Music licensing - proprietary information?

Bus No. 8

Bus No. 8

Well-known member
I'm applying to license a song that appears in my documentary. The publisher is EMI. On the form they have sent to me they ask for the total number of songs I am using in the production, the total budget of the production and the amount I have budgeted for music.

Is this standard? Why do they need to know how many songs I'm using (I only want to use one of theirs) and how much money I'm spending on music? I just need to know how much money they want from me.
 
Seems like a fair set of questions to negotiate a reasonable fee. It is a negotiation, not like buying a can of peas off the shelf.
 
I think that's probably true, Snazzy. We have also considered replacing the music, which I hate to do in a documentary, but the scene of girls dancing in the street is more important than the song they're dancing to.
 
Bus No. 8 said:
I think that's probably true, Snazzy. We have also considered replacing the music, which I hate to do in a documentary, but the scene of girls dancing in the street is more important than the song they're dancing to.
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They will try to get as much out of you as they can...

Unless they give you a good deal, and Unless there is a reason the music can't be substituted. I would look at other licensing options. I say it all the time. There is just to much good and inexpensive music available. I get a perpetual "Blanket License" from Audio Network to use as much music as I need for a project for a flat rate of $400.
 
Hey Tommy K - I just checked out the Audio Network and the music is quite good and I agree, the rates are fantastic. Nice find for budget constrained productions.

Michael
 
MichaelP said:
Hey Tommy K - I just checked out the Audio Network and the music is quite good and I agree, the rates are fantastic. Nice find for budget constrained productions.

Michael
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I have been using them for about a year now. I told the folks at Audio Network NYC that I would spread the word for them. They are great people and very helpful. They will help you search for specific type music, just have to call them... you can speak with them by phone... yes by phone... I've called them many times. Very nice helpful people.

I have no affiliation or financial arrangements with them of any sort... Just spreading the word. I love them... I have never seen such high quality music at such great rates. You can score a whole movie for $400! The site notifies me when they have new music added as well.

If anyone from DVXUser decides to use them just tell them that Tommy from Alter Ego Media recommended them:)
 
Bus No. 8 said:
I'm applying to license a song that appears in my documentary. The publisher is EMI. On the form they have sent to me they ask for the total number of songs I am using in the production, the total budget of the production and the amount I have budgeted for music.

Is this standard? Why do they need to know how many songs I'm using (I only want to use one of theirs) and how much money I'm spending on music? I just need to know how much money they want from me.
Click to expand...

This might be an instance where using one of those companies that specifically negotiates music licenses for films would be a good idea - seems like for small budget productions going straight to the label can be difficult - with smaller indie labels you can probably work with them, but someone like EMI...I mean, that might be tough without help.
 
Apocalypse, can you give me some names of companies that negotiate music licenses? I have three songs to license, but one of them I'm working directly with the musician and his very tiny label and the other, which is a fairly well known song, is controlled by a small label. The EMI song is the tough one, especially since no one single company controls the full rights to it - there are at least three companies involved to varying percentages (BMI being another) and there are five writers on the song...

If only those girls had been dancing in the street to a small, amateur string ensemble playing Brahms...
 
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