Comm 448t Final
Film & TV: Soundtrack royalties
- 12-14% for entire soundtrack; if one song on 10-song soundtrack, it's 1/10th=1.2-1.4% - superstars can push for higher rate - record co. may ask for alf if they aren't releasing soundtrack
DIY: Aspects of DIY (accessibility, egalitarianism, experimentalism, alternative)
- Accessibility Anyone can join, play, promote shows, hang with anyone (no barrier btwn artist & audience) - Egalitarianism All involved viewed as equals --- no "professional v. amateur" divides [ideally] - Experimentalism Allows creation/formation of new music approaches/styles or new fashions/visuals Not restricted to bounds of commercialism (Observer-participant effect) - Alternative Offers differing perspectives from mainstream music Thus: displaces agenda setting of major (or even large indie labels)
DIY: Characteristic similarities (musician's operations; record labels; press/media production; merchandising/promotion; record stores)
- Aesthetic, fashion & approach used by musicians in indie/underground scenes - Largely seen in hip-hop (indie/underground) & rock (punk/hardcore/indie metal) genres - Other featuring similar characteristics, including... - Musicians' operations: Financially frugal - Record labels: Polysemy of staff - Press/media production: Underground (or at least, non-commercialized) - Merchandising & promotion/marketing: Novel ideas, unique concepts Record stores (independently-owned) consignment
DIY: "Fanzines"
- Aka 'zines (nowadays they're just blogs) - Underground culture of publications - Most popular in '80s/'90s - Many covered music, esp. small, indie artists - Some major magazines initially started as 'zines - Generally self-published by author
360 deals
- Back in the day: Labels received income solely from sales of albums/singles - Now: labels DELVE into many ASPECTS of artist's revenue streams *recall various ways musicians can generate income (Deals less "standardized" than before, more customized/ specific - Active interest: label dictates what/who artist works with for all points of the deal - Passive interest: label lets artist decide and just takes its cut of the deal
PR: indie PR firms and in house record label pr departments
- Firms: Independent companies do publicity for several artists - Some specialize in specific genre(s) and/or language(s) - Paid monthly for each campaign ($500+) or on retainer for artist (held "as needed") - Handle interviews, press coverage, show access, press releases/announcements, crisis management... In-house: publicity for label roster; publicist(s) work(s) at record label You're fed the artists that you have to work with Preferred if label has a large active roster size Handle all same publicity needs as indie firms May tag team w/ indie firm (e.g., indie handles "personality" whereas label handles "music") Larger labels' departments may be divided between tour & album publicity
Music instrument industry: NAMM
- National Association of Music Merchandisers - Annual (January) instrument trade show in Anaheim instrument manufacturer booths - hundreds of professional musicians attend manufacturers make deals with retailers - present new products and innovations socialize with industry personnel
DIY: Scene production (lathe cut vinyl, cassettes, generator parties)
- Shows: small venues, art galleries, warehouses, generator parties, sometimes in illegal/non-permitted locations - Tours: booked by artists themselves - Exclusive releases on [usually] inexpensive media - Regular vinyl pressing: acetate (piece of aluminum coated with layer of vinyl)where grooves are cut, plated with thin layer of silver, then pressed between stampers to squeeze the grooves into the vinyl - Lathe cut vinyl: clear polycarbonate plastic cut with micro-grooves using a record lathe; great for limited releases, tour only editions, and crowdfunding - Cassettes: magnetic tape recordign format for audio recording and playback (Phillips)
UMG
- Universal Music Group; Universal, Interscope, A&M, Geffen, and Electrical and Musical Industries EMI
Film & TV: Performer deals
- Usually for a one-off (not found on artist's album but film wants artist to perform it for the film); if artist performs in movie, that's a separate deal - even though song's not on album, must clear with label - films art treated as "records - label exclusivity-but, artist may negotiate for film exclusion in record deal
Vanity/Imprint Label
- artist gets own "offshoot" label (usually majors, some indies) - sign their own bands - parent record label does majority of work (publicity/ admin./ distribution, etc)
Music instrument industry: Challenges (changes, competition, inspiration, luxury items, size)
- changes in musical tastes/preferences= changes in instrument preferences - predict what's ahead; ensure supply for future demand - GC execs: peruse message boards, attend gigs Competition - innovators: Costs are high Inspiring musicians - games like Guitar hero/DJ Hero/ Rock Band as a stepping stone? Luxury item - not good for recession purchases - maintenance and expenses Physical size - storage/ use at home? - freight costs - retail floor space - may occupy large area; which items to stock/show?
