Make Your Music Work For You!
Music is everywhere. The power of music to communicate in advertisements, films, television shows, websites and video games is undeniable. Commercial content creators constantly need to source music for their projects and music will always be an essential ingredient.
The advent of new media and technology provides fresh and innovative ways for composers and recording artists to monetize their original recordings. As the music industry continues to evolve, Liberty is constantly looking for new avenues to get artist’s music heard and placed in lucrative projects.
Sign up and get your music working for you today!
What is Liberty Music Trax?
We are a Non-Exclusive music licensing company that finds placements for artists in Film, TV, Advertising, & Gaming. We work behind the scenes – calling agencies, setting up meetings, and networking on your behalf – allowing you to focus on writing new material and to engage with your craft without having to worry about selling.
Working with Liberty means you, the Artist, get to retain 100% ownership of your music, leaving you free to pursue other opportunities and projects. We only collect payment on placements we explicitly land and secure for you. Liberty is here first and foremost to help artists get great exposure.
Are There Any Fees?
There are no initial sign-up or annual subscription fees for composers/artists or for commercial content creators to use Liberty's service.
What Do I Get?
A non-exclusive partnership with Liberty leaves you free to distribute your music elsewhere with no strings attached.
- Ownership of copyrights in your compositions and master recordings.
- 50% of licensing fees on all Liberty placements, 100% of the writer’s share and 50% of the publisher's share on placements that earn royalties.
- A team of musicians & artist-friendly business people who work hard every day to place your music with ad agencies, film/TV producers, videogame developers, commercial content creators and others.
- A partnership with a company that puts music first and will make sure all business matters are handled openly and in the spirit of cooperation.
What Does Liberty Get?
- A non-exclusive right to license your tracks
- 50% of the sync fee and 50% of the publishing royalties ONLY from placements Liberty makes
- Your guarantee that all submitted compositions and recordings are your original works and do not contain samples from other songs
- The right to license your tracks for a minimum one year term
- Broadcast quality audio files uploaded in WAV file format (minimum 16 bit, 44.1 khz or higher)
What DOESN'T Liberty Get?
- Ownership of your music.
- The right to sell your music digitally to consumers (i.e. iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, etc.).
- The right to place your music on a CD for sale.
- The right to distribute your music for radio play.
Ultimately, you are free to license your music to whoever you wish; we do not interfere with how you promote, distribute and sell your music.
Who Do You Market My Music To?
- Film/TV Producers
- Networks & Broadcasters
- Videogame Developers
- Ad Agencies
- Online Content Creators
In addition, we travel internationally to pitch your music at high profile industry trade shows such as MIPtv, NAB, Real Screen, BANFF International Media Festival. Furthermore we showcase our artists at music industry events such as POP Montreal, MIDEM, and NXNE. You can stay up to date with our travels on our blog.
What Happens If I Get A Publishing or Record Deal?
Since your agreement with Liberty is non-exclusive, you're free to pursue other opportunities and projects that may interest you. If you happen to sign a publishing or record deal that prohibits non-exclusive partnerships, you may contact us with a written request to end our agreement. Please note that this is a viable option only after one year after signing with Liberty.
What If I Already Have A Publishing or Record Deal?
You can still submit your music to Liberty as long as all parties involved sign the licensor agreement and consent to having your music licensed by Liberty. If your label would like a licensing agreement tailored to satisfy certain conditions and/or specific needs we would more than happy to assist you in making such arrangements where they are of benefit to the artist/composer, the label, and Liberty.
If the Contract is Non-Exclusive, Why Do I Need to Sign?
Music supervisors, creative directors, and film/TV producers are often facing tight deadlines. They will often only consider music that has a pre-cleared license, enabling them to find the tracks they need, giving the ability to license them immediately and process payment on the spot.
What Placements Have You Landed for Liberty Artists?
We are constantly working on new placements, some of which are currently in production. You can see some of our recent placements on our
blog.
How Do I Become an Approved Liberty Artist?
Quality is our number one priority so that every track a Licensee hears has the potential to be “The Right Cut.”
Liberty listens for:
- Composition
- Performance
- Recording
- Production
Once you've created a profile and submitted 2 tracks we will contact you shortly regarding your approval. We are always looking to expand our music library in both vocal and instrumental music, in every style and genre. For vocal tracks, it is appreciated that you also send an instrumental version, if available.
How Does Liberty Price My Music?
Commercial content creators pay Liberty a licensing fee for each song licensed, based on their intended usage: 'The Three T's'':
- TYPE of use (e.g. media platform and application)
- TERM of use (e.g. length of time)
- TERRITORY of use (e.g. local, regional, worldwide)
Liberty's license fees are determined according to market conditions for each combination of ''The Three T's'' and will be updated periodically.
Before receiving their selected music, commercial content creators must agree to Liberty's Licensee Agreement, stipulating their intended use for each track licensed.
How Do I Get Paid?
Liberty pays Artists every 6 months. We send artists/composers a cheque for 50% of the cumulative sync fees generated by their music. Artists will receive payment directly from their PRO (i.e. SOCAN, ASCAP, BMI) for placements that generate performance royalties. In situations where there are music supervision fees or similar commissions involved, costs are split 50%/50% between artists/composers and Liberty.
Performance royalties are allocated as follows:
- Artist/Composer: 100% of songwriters royalties
- Artist/Composer: 50% of publishing royalties
- Liberty: 50% of publishing royalties
It is important to note that the share of publishing royalties received by Liberty applies only for placements made by Liberty.
What is a PRO? Do I Need To Be a Member?
A PRO is a performing rights organization. This includes SOCAN, ASCAP, BMI, GEMA and others. These organizations are responsible for the collection and the distribution of performance royalties to artists.
It is necessary that Artists and composers join a PRO in order collect royalty payments.
For more information about SOCAN, please visit:
www.socan.ca