giving your song to a big corporate for fweeee?

[Kelil]

I got contacted this morning to give my song to someone for a 60 second advert for a national tv station. The thing is, they are not paying me any money for it. So, I said I'm not going to hand it over unless I see a contract and some cash being thrown my way.

Was I right in making this decision? Should I give these people a free ride with my song whilst I sit and get my ego stroked? Because I don't care about being ''known'' I just want the money. Have you any advice?

[cardell]

Well, I'm a little un-conventional (as you know) and I would have done it for free or asked them to donate to a charity of my choice (not being sarcastic here).

Yes, I realize others will not agree.

Great to see you my friend!

Stuart

[Cruciform]

Stephen,

There is no right or wrong. There is what's right for you, and that may not be right for someone else. With that said, I would have turned it down too. A big corporate? They're advertising to make money. If they think using your song will help make them money it is downright insulting to expect you to do it for free. Is the ad company working for free? Is the videographer working for free? Is the copywriter working for free? Is the PR guy at the company working for free? Nope. But somehow it's okay to expect the songwriter to work for free. While I don't know the particular circumstances of your company and ad, the fact is, this culture of 'free music' is extremely widespread. People do not value music but imagine a world without it.

[Kelil]

great to see you too stuart its been a while since I've been around here and I love your post

Although I am open to all answers, I do agree with Cruciform. I'm not in a financial position ( no job and family of wife and children ) to do anything for free anymore. People expect me to just hand over my music with no contract and no fees being paid out. You would think that my music is just a piece of candy that I somehow hand over with no questions asked and all because its assumed I've got the ''stars in your eyes'' immature approach to music and will just do it for free.

As you said Cruciform, they are getting paid, but little ole me just doesn't matter. It is a huge insult. The person who asked me to do it just got downright angry and hung up the phone when I asked how much I was getting paid as if that is some sort of crime.

I think I got it right this time around for sure. And you are right, people just expect the music to come for free, but I think they already know that music just doesn't come for free but obviously thought I was a little young and stupid so they would chance their arm.

[michael11]

Hi Stephen,

I would have taken up their offer willingly!

But you have said you don’t care about being known,so for you,you have made the right decision.

I’m no psychologist but I think your nuts for turning it down.

SORRY!!!!


Mick.

As Stuart said,great to see you!!!!!

[Russell Landwehr]

We've discussed in other threads about the "race to the bottom." If we give our stuff away then the race is over and we lost.

rl

[TechNoiZ]

I am assuming this was a UK based company and I do think things are slightly different in the UK. Most bands would love to get their song on a national ad campaign because the leap from that to an article in the national press to maybe even some airplay on the national radio stations is quite possible - especially with the right management/backing in place. I imagine there are a host of management companies pressing for their artists - both new and established - to land such a deal as it is, in the end, national exposure that can become part of a larger marketing strategy.

Case in point; Foster the People last year. Their music was part of the national 02 ad campaign for a few months, swiftly followed by press and magazine coverage, Radio One sessions and then big billing at the slurry of summer festivals. Band broken. I reckon their UK management would have paid for that ad spot if necessary as it softened the market for the inevitable big push.

I don't think its an example of 'race to the bottom' in this case - just the reality of what an national ad opportunity can be used for.

[Russell Landwehr]

Placement in a show with credits and a "get this band on iTunes" at the end is one thing. If you place a song that way without a fee, at least you get the back end $$ and a viewer "push" to iTunes or your website. For an un-managed individual, in an advertisement there are no credits, no face time, no real public exposure beyond what you put on your resume.

In Robert Miltonberg's "Making Music for Advertising" presentation on Sunday at the 2012 Rally I wrote this in my notes: "Nobody wants someone willing to do something for nothing because it shows the value (or lack of value) of the service."

rl

[swhit]

In Robin Frederick's Secrets of Successful Film and TV Songwriting session at the rally, she showed
us a few examples of songs being added to TV commercials and shows. In one of them she showed
a scene from the HBO series Son's of Anarchy and we were taken through a chase scene where
different songs were over laid for the scene. After trying several different songs, in the end
they used a new SoundGarden song and the band gave it away for free to promote their new album.

Obvioulsy SoundGarden can sell records without having their songs in TV shows, especially for free,
but it just goes to show how far even established bands will go to get their music out there.

I'm not saying you were right or wrong for not giving away your song. I don't even know
what I would do in that situation. I guess it would depend on the exposure the song was going to
get. If it was a few million people watching the Son's of Anarchy series, I might consider it.

[michael11]

Placement in a show with credits and a "get this band on iTunes" at the end is one thing. If you place a song that way without a fee, at least you get the back end $$ and a viewer "push" to iTunes or your website. For an un-managed individual, in an advertisement there are no credits, no face time, no real public exposure beyond what you put on your resume.

In Robert Miltonberg's "Making Music for Advertising" presentation on Sunday at the 2012 Rally I wrote this in my notes: "Nobody wants someone willing to do something for nothing because it shows the value (or lack of value) of the service."

rl

Hi Russell,I see exactly what your saying about race to the bottom,but I see Stephen as an artist,very similar to Ed Sheeran and Jake Bugg,both doing very well this side of the pond.

I can’t count the number of times,particularly recently,that I have heard an artist on TV and googled their names or gone straight to YouTube and discovered a fantastic new talent.

That’s why I thought Stephen would have benefited from that sort of exposure.

As far as your last paragraph is concerned,what about support bands that play for nothing or in some cases pay for the privilege just for the exposure?