Skip to main content

HOW TO GET INTO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY





I've had many requests to talk about getting into the music industry. So for today's video, I share 10 tips on how to get from bedroom producer to getting your music on TV (or other similar goals, like film composing, producing for people, etc). 



Here are the tips:



1. Write LOTS of music - Nothing is worse than having someone say “Send me some stuff” and you fumble the opportunity. Write it in batches. Do 10 cues of a style so if they like it you can send a batch of the same styles.

2. Get to know people. People are who run the industry, not youtube or soundcloud. You can meet people in person but you can also start with social media. 

3. Put your music on Youtube and Soundcloud! Have an online presense! If you don’t have a place where people can listen to your music, they will never give you a chance. 

4. Attend a few conferences to educate yourself about what facet you want to go into. Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conf, Taxi, ASCAP Expo, etc.

5. Submit to Taxi and see what the feedback is.

6. Register with ASCAP or BMI

7. If you do register with one of these, check the cue sheets of all the production companies (publishers) they are using and hit them all up! 

8. Make good, current music. No old sounding stuff. Production is KEY. Find out what you are good at and people will come to you for it. If you are still shipping around your cues from last year or heaven forbid, a few years ago, write NEW music! Mix and master your cues properly. 

9. Get a job working for someone in the industry. They will give you knowledge, and bits - although this is not a direct path to being the next Zimmer.

10. Say YES to everything - but make sure you DELIVER. Water flows downhill in the path of least resistance - use that same strategy.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Composer's Brief Guide to Percussion Mallets

When composing for percussion, it is important to know the difference between a variety of mallets. Although in most cases the percussionist will choose the proper mallets for the passage, sometimes as a composer, you want a particular sound. It is always good to research a mallet before indicating it in your score. Consult a percussion catalogue for a more in-depth look at the hundreds of mallets available. 1. YARN MALLETS They come in every dynamic range from supersoft baseball-sized to forte. They are the multi-purpose mallet, used for toms, suspended cymbal rolls, marimba, xylophone, woodblock, and pretty much anytime a percussionist doesn't have time to pick up another mallet. 2. CORD MALLETS These are harder than the yarn mallets. More effective on xylophone and vibes, these mallets can also be used for a variety of percussion instruments. 3. BRASS MALLETS These are for use on the glockenspiel/bells and the occasional brake drum. They produce a more "tinny" kind of ...

Music Secrets: The Music School Survival Guide

Music Secrets: The Music School Survival Guide Don't have any time to balance rehearsals, exams, and a social life? Then read on!  So you find that between playing in orchestra, the school musical, a solo recital or two, joining Sigma Alpha Iota or Phi Mu Alpha , playing in the alternative band at night, pep band, and marching band that you can't keep your eyes open, let alone study for the music history midterm next week or even begin to write your term paper on Debussy? Then read on and learn to balance life in Music School. 1) Musicians DO need to Sleep   Yes, you need to sleep, even if it is only five hours a night plus catnaps. Your brain cannot function if you do not sleep. So sleep, even if that means that you can't play in that awesome alternative band that jams every other night till 5am at the local bar. 2) Eat right and exercise Okay, so I sound like your parents, or Oprah, but I am serious. My biggest mistake as an undergrad (well, one of my bigges...

Percussion 101: How to Play Hand Crash Cymbols

Young Girl Plays Cymbals The hand cymbals (or crash cymbals ) are extremely versatile percussion instruments . The hand cymbals are used in the military, drum and bugle corps , the orchestra, and wind ensembles. Proper percussion hand cymbal technique takes many years of practice and hard work, as well as stamina and upper body strength. The most common use of the hand cymbals is in the drum line, whether in a high school band or a professional drum and bugle corps. Two cymbals are held by straps to the cymbal player's hands. In marching band and drum and bugle corps, the cymbal player often will loop their own hand in the strap, then grab the strap.  Protect Your Hands Tape, strap pads, and gloves are often used to protect the cymbal player's hands from blisters and the slow grinding away of skin during a lengthy band show. In the orchestra setting, where the crash cymbal is often reserved for music accents and shorter music passages, the percussion player does...