Music is the language of the soul. So, how do you get the music you created out there for different audiences to hear? Outside of record, gig, stream, share, like, what else is there?
Let me share two scenarios that happened recently that might shed some light on the subject.
The first is when a former bandmate of mine, Gary Mallaber, reached out recently to share that he composed and recorded a large catalog of songs during the pandemic at his home studio and wanted to send me CDs. This is old-school and still viable, but I was not sure where he was going with the project. I listened, and the songs were smart and really different — some were bluesy with a rock underbelly and others were totally geared toward films or TV. I asked what his goals were for the songs, and he conveyed that he had 60 pieces of diverse music that would be suitable for film/TV placement, specifically if a music supervisor needed particular music to move the visual cadences of a scene.
This told me he was ready, willing and able to make deals, and he had a catalog of new choices for a streaming environment hungry to have a sound synonymous with its new content. It was brilliant timing. Approaching a music supervisor was the way to go in this instance. My list of such supervisors is culled from years of being in the business, but you can easily do your own research to find them.
But how can artists determine if a music supervisor is a good fit for getting their music to new audiences?
When you search for supervisors and get the list of what they’ve supervised, look closely. What types of projects have they actually supervised? Let’s use Gary again as an example. I know he co-produced Abracadabra with the Steve Miller Band. If you search that and read a few search results, the credit is there. It will likely be the same for other music supervisors.
You may need to decide the particular genre you want your music in based on your general preferences. When considering music supervisors, ask yourself if the music supervisor’s projects are similar to where you want your music placed. They may be heavy into placing music in different movie genres like holiday, horror, religious, action and so on.
So, how can you effectively collaborate with a music supervisor? How can you and this person get along? Do they listen? Do you listen? Are you on the same page?
I’m sharing suggestions for the path of growth, not of quick money. This business is based on relationships — period. Think about that. Is this the person, or company, that is right for you and your music? How can this help in getting new audiences to hear your music?
Music supervisors are one way for you to find someone who is an advocate for your songs and has the relationships and experience to place it somewhere for you to monetize. In addition, you can be proactive.
