Stock Music Collaboration

for Selected Musicians & Singers

Your Benefits

As a composer and music producer, I work with music software, synths, and samples. As good as these are, they can not replace the feel and sound of real instruments and vocals.

I want to work with talented and like-minded musicians and singers to create great music that will benefit both of us.

Simple Deal

Music copyright is complicated. Fortunately, I have a good understanding of it from working in the industry for over 20 years.

In short, the deal I am offering is known as a barter agreement where no money exchanges hands. Instead, you get a limited license to use the finished musical work in certain ways.

In return for your help, I am offering you a number of benefits aimed at helping you in your growth as a session musician or artist. The benefits offered are aimed at the personal user side of the music business. I need to retain all of the benefits related to the commercial use of the music and publishing.

The benefits licensed to you may vary depending on the individual situation but may include:

Perform it Live

If you are an aspiring artist or singer you can use the music as part of your live set. I will provide a backing track version for you to use.

Your Portfolio

If you are looking for session work it can be useful to have examples of music you are included in. You can use the music as part of your portfolio.

Offer it to fans

You can offer it to fans for personal listening either as a streamed or download option.

Revenue

You can generate a limited revenue from it, either by selling it to fans from Bandcamp as a download, as a fan club benefit, or by using it on your monetised YouTube channel.

My Benefits

I retain all rights in relation to copyright. I will be the copyright owner, publisher, and distributor of the music for all licensing purposes.

I will have the sole right to offer licenses for commercial use of the music including but not limited to:

Broadcast advertising
Online adverts
Products
Games, software & apps
Films
TV & Radio
Business and corporate video
Background music for vlogs

I will also be registering it in various copyright protection schemes.

What I Do

I compose and produce stock music, which I distribute online via my own website and several other music libraries. Media creators can license my music to use in their videos, vlogs, or advertising projects. Stock music (aka royalty-free music, library music, production music) is a very competitive industry and as a result, the music may or may not get licensed. Therefore, it is important for me to create as much quality music as quickly and economically as possible.

FAQs

Do I need to sign something?

Yes. If we plan to work together, I will provide a document that covers the legal terms of our agreement. It will outline how you/I can use the music, any limitations, or any additions that we have previously agreed upon.

Do I need a high standard of musicianship?

Yes. I am looking for a high standard because the overall production needs to sound professional.

What other ways can I use the music?

I have tried to cover the ways I think singers or artists would benefit, however, if there is something specific you have in mind just let me know when we talk about working together.

Do I have to credit you if I use the track in my show?

Yes and no. If I have written the track, I expect to be acknowledged as the writer and producer in the right context. For example, sleeve notes, track details, etc. However, if you are promoting yourself as a performer I don’t expect a mention every time you perform it.

You can perform it and promote it for downloads, streams, etc. Most mainstream singers have their songs written for them but don’t mention all of the writers and producers every time they perform the song. So in short, promote it as your own, but don’t hide the fact that I wrote it. You cannot claim you wrote the track but you can be the artist using it and representing it.

Can I co-write/co-produce a track with you?

Currently, I am looking for singers and instrumentalists to feature on tracks I have written. However, I am open to the idea of co-writing or co-producing a track depending on the situation.

Can we do a cover version?

I can’t cover other people’s music. It has to be original to avoid copyright infringement.

What do you mean by limited revenue?

As the copyright owner and producer, conventional industry rates say I am entitled to up to 90% of any revenue generated. Personally, I think this is a bit steep so I have tried to keep it realistic.

I will set a threshold of £5000 before I consider claiming my royalty. I will want 35% on all future sales after the threshold (not 90%) and I will use my judgement based on the situation. Clearly, if you are the next big sensation and are collecting ££££’s each week from our hit I will wish to collect my share. However, if it takes 10 years for you to get to that figure I may decide to not worry about it.

I have chosen 35% as my share as you will be doing all of the promotion to make this a hit with your fans and I think 65% makes it worthwhile for you.

Will I earn anything from your stock music activities?

No. When I publish music in libraries the money varies massively, from the track never being licensed or making small royalties of a few £s here and there. I have a number of tracks that earn well but generally, my income is fragmented and made up of smaller amounts of money from thousands of tracks. For that reason, it is not practical for me to do this.

Can I use the music in other ways?

It depends. You must contact me for guidance, you can not just start entering the music into other deals without my consent. For example, if you want to enter into a distribution deal as an artist or you get signed up by a record label it may have detrimental effects on the music and the music publishing that I already have in place. If it is possible without affecting the use of the music I may be okay with it and add it to our agreement, but you need my consent in writing to use the music in any other way than already agreed.

What about Spotify and other streaming platforms?

This is something I am willing to explore. This collaboration arrangement is still new so there is room for development.

Will you pay a session fee?

This arrangement does not involve paying session fees. This is a barter agreement offering a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, occasionally I get commissioned to create music. In these situations, I would factor in a session fee, but that would be a different arrangement and may or may not happen.

Will you provide any promotions for me?

I will credit you where possible and create a page for you on my website. I will mention you to other composers and producers when the opportunity arises. But, that will be it. Any promotion is down to you.

I think we could work together, how should I proceed?

That is great. If I have found you and sent you here, just reply to my email. If you have found this page and we have never spoken before, please use the enquiry form below.

Current Collaborative Artists

I am creating a small information page for each artist I work with. I worked with my first musician in 2022/23 so this section should grow over time. Here you can see who I have worked with, listen to the music, and get in touch with them.

Guitarist – Anthony Wilkinson

Interested in collaborating?

If you’ve read this far and are interested, please complete this short enquiry form.

Collaboration Enquiry