01
Who owns the track?
Make sure the people involved, writer shares and relevant permissions are clear before a supervisor asks for confirmation.
Before you pitch your music for sync, check this.
You can have a great track and still make life difficult for the person trying to license it. Here are a few practical things I look at before music leaves my studio. It's not a promise of placements, just a decent way to get the files in order.
The eight-point checklist is here to read. For the printable PDF and personal delivery worksheet, request your copy through the Wix form. Marketing email opt-in is optional.
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The free PDF includes a practical submission tracking worksheet.
Get the checklist PDF ↗My pre-submission check.
Different libraries and briefs have different requirements. This is a starting point, not a rigid submission policy.
02
Are your samples cleared?
If something in the recording needs permission, sort it out before promising the track is licensable.
03
Does the instrumental exist?
For vocal tracks, a clean instrumental can be just as useful as the full mix. Check the actual request.
04
Can the music be edited?
Think about the intro, endings, transitions and whether the track gives an editor room to work.
05
Do you have alternate versions?
Stems, cut-downs and no-lead versions can help, when they're requested and properly prepared.
06
Is the metadata clean?
Track title, contributors, contact details, genre and mood should be consistent with the files you're sending.
07
Does it suit the catalogue?
Don't send everything to everyone. Actually listen to the publisher's music and think about whether yours belongs there.
08
Is delivery simple?
Clearly named, high-quality files and a short, accurate pitch beat a confusing download folder.
Ready files are only part of it.
There's also the question of where the music belongs, which libraries work in your genre, and what happens after a track gets accepted. That's the stuff I spend plenty of time thinking about.
Music rights basicsRegistration resource ↗
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Publisher researchBrowse the shop ↗