In the music industry, there are may career paths but two distinct categories of composition and production serve different purposes and yet can crossover into each other’s domain; general release music and production music. While both contribute to the diverse soundscape of media and entertainment, they are often created, distributed, monetised and utilised with very different purposes in mind. This blog explores the key differences, delves into how creatives can earn money, and examines the career opportunities within these two types of music.
What is General Release Music?
General release music is the type of music you hear on the radio, physical mediums such as vinyl and CD, streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music, and of course live performances. These are songs by artists, composers or bands that are intended for public consumption and released as albums, singles, or EPs with the intention of building a fanbase and career for the ‘artist’, to ultimately achieve mainstream success. Think Beyoncé, Drake, Taylor Swift, or any independent artist on Bandcamp and their music falls under this category.
General release music is often characterised by:
Artistic expression: Musicians and artists create the music they want to express, often telling personal stories or exploring creative ideas.
Commercial availability: The music is distributed to a wide audience through various platforms (digital and physical as well as traditional broadcast channels such as radio and TV), with the aim of reaching as many listeners as possible.
Charting potential: If successful, these songs can climb the charts (Billboard, UK, Club charts etc) or other ranking systems and gain wide recognition with the intention of converting listeners into loyal fans and therefore customers.
Touring: Artists often support their releases with concerts and tours, adding what has become in many cases, the major revenue stream beyond just music sales or streaming royalties.
What is Production Music?
Production music, on the other hand, is specifically created for use in media such as films, TV shows, video games, advertisements, podcasts, and online content. Unlike general release music, which is created with the primary goal of reaching the public directly through being the prime focus of their attention and passion, production music is designed in most cases to play a supporting role, often conveying the emotion or intention of a scene or product in order to fully engage the audience. Imagine how different a crime drama or a TV advert would be with no music.
Key features of production music include:
Functionality over artistry: The music is typically created to enhance certain emotions, or fit into specific thematic elements within visual media.
Libraries and catalogs: Production music is often stored in music libraries or catalogs where it can be easily licensed by content creators/producers. These libraries contain music across all genres, moods, and tempos for quick, easy access and application by media professionals.
Customisation: Production music can be designed to be customised or altered to fit the needs of a specific project, from changing its length to altering the intensity of the composition through a different mix of stems or instrumentation.
How Do Musicians Make Money from General Release Music?
Musicians who create general release music can monetise their work in a variety of ways:
Music Sales and Streaming: Although the era of physical album sales has waned from 20 years ago, musicians still make money through digital downloads, album sales, and streaming royalties from platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music who offer revenue for streams, albeit relatively low compared to other forms of exploitation. Many sell their music in a physical format at shows too.
Live Performances: Concerts, tours, and festivals are major sources of income for successful musicians. Ticket revenue, merchandise, and sponsorship deals associated with live shows can provide significant financial returns, particularly for established artists who have reached beyond the tipping point of break even, so often the greatest hurdle when starting out.
Sync Licensing: General release music can also be licensed for use in films, TV, or commercials. This is called sync licensing, and artists can earn substantial fees from licensing their songs for such purposes if the song has been successful and thus adds value to the scene or product.
Publishing Rights: Musicians also earn money through publishing rights whenever their music is played on the radio, in public venues, or streamed online. Such performance royalties are collected and distributed by performance rights organisations (PROs) such as PRS, BMI, or SECAM and can soon add up for songs that reach chart success.
Merchandise and Branding: Successful artists often create branded merchandise and collaborate with other companies for endorsements, adding further to their revenue streams.
How Do Musicians Make Money from Production Music?
Monetisation in production music works differently from general release music:
Licensing Fees: Production music is often sold or licensed through music libraries, where clients pay a licensing fee to use it in their media/production. Fees vary depending on the scope and use of the music as well as the potential audience (e.g. a national TV commercial will pay more than a local ad or a YouTube video).
Performance Royalties: Similar to general release music, production music composers earn performance royalties when their music is played on TV, radio, or in other public broadcasts. PROs collect these royalties, which provide ongoing income whilst the media containing the music is in circulation. Think how often an hourly radio news theme or the main theme for a daily soap opera on TV is played. In such cases the revenues can be substantial.
Exclusive and Non-Exclusive Deals: Production music composers may choose to sign exclusive deals with libraries, granting the library sole rights to exploit all of their music, however it is becoming the norm to work on a non-exclusive basis, allowing them to assign single albums or tracks to different libraries thus giving the composer more potential chances of their music being licensed.
Commissioned Work: Some production music composers are hired directly to create original scores or pieces tailored to specific projects. This work is often paid on a per-project basis and can include bonuses for success or retention of master rights for the most in demand. Imagine owning the master and/or publishing rights to a successful TV or film production theme!
Career Opportunities in General Release and Production Music
Both general release and production music offer viable career paths, but differ in nature and scope.
General Release Music Career:
Performer/Artist: Many musicians aspire to be artists who release their music to the public, gain fans, and potentially achieve stardom, however, competition is fierce, and success is not guaranteed. This route requires significant financial and time investment, in promotion, touring, and developing a dedicated fanbase.
Songwriter/Producer: Those who write or produce for other artists can find lucrative careers in general release music, sharing royalties and often achieving upfront fees for their contributions.
Music Marketer/Manager: Beyond the musicians themselves, careers exist in the promotion and management of artists, ensuring that music reaches its audience and gains traction. Often people change from being an artist to these roles as experience is everything.
Production Music Career:
Composer for Media: Many composers build successful careers creating music specifically for media, such as TV, film, and advertising. This work can be steady and diverse, particularly for those who cultivate relationships with music libraries or production studios.
Library Composer: Some musicians focus solely on producing high volumes of music to be stored in music libraries. This can be a sustainable career, especially if their music gets licensed frequently.
Audio Branding Specialist: With the rise of branded content, some production composers focus on creating specific audio signatures or jingles for brands, often developing long-term relationships with companies and the rewards can be high to those who are skilled in this area.
Which Path is Right for You?
Deciding between general release music and production music depends on your artistic goals and professional aspirations. If you thrive on personal expression, audience interaction, and live performance, general release music might be for you. But if you prefer creating music behind the scenes, enjoy composing to picture or for specific media projects, then production music may be a better fit.
Both fields offer opportunities for sustained careers, and musicians can often find ways to engage in both, expanding their income streams by combining elements of general release music with production music work, but neither come easily. Forging a career in either field requires dedicated, hard focus and work with no guarantees of success, just like many other career paths.
In conclusion, both types of music serve different purposes within the music industry, and each offers distinct opportunities for musicians to make a living. Whether you're a performer looking for fame or a composer aiming for consistency, both routes provide viable options – each with its own challenges and rewards.
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