Most of my eggs

BruceBrown · Post by **BruceBrown** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 9:16 am

I've been with Taxi for almost two years now. I have signed tracks and established relationships with 4 or 5 music libraries.
The first library to contact me about signing some tunes is the one I send most of my tracks to.
The reasons for that are. 1. I learned their system first, so it's familiar and easy. 2. I have gotten placements with them and they request that I write custom tracks for them. My concern is that I have most of my eggs in one basket. What if they go out of business?
Any thoughts or personal experience here?
A clause in the contract to get my tracks back if that were to happen?
Thanks
Bruce

Casey H · Post by **Casey H** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:11 pm

Hi Bruce
It's definitely best to spread the eggs around. Different libraries have different contacts, markets, marketing methods, etc. And even if one your heavily invested in doesn't actually go out of business, there is always the possibility they can lose their competitive edge or effectiveness for any number of reasons.

As far as what happens if a library you have an exclusive deal with goes out of business... You'd have to confirm this with a lawyer but I think the agreement could easily(?) be declared null and void.

Everything I've read from successful folks says get lots of tracks out there spread over numerous libraries. BTW, 4 or 5 isn't really "bad" unless it's 90 in one and the rest in the others.

You can seek out new libraries through Taxi submissions and your own research as well as networking with fellow composers.

Best,

Casey

DesireInspires · Post by **DesireInspires** » Sat Jan 05, 2013 4:17 pm

Yahoo could go out of business. Should everyone there just quit and go to Google?

Stick with what works.

Casey H · Post by **Casey H** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:51 am

DesireInspires wrote:Yahoo could go out of business. Should everyone there just quit and go to Google?

Stick with what works.

There is definite truth that it's good to stick with what works. Certainly you want to continue to add tracks to libraries that have made placements for you...

However, I think it's important to also expand your horizons and seek other opportunities, additional markets, etc. For example, if the library that's making a lot of your placements mainly does blanket deals on background instrumentals for cable shows (not a bad thing at all), you may want to look for libraries that approach other markets such as primetime network, vocal songs, etc.

Casey

thekman · Post by **thekman** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:22 am

However, I think it's important to also expand your horizons and seek other opportunities, additional markets, etc. For example, if the library that's making a lot of your placements mainly does blanket deals on background instrumentals for cable shows (not a bad thing at all), you may want to look for libraries that approach other markets such as primetime network, vocal songs, etc.

I've been thinking about this too. The first library I got a deal with has 57 of my tracks and has 0 placements! The other 2 I'm just starting out with have great reputations and connections, and I see them getting out there working. Plus, the communication and organization is a BIG deal for me and the first library is terrible at both.

I've decided I'm done with library A and I'm putting my new eggs in the two new baskets. Does that seem like the right move?

Thanks for the post Bruce....and replies guys!

Kyle

coachdebra · Post by **coachdebra** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:06 am

DesireInspires wrote:Yahoo could go out of business. Should everyone there just quit and go to Google?

Yes

Casey H · Post by **Casey H** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:26 am

Debra could go out of business. Should everyone just quit and go to DesireInspires for advice?

PS This was a JOKE!

mazz · Post by **mazz** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:32 am

I'm all for diversity and having a broader portfolio of clients out there. The thing is, in my experience (less than 7 years in the production music side of things) it takes a couple of years for things to heat up and for the music to get into circulation. It can take that long just to see if a client can generate placements. Sometimes their clients have to see your name a few times on the hard drive before they associate your music in their minds. I have music that I wrote in 2006 for my first client that was never used then now starting to show up on cue sheets 6 years later.

I would sway the balance towards who is getting you placements but keep feeding the other clients too and keep the options open to have more relationships.

Again, even new clients with awesome reputations and connections may not immediately generate placements. There are so many other factors such as how long it takes them to get the music into circulation, whether or not their current clients need what you have written, how long it takes their clients to find you, and on and on.

Patience is a virtue in this game!!

Casey H · Post by **Casey H** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:42 am

Yes, I meant to say what mazz did. You can't judge anything about a library by placements in the short term since sometimes it can take 2, 3, 5 years or never till you get that first placement. It's also important to remember that with all the music out there, even great tracks sometimes never find a home.

Casey

eeoo · Post by **eeoo** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 2:49 pm

You could also reach out privately to your colleagues and see who's having good experiences with which publishers and figure out who you'd like to target, that's been my strategy for the last year or so.

eo

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