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if a music library wants to sign a song and it's available out there for purchase at itunes, amazon, etc and also on royalty-free sites... how will this affect the signing? do they always want exclusive use? thanks.

It depends on the terms of the agreement.

daveydad wrote:if a music library wants to sign a song and it's available out there for purchase at itunes, amazon, etc and also on royalty-free sites... how will this affect the signing? do they always want exclusive use? thanks.

DI is right that it depends on the agreement. Some library deals are exclusive, some are non-exclusive. And within the realm of exclusive, things vary quite a bit.

Obviously, if a library deal is non-exclusive, this is not an issue as far as signing the contract. (But read it carefully).

Exclusive deals sometimes are exclusive only as far as film/TV pitches in that you can sell the song on iTunes, your own CD, etc. but you can't have anyone else pitch it for film/TV.

Some exclusive deals are exclusive only as far as other music libraries. Anything else is OK on your own including pitching directly to music sups as well as selling the song on iTunes, etc. You just can't put the song in another music library.

And some exclusive deals are very all encompassing (basically full blown publishing contracts), not allowing you to do anything on your own.

With respect to exclusive deals, royalty-free sites are more of a problem. Most, if not all, exclusive deals do not allow you to do that.

The important things are: (1) Read contracts carefully and make sure you understand the terms. (2) If you need an exception that's not already in the contract, it doesn't hurt to politely ask.

Best,
Casey

thanks all. looks like this one library is exclusive and anything out there removed. worth it? how much would something like this pay if ever used by them? sometimes i can make $100 on royalty-free sites if a wide license is purchased... though that is the exception.

I signed an exclusive deal saying I had to relinquish everything (except my writer's share). It hurts a little, not knowing what the future of your song could be, but that's way it goes, I guess? I hope it's worth much more than $100!?!?! That being my first one, I thought, better than the song collecting dust on my hard drive ... going nowhere fast ...?

Then again, you can always say "no thank you."