ABSTRACT
Almost every piece of visual media today—from user-generated YouTube videos to TV shows or films—has a musical component. Music helps move an image along and creates the emotional foundation for all visual content. Music rights, or permission to use the desired music, can be difficult to comprehend. There are complex terms and relationships that come with securing permission. Adding to the complexity, the music licensing landscape has become more difficult due to the plethora of media as a result of the advent of digital technology. There is also streaming, digital download, video-on-demand, Internet and Intranet, mobile/wireless and interactive, and the list goes on. When a filmmaker seeks to obtain music clearance for their film, ad, TV show or new app, countless factors are considered. The most important item is media: the more exposure a piece of music has, the more it will cost.
