Diving into the world of music licensing can feel like setting sail without a map. That’s where the online course Music Licensing Mastery by Evenant comes in. Music Licensing Mastery features industry experts Arn Andersson and Joshua Crispin as its tutors. Both renowned composers in their own right, Andersson, who is also the co-founder of Evenant, and Crispin share their vast knowledge and experience in the sync music industry.
As someone who’s navigated the highs and lows of creating music with the dream of hearing it in films, trailers, and TV shows, I know how daunting the journey can feel. You’re crafting these tracks, pouring your soul into them, but then what? How do you get from a hard drive full of passion projects to making a real impact (and income) in the sync music industry?
I have taken the course and will gladly share my learning experience with you in this comprehensive review.
DISCLAIMER: Please note, this review includes affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Being an affiliate partner of Evenant does not influence our rating of this course; all opinions and assessments are based on a thorough and unbiased review.
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy. Learn more
The tutors for this Evenant course are Joshua Crispin and Arn Andersson, a duo that embodies the spirit and dynamism of contemporary music production and licensing. With a combined experience spanning over a decade in the industry, they have placed their compositions in Hollywood movie trailers, video games, and advertisement campaigns, and released music with world-class orchestras and DJs.
The past three years have seen Joshua and Arn collaborate closely on a diverse range of projects, a partnership that has not only honed their skills but also deepened their understanding of the sync music industry’s nuances. Now, they’re turning their attention towards empowering the next generation of composers and producers.
With Music Licensing Mastery, their mission is to share the wealth of knowledge they’ve accumulated—highlighting the strategies that led to their successes, and the pitfalls that taught them the most valuable lessons. Through their guidance, you’re invited to learn from their victories and sidestep the errors they’ve encountered, smoothing your own path into the world of music licensing.
WHAT IS SYNC MUSIC?
Before we dive into the actual review of the Music Licensing Mastery course, let’s talk about what “license music” or “sync music” actually is. Sync music, short for “synchronized music,” refers to the art of placing music in sync with visual media. The process involves carefully selecting and integrating music tracks to enhance the emotional impact, atmosphere, or storytelling of the visual content it accompanies.
For composers and artists, sync music represents a dynamic and lucrative facet of the music industry, offering them a unique avenue to monetize their creations. In this context, it involves licensing music for use in conjunction with visual media—be it films, TV shows, commercials, video games, or trailers. This not only provides an additional revenue stream but also amplifies the exposure of the music to wider audiences.
Moreover, having music featured in popular media can bolster an artist’s or composer’s profile, leading to further opportunities in the industry. It’s not just about immediate financial gain; it’s about building a reputation and expanding one’s portfolio in a highly competitive field.
In essence, sync music stands as a vital component of the modern music industry, providing artists and composers with a platform to earn revenue, gain exposure, and connect with new audiences through the power of visual media.
COURSE OVERVIEW
From the moment you enroll in Music Licensing Mastery, you’re granted lifetime access to the course, including all future updates. This invaluable feature ensures that the course grows alongside you, allowing you to revisit lessons as your skills and career evolve. With over 8 hours of video content spread across five comprehensive modules, the course is a journey through the essentials of sync music, advanced production techniques, and the business knowledge required for success in the industry. The self-paced structure respects your individual learning speed, making it suitable for both budding composers and seasoned producers alike.
A standout feature of this course is the generous inclusion of a 5 GB+ sample pack. Curated by Joshua Crispin and Arn Andersson, this collection is packed with their favorite sounds and sound designs, tools that they rely on in their day-to-day projects. This sample pack alone could be the catalyst for your next groundbreaking track, offering a taste of the professional sound palette used by successful composers.
Another valuable resource is a collection of meticulously crafted templates for emails, spreadsheets, and contracts—each designed with the specific needs of composers and producers in mind. These templates not only streamline the often complex process of pitching and submitting music to publishers and libraries but also ensure that course participants are well-prepared to handle the business side of music licensing with professionalism and efficiency.
Beyond the lessons and resources, the course introduces you to a private community of students and industry professionals. This digital gathering space is where you can share your progress, showcase your work, and connect with fellow students. It’s a nurturing environment that encourages growth, feedback, and collaboration, underpinned by a sense of shared purpose and passion. You can even get feedback and guidance from the tutors themselves. Arn and Joshua are not distant figures; they’re active participants in the community, ready to answer questions, offer critiques, and share insights gleaned from their extensive experience in the industry.
Another great opportunity presented by the course – especially for aspiring new composers – is the chance to pitch your music directly to Pacon Music Group, Joshua Crispin’s own music publishing company. This can be a real-world application of your skills, offering a tangible step towards launching your career in sync music.
In the following, we’re taking a deep dive into each main module of the Music Licensing Mastery course, highlighting their key concepts and takeaways.
Introduction To Music Licensing
The course begins with an enlightening overview of the current state of the music licensing industry. It’s a field that has evolved rapidly in recent years, presenting both challenges and opportunities for new entrants. Understanding the landscape is crucial for anyone looking to navigate this competitive arena successfully.
