Four Secrets to Get Your Music in T.V. and Film
Just in the past week, my song “Drive By” was used twice in the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and a short film I scored was screened at Norris Theater at USC.
Artists are always asking me: How do you do it? What is your secret?
There are no earth shattering secrets, just versions of what I’ve been saying all along:
1) You have to develop relationships, real ones.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to respect people and establish real friendships with them. People can tell when you are befriending them to gain something and that is the biggest turn-off. Always remember that people want to do business with people they know and trust.
2) You have to understand what people are looking for and why.
This means understanding their brand and their target audience. If you want your music on Food Network’s “Baking Pies on a Dime,” don’t pitch your death metal song, rather, pitch a song that you feel would resonate with Martha Stewart’s friends.
3) Don’t be pushy or desperate.
Establish the relationship and if you are good, your opportunity will come. There is nothing more annoying than people who are aggressively pushing their music to every avenue they can. It is a small world and if supervisors see you as someone who is indiscriminately pitching your music to everyone, you won’t get placements.
4) When you get your opportunity, deliver.
If you are asked to submit music for a placement, make sure the song is what they are looking for, that it has been produced, recorded and mixed to the highest standards. and don’t forget to be professional every step of the way.
Follow these four steps and you will be well ahead of the game.
Tags: Film Placement, MTV Video Music Awards, T.V. Placement, VMA