MUSIC FOR FILM, TELEVISION, ADVERTISING, AND NEW MEDIA
Executive Vice President • Owner • President • Vice President (music Clearance And Licensing)
JOB OVERVIEW
These executives handle film and television music supervision, clearance and licensing of songs, invoicing and bills payable, and oversee the day-to-day company operations.
PREREQUISITES
To succeed, you should have a broad knowledge of music genres, the ability to negotiate, people skills, and an understanding of music publishing and master licensing.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
CAREER TIPS
“You have to have a pretty thick skin. You might think some piece of music is a great idea, but your client doesn't like it at all. You can't get offended by that.”
“Learn about many genres of music.” The more songs you know, the more indispensable you are to your clients.
“You have to learn to deal with both creative and business people, or you will never survive. You have to be a people person.”
When Kathleen Merrill arrives at the office, she boots up her computer and checks e-mail from publishers, societies, record companies, clients, and potential clients who may have found information on the company's web site and need specific questions answered. Then she works through incoming faxes and responds to questions and requests for fee quotes to use specific songs. “We receive all of our requests for quotes in writing. We have a form that we send to clients. Particularly when you're working on a television show, you develop a pattern where the client knows the specific information you need, they fill out the form and fax it to you, and you run with it. You don't really need to talk, you just fax them back the information.” Next, Merrill makes phone calls to people with outstanding quotes, asks them to respond, and generally puts out any fires that have arisen. “A lot of times I'll get calls from people who are desperate. They're out of time and they need to get a song cleared.” She receives an average of 50 CDs a week and generally listens to two or three songs from each, so throughout the day, she is constantly listening to music. In between, she may offer clients suggestions of music to use, work on budgets, or invoice clients.
VOICES OF EXPERIENCE
THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS JOB:
“When some of the people who own music try to back out of the quote they have given, because they have something better that has come up.”
THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS JOB:
“Looking at a tape of a scene. It doesn't matter what it is—a commercial, television show, or film segment—knowing the demographic that my client wants, and coming up with great ideas for music. Then, negotiating and getting the use for the music they want, and having the client just thrilled about it.”
POINTERS FOR THE JOB SEARCH
A position as an assistant or intern to an independent music supervisor is a good way to gain a broad understanding of the business, both from a creative and business point of view. Working for the clearance department of a film studio, or a music publisher, is another way to gain experience.
KATHLEEN MERRILL, PARTNER, PARKER MUSIC GROUP
Kathleen Merrill grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and learned the craft of deal making by licensing commercial real estate, before switching to music. “Pieces of music are like any other kind of property. They are intellectual property, and when you want to use them, you have to license them.” On a temporary basis, Merrill set aside real estate to handle music licensing for Randy Parker, whose partner had become ill. When the job ended, she went to work in the legal department of Princess Cruise Lines. Later, when Parker formed Parker Music Group, he invited Merrill to join him on a permanent basis. “We enjoyed working together earlier. We complemented each other in our skills and our music knowledge.”
Merrill, now a partner in Parker Music Group, has worked on national advertising campaigns for Nissan Motor Company and Fox Television Studios, among others. She has licensed music for numerous television shows, including X-Files, The Simpsons, Ally McBeal, Law & Order, Will & Grace, and The Office, as well as for films, most notably for the Titanic sound track. www.musicclearance.com
Additional topics
- MUSIC FOR FILM, TELEVISION, ADVERTISING, AND NEW MEDIA - Technical: Music Editor
- MUSIC FOR FILM, TELEVISION, ADVERTISING, AND NEW MEDIA - Business Affairs
Job Descriptions and Careers, Career and Job Opportunities, Career Search, and Career Choices and ProfilesCareers in the Music BusinessMUSIC FOR FILM, TELEVISION, ADVERTISING, AND NEW MEDIA - Creative: Vice President • Senior Vice President Of Music (film Studio), President Or Vice President Of Music