A significant highlight of this module and a crucial element of what Arn and Josh base their work on is the introduction of the 7 Pillars System, a comprehensive framework designed to make tracks more licensable. The pillars include:
Thinking Like an Editor: Incorporate edit points to facilitate the use of your music in various media.
Structure: Ensure your tracks have enough sections and variety to maintain interest and usability.
Energy & Momentum: Focus on progressive energy and flow throughout the sections of your music.
Effective Minimalism: Strive for simplicity while maintaining power and engagement in your compositions.
Production Value: High-quality production is non-negotiable; your tracks must sound professional.
Understanding the Game: Gain insights into how the licensing industry operates and how to work within it effectively.
Stems & Delivery: Pay attention to the technical details like metadata, stems, and provide comprehensive background info on your tracks.
The module doesn’t stop at theory; it dives deep into practical advice with a case study that reveals the potential for success even with new projects. By consistently releasing licensable music through different sync music publishers, Arn and Josh managed to collect a six-figure revenue in licensing fees over just one year. This was accomplished without benefitting from their established names in the industry or additional advertisement of their project as they were using non-descript artist names for this endeavor.
One of the key takeaways of this module is the importance of doubling down on winners—focusing on creating more of what has proven to license well. A strategic approach to creating music that benefits music libraries, researching publishers, and finding out what they need is encouraged. The course advises reaching out to libraries on the rise, suggesting that becoming a big fish in a small pond might be more advantageous than being a tiny fish in the vast ocean of publishers.
Why Your Tracks Aren’t Licensing
The second module of the Music Licensing Mastery course dives deep into common pitfalls that prevent tracks from being licensed and offers targeted advice to overcome these challenges. Each section is designed to address specific aspects of music production that, when optimized, significantly increase the likelihood of your tracks being selected by music editors and publishers.
Pillar 1: The Editor’s Role
Understanding the editor’s perspective is crucial. This section emphasizes the importance of edit points and creating a toolkit that makes it easy for editors to use your music. It suggests pulling up visual references to better understand how your track could be used and encourages making your music sections loopable and collaborative with the visual elements, including dialog and sound effects.
Pillar 2: Structure
A well-structured track has a clear beginning, build, and finale. This pillar challenges composers to critically assess their tracks for variation, purposeful sections, and overall journey. Presenting multiple intensities within a track not only adds depth but also caters to the dynamic needs of a project.
Pillar 3: Energy & Momentum
To ensure your track maintains its energy and momentum, test it against visual media like movie trailers. Identifying parts that may disrupt the flow is key. This section also highlights the importance of choosing the right sound effects and maintaining the momentum throughout the track to make it more engaging.
Pillar 4: Arrangement & Orchestration
Orchestration and arrangement tips include studying real instruments, understanding their limitations, and writing music that is idiomatic to specific genres or styles. Using live instruments can add depth, and comparing your work to successful soundtracks can provide valuable insights.
Pillar 5: Complexity
A common mistake is overcomplicating tracks. Simplifying the track to its core theme and carefully building around it can make the music more accessible and licensable. Especially in genres like hip-hop, varying intensities can enhance licensability.
Pillar 6: Industry Insights
Patience and focus on effort over immediate returns are emphasized. Diversifying your portfolio across publishers and understanding different income streams, such as sync vs. performance rights organization (PRO) income, are discussed to give a comprehensive view of the industry.
Pillar 7: Export & Organization
The final pillar addresses technical and organizational aspects crucial for licensing success. Tips include exporting all stems with clear metadata, avoiding technical glitches, and organizing tracks efficiently for easy access by publishers. The flexibility and functionality of the stems are underscored to make your music more adaptable.
Make Your Tracks Licensable
In the third module of the Music Licensing Mastery course by Evenant, Arn Andersson and Joshua Crispin offer an invaluable practical application of the course’s foundational principles through an in-depth exploration of their own diverse song projects. This hands-on demonstration spans a wide array of genres, from epic orchestral pieces to hip-hop, trap, and electronic dance music, effectively bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world practice.
The module begins by emphasizing the importance of thinking like an editor, suggesting composers start tracks with engaging textures and simple, live instrument-led intros that encapsulate the essence of the piece. The significance of edit points and tonal swells for smooth transitions is highlighted, alongside the need for sound effects that enhance the flow of the track rather than merely serve as a transitional crutch. This approach ensures tracks are versatile and editor-friendly, a critical aspect of licensability.
As the tutors delve into track structure, they advocate for a narrative approach that includes introducing themes, amplifying them, and concluding with a satisfying resolution. Each section should add a new element to deepen the narrative. This methodology not only helps editors with blending and editing sections but also maintains listener engagement by ensuring a consistent ramping up of intensity.
Using one of their songs as a case study, Arn and Josh illustrate how subtle pulses and strategically delayed powerful elements can imbue a track with a sense of perpetual motion and growth. They share specific techniques, such as auto-panning higher sounds in a texture group and using breaks as reflective pauses, to maintain momentum throughout the piece.
The course also tackles the concept of effective minimalism, urging composers to simplify their tracks without sacrificing their essence. This minimalist approach is shown to be especially crucial in contexts where music supports visual narratives, requiring composers to leave room for voiceovers and other elements without overwhelming the scene.
