
A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
Moderators: admin, mdc, TAXIstaff
- Casey H
- King of the World
- Posts: 14666
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:22 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
I want to add that even though some PRO royalties for cable TV instrumental background are very small, we have to remember that if it weren't for the existence of all these cable channels, reality programming, 24x7 TV, etc, these opps wouldn't exist at all. So, there is a positive-- lots of opp to 'cut your teeth' in the film/TV music world, make contacts, strive to get better and land more lucrative deals, etc.
Casey

I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
-
- Committed Musician
- Posts: 539
- Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:16 am
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
I have not gigged for many years, but every one I know says the same thing. And it's not just the night club scene. It's all the way up to bigger tours.
- mojobone
- King of the World
- Posts: 11837
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2008 4:20 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Up in Indiana, where the tall corn grows
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
Well, the bigger tours are a different story; don't let the artists fool you, they've got sweetheart deals with Amex and the venues and are using Ticketmaster and their own fan clubs(!) to scalp their own tickets. This is why fans can't get good seats, though if a tour tanks, you can get loads of ducats, come the day of the show. The venues are forced to jack up the add-on fees for parking and concessions to make up the difference, because the agents for must-see acts are eating their lunch. Ticketmaster is happy to take the blame along with their commission. This has all been documented by Bob Lefsetz and many others.
- DesireInspires
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1381
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:06 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Miami Beach
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
Len911 wrote:2011 FILM & TV COMPOSER CENSUS (USA) SUMMARY
* 54,000 film and TV titles represented
* 700 pages of data regarding the works of 25,723 composers and songwriters
* The most comprehensive publication of its kind
* Inclusive of American network television, basic and premium cable, plus nationally syndicated programming
* Covers feature films, MOWs, short subjects, documentaries, game shows, talk shows, news and strip shows, as well as all forms of episodic TV
* Research indicates composers represented by at least 55 performing rights organizations (PROs) worldwide
* Thousands of detailed annotations in the “Notes” column
* Produced by a team of 40 research volunteers and advisors over an entire year
* The Census Group did not have the resources necessary to include music from promos, logos, music for advertising, nor programming originating on local television stations
* Free download provided to the industry
http://composercensus.com/?page_id=14
Here are some of the facts and stats as requested,lol!
Here are some more. If you google "Industry code 856" and NAICS code 711510 and 711130 that will give you the lumping of songwriters and composers, amongst other similar professions, and you can see stats from the census bureau to your heart's content. Here's a starting place:
http://www.census.gov/econ/industry/pro ... 711510.htm
Sweet! I made it onto this list. I wish they would have put one together for 2012. I have so many more placements than I did in 2011.
I guess you just have to stop analyzing the industry, roll up your sleeves, and get to work.
Find My Music Here: https://www.megatrax.com/tracks?compose ... -765216140
- Casey H
- King of the World
- Posts: 14666
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:22 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
I've seen the census document before in prior years and can't for the life of me find any value in it. It's cool
to see your name, but other than that?
In my case, only one of my placements shows up. It's not very comprehensive or accurate and even if it was? What's the value?
Casey

In my case, only one of my placements shows up. It's not very comprehensive or accurate and even if it was? What's the value?

Casey
I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
- DesireInspires
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1381
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:06 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Miami Beach
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
Casey H wrote:I've seen the census document before in prior years and can't for the life of me find any value in it. It's coolto see your name, but other than that?
In my case, only one of my placements shows up. It's not very comprehensive or accurate and even if it was? What's the value?![]()
Casey
The value of it for me was to see what composers were getting a lot of placements.
I was able to look up composers through the BMI and ASCAP searches and find contact info. I got some good advice from some of the guys and girls I contacted.
The list is also good at providing a list of shows that use production music. I was able to search for the production companies behind some of those shows. I reached out to some of the companies to see if I could submit music directly.
I still use that list periodically for research purposes.
The information is out there. You just have to figure out how to use it for your benefit.
Find My Music Here: https://www.megatrax.com/tracks?compose ... -765216140
- guitarhacker
- Committed Musician
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:48 am
- Location: North Carolina
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
Bah..... keep doing what you love....and damn the torpedoes.
http://www.herbhartley.com
http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.php?userid=28574
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." -Leonardo DaVinci
http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.php?userid=28574
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." -Leonardo DaVinci
- coachdebra
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1061
- Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:02 pm
- Gender: Female
- Location: The Jersey Shore
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
mazz wrote:How did this come about? Because as a group we suck at business.

Not if I have anything to say about! Just sayin...

It's the Music Business, I'm your Music Business Coach!
http://artists-edge.com
http://www.facebook.com/ArtistsMBA
http://www.facebook.com/coachdebrarussell
http://twitter.com/artistsedge
http://www.linkedin.com/in/debrarussell
http://artists-edge.com
http://www.facebook.com/ArtistsMBA
http://www.facebook.com/coachdebrarussell
http://twitter.com/artistsedge
http://www.linkedin.com/in/debrarussell
- Casey H
- King of the World
- Posts: 14666
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:22 pm
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
So DesireInspires, do you contact these other composers anonymously or do you actually let them know who you really are?DesireInspires wrote:Casey H wrote:I've seen the census document before in prior years and can't for the life of me find any value in it. It's coolto see your name, but other than that?
In my case, only one of my placements shows up. It's not very comprehensive or accurate and even if it was? What's the value?![]()
Casey
The value of it for me was to see what composers were getting a lot of placements.
I was able to look up composers through the BMI and ASCAP searches and find contact info. I got some good advice from some of the guys and girls I contacted.
The list is also good at providing a list of shows that use production music. I was able to search for the production companies behind some of those shows. I reached out to some of the companies to see if I could submit music directly.
I still use that list periodically for research purposes.
The information is out there. You just have to figure out how to use it for your benefit.

I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
http://www.caseysongs.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/caseyh
https://www.taxi.com/members/caseyh
http://www.facebook.com/caseyhurowitz
- DesireInspires
- Serious Musician
- Posts: 1381
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:06 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Miami Beach
- Contact:
Re: A sobering look at the composer's trade. Must-read article..
Casey H wrote:
So DesireInspires, do you contact these other composers anonymously or do you actually let them know who you really are?
Casey
I contacted them using my real contact info. I explained what I had accomplished and asked for practical advice. No one was mean or irritated. A few guys were actually surprised. When I get some time, I may contact a few more fellow composers.
But a little mystery never hurt...
Find My Music Here: https://www.megatrax.com/tracks?compose ... -765216140
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests