Submitting Music Questions
Who can submit music to Crucial Music?
Anyone can submit music as long as he/she owns/controls their own masters and publishing,
all songs are original, and you have the right to enter into this agreement with us.
What if my record label owns/controls the masters and publishing?
Do not submit your music online. Please have your record label contact us.
What if my record label owns/controls the masters and I own the publishing?
Do not submit your music online. Please have your record label contact us first.
Can I submit music if I have co-writers?
Yes, you can submit music written with co-writers. However, your co-writers must own their own publishing, and must sign the agreement as well.
What if I've used samples in my song(s)?
As long as the samples are buyout there are no problems; you may submit the song(s).
What if I've sampled someone's song in my recording?
We will not accept a song that contains samples or interpolations of someone else's copyrighted music.
What if my song(s) are arrangements of public domain songs?
You may submit arrangements of public domain songs.
What type of music can I submit?
You can submit all genres of music. Our clients have used all types of songs imaginable.
We would like our catalog to be a diverse as possible, so that when the unusual request comes in we can make a pitch.
How do I submit my music to Crucial Music?
You must first set up an account, from the Submit Music tab in the Artist section of the site. Once your account is setup you will be prompted to begin the online submission process; a series of questions must be completed for each song, and then you can upload a file for each song. You may return at a later date to submit your music, by logging in and returning to the Submit Music tab.
Must I complete the questionnaire for each song?
Yes, you will not be allowed to upload any music until you have completed the questionnaire. The answers to the questionnaire provide us with important information about your song that allows us to categorize and pitch your music when music requests come in. Without this information we will not be able to adequately know your catalog and pitch your music.
Must I upload the song immediately after completing the questionnaire?
No. You can return to the Submit Music tab at a later date to upload each song. A note will be included in your Submission History if you haven't uploaded a song, and a link will be provided to do so.
How many songs can I submit?
You can submit up to 3 songs. You will not be able to submit any more songs until we have reviewed all 3 songs; and returned a reply.
What type of file format can I upload?
After completing the questionnaire for each song, you must upload a 128K mp3 of each song. Before creating your audio files, please check your ripping program's preferences, so that it is selected to 128K mp3. Our site will NOT accept other formats, such as Itunes' AAC or M4A or Windows Media Player's WMA files, etc.
What quality standards do you have for the recordings?
We require all submissions to be of master quality. Your music does not have to be recorded in an expensive studio—but it should sound like it was. Demos will not be accepted.
How long will it take for Crucial Music to review my music?
We receive hundreds of submissions a day. We may not be able to review your music immediately. Please be patient, and we will inform you via email as soon as we have reviewed your songs.
Will you let me know if my song(s) have been accepted or rejected?
Yes, you will receive an email from us either way. If your music is accepted into our catalog, you will also receive a contract and a letter explaining the terms of the agreement.
Contract Questions
What rights am I giving to Crucial Music?
You authorize us to promote your music to our clients in the film, television, commercial, cable, ringtone (and the like) industries; secure placements, and issue non-exclusive licenses (for both the master recording and the composition) to our clients who use your music (synchronize) in their productions; and their associated soundtracks.
Will I lose ownership in my songs?
You do NOT lose or GIVE UP any ownership of the copyrights in the master recording or the composition. You are ONLY granting us a NON-EXCLUSIVE right to pitch and license your music to our clients, and share in the revenue for the placement we acquire.
Will I be able to create and sell records with the songs I've licensed to Crucial Music?
You can create and sell records, as long as you maintain ownership of the master recording and composition. Your deal with us will not prohibit you from doing anything with YOUR music.
Will I be able to secure a record or publishing deal with the songs I've licensed to Crucial Music?
Yes, your deal with us will not prohibit you from securing an exclusive record or publishing deal for the songs. However, as it is costly and time consuming for us to remove your songs from our catalog before the termination date, we ask that you seriously think about your goals before signing our agreement, because if your goal is to secure an exclusive deal within the three years (label, publishing or administrative), we suggest that you not sign the non-exclusive with us now. We understand that you can't predict the future, and should you receive that once-in-a-lifetime offer and you've already signed a deal with us, please inform the prospective agent (that you have an offer from) before signing their deal, that you have an agreement with Crucial Music for the songs in question. Also, let us know about your offer, and we will evaluate it, and try to work out the best scenario for all parties involved.
Will I be able to work with other agents offering the same services?
Yes, your agreement with Crucial Music is non-exclusive. You should explore as many opportunities as you can to expose your music. But please note that you can not have an exclusive agreement with another party and also have a non-exclusive agreement with us. Also we will not let you out of our agreement because another non-exclusive partner has a problem with your agreement with us.
How much will I make on the placements you have secured for me?
You authorize us to negotiate the license (master & synchronization) fee with our clients, collect payment, and pay you 50% of what we receive. We will negotiate the best rate based on the type of use. We're not going to GIVE AWAY your music; no "free" use deals will be made.
How often will I get paid?
Payments will be made quarterly, if there is more than $50 accrued. If less than $50 is accrued, payment will be carried over to the next quarter.
Will I receive performance royalties from my PRO (i.e. ASCAP, BMI, SESAC etc.)?
Yes, as long as you are a registered member of one of the performing rights societies, you will receive performance royalties directly from them on a quarterly basis for any broadcast placements. If you are not registered with a PRO, we highly suggest that you register with one before signing the agreement with us. We are not responsible for any lost revenue as a result of your failure to become registered PRO member.
When I make money on my music, I have agreed to pay the band members. Who will pay
them?
It will be your responsibility to pay additional vocalists, musicians, arrangers, producers i.e. any third party you have a revenue sharing agreement with, out of your share of the revenues.
What if me or my band members are union musicians?
We can not work with your songs if the songs were recorded under an AFM or other union agreement. It is cost-prohibitive for us to license your songs, as the union new use and re-use fees for use in films, television shows and advertising are more than the revenue we would receive for the actual license. We and our clients are not responsible and will not pay any new use or re-use fees for the use of your songs.
How long does my agreement last?
Your agreement with Crucial Music will last 3 years and then will auto-renew for another
3 years, unless you notify us within 60 days of the expiration date, that you do not want to
renew with us.
Can my agreement be less than 3 years?
No. We believe 3 years is a reasonable amount of time for us to get your music out there, and secure placements for you.
What happens when I terminate my agreement?
We will remove your music from our site, business computers, and clients' Crucial:Drives,
within the end of the first full calendar quarter after the termination date. For example,
your contract expires February 1. 2009. We receive a letter from you on December 1, 2008 that you want out of the contract. We will remove all of your songs by June 30, 2009. If your
music is part of a 'blanket' agreement, meaning a client is given x number of songs to use as
much as they want for 4 years for an annual payment, then we will remove your music when their contract expires. You will continue receiving your share of the revenue for the 4th year.
We can not recall all of the individual CDRs or DVDRs that clients have. Any music we have
in our possession will be destroyed.
What happens if I terminate the agreement, and then you inform me that you secured
a placement for me in a TV show?
After Termination, we will immediately stop pitching your stuff. However, we reserve the
right to license your songs, if a client received your music through us while you were under
contract, but didn't use the music until after you terminated your agreement. Again you will receive your share of the revenue from this license.
I and my co-writers have read the agreement and are OK with the terms, what do I/we
do next?
Please print 2 copies of the agreement, confirm all of the information is correct, have all parties sign both copies and return both to us at:
You must also send a 16 bit, 44.1 kHz CD copy of your song(s) with the agreement, in order for us to execute the agreement and start pitching your music. Exact details are provided in the answers under the Deliverables Questions.
You will receive an executed copy of the agreement from us in the mail.
Deliverables Questions
I have reviewed the agreement and signed it, how do I send you the music?
You must provide your song(s) as audio on a 16 bit, 44.1 kHz CD when you mail in the agreement. You are requested to send a full version, instrumental version and clean version (if your lyrics are explicit) of each song.
What is an instrumental version of my song?
An instrumental version of your song is the song without the lead and background vocals.
