How music libraries work?

[daveydad]

I'm curious how most libraries work. I've heard many send out hard drives full of music to various sources. Do they send out updated drives as artists add new tracks to their accounts? Some libraries I belong to let me upload my tracks, tag, describe, etc. Others, I simply send them tracks and they do the rest but may not have an actual site where clients can listen to tracks. Just wondering what the standard is... thanks.

[ComposerLDG]

Good question, David. I'm curious myself. I've place 11 tracks with a library since January but they don't show up in their system yet. Your tracks don't either

[Casey H]

It varies all over the board, there is no answer for "how music libraries work" that covers all.

Techniques include (and can be combinations of):

• Sending out hard drives with a large volume of tracks periodically, such as every 6 months.
  Sending out targeted hard drives and/or CDs per client needs when they arise.
  Putting tracks on a website for clients to browse on their own.
  Inviting clients to listen to tracks on website.

In general (but there can be exceptions), the reality TV show cue libraries are likely to send out periodic hard drives, though they also may have clients browse a website.

RF libraries tend to be website purchase only.

Boutique libraries are more likely to send out highly targeted selections of tracks on CDs or other media.

One reason (of many) this is such a slow moving business is when you send a new track to a library, there can be a time lag before it can be pitched. It might not be pitched until the next hard drive is sent out in a few months or more. It might take time to get it on the website, enter it in database systems, make it available in their internal processes to start pitching, etc.

Write, Submit, Sign Deal, Forget, Repeat.

Casey

[daveydad]

Thanks Casey, all your points I had figured could be the case