Exclusive or Non-Exclusive Publishing
As a music creator you have to be creative in seeking a return on your investment. After all, you want to be able to fund the next project. Exclusive and non-exclusive publishing deals are both attractive options with pros and cons to consider.
Exclusive Publishing
Pros
- Some publishers and libraries will offer higher commissions
- Top publishers and libraries may only accept exclusive music
- Some music supervisors prefer to work with exclusive music
- A library may spend more time promoting exclusive music
Cons
- You may miss out on other opportunities to get your music licensed
- The publisher may focus on pitching other tracks
Non-Exclusive Publishing
Pros
- Your music can be placed in multiple publication libraries
- You can have multiple publishers pushing the same music
- Your music will have more exposure
Cons
- Additional work upfront to capture the metadata of the music
- Not all music supervisor work with non-exclusive music
What Should You Do?
Research. You will need to determine which format works for you because your needs will be different from anyone else’s. Identify the clients that the publishers work with. Investigate the payment structure so you will be aware of the monies you could receive. After all, you will want to make sure that this partnership works for you.
I will post another blog entry describing my experience with music publication libraries from a non-exclusive perspective.