2 Easy Song Licensing Business Models

When it comes to selling stock music (what is stock music?), there are 2 easy song licensing business models that have been successful for countless musicians. The first involves directly pitching your songs to music supervisors. The second, and even easier, way to license your songs involves uploading them directly to websites that serve as the middleman between you and the buyers.

The first method is great for established musicians. But if you're like me (and still learning the ropes), you should start at the second method as you cut your teeth in the music industry.

1st Easy Song Licensing Business Model - Using a Publishing Company

In the first method of song licensing, you develop a network of contacts (or purchase a directory) of music supervisors and publishing companies that are looking for music.

Music supervisors are the end users on projects (let's someone working on a TV show looking for a specific type of song for a scene).

Publishing Companies act as intermediaries between music supervisors and musicians. They develop a catalog of songs. So then, when a music supervisor comes to them and says "Hey, I need to license a song that sounds like Buddy Holly over a dubstep beat, but with a didgeridoo," the Publishing Company already has an idea where to start.

The Publishing Company will then submit a shortlist of songs to the music supervisor, who will make the final call.

In exchange for performing this service, the Publishing Company will take a share of the synch license revenue. They will also take a share (often 50%) of the broadcast license revenue, each time the song is played on TV.

This method of music licensing will be the easiest song licensing business model for certain musicians, if:

You've got high quality (professionally recorded, mixed, and performed) songs
You have established relationships in the industry
You write fewer songs, but spend a lot of time on them

I'll be honest, I don't use this business model. In large part because I still don't think I make music that is of a high enough quality. Also, because I don't make vocal music often. And also, because I don't have any contacts.

But if you want to learn more about this type of music licensing opportunity - you can check out Cathy Heller or Howtolicenseyourmusic.com.

2nd Easy Song Licensing Business Model - Sell Through Websites

For me, this second business model is really an easy song licensing system.

I simply write and record the songs I want to make, upload them to a few websites, and sit back and way for buyers to purchase a license. And I make hundreds of dollars a month doing this.

Now the big advantage of this for me is that I don't have to be a "professional" musician. I just have to be a good musician with decent recordings. This has allowed me to really grow my skills over the years while still getting paid to make music I love.

And it's much more passive, since many of these websites like Pond 5 make it really easy to upload your music (much easier than pitching someone).

(Note that this is a referral link, meaning I get a commission if you purchase anything from the Pond 5 - but I don’t not get a referral for recommending that you sign up as an artist. It's just my honest belief it's the best site for folks new to licensing)

Now of course there's a big downside - these sites pay significantly less than you would get from going with a Publishing Company. Maybe 20-30% of what you'd earn.

But if you're not ready for a Publishing Company yet, this is an amazing way to get started in music licensing.

Not only will you start making some money, but when you are good enough to move up the value chain, you can point to your successes when pitching publishing companies ("I sold hundreds of songs and was featured on...")

Want to learn how to license your first song in under a week? Check out my free five day music licensing mini course!

From a Frustrated Producer in a Ragtag Bedroom Studio to Major Placements on TV Earning $1,000s!

My name is Evan, and I've been making music since around 3rd grade. I'm from San Diego, California, but I've lived in Washington, DC for the last 20 years.

After 3 grueling years of grad school, though I had put aside serious attempts at making music. I found myself spending my days doing work that was dreadfully uncreative, with a ton of student student loan debt.

Which made me feel like my favorite parts of myself were withering.

But I didn't know what to do about it.

Being in my early 30s with tons of student loan debt, in a world where there is "no money in music," I felt like my youthful dreams of trying to "make it big" were dead. Like my music would remain unheard in my head and hard drive.

Frustrated by my inability to get my music heard, I started researching solutions.

Instead, I wanted to find a way where I could focus on making the music and let someone else deal with promoting it.

I realized the music licensing was the perfect opportunity for a solo artist like me to get my music heard, without having to do any promotion. I just need to focus on improving what I could control - my songwriting and my production skills.

While I still have a full-time day job, I have created systems that have allowed me to produce dozens of songs a year in my spare time.

My songs have been on Netflix, TV shows like the 90 Day Fiance, an award-winning indie film, and NPR’s “All Thing Considered.” They've also been streamed millions of times.

In addition to being a music producer, I am passionate about teaching people how they can make professional-sounding music and earn money licensing it, all in their spare time.

Thousands of musicians, like yourself, have trusted me to guide their musical journey. My YouTube videos have been watched nearly a million times. And my story has been in Forbes, Side Hustle Nation, and the Side Hustle School.

You Can Achieve Your Musical Dreams Too - Attend the Free Music Licensing Workshop!