Legal Business Affairs
- drafts contracts, legal matters , deal negotiation, licensing
live performance booking agents
- gets shows for artist; sets up tours and routing; sets artist guarantees - usually 10% commission (per union); not all are union and/or licensed - try to keep you on tour as long as possible b/c get more commission
new media
- handles online aspects of albums like websites mobile apps, and digital sales
Synch license types (major/indie movies (step deal/kicker); TV shows/singing TV shows; commercials; video games)
- major movie: %15k-$100; for broad rights (use in most film-associated materials forever [perpetuity]) - indie movies: negotiated depending on film, can be very limited in term/location step deals if film released on DVD, VOD, TV, etc. Kickers if film hits certain box office goal - TV shows: similar to broad rights (all formats, perpetuity) Indie band $1,000; Major artist $10k-$50k+ - singing contest shows: flat fee paid to each publisher (good song exposure) for limited duration (2-5 years) - commercials: $50k-$200k per year in US - video games: flat fee, no mechanical royalties paid, $8k-$50k
Merchandising: Merchandise deals/advances
- merch company may advance $$$ to artist to create merch - merch money MUST be paid back; might even accrue interest - paid out during tour (or before) - not as flexible/ open as recording/ publish advance! some merch advances given from record label - Merch deal: one album or tour cycle, or until recouped...? - must state tour w/ in ____ days; play min. _____ shows, etc. - deals usually exclusive w/ merchandising company
Advances
- money given to an artist for album recording and career needs - RECOUPABLE against their royalties (not just for recording, but for videos, promotion, rentals, touring...) - if artist doesn't sell enough records to recoup, label "eats" loss - UNRECOUPED advances carry over from previous albums on same contract (CROSS-COLATERALIZATION) Recoupables: Passman says advertising, shipping & marketing are traditionally non-recoupables however, I knew of labels that DID charge postage/shipping for albums sent to journalists as recoupable expenses
Film & TV: Music Supervision (role of music supervisors; sourcing music)
- music supervisors select and secure rights to music for film and tv shows - extensive music knowledge and pair up with visual contact artist/songwriter/publisher/label to establish deals and coordinate between them - how to find music - stock music library (www.firstcom.com/en/news/library_showcase/MasterSource.aspx - contact labels and/or publishers directly - Publishing campaign...
Tour manager
- on road with artist to ensure tour goes smoothly; handles problems/issues (Hotel & airfare bookings, routing/coordination, security, settling (collecting payment from pre-sale/walk-ups))
Tour support crew (roadies/techs/merchandisers)
- roadies: move equipment and stage setup - gear techs: maintain/repair instruments - sound engineer: Control PA system audio (either front-of-house or monitors) - lighting tech: operates stage lighting; will coordinate with sound engineer on A/V equipment - merchandisers: managers sales of artist's mercy at venue - drivers: handles driving duties for buses/ trucks (forklifts)
live performance talent buyers
- typically are venue employee; shows booked without agent called 'house shows' or 'venue deals' - note: agent may shop package to buyer (bands tour together)
live performance heritage acts
-Classic artists of '50s-'00s; former arena headliners - Venues now: Casinos, festivals, fairs, performing arts center - Older audience = more money = cost per ticket *Soft ticket: in conjunction w/ venue's promotions - Superstars (Passman) - Guarantee: 4100,000-500,000 + per night - Multiple nights in same place to reduce costs - Split: 90/10% or 85/15%; artist keeps guarantee or gets split, whichever is LARGER - Promoter expenses (deduct from ticket sales gross) - Advertising; facility & equiptment rental; personnel, crew & security; insurance & medical; catering
SME
-Sony Music Entertainment [with Bertelsmann Music Group BMG; Columbia, RCA, Epic
WMG
-Warner Music Group; Warners Bros, Elektra & Atlantic, Maverick Sire, Reprise
A&R
-artist & repertoire, responsible for talent scouting and overseeing artistic development of recording artits and songwriters
demo & development deals
-demo deal: label pays for artist to record some songs ot 'test them" before offering deal - development: label pays decent money to record well-produced demo and decides; if label thinks it's good, artist automatically signs to a label - Radiohead's 6-album contract fulfilled with EMI in 2004 - Placed '07 album In Rainbows online, audience could pay whatever desired (most paid ~$5) - Pennywise "left" Epitaph Records in 2005 - Signed 1-album deal to MySpace Records, released 9th album free via MySpace in '08 (400,000 DLs - top PW release) - Same album was licensed for release by Epitaph overseas - "Returned" to Epitaph in 2012
Deals: options & firms
-firms: committed albums label will make with artist - options: albums label may make after firm(s), if successful
Songwriting & publishing: mechanical royalty
-statutory rate paid for each song by songwriter on album 9.1 cents
indie label distribution
-uses indie "distros" (may be exclusive with one or may use multiple distros) or contracts w/ major label-owned indie distros - indie record label>indie distributor> retail stores (Amoeba) - indie distributors can be more specialized * particular music genre; deals direct wit hassle record retailers - some indie labels also sell direct from their offices * sales from label straight to retailer (sometimes bypass distros to get albums in retail stores)
PR mailings lead time and package contents
ALBUM MAILINGS Lead time Long lead: 3-4 months; short lead: 1-2 months Press release, one sheet, and/or bio CDs (sometimes LP or 7") 8x10" glossy photo (rare these days)
Music instrument industry: Retail support (chains vs. "mom & pops")
