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So if a listing states "Submissions should be approximately 90 seconds in length"... will a 2 min piece automatically be returned?

Great question. I usually add 30 seconds to the time requirements unless the listing specifies that it should be "specifically" a certain amount of time.

Yeah, I'm aiming to keep it within 10-20 secs.

If this is for the drone listing, TAXI would be remiss to forward 2:00 cues as the library that is asking for it accepts :90 and 2:00+

The ones that get automatically returned will say "at least X:XX (usually 2 minutes)"... and if you are under that time you may as well not bother submitting.

Russell

edit: take a look at listing #U150729SC ... it says "at least"

It's for this one:

DREAMY, REFLECTIVE, and THOUGHTFUL INSTRUMENTAL UNDERSCORE CUES are needed by a NON-Exclusive Music Library that’s supplying music directly to 2 HBO TV shows. They’re eager to find Instrumental Cues that generally match the mood of the references below:

“The Light” by The Album Leaf:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM6lFQysxtg

“He Had A Good Time” by Cliff Martinez:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp4Kr6bpz-c

“Anything You Synthesize” by The American Dollar (0:00-2:30):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSU49AFzgtw

Please submit ambient Instrumental Cues with warm pads, strings, and other dreamy, float-y, reflective elements that stick with a simple melodic motif throughout, while adding and subtracting instrumental layers as it progresses to keep it interesting. Submissions should be approximately 90 seconds in length. Non-faded endings with a natural decay/ring out are recommended. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine).

Ya, that listing is right along the lines of the libraries that are looking for that kind of music.

The thing is, those shows don't usually use anything beyond :90... but if you are in the ball park, imma thinkin' you will be ok on the timing... I would really suggest don't go under :90, but if the library likes that general :90 timing, your :10-:20 over should be okay.... and approx 2:00 might raise a TAXI screener's eyebrows, so if you have something 2:00 you might consider an edit?

Russell

Even when we ask, some libraries will say, "Any length." We'll persist, and ask, "even a 13 second piece would work for you?"

"Oh no, of course not."

"Well, how about if we say, 'at least 2 minutes?'"

"Sure, that works."

And I kid you not, we'll get submissions that are everywhere from 10 seconds to 45 seconds even though it says, "At least 2 minutes long." 2 minutes is a good ballpark that's generally a safe bet when in doubt.

Hope that helps,
Michael

Yeah, I got me some returns for cues that would have made it stylistically (according to the screener), but in my myopic reading of the listing I completely missed the 2:00 requirement and sent stuff that was about 1:45.

Submitting :10 bumpers for listings seems like a waste of $5 and a complete lackadaisical approach to composing a full length cue... Unless the listing is asking for bumpers.

Russell