Partner!
This is almost as easy as becoming a famous touring artist - it's not. Sadly, most youtubers will never discover you unless they search for your content. This means you'll have to do covers of today's popular music. But...you're not really supposed to do that without the proper license. It is still possible, though! There are small loopholes to make it happen. As long as you've got amazing skill on your instrument/voice, there is hope for you. Keep in mind, this is a very LONG process, and you may find yourself giving up hope just before you skyrocket into success.
METHOD 4: Music Licensing - Get your music on TV, Movies, and Video Games
I've actually done this one. My music has been on NBC, Syfy, Travel Channel, Discovery, and more..and I'm only 22 years old. Go figure, right? Well let me tell you, this industry is very awkward and can be very difficult to make a career. BUT, it's worth trying. If you're trying to make it as a touring musician/artist, having your song in a TV show that broadcasts to over 7 million viewers world wide can be decent exposure - and even if you don't, you'll still get paid for it.
METHOD 5: Start a record label
Maybe you love music and you're very business-oriented. Starting a label is a great way to make money. Start one for yourself and/or for other musicians/artists. It's another rough business, but a very popular choice. We'll go into what a label does, how to develop one, and what to do once you sign your first artist.
METHOD 6: Music Production
Whether you start your own studio, or play in someone else's, becoming a music producer or session musician is a great way to earn a living. Studios, bands, singers, etc., are all over the world looking for talent you may be able to offer. Just like any other music-related career, it takes time to be successful and start generating a steady income. Don't lose hope, it's possible. Patience is the number 1 virtue of the music industry.
SOME OTHER THINGS WE WILL BE LEARNING:
We'll also be learning the importance of joining a performing rights organization, copyrighting your material, producing quality products (i.e: CD's), distribution, getting "signed", promotion, sales, and more.
Now, I'm probably not going to post these things in order. I just want to give YOU, the reader, an idea of what to expect. Tune in at least once a week, learn something, then go make something of yourself and your art.
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