Chain stores: guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, DJ, pro audio (PA/recording), amps, accessories Guitar Center (musiciansfriend.com), Sam Ash "Mom & Pops" (independently owned): all the above, plus rentals, in-store lessons, orchestral/brass instruments, repairs
Film & TV: Performer credits/music used during credits (crawl, main title song, end title song, main titles)
Crawl: Scrolling credits at end of movie Main title song: song at start of the movie Main titles: credits in lovie intro End title song: song at end of movie
Music instrument industry: Endorsement deals (cost deals, clinicians, roster artists)
Endorsement deals" - Cost deals: Entry-level pro. Artist, often receive products at ~60% off retail (may get free seconds); usually not in ads (catalogs maybe) - Clinicians: Pro. Musicians hold workshops using instruments at stores & schools; often get free product - Roster artist: high-level pro. Musician, often get free products (limited quantity per year), other products at cost deal; usually in ads/catalog for product Yamaha endorsement link The test bed to give them feedback
Music video: content effects imitation/identification/modeling
Imitation & identification: Seeing it in video, replicating in real life Phrases, gestures, fashion/looks Introduced by musicians in video à replicated by fans/viewers Modeling: behave in a certain way due to seeing it in media
live performance indie promoters
Ind promoters often rent venues, do own booking (may buy shows from agents)
Touring: lobby call & bus call
Lobby call: Time artist has to be in hotel lobby to leave bus call: time artist has to be on the bus to leave
Merchandising: Per capita spending
Merch sales calculated in "per capita spending" How much (on average) each person who attended the show spent on merch from paid attendees Ex: 23,000 PAID attendance, sold $631,000 of merch = ~$27/ per cap
DIY: Minutemen (band example)
Minutemen - "We Jam Econo" '80s San Pedro-based band proud that they lived cheaply recorded debut album after hours for cheaper studio rates; recorded songs live to save costs early songs less than 1 min. to put more songs on records 18 songs = 15 min planned van tours by staying at other people's homes; learned to work on their own van; no roadies worked day jobs off tour to sustain themselves
Touring: per diem
Money given to artists each day for food, incidentals
live performance gate split
NEW ARTISTS Opening slot? Big tour = might be a buy-on (pay to play) Fee: $0-1,500 Gate split: 20-60% (rely on venue door count) May not get split, just guarantee Expenses: van/bus/planes, crew, food, hotels, gear, commission, fuel... MIDLEVEL ARTISTS Headline small rooms (1,000-2,500 cap) Fee: $5,000-50,000 (opener), $20,000-100,000 (headline 5,000 cap) Income depends on ticket price May be 85% split (guarantee $7,500-25,000/show)
Marketing: P.O.P. promo
P.O.P. promo (value-added) example: Pre-order the new "COMM 448T Greatest Hits" CD and get free poster & sticker with order
PR: pitch and press release formatting
PR: PITCH Why should a publication be interested in your artist? Like-minded genres Coming to the area New album release Artist is doing something special in conjunction with publication's aim Email examples *Rashidi recommends RIYL "recommended if you like" Press releases start with FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE at top, always in caps and underlined (unless embargoed - meaning it shouldn't be released until a certain time) Contact info includes full name, phone, e-mail address Headline of press release should be action-oriented Subhead: expanded part of headline, draws reader in & accentuates headline by adding detail PR: PRESS RELEASE Opening paragraph: Answer the 5 Ws: Who, What, When, Where & Why Grab reader, cover all basic questions with facts If promoting show/event, include date, venue name & address, show time, ticket price, ages, venue's website Second paragraph: more details & story; quote about music from reviewers, fans, producers, venue owner or industry tastemaker(s) Final paragraph: Tour dates; mailing address; links to websites; photo download link; CD tracks sales weblink; label contact info
Music instrument industry: Publication support (trades & instrument mags)
PUBLICATION SUPPORT - Trade magazines B2B publications cover specific instrument's market; for retail/manufacturing readers (Drum Business) - Instrument specific magazines Bass Player, Modern Drummer, Guitar World Info. & ads for consumers & pro. Musicians
Film & TV: Placement deals
Placement of song from album in movie requires involvement form at least 3 sometimes 8 folks... - performer - record label of performer - producer - songwriter - publisher of songwriter - if samples: owner of master recordig sampled publisher of smapled recording - if soundtrack album: label of soundtrack album can get more complicated with more samples, more songwriters and publishers per song - note differences between performer deals (ch. 28) and songwriter deal (Ch. 29)
Marketing: Sell-thru
Sell-thru: Percentage of actual sales vs. what's ordered by retailer (important!) Push tour dates with album release "season" Get press coverage Push to podcasts, college/commercial radio Online fans: Create awareness about artists, when/where performing & where they can get album
Marketing: Album set-up
Set street date: (generally speaking) it Tuesday of album release Posters & promo CDs to service all retailers in on tour markets Create retail One-sheet to inform retailers of album availability from distributor(s) and/or direct sales Send retailers free goods (t-shirts, personal "cleans") Retail coverage in important markets: at least X units in store stocked
Music instrument industry: Product sales (top sellers; school music programs)
TODAY - $17 billion int'l industry; $6.7 billion U.S. (2011) - Top sellers: Guitars; PA/speakers; printed music; percussion; wind instruments - School music programs: Budget cuts = less money for instruments?
