How to get a job doing music for commercials?

[Rick Sanchez]

Originally Posted by ianvargo

I'm wondering how the business of doing music for television commercials is run... I've been watching commercials for companies such as apple, honda, and several others that have really great music. Are there advertising firms that have a staff songwriter and studio workers that work for the bigger companies that get hired for doing these jobs?

If anyone knows how this business works, even if they can't get me a job haha, let me know, I've been very curious. Is looking for a job at an Ad firm the way to go?

It all depends on the commercial, but I assume you are talking about the pop songs you hear. Often this music is submitted to ad agencies and their clients by music supervisors or the agency has it's own music supervisor. With the competitive nature of the music business, unless you are a well established artist, you may be paid as little as $100 to license your song, but if you own your own publishing, you can do well on residuals for network play.

[ianvargo]

Exactly what I wanted to know. How difficult and expensive would it be to put myself in charge of publishing? Would that involve starting my own LLC? Also, if I wanted to work for one of the Ad agencies, what's the best way to get in contact with them (resume, reel?), and what are these notable agencies and where can I find a directory of some sort? Thanks!

[jimlongo]

Originally Posted by ianvargo

Exactly what I wanted to know. How difficult and expensive would it be to put myself in charge of publishing? Would that involve starting my own LLC? Also, if I wanted to work for one of the Ad agencies, what's the best way to get in contact with them (resume, reel?), and what are these notable agencies and where can I find a directory of some sort? Thanks!

Not to be discouraging, but getting in touch with a human at an advertising agency takes a lot of persistence. They don't really answer phones anymore, you have to leave voicemail . . . and they don't really return calls. If they do they'll want you to send a reel. This field is full of very big music houses that already have a lengthy track record, especially when it comes to national commercials like the ones you mentioned.

Here's a list of the top US agencies by revenue The Top Advertising Agencies and Media Agencies in the US : advertising and marketing profile at Adbrands.net

If you want to get into the field I'd spend my time contacting established music houses and see if you can get a position there to get some cred.

Hope that isn't too bleak.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by jimlongo

Hope that isn't too bleak.

You were being nice Jim.....

Seriously nice.

A music house is the way to go. With as much money as is riding (and costing_) on commercials, the last thing they will do is hire an unknown. Actually, standard procedure is to hire (or at least put out the call) to several top music houses and then pick and choose from the lot. It's a rough, tough, cuthroat business. But one that still pays well if you can make it in. For some reason, the phrase "sell your soul" keeps poking into my head everytime I think about this....

[Uncle Bob]

Back in the mid-80's I worked for a broadcast music company as a line producer. The practice back then for a commercial or TV show theme was the prospective client would put out a call for a track and give the specifications. We would notify the 20 or so composers in our stable and they would submit their demos. The boss would select the three or four best to submit to the client. If we got the contract my job was to sit in the studio with the composer and engineer. Most of the time all I had to do was nod and say "sounds good", although on occasion I would make suggestions.

The same scenario applied when we did stuff for news programs, but as the line producer I was in charge of producing - off of the original demo - all of the dozens of various intros, bumpers, donuts and other variations on the theme (sports, weather, fluff, news alerts, etc.).

It's been a long time; is it much different now?

[ianvargo]

I appreciate your guys honesty, although I know I could do great work, I don't expect to get something right out of the gate. I decided to continue schooling so worst case scenario, I could teach audio at an art school or something, but I would love to work on commercials, I think my style would fit right in with what's happening right now. I am going to send out emails, and deliver resumes and reels to as many firms as I can, because it won't hurt right? Thanks again!

[juniorhifikit]

Originally Posted by drBill

You were being nice Jim.....

Seriously nice.

A music house is the way to go. With as much money as is riding (and costing_) on commercials, the last thing they will do is hire an unknown. Actually, standard procedure is to hire (or at least put out the call) to several top music houses and then pick and choose from the lot. It's a rough, tough, cuthroat business. But one that still pays well if you can make it in. For some reason, the phrase "sell your soul" keeps poking into my head everytime I think about this....

I think you are also being too nice!

Many music houses don't even pay for demo's these days. They have such a glut of music and composers at their disposal, not to mention their back catalog of unused demos to recycle. The "canned" music libraries are getting quite good and are cheap - tuogh for music houses to compete with that. It's also more than likely these days that if you do place a piece of music, you can say goodbye to any rights to it. Unless you're Sting or Feist...

Take a deep breath, check your ego (and soul) at the door, and dive in. Make a reel and start shopping music houses and ad agencies. It doesn't hurt to have drinking buddies at the agencies either.

Oh yeah, join AFM, and AFTRA if you sing (or SAG - can't remember which one), so you can collect your residuals.

Why, here's an opportunity now - don't blink - you might miss it!

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/post-...c-library.html