What are some good music libraries?

[kevinmathie]

Since I'm totally brand-new to this segment of the music business, I need to ask:What are some of the better music libraries out there, and what are considered good deals from them?For example, I've recently heard of Pump Audio. Is it considered a good library (and what exactly constitutes "good" when it comes to music libraries)? Upon reviewing Pump Audio's standard contract, I noticed that it offered a non-exclusive 50/50 split on the sync licenses it gets for your music. That sounded pretty good to me. Are there better deals that I should aim for? Are there really bad deals that might be dressed up as good deals that I should be wary of?What are the names of other music libraries that are popular with film and television producers? Who are the sharks that I should watch out for?Thanks!Kevin

[davewalton]

"Good" probably translates into "they do LOTS of placements". Most libraries have a web presence. Look for their credits. As far as a "good deal" goes, it depends on the specific situation and what the chances for opportunities are. Doing an exclusive deal with a library that doesn't get many placements would just tie up your songs but an exclusive deal with a good library might be the deal of a lifetime because of all the placements you'd get. It's hard to not speculate, but the best advice I can give is to try not to do the "what if" game. There are way too many variables to consider. Each deal is different, even though the contractual terms may be the same because no library has exactly the same potential for placement as another. The contract terms COMBINED with the track record of the specific library is what determines the quality of the deal.The Pump Audio deal, as you describe it, is what I think of as the generic "standard" deal, non-exclusive 50/50 split on licensing fees and royalties. It's only a good deal if they're getting placements. I remember watching a show (don't remember which one) and seeing Pump Audio in the credits. A non-exclusive 50/50 split with a library that is getting placements would, in my book, be a good deal. Dave

[kevinmathie]

Thanks Dave,Do you know what the most popular music libraries are for film/television? Is there one or more libraries that tend to get a larger share of placements over others?Kevin

[zircon]

Killer Tracks and Universal Music Production Library are pretty huge. The former is part of Sony BMG, and the latter, Universal Music Group. As I understand it, many production houses pick up CDs from those guys as a matter of course, because they're known for such high quality material.