Submitting same song to multiple companies

[davew]

Hi. Brand new to the forum, so I am very interested in getting anyone's thoughts about attempting to get the same song represented by multiple song catalog/publisher/companies simultaneously. Obviously, each company would have to be non-exclusive but would love to know the pros and cons of doing this, thanks, Dave.

[mazz]

I don't think there's anything wrong with "attempting" to get one song signed by multiple companies, that's basic marketing.What you do if you get more than one offer is another thing. The risk you run with having one song with multiple non-exclusive libraries is that the song may show up twice on the producer's desk under two different titles (non-exclusive libraries often re-title the songs for registration purposes, which is a different, but hugely important topic). That will probably raise a red flag with the producer and probably cause them to pass on the song altogether. If a song isn't 100% "clean", a producer probably won't touch it. Even though technically, the song is "clean" with both librares due to it having two different titles, it's obviously the same song. Probably not a good strategy.But the choice is yours. The re-titling thing seems to be starting to run it's course, at least with some of the libraries. I think the legality of it will be challenged sometime in the next few years.Target companies that have a great track record and will work on your behalf. Having a song in a great library is better than having it in several marginal libraries, IMO.Mazz

[jonathanm]

Good point, Mazz. I've also heard that having your song at multiple libraries competing to place it with the same customers basically puts you in competition with yourself. If the producer/music supervisor wants to use the song and has it from two different companies, he'll pick the lower-priced of the two.

[devin]

As someone in this exact boat (having songs signed multiple times to non-exclusive libraries) I enjoyed the discussion at the Rally about this point. I've since changed course.Originally *some* wisdom was "up to three libraries" for the same song...but recently (last 6 months), folks are saying only put it into one library...for all the reasons above. Plus, as a panelist said at the Rally, the smaller companies can get bought up by bigger ones...and now suddenly, your exact song is in the same library more than once...and if stuff hits the fan, the composer is going to get the blame for it (panelist's thoughts).As Mazz said, one great library is worth the rest put together...but starting out, how to get there?I'm of the mind that, if my new song is "pretty good", then I will probably go with the first love (deal) I find, just to get the ball rolling. But I won't shop it any more.As I get better at composing, and I figure stuff out, then I'll gradually become exposed to some better opportunities. It's the whole "paying dues" thing.The opposite approach would be to withhold my tunes until I find the perfect home for them. But I'm writing songs all the time, so there shouldn't be a shortage there...better to put today's tune on the street, IMHO. Unless it's a super-smash hit (based on Peer to Peer feedback, etc).So I submit to everyone, and PM some forum folks that are in the know when I want to research a library that calls me back. I go so far as to get some references from the library sometimes.Good thread....HTH?

[hummingbird]

Nov 23, 2009, 5:15pm, jmeraz wrote:Good point, Mazz. I've also heard that having your song at multiple libraries competing to place it with the same customers basically puts you in competition with yourself. If the producer/music supervisor wants to use the song and has it from two different companies, he'll pick the lower-priced of the two.or he won't pick it at all since the ownership is in question. He'll simply move on to the next cue.

[davew]

Thanks to all for such great responses, greatly appreciated!

[davew]

Mazz, question for you. You stated "Target companies that have a great track record and will work on your behalf. Having a song in a great library is better than having it in several marginal libraries, IMO."As I am new here, how do you go about determining if a company has a great track record? I'd hate to commit to a company and then find out after the fact, that I've just signed with an undesirable company. Can you provide some insight? Thanks.

[dovetail]

What makes it more complicated is that a company with a great track record might not be able to place your particular style of music easily. I've had the same tune in multiple libraries where one company will tear the joint up with multiple high profile placements while the other companies do nothing on that same tune.

[ceedub]

Nov 24, 2009, 3:12am, davew wrote:Mazz, question for you. You stated "Target companies that have a great track record and will work on your behalf. Having a song in a great library is better than having it in several marginal libraries, IMO."As I am new here, how do you go about determining if a company has a great track record? I'd hate to commit to a company and then find out after the fact, that I've just signed with an undesirable company. Can you provide some insight? Thanks. There's some good information on how to assess libraries, and the hazards of signing to multiple companies, on this thread: http://taxi.proboards.com/index.cgi?act ... 217&page=1

[mojobone]

There's also a site that's a clearinghouse by and for library composers to share information on the various libraries and platforms: http://musiclibraryreport.com Forum rules discourage such discussion on this messageboard, (conflict of interest) and the info on the Music Library Report site is only as good as the writers posting it, but it's way, way better than nothing, heh.