This article was updated on February 20, 2020.
If you're wondering how to get your music licensed, you're not alone. It's a common question often asked by artists.
Even though you may have a killer track, there's more that can be done to give your song the best chance of being discovered. Here are some of the best tips to help get your music noticed, heard, and synced.
1) Tag Your Songs (& Include Your Artist Name!)
This is a big one. We often come across songs which have been incorrectly tagged or not tagged at all. Without concise, accurate tagging, the right people may not discover your song, no matter how great it is!
A buyer will inevitably be presented with a multitude of choices when seeking music to license, so you want to give your songs the best chance to be discovered. Tagging your music is highly recommended, because who knows your music better than you? Remember, every song is different and should be treated as such. Adding keywords and moods that accurately describe your songs will help them stand out. Click here for some tools and tips on tagging.
Also, don't forget to add your artist name. This is incredibly important for discoverability across all platforms — Songtradr and distribution outlets included. Tagging your artist name helps make you and your songs easily searchable, which will make the chances of your music getting licensed more likely.
2) Add a Professional Profile Picture
Having a great profile picture that accurately represents your music, tells the world and any potential buyers that you are a creator who takes their art and product seriously. Poor quality photos can look amateur and do little to help your business.
A good-quality, captivating profile picture is an essential first impression. This is especially true for our music curation team, as they tag hundreds of songs every day.
Your profile picture speaks volumes about you and your music. Make it as artistic as you like, but remember to keep it professional.
3) Title Your Songs Correctly
Your song title should be the song name only and should not include additional information. For example: Which one do you think works and looks better?
“A Beautiful Beach - 24BIT - WAV - VOCAL MIX” OR "A Beautiful Beach"?
Leaving extra information in the title may give the impression that the song is a work in progress. The title should also accurately represent your song. Much of pitching comes down to setting up the right listening environment and atmosphere. Shape the experience for your listener with a song title that accurately sets the mood.
4) Include Any Additional Versions
Soundscapes and ambiance (e.g. ocean wave, birds, crickets) in your music are great and could be exactly what a potential buyer wants, but we recommend creating and uploading a no ambiance version as well to give buyers more reasons to say yes.
Don't forget to include instrumental mixes and stems as well. When reviewing a song, one of the first questions from a music supervisor’s lips is, “Does it have an instrumental?”. Licenses have been won and then lost because the artist did not or could not provide an instrumental for dialogue-driven scenes. Make sure to take this into consideration when you are making final bounces in the recording studio!
5) Give Options for Fade-In & Fade-Outs
Visual projects need the most flexibility when mixing a song into a scene. Therefore, songs with a definitive start and end are more preferable than songs with fade-ins or fade-outs.
If your artistic vision calls for such, consider doing an alternate mix version with a definitive start/end, to give potential buyers the option.
6) Create Playlists
Utilizing Songtradr's playlists means you can share songs easily by sending links to industry colleagues, collaborators, or potential buyers.
To make things even easier, the auto-update playlist function allows you to edit your playlists whenever you like without having to resend links.
Don't forget you can also let others know what's going on in your world by sharing your playlists on social media.
7) Create Your Songtradr Artist Profile
Every member of Songtradr has access to a customizable public profile. This is a great way to share your music and other information.
On your Songtradr profile, you can customize photos, share a bio, links, playlists and feature your top 10 tracks.
You can share your profile with anyone (fans, music supervisors, fellow musicians) so don't be shy!
8) Do Your Research
Before sending your music for a pitch, it's a good idea to research the TV show, film, advertisement, or project. Industry professionals are busy and appreciate pitches with good quality production, that are well-thought-out.
Sending music that you know is relevant to the project will increase your chances of landing the license.
Side-note: Songs with generic or dual-meaning lyrics make your getting licensed more of a possibility.
9) Let Listeners Know Your Music Is Available for Licensing
Place your Songtradr song link on your website, in YouTube video descriptions, or Facebook captions to create a new pipeline for buyers. With a plan to get your music licensed, it's always beneficial to make sure as many people know about your work as possible.
10) Submit to Relevant Wanted Listings
Being accurate with your Wanted submissions will help position your music in a good light with our licensing team and network of buyers. Our Wanted Listings are constantly updated, so checking them regularly to find which ones fit songs in your catalog will increase your chances of being noticed, and possibly licensed.
To ensure that artists are submitting music to relevant Wanteds we operate on a credit system. As a free or Lite user, you will receive 2 submissions per Wanted. By upgrading to Songtradr Pro, you will receive 5 submissions per Wanted opportunity.
If you've followed the steps above and your music is a good fit, you have an excellent chance of catching the ear of our music licensing team. Even if your song doesn't fit the needs of one project, it may be remembered and chosen for another. You've heard it before, and it's true; persistence is key.
Ultimately, we are firm believers that great music will find its way to the top, and we're here to help that happen! Covering these essential will make your chances of getting your music licensed stronger.
DISTRIBUTE & LICENSE YOUR MUSIC. EVERYWHERE.
Peter Schneider
Peter Schneider is the Director of Marketing here at Songtradr. And, of course, he loves music.
license and selling
I love music because it is the way to be entertained. Do you have any idea of what music can do in a human life style?.