If you have saved your session, all you have to do is create a mix without the vocal tracks.
What if my song is an instrumental?
If your song is an instrumental, then you do not have to provide anything else.
What is a clean version of my song?
A clean version of your song is the song with the explicit words i.e. curse words "dropped" out from the vocal track. This is also called a radio edit. Basically, the explicit word
is replaced by silence. The music, which is recorded on separate tracks, is still playing underneath.
What if I don't have instrumental or clean versions?
We prefer instrumental and clean versions accompany your full song, as it makes your song
more usable to our clients, who sometimes like to only use instrumentals or would like to mix the vocals/music around dialogue. Network, and even basic cable shows, have strict criteria about explicit lyrics, and may not be able to use your song, if they can not edit the explicit lyrics out.
Can I supply the instrumental and clean versions at a later date?
We prefer that you supply this material at the same time you return your contract. But understand that it may take some time to pull the various mixes; and we will accept these at a later date. But understand, it is your responsibility to send in the various mixes, and ult
imately you will benefit with more uses of your music.
Music Use Questions
How will your clients use my music?
Our clients may use your song once in a show, film or commercial, or multiple times. They may use 5 seconds or the entire song. They may use it coming out of a radio in a car the character is driving (background use) or they may us it in a visual montage (feature use) to connect several scenes together. The license and rates we issue depend on the number and type
of uses within one production.
What type of uses can I expect?
Your music will be pitched to all types of production people, ranging from film/TV music
supervisors to creative directors at ad agencies. Anyone who synchronizes music to an audio/visual production may find use for your music. That means you could get placements in a feature film, indie film, DVD feature, film trailer, television show, television promo, video game, video game trailer, and the like.
Will I be able to approve or reject the type of uses your client is requesting?
You will not be able to approve or deny the licenses we issue, due to the nature of the shows or the type of uses, because of personal "moral" reasons. You are waiving those rights.
Will clients be allowed to edit the songs?
Yes, clients will be allowed to edit your songs to fit their needs.
Will my song be released in a show or film's soundtrack?
If a show or film wants to use your song in the associated soundtrack, then we will negotiate a separate license and fee for that use. You will receive 50% of the revenue we collect
as a result of the release of the soundtrack. Not all songs used in shows or films are released on the soundtrack.
When do you issue a license for the use of a song?
A confirmation letter is usually sent to us by the client, to inform us of the use, the details of the use and the rate we have negotiated for the use. At this point, the song may still be dropped from the broadcast or release. We do not issue a license/invoice until we receive a license request from the client informing us that the song has definitely been used and will be in the broadcast or release.
Will you let me know if when my song has been used in a show, film or commercial?
Due to the high volume of placements we secure each year and the unpredictability of television schedules and release dates, we will not be able to inform you each time a song is used
, and when it will air. However, if your music is used, after we are paid for it, and the amount is more than $50, you will receive a quarterly statement, identifying the use, and the amount of money you are being paid, along with the payment. If the amount is under $50, the report and balance will be held till the next quarter.
What if I receive a royalty report from Crucial Music that states a song has been used in a TV show, but my report from the PRO for that broadcast quarter does not reflect the
usage?
We receive cue sheets for every use, and we will make sure that the correct cue sheet has
been submitted to the PRO. If a payment was missed by the PRO, they will provide an adjustment in the following quarter.
Will you supply copies of the license to me?
No, we do not supply copies of licenses to our artists. You will receive a quarterly statement if the amount is over $50, indicating the uses we have been paid on. If the amount is under $50, the report and balance will be held till the next quarter.
Will you pay me if my song(s) are on your website and someone listens to the song there?
We will not pay you for mechanical fees for the duplication of your songs for promotional
uses (i.e. pitching) or performance fees associated with the audition of your music (i.e. via internet, email, hard-drive).
How long does it take to receive payment from a client?
Sometimes it's within 30 days of issuing the license/invoice and other times it can be a
year. Studios generally do not pay until the production has been broadcast or released. We
have an accounting department which is responsible for collecting payments.