Question 1

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

Accepted Answer

Go review the Getting Started section of this article. Also, to believe it’s possible to do this. SO MANY musicians talk themselves out of taking the kinds of actions that produce meaningful financial results.

Question 2

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

Accepted Answer

They submit music that is not ready. They did not take the time to study the music that the libraries already have in their libraries. They just send their music in. Don’t do that. Get the songs structured correctly. Get the song endings right.
Be SURE the mix quality is very, very good. You never get a second chance at a first impression. Start with your best foot forward.

Question 3

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

Accepted Answer

“How long does it take to get paid?” Nobody ever asks that, and it can be a shocker. If you signed a deal with a major library, it could be around 18 months before the flow of any meaningful money starts coming in. This is due to the time it takes to get your music mastered and into the library’s flow of releases.
Then, the music has to make it into that market and be used. Once it’s used, it might not air on TV for another few weeks or more. Then, when it finally airs, you can expect your PRO to pay you on that airing around 9 months later, or more. If your music airs in another country, it can take even longer to get paid on it.

Question 4

What is one thing I should have asked which I didn’t?

Accepted Answer

“Is this music vocal, or instrumental?” In short, it’s both. Libraries need both music with vocals and strictly instrumental music. It seems the vast majority is instrumental, but more and more artists are seeing the earning potential in production music. The old model of being a Rock Star and making a fortune is becoming harder and harder.

Question 5

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

Accepted Answer

Modeling. I find people who do what I want to do. I then learn how they did it and model my methods after theirs. It’s way better than learning the hard way. They already made the mistakes. Learn from them and move forward quickly.

Question 6

Extra Credit: The Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Accepted Answer

The Beatles. I’m not even really sure what that other thing is.

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Production Music Writer