Music comes with a lot of messages. Messages that talks more about every ups and downs in ones living. It sometimes suggest ways to get out of any hardship one is facing and how to reach greater heights. As for me, I think music is life itself and should be accorded as so.
All done and all good. There are a lot of great sounding tracks being submitted. It’s all about personal preference, all about whether the screeners like it or not. I’d be willing to bet that not one music supervisor for the clients have heard any of my material.
Usefull tips, thank you.
very useful tips thanks
Great tips. Found #9 especially helpful. Cheers.
I appreciate You Guys God Blessed This Platform And Info Very Use full .
The information you feed out is so helpful to walk us through the steps we missed along the way. Much appreciation for the help.
Thanks for the article, really helpful, Any more please ??.….cheers.
This is great thank you!
Great article! Thank you 🙂
Does Songtradr pitch music to projects / tv / film
It’s great to be chosen but once you upload a song it should automatically be considered without having to pay every time. Most songwriters are not wealthy and live day to day sometimes. A lot of sites are getting rich off of struggling musicians and songwriters.
Hi Joe,
We are pitching music every day outside of the submissions!
Good job Kyle Warner , keep up the great info and tips to help us be better at what we do , a million thanks.
Helpful tips, thanks
Thank You Kyle. 🙂
May we all remain ever teachable.
Nothing
this issa nice 10 tips suggestion yo!!
Useful information.
Thanks a lot
Licensing
Great tips but I think it’s very tough to get a placement.
It’s definitely not easy, but giving your music the best chance to be discovered is integral.
I am an Afro Beat artiste from Nigeria but i noticed most songs that are pitched are foreigners
How can I get my songs on songhtradr
Here are Directions to upload your music!
good
Hi how a u guys am manager legend from legend entertainment. . Uganda East Africa … I need some one to push me in my company ..I mean I need a sponsor to sponsor my company have good artists like three of them and they are really good. … but I can’t make it alone .. I need another manager or sponsors. . Even companies. . Thx ..my whatsapp number is +256706580708… u can check our page and like it .on facebook it’s LEGEND ENTERTAINMENT AND MARKETING AGENCY. .
Khasah musiq from Kenya
https://youtu.be/luJ7g2LcXCU
The way it feels its almost like the industry is anti instrumentals. I constantly apply to wanted listing and cater to the exact description and still get rejected. Everything is tagged accordingly. The profile picture is clean visible and recognizable. Everything is done right but my songs are still rejected. Once again I feel because they’re instrumentals.
Hi Shawn,
Regarding instrumental music — we’d say there’s probably a slight majority to that sort of music being licensed. Again, it all depends on the spot, but a lot of music buyers are looking for instrumentals to set the tone of a scene/spot without vocals to compete with dialogue.
Actually I am Also Musician But I didn’t know how I Distribute my songs can you please help me..? coz I like.work with you
Hey Dhara! Here are instructions on how to sign up for a Songtradr account and here is a link that explains how to upload music on Songtradr. Hope that helps!
Excellent information Kyle. I’ve been in the industry since 1968 as a writer, artist, publisher and producer. although I do some synth work, most of my work is organic. I love using all the instruments in a variety of genres both on stage and in the studio. Although I’ve received many placements, my main motivation is passion for the creation process. The industry keeps changing. I’ve had to change with it.
It’s a fun ride.
Very helpful, thanks how
Thank you for this detailed info Kyle 🙂 I find Songtradr the best platform yet! especially now with distribution as well,
Kind regards
Kim — from A Land Downunder
good article for me as a noob. i need to create versions of some songs that are fading out. also, i probably need to upload more “stems”. and finally, i probably also need to be uploading 30/60/90 versions. damn that’s a lot of extra work after you think you’re done with a track. but at least going forward i’ll write music with those things in mind.
what if you want to compose instrumentals for a film and do the entire score? not just a tiny clip ?
thanks
Denis
“Even if your song doesn’t quite fit the brief for one project, it may be remembered and chosen for another. So don’t submit to one listing, then sit back and wait or give up. You’ve heard it before and it’s true; persistence is key.”
Thanks a lot for this reminder. I was wondering…
There are many ways to be able to get your song noticed, but the most important ones to keep in mind would be tagging your songs especially if they fit a certain mood or a certain genre, as well as giving them correct titles so that they can become memorable. another viable option is to include different variants of the songs that you made, like an instrumentals-only version, so that any potential buyers would have the choice to select which version of your music would they like to purchase. If I had the chance to become musically-famous, I would label all of my musical works like crazy and title them and then even classify them according to genre just to be on the safe side!
Thanks for the tips one day the songs will get licensed and synced
Great and Wonderful tips most especially 8, 9 and 10. I shall henceforth work Closely with all these Excellent tips so that a good number of my Songs get licenced.
Yes, music is very powerful. From having bad day, of any source, music will defiantly make you fill better.
Would you sent me details about how I am progressing ie my dashboard it’s a pleasure to work with you I am impressed Thank you
If you’re having trouble navigating your dashboard, click here. Hope that helps!
Keep up your good work
Thanks Gibson!