Rider
a set of requests or demands that a performer sets as criteria for performance specifics foods & drinks, transportation, specific equipment to be used Runner: person or persons hired to make these requests happen
Finance (admin)
accounts payable/receivable, royalty payments
songwriting and publishing: copyright
allows for reproduction, distribution, performance, derivation
DIY: Observer-participant effect
allows observer to become participant
Merchandising: Deal points
approval of items: approval of your likeness approval of design/ layout restricting sell-off rights right to purchase merch at deal's end
Film & TV: Conversion costs
conversion costs: convert song from film to soundtrack album are non-chargeable to artist
major label distribution
handled by major labels' in-house distribution arms - major record labels>major label group> major group distribution> retail stores
Merchandising: Merchandisers (roles, royalty payments)
handles production, distro & sale of artist's merch; licensed by artist to merch co. who pays royalty per sale Not usually used by smaller bands/artists who generate & sell their own merch Royalty: 30-40% of gross (= price - tax & fees) or profit split is approx. 80/20% [artist/merch co.]
Film & TV: holdbacks
holdback: can't release on your own album for (1 yr) from film/soundtrack release...?
soft ticket
in conjunction w/ venue's promotions (gather regardless of artists; casinos and fairs)
Major Label v indie label
major - Corporate owned/ shareholders - large budgets - generalists in terms of music genre (specialized sub-labels/imprints) - wide reach with vast distribution in large (big box) stores - artists are usually somewhat established - look at numbers (followers, ticket sales, listeners) indie - thousands available, in a variety of sizes; 1- person bedroom operations to large offices with full staff - some existed for decades, others new to music scene - some indies may "graduate" to major status via buy-outs - some have distribution deals majors (upstream) or major owned indie distribution companies - independently owned/ just a few owners/ investors...? - more limited budgets - typically genre specialists - may have limited distribution, mostly in indie record stores - artists either starting up or sometimes "winding down"
Fringe Music: Considerations (intentions, commercial appeal, audience targets, scenes)
minimalistic, experimental, avant-garde, abstract... "free" music: no rules, no traditional expectations...no commercial aspirations Intentions: - Audience-focused or for personal reason - Image may not be important or really important - Comedic? Prove a point? Make a statement? Provoke audience? Commercial appeal: some have had it, but may be limited or for novelty Who might be intended/targeted? Other musicians who can understand complexity/musicality of songs Supported by a very specific scene
songwriting and publishing: compulsory license
must license music to these folks who want to use it: cable Tv rebroadcasts, PBS, jukeboxes, Internet radio (digital), album/digital downloads
Management: Personal/business/tour managers
personal manager: - handles artist's daily issues (legal team, label discussions, personal problems) - schedule/ maintain calendar - decides artist's future (sign deals, choose producers, fire/hire band members, visual look, etc.) - May be solo lead manager, but can be part of a team/firm - 15%-20% of earnings (contract: few years; couple albums?) business manager: - handles all inbound/outbound money decisions about investments, accounts, payments, filing taxes, financial documents... - paid via percentage, hourly or flat fee tour manager - oversees al aspects of tour, including logistics/finances - handles all on-the-road affairs and scheduling - paid per day, flat fee or percentage of tour income
Merchandising: Hall fee
price charged by the venue to sell merch in venue (mostly bigger venues) Venue provides sales personnel (sometimes), space, racks & signage Hall fees: 30-35% of gross sales
Merchandising: Bootleg merch
production of artist's merch w/ out permission, license or contract
Film & TV: Co-promotions
tie in with fast food stores or other companies; usually negotiated separate from orig contract
Film & TV: Union scale
union scale (min set by union) to $400,000+/song
