Can the same song be used twice?

[georginasaint]

Hi Gurus, I'm just wondering - say I have a song and I place it in a non-exclusive capacity in a music library, and maybe even two or three libraries - would I still be able to shop that song to a label? I know non-exclusive means you can continue to shop it to other libraries but how many would your maximum be so you don't upset anybody?And if I did a completely different rendition of that song, would i be able to submit it to labels? But it would have the same lyric and tune. Thanks for any thoughts,Georgie

[chriscarter]

That’s a really good question. I can’t speak as to what would happen with an ENTIRE song, but I do this a lot with instrumentals. I don’t do the music library thing, but I place instrumentals all the time with TV shows non-exclusively. And sometimes those same instrumentals get placed with an artist and gets recorded/released as a full song. I’ve never had it happen that a label or artist actually cared that it had previously been licensed for television. And often these are blanket licenses so it may get used again. I’m always up front about it and it doesn’t seem to phase them one bit. Once the instrumental becomes a song for an artist, I of course cease with any new licensing of the instrumental. Actually, come to think of it, I’ve also had songs that were demo’d by one artist and we placed the song in TV shows and then later landed the song with another artist. Again they didn’t care. So, although I can’t speak specifically about music libraries, in the closest situations I’ve had to yours, nobody cared in the slightest.

[jonathanm]

Jan 15, 2009, 4:08pm, chriscarter wrote:I don’t do the music library thing, but I place instrumentals all the time with TV shows non-exclusively.Hi, Chris. This statement caught my attention. How do you get placements in TV without going through the libraries? (I'm still learning.)

[slideboardouts]

It would depend on the situation probably, but one of my publishers specifically said that if you have a song signed "non-exclusively" to a library, then a label WILL have some concern. You could probably work something out between the three of you, but don't think that a label will think its no big deal that another company has some kind of control over your music.Also, it really is a bad idea to put one piece of music with several different libraries under non-exclusive agreements. Whether your deal is exclusive or non-exclusive you should treat it as an exclusive deal.Chris's situation is different in that HE is placing his music directly with TV shows and artists. There isn't another company pitching for him that has some sort of rights to the music. It really is a totally different situation because there isn't another company (i.e. legally binding contracts) involved.-Steve

[chriscarter]

Jan 15, 2009, 7:54pm, jmeraz wrote:Jan 15, 2009, 4:08pm, chriscarter wrote:I don’t do the music library thing, but I place instrumentals all the time with TV shows non-exclusively.Hi, Chris. This statement caught my attention. How do you get placements in TV without going through the libraries? (I'm still learning.)Most of the time you go through the music supervisor, or occasionally their music coordinator (the supervisor's grunt man/woman). Occasionally I've gone through the editor, but that's a little more rare. Too be honest, I've never done anything with a library and only know how they work from a relatively theoretical level.

[jonathanm]

Ah, some serious networking, then. Probably not as likely for a guy in Oklahoma, like me. Thanks for answer.

[georginasaint]

Hi everybody, Thanks for your replies. So it would seem to me caution is best when placing with libraries, and only put one piece with one library for the length of the contract at least. If nothing has happened then I presume you would try putting it in a different library. But the song I'm concerned about, as it has some potential, sounds like I'd be better to keep it for a label deal.Chris do you nurture your relationships with music sups a great deal??? Being in LA, it would make sense!GeorgieJon, I've only ever got music in a film because of somebody I know personally.

[chriscarter]

Jan 19, 2009, 4:01am, georginasaint wrote:Chris do you nurture your relationships with music sups a great deal??? Being in LA, it would make sense! I try, but it can be difficult. There is a LOT of turnover so people change - and it can be difficult to remind people who you are all the time. I'm pretty busy producing (and writing for that) and mixing so I just try and do licensing as I have time available... if I were ONLY a songwriter, I'd probably do more of it as I would have the time. Distance doesn't really matter as much as you would think, a lot of work is done by phone and e-mail.