Reader AP recently sent me this email about music libraries looking for cues on LinkedIn. Anyone else have experience with calls for music over there?
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Hi Art:
Are you aware of any information about the music “libraries” looking for cues through LinkedIn? Most of these appear to be scams, as they prefer music that’s neither copyrighted or published. The contract terms are nebulous at best, and no composer with business chops has ever had anything other than how “great your music sounds” emails. All sorts of un-verifiable placement claims are being made. Many are off-shore operations, and don’t have knowledge of standard publisher-composer business practices. My wife kept bugging me about getting on LinkedIn, thinking it’s good networking possibilities extend to the creative arts. She was mistaken, though. The only thing I find more offensive than the so-called “offers” posted is the total lack of knowledge on the part to those responding to the posts.
I’ve not gone through all the libraries listed at your site, but (from a name search) I don’t believe any of these are on the Report. Perhaps they want to rob wanna-be composers (especially the guerrilla ones) that have very little business knowledge. In any event IMHO these are a colossal waste of time for any serious professional film/TV composer.
One guy even got quite indignant when I posted questions about re-titling, royalties, etc. on one of the forums. Evidently he didn’t like being shown up for the phony he was. He was asking people to send him cues and “if I like it I’ll send you an contract”. (!) Sad reality is this post was filled with all sorts of replies containing soundcloud and URL links.
I just wanted to know if you’ve heard anything about these apparent cons, and if you feel they should be listed on the Report or not. I could drop a ‘blanket’ advisory with specific names if you desire. If you need more info please hit me back.
Thanks for keeping the Report up and running.
Cheers!
AP
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Some further info that AP sent me:
Film Composers’ Group, Television Music Group, Film and Music Connection and Original Music for Media Groups on LinkedIn. The posts come and go. I did bust big time on an idiot that insisted on no copyrights, etc. Check those groups’ archives. It hasn’t been 60 days since I noticed this. One library in particular is Resource Music in the UK. I asked them several questions over 2 weeks and told them I’d run whatever we came up with by my attorney. Still have yet to get a reply and it’s been 3 weeks now.
Here’s a link to one page;
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2149628&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
There’s a few of these posting on this page.
If you need more let me know.
Cheers!
AP
This is something obviously… I got several email, titled “Invitation to connect on LinkedIn” and also reminder again and again…, some of music business CEO, producers, blah, blah, blah…. wanna be or not, real? I don’t know. But this kind of behavior is SPAM! I don’t believe them.
Ill have to check that out…
The overwhelming majority of the time, if you get an UNSOLICITED contact (email, social network, etc) from anyone– library, publisher, pitching service, etc telling you how great your music is and how they would like to work with you, it’s BS. I’m sure there can be exceptions but the big red flags are it being unsolicited and the praise for your music with it sounding like a personal message sent to just you.
That’s NOT the same as YOU making contact with a library through LinkedIn or other social networking site.
🙂
I replied to posts for composers found on several groups’ pages over a period of about 2 months. It’s the same BS after, though. “Oh, you music is great, blah, blah”. One of these posted they don’t listen to music from links or posted on sites. They demand people send ready-to-use music to them, and if they use it they’ll let you know. There were also several others asking whether anyone had any success with any of these libraries. The silence was deafening.
I disagree with this. Although some are not legit.
I made some good contact by legitimate publishers that have ask to hear my music.
You guys are generalizing as usual.
But everyone can only go by their own experiences.
About Linked In:
I’ve gotten 2 companies interested but no Money.
I researched both.Each had a track record but we will see
if it turns to placements bottom line.
Got a phat check for our first round @Schockwave Sound.
NO wonder they are rated number 1.
Yep, Shockwave Sound has been doing great for me also.
Hey Art:
May the ride be a magic carpet one.
Through the Milky Way……
Indeed!
hey dan, would you mind give us some brackets for ‘phat’?
1k-5k?
10k-20k?
30-50k?
🙂
@ Bio Micro:
Your first figure is right but my biggest check ever was
back in 1998.65 grand for 1 quarter!
THe rates have been dropped by 2/3rds for the type of shows
that paid that much and haven’t done much of that work lately.