What to include in Metadata

[fretman]

Is it wise to include your contact information (email address) in metadata?

Is it wise to include your PRO #? Or should I treat this as a privacy issue like my SSN and not publicize it?

Noobie questions. Thanks, Paul

[superkons]

Contact information absolutely!

For your PRO number, you may wait until you get offered a deal and the company request it

[Telefunkin]

Metadata for what?

If you mean within the mp3 file for for a Taxi submission, then I agree with marco that its worth including your contact details just in case. However, I believe that Taxi ensure that such details are included with all forwards anyway.

If you mean for a submission direct to a library (without Taxi), then you should absolutely make sure that as a minimum you include your contact details within the mp3. That's just to make sure that you can still be contacted even if the mp3 were to become separated from any covering email.

Ultimately though, if a library were to accept tracks from you they would most likely expect you to provide .wav files (typically 48kHz 24-bit, but not always). They can't carry embedded metadata like mp3 files, so you'd need to provide separate metadata according to the library's specification, for example, by completing a spreadsheet that they would provide. The requirements vary quite a bit between libraries so there is no point worrying about it too much at the submission stage beyond the basics, but be prepared to have to do it if accepted. You definitely will need to provide your IPI number* for your PRO in the metadata as well as on your contract. Typically, they'll ask for things like title, time signature, bpm, key, writer names, writer PROs, writer IPIs, mood, instruments, description. That's not an exhaustive list though, and some even ask for sound-a-like tracks, or similar artists. Also, you'll most likely have to supply this for all version of the same track (eg full, underscore, drums and bass mix, no lead mix, 30s, sting, etc), but its usually almost identical between versions so its not as demanding as it seems.

*Note that its always your IPI number and not your PRO membership number (which should be kept to yourself).

[fretman]

Thank you for your responses. Makes sense.