Every Team Needs A Solid Back Up

Back ups are a necessity. Just as every NFL team needs a serviceable back up to take the reins when something unexpected happens to the starter, your creative team needs to be ready with a plan B.

This scenario happens to everyone at some point. You have chosen the perfect song for a hype video or open video, and you move forward licensing the track. Then, the track becomes unavailable and you are stuck with production music you didn’t want, or a secondary track that doesn’t measure up.

There are a variety of reasons that will move you from your preferred music to another track.

• Price- Certain labels and artists price their music so high that the licensing fees become a concern and your team is priced out of the use.

• Artist Preference- Some artists want to know how their music is being used and what team will be using it. If the artist isn’t a fan, or if they don’t like a featured player, they could deny the use.

• Availability- Some songs are locked up and unavailable to license. That can be for a variety of reasons including a national brand paying a high rate to lock up the track and restricting it from being licensed to other entities, or the track can be on a restricted list from the artist or management.

• Splits- In some cases the splits can be unresolved creating an issue in clearing the track. One writer claims a higher percentage of the track than they should be claiming making the splits total over 100%.

The best way to combat unexpected disappointment when licensing music is to have at LEAST 2 back up tracks at the ready. Take a stab at clearing the preferred track, but be able to shift to the second or third choice if needed. Don’t tie your creative vision to one song or you could be setting your team up for a huge let down.

We have helped many teams navigate these difficult licensing snafus and have assisted maneuvering around each of the scenarios listed above. We can help you too! Contact John Adams to discuss your licensing needs.