[Art Munson]

Ha! Good one Advice, love that cartoon. We all need more levity!

[Art Munson]

“I do have a right to call my anonymous name whatever I chose to call it.”

@Nick. As I stated in my e-mail to you.

Actually you don’t on MLR, my sandbox my rules. It skews the conversation if one decides to change names on a whim and makes a person’s agenda look bigger than it really is.

Here are some points to remember with your own policies on your site: You may, however, visit our site anonymously…

And you are visiting anonymously.

[Art Munson]

@Nick, It’s been brought to my attention that your tone sounds very similar to “More Advice. On checking both IP addresses I find they are one and the same. So, if you want to remain a “friend” of MLR please don’t play games!

[Art Munson]

Wow!

[Art Munson]

Yep, happy with X3.

[Art Munson]

Nobody likes it but it’s a sad fact of the state of affairs that’s been going on for years. One company (SK) was paying a small portion of blanket licenses to composers. Not sure they still do.

[Art Munson]

I’ve been thinking about this some more. I just don’t know if a private meetup of composers is the best idea. Many library owners are also composers and I think it may just exacerbate the “us against them” mentality. Also how could you ensure everyone was there for the right reason? Infiltrators? Sounds so clandestine.

[Art Munson]

To finish, don’t take sides in this debate, try all types of outlets and find the niche or niches that work for you, funneling people down a predetermined path based on someone else shouting louder does not make a good career move, whatever position they may take.

Here, here Denis! You have put into a simple paragraph the truth!

[Art Munson]

If the big exclusives represented by the PMA want to stop the race to the bottom, they need to reach out to get new composers on board IMHO. In the past there has been an elitist view of their own product and a marked disdain of any music that wasn’t controlled by them. Possibly motivated by fear and shrinking revenues ?

That’s exactly what I talked about with a PMA board member at lunch last week and he agreed. Hopefully, by joining, I can start that conversation.

[Art Munson]

@Art… Your decision to be more focused and go after “higher end” placements, continues a proven path for success that Mark Petrie followed, which was to establish a base income at one level of the industry then build on that, and move on.

I think it’s the natural order of things. When one is entering any endeavor you start down a path that’s usually a path of least resistance. Royalty free music sites are one such path for beginning composers. As most of you know I’m probably the oldest guy on this forum, have decades of experience in the music business but have only come to the world of production/library music in the last few years. I consider my myself a newbie in this area but am ready to move up the ladder. But as long as there are newbies, RF sites with clients and that path of least resistance, the RF sites will not be going away!

BTW it doesn’t take thousands of songs to make some extra money in the RF world a couple of hundred with alternate mixes will get you to 1500 or so tracks (I currently have 8 mixes per song). The alt mixes are easy to spin off and that should be enough to make some decent money, assuming you are writing what folks are buying. Just know that it will never take the place of PRO money.

One thing I have observed by monitoring MLR all these years is that those that have been in the production/library music for a very long time are the ones that whine the loudest about today’s state of affairs. MichaelL, Mark Petrie (and a number of others here) are two that “get it”, they see the future and understand it. Technology is constantly upsetting apple carts, look out yours may be next!

I should also point out that while some folks can win the lottery and make hundreds of thousands of dollars with very few tracks that is the exception rather than the rule. It’s much like any business, there will be many trying to make a successful venture but only very few will have ultimate success. It’s not necessarily the most gifted or talented but more about being in the right place at the right time a good bit of hustle and some luck. Still, there are those who believe there own press and you will not convince them otherwise.

One last thing. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating, “Music is business, business is war, war is hell, adapt or die!”

[Art Munson]

Again, it is imperative that Networks source their music from PRO Libraries for the long term health of the business.

RF is making some money for me but I’ve always said my PRO money far outweighs it. I’ve never made New Years resolutions before but this year I did. “Work smarter and focus” is my new mantra and to that end I’m looking to work with higher end libraries. I will also be joining the PMA. I met with one of the board members last week and mentioned that I think they should reach out to composers more, he agreed.

For those who don’t know about the PMA (Production Music Association) they are here: http://pmamusic.com/

[Art Munson]

@AaronM. The search function here on MLR is the first place to go to. Try this thread:

Sample Library Suggestions

[Art Munson]

Anyway, this may best be left to an off the record MLR Meetup…have you done one of those before Art?

@bradymusico: Hmmm, good idea. E-mail me any ideas you might have about setting that up. You can use the contact form if you don’t have my e-mail address. Thanks!

[Art Munson]

more private forums 🙁 … whats happening, feels like a closed shop now.

@frederico did you not read my comment above?

“Nope just the one forum was made private and the AS topic.” Geez!

[Art Munson]

Another “Pay to Play” site. Don’t do it, not necessary IMHO.

[Author]

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