Creating production music for licensing can be a lucrative source of revenue for musicians and producers. Production music is specifically composed and produced for use in television shows, films, commercials, video games, and other media. The key to success in this area is understanding the needs of the media industry and delivering tracks that fit seamlessly into various visual and audio contexts. By focusing on creating versatile, high-quality tracks, you can position yourself for licensing opportunities and build multiple revenue streams from your music.
In this article, we’ll discuss five essential tips for producing music that is not only great for licensing but also maximizes your chances of generating consistent income from your work.
1. Produce to Video
One of the most effective ways to create production music is to produce to video. Since your music will likely be synced with visuals, it’s helpful to compose while watching scenes, advertisements, or other video content. This allows you to understand how your music will interact with the visual elements, ensuring that your track fits the mood, pace, and emotion of the project.
Why This Works:
- Producing to video helps you create music that aligns perfectly with visual storytelling.
- It allows you to anticipate changes in dynamics, tempo, and energy based on the video’s pacing.
- You can create emotional sync points, where key moments in the video (like a transition or action sequence) are accentuated by the music.
How to Apply This:
- Watch a sample video or footage while composing, and time your transitions and dynamic shifts to match what’s happening on-screen.
- Experiment with syncing your music to commercials or trailers for practice, as these typically have distinct visual cues that can inform your composition.
2. Use Reference Tracks
Using reference tracks is a powerful technique when creating production music. Reference tracks are existing songs or scores used in films, TV shows, or commercials that align with the style or mood you're trying to create. By listening to these references, you can better understand the structure, instrumentation, and energy that make certain tracks successful in media.
Why This Works:
- Reference tracks provide a blueprint for the sound, style, and energy that clients in the licensing world expect.
- You can analyze the mixing and arrangement of a reference track to guide your own production.
- It helps you identify the type of music that works well for specific projects, whether it’s uplifting tracks for commercials or ambient soundscapes for documentaries.
How to Apply This:
- Find reference tracks from successful music libraries or from existing TV shows and commercials.
- Analyze the tempo, instrumentation, arrangement, and mix of the reference track, and use those elements as inspiration for your own production.
- Don’t copy—use reference tracks as guidelines to shape your unique sound while meeting industry standards.
3. Create to Your Strengths
When producing for licensing, it’s tempting to try to cover a wide range of genres and styles. However, it’s often better to focus on your strengths. If you're particularly skilled at composing cinematic music, lean into that style rather than trying to create tracks in genres where you're less experienced. By playing to your strengths, you'll create higher-quality music that stands out to music supervisors and licensing agents.
Why This Works:
- Focusing on what you do best ensures you produce high-quality tracks that reflect your true expertise.
- You’ll be more efficient in your production process, which is key when building a large catalog of music for licensing.
- Your unique sound or style could become a signature that music supervisors recognize and associate with certain types of projects.
How to Apply This:
- Identify your best genre or musical style and focus your production efforts there.
- Refine your sound within that genre by experimenting with new techniques and creative approaches to stand out in the marketplace.
4. Pay Attention to Arrangement
When creating production music for licensing, the arrangement of your track is crucial. Unlike typical songs, production music is often used to accompany visual media, so the arrangement should be versatile and adaptable. A well-structured arrangement keeps the listener engaged, but also allows editors to easily cut and re-arrange the music to fit different sections of a video or scene.
Recommended Arrangement Structure:
- Intro: A short, engaging introduction that sets the tone.
- Verse: The main theme or melody, providing a solid foundation.
- Chorus: A more dynamic section that elevates the energy or emotional intensity.
- Verse 2: A variation of the first verse to add interest while maintaining the core theme.
- Bridge: A contrasting section that adds a new element to the track, offering a break from repetition.
- Chorus (Repeat): The final chorus section, bringing the track to a satisfying resolution.
- Outro: A concise ending, either fading out or resolving with a clear finish.
Why This Works:
- A clear, predictable arrangement helps editors easily use your track in multiple scenes without needing extensive modification.
- It allows your track to build and release energy in a way that matches a typical scene or commercial progression.
How to Apply This:
- Follow the intro-verse-chorus structure for most of your tracks, but remain flexible to allow for adjustments based on the project’s needs.
- Ensure that your track’s transitions are smooth, allowing editors to cut and paste sections without creating awkward breaks.
5. Export Multiple Versions of Your Track
One of the best ways to increase the licensing potential of your track is to export multiple versions of it. By offering various lengths and cuts, you make your track more appealing to music supervisors who may need shorter edits for commercials or specific scenes. Additionally, looping versions can be useful for video games or background music in longer media projects.
Export the Following Versions:
- Full-length version: The complete track with the full arrangement.
- Looping version: A version that loops seamlessly, perfect for background or game music.
- 30-second cut: A concise version that fits the standard commercial length.
- 15-second cut: A shorter version for quick ad spots or intros.
- Stinger/outro: A very short, final section that can be used as an ending.
Why This Works:
- Music supervisors need flexibility, and having multiple versions of a track makes it easier for them to use your music in different contexts.
- Providing shorter cuts and looping versions saves editors time and increases the likelihood of your track being selected.
How to Apply This:
- After finishing a track, use FL Studio or your DAW to create different cuts and export them in multiple formats (WAV, MP3).
- Organize your versions clearly, labeling each one by length or type to make it easy for clients to navigate your catalog.
Conclusion: Producing Music for Licensing and Revenue Streams
Producing music for licensing requires more than just great production skills—it involves understanding the specific needs of the media industry and delivering music that fits various visual contexts. By producing to video, using reference tracks, focusing on your strengths, structuring your tracks with effective arrangements, and providing multiple versions of each track, you’ll significantly increase your chances of getting licensed and generating consistent revenue streams.