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Hi Folks,
Over the last few years I have had some decent TV placements of some songs by a particular very selective non-exclusive library. Some of the songs have been placed several times over in different episodes of the same TV series. They seem to really work the songs they have, for each accepted songs I can view the pitch activity.

Although I know contractually I am free to pitch the tracks to other non-ex libraries I have understood from reading this forum that once a song has been placed by a company I should consider it to be `exclusive` even though the contract does not restrict me to this.
I am working on new cues all the time but as these songs have proved themselves several times over I would like to be able to maximize further chances perhaps with other non-ex libraries, is this a no-no? I would of course disclose their previous non-ex signing and usage to any new company interested.
I would very much appreciate any thoughts and advice. Many thanks.
Pepe

I have some cues signed with the library you are talking about that I also have with another non-exclusive. The reason I feel secure in this case is that I know they service very different markets so I wouldn't expect any overlap. I'm not quite understanding the logic behind treating a cue as exclusive once it's been placed. What if you already have that cue signed to more than one non-exclusive when the placement happens?

Anyway, just my thoughts, I'm by no means an expert, maybe someone with more experience will chime in.

eo

If you have specific libraries or opportunities to pitch the songs to, you should go for it. If those opportunities pay a decent upfront fee, definitely go for it!

But if you are just trying to put the songs in other libraries just to see what happens or for only backend money, it may not be worth it.

I'm kinda weighing in with eo on this. Though I can see how treating even non-exclusive as exclusive can be a type of honor/integrity, the problem of "overlapping" markets getting your cues really comes back on the library, not the composer.

Russell

But mightn't the library be more reluctant to pitch your cues if they know it could "come back on them"?

I suggest, instead, write more cues that are like those cues getting success and pitch them elsewhere.

But mightn't the library be more reluctant to pitch your cues if they know it could "come back on them"?

If they had that worry why would they offer non-exclusive deals in the first place?

Hello all you good people who took the time to reply to my post. Some very valuable thoughts there.
When first viewing most non-exclusive Libraries main page they often stress that you can still submit songs to other libraries and the point about libraries having different markets is also pertinent.
Coachdebra's point about writing more cues is also helpful and one I am working on. Workflow and productivity can at times be an issue but I guess that is for a different post!
Overall I feel it worth researching if possible each library's key activity zone and not having tracks with similar companies and also as suggested, writing more good cues similar to those proven tracks.

Many thanks once again.
Pepe