Can You Really Make a Living Licensing Music?

I would challenge anyone to watch TV, go to the movies, listen to any type of radio show, cable channel or even go into your local grocery store and not hear some form of background music being played. Sometimes we recognize this music because it’s from a commercial artist but many times we do not. If you are watching a TV show most of the time you have no idea where the background music came from. Most media producers do not have the money to hire a composer to score custom music. An affordable alternative is the production music library. Music Libraries license pre- cleared music for almost any media project.So, can you make a living off licensing music? The short answer is yes. Working with music libraries is much easier and quicker than trying to get a major label record deal. All libraries are different and many have different standards for submission. Some will want you to mail a Demo CD and you have to wait for approval while others will let you upload music to their website and start selling right away. Most Libraries offer a 50 /50 split with composers. However, this is the easy part. Once your music is uploaded how does it get noticed by producers of media so that they can license it?There are several things you need to remember when you are trying to license music. The first is to be patients. Remember this is a business that takes time to get off the ground so don’t give up if you don’t have success right away. The second is to be consistent, keep composing music no matter what. Third, focus on quality and quantity and fourth, know your clients. If you look at any music library they may have over 100 genres. You should focus on what you do best and not try to please everyone. Find out what areas are lacking and the area that you are best in. Maybe you are great at action trailers or dramatic backgrounds whiles others might be great at 30 second ads. A good rule of thumb is that you will need about 1000 total tracks distributed to 20 or 25 libraries before you can actually make a living. Don’t freak out. 1000 tracks includes all of your edits. Each track should have a full track, 30 second edit, 60 second edit plus several loops and stingers. So you may only need about 200 to 300 high quality full tracks.So this is the first step in making a living off of music licensing but it is by far not the only steps a composer must take. In future articles we will discuss more specific steps on how to get started and how to promote and market your music and your brand.

Online Schools, What’s the Attraction?

Online schools and their degree programs afford you the convenience of studying at your own pace, on your own schedule, without ever having to set foot on a traditional college campus. They can offer you the flexibility and affordability to quickly earn the degree you have always wanted, and can make the learning process become fun and interesting.Schools Head OnlineWhile preparation for an online class is similar to that of a traditional class, one of the major differences will be that you might have to familiarize yourself with some of the technological components necessary to communicate with your professors. You will use the internet to download your lessons and assignments, and will need to have access to a good connection.Interacting With ProfessorsStudents have different learning styles, and it is therefore important for professors to get feedback from them in order to modify course content and potentially even make adjustments to the lesson plan. Many schools will have a common question and answer session via web camera. Such a setup helps the entire class answer questions and prepare for exams.Start Earning Your Degree TodayBeyond an Associates or Bachelor’s degree, it is also possible to earn a Master’s or Doctorate online. The Bachelor’s degree is a great first goal since it’s a necessary requirement before you can apply for one of the higher degrees. Earning a Bachelor’s degree online could potentially advance you professionally, providing the education, skills and credentials you need to make the next step in your career.Online schools and classes afford students the wonderful convenience of never having to step foot inside an actual classroom. They offer a great way to further your education on your own time. You can find much more about online schools at several sites across the internet.

Cheap Flights to San Jose – Learn About the SJC Airport, Airlines, & Savings Opportunities

Have you been searching the internet for cheap flights to San Jose, CA? It’s a popular city that has a large international airport (SJC). San Jose is a hot spot for business travelers and leisure travels alike, due to its rich cultural history and convenient location in Silicon Valley.Several airlines across the world fly to/from SJC, including Alaska Airlines, Air China, Fiji Airways, Aeromexico, Al Nippon, American Airlines, United, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and more. With all of these domestic and international airlines flying in and out every single day, it’s not difficult to obtain affordable airfare. The most popular flights to San Jose are on Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Aeromexico.You can usually find some of the cheapest flights from nearby cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Long Beach. However, cheap flights to San Jose can still be found in other cities across the country – namely Chicago and Denver. Don’t just look for deals offered by the larger airlines, as Spirit, JetBlue, and Frontier offer airfare at really low prices. Although it’s almost always better to book early, if you’re almost out of time and need to be in the Silicon Valley area soon, Southwest is a good choice of an airline for last minute direct flights to San Jose.Regardless of when you need to go and from which city you plan to depart, it’s best to use a travel website that will allow you to search across a large number of airlines and deals to find cheap flights to San Jose.Adding a Hotel to Cheap Flights to San JoseNeed a hotel? Some of these travel sites will offer you the option to book your hotel in addition the flight. When combining the two expenses together, there are usually huge discounts involved. Whether you’re only planning to stay for a few days or an entire week, it will likely be cheaper to combine airfare with lodging rather than pay for the two separately.When should you go? The best time to travel to Northern California is from June to September, when the temperatures are warm during the day, but not blistering hot, and cooler at night. It’s also the time of year when the Jazz Festival is held, which is filled with entertainment and delicious cuisines.There is no shortage of attractions in the Silicon Valley, from Alum Rock Park to the Repertory Theater. You will be able to enjoy more activities from the money you save on cheap flights to San Jose.Did you know that when going online, you can search over 400 airlines and 320,000+ hotels to find the best travel deals? Using the search tools is the easiest way to find cheap flights to San Jose as well as a hotel room, car rental, dining discounts, and more.