Arn then explores what a powerful arrangement is made of, with a focus on avoiding elements that compete for space. The tutors explain the science of harmonics and voicing, emphasizing the importance of arrangement and instrument selection in creating clear, impactful music. They advocate for arrangements that follow the harmonic series and discuss the practical application of these principles in layering tracks and orchestrating for different instruments.
On the business side, patience and a deep understanding of the industry’s payment timelines and licensing models are highlighted as key to success. Arn and Josh discuss the importance of diversifying revenue streams and focusing on quality over quantity. Learning to let your music go is a difficult challenge every composer has to overcome. Here, again, the course’s seven pillars are suggested as guidelines to gauge when your music is ready to be released into the world.
Lastly, the importance of proper file organization and delivery is addressed, underscoring the necessity of providing editors with comprehensive toolkits through well-organized stems and ensuring project files are prepared for future use.
This module is a comprehensive guide that not only reinforces the foundational principles introduced earlier in the course but also provides concrete examples of their application across various musical genres. It offers aspiring composers and producers clear strategies for enhancing the licensability of their music.
Licensing In Practice
In the “Licensing In Practice” module of the Music Licensing Mastery course by Evenant, Arn Andersson and Joshua Crispin dive deep into the nuances that differentiate successful tracks in the licensing world from those that fall short. This module presents a goldmine of practical advice, underscoring the journey from initial track conception to final mix and delivery, focusing on making music that not only resonates with listeners but also meets the critical technical standards of the licensing industry.
These are some of the key insights and strategies of this module:
Good vs. Bad Tracks: The distinction between licensable and non-licensable music often lies in dynamic growth, variation in sections, and the use of live versus solely MIDI instruments. The tutors elaborate on the pitfalls of poor MIDI mockups, overly aggressive mixing, and compositions that lack purpose or clarity for their intended use.
Mixing Philosophy: Central to the course’s approach is a mixing philosophy that prioritizes essence and simplicity. Instead of heavily relying on extensive plugin chains, the focus is on identifying what each track truly needs and achieving it most straightforwardly. Mixing decisions are continually questioned to ensure every sound contributes meaningfully to the track, with strategic breaks and references used to maintain objectivity.
The pyramid structure of sound —comprising high-quality source sounds as the base, effective arrangement in the middle, and thoughtful mixing at the top—serves as a guide to achieving productions that sound cohesive and well-balanced.
Favorite Plugins and Workflow Tips: A rundown of Arn’s and Josh’s favorite plugins for mixing, including compression, EQ, reverb, and more, reveals the tools behind their polished sound. The tutors also provide workflow organization tips. They encourage the creation of templates and grouped tracks for efficiency, aiming to minimize repetitive tasks and keep the creative process flowing smoothly.
Creative Process: Arn and Joshua share their personal approach to starting and developing ideas, beginning with quick sketching of core ideas and gradual layering. They suggest starting with distinctive textures and building complexity thoughtfully, always keeping attention to dynamic growth and emotional impact.
Overcoming Creative Obstacles: This lesson addresses common creative blocks, offering strategies for maintaining a playful, exploratory mindset and setting practical limits to foster creativity. The importance of organization and avoiding the loop stage trap is underscored, with advice on expanding or simplifying ideas as needed.
Using Live Instruments: Live performances play a major role in the creative output of Arn and Josh. They emphasize that live recordings add a unique, organic feel to tracks, whether it’s recording your voice, a simple violin pluck, or layered guitar textures. Including live elements in a composition underlines the value of authenticity and individuality in a track’s sound.
Intros, Hits, Transitions, and Sound Design: These lessons provide detailed strategies for creating compelling intros, selecting impactful hits and transitions, and innovative sound design techniques. Arn and Josh show again that the use of live instruments as well as creative processing enriches the sonic palette, offering a distinct edge in the licensing market.
Insights From The Industry
In the final module of the Music Licensing Mastery course, Arn Andersson and Joshua Crispin offer a deep dive into the practical steps and strategic insights for navigating the music licensing industry post-creation. This comprehensive guide doesn’t just stop at crafting licensable tracks; it equips composers and producers with the knowledge to strategically place their music, understand the intricacies of the industry, and capitalize on their creative efforts effectively. In contrast to the previous video lessons, the lessons in this module are predominantly presented in text form.
One key takeaway from this module is that the journey doesn’t end at creating great music. The next crucial steps involve choosing the right platform for your tracks, understanding the diverse landscape of licensing opportunities—from micro-licensing platforms to high-end trailer music libraries—and strategically positioning your music where it has the best chance to thrive and generate income. Each licensing platform, whether it’s designed for small independent projects or blockbuster trailers, offers unique advantages and challenges, and understanding these nuances is key to making informed decisions.
Deciding where your music fits best is just the beginning, however. The tutors emphasize the importance of diligent research to identify potential libraries that match your style and the meticulous preparation required for submission. Adherence to submission guidelines is not just encouraged; it’s mandatory for success. Arn and Josh provide a roadmap for navigating the submission process, enhancing your chances of getting noticed, and successfully partnering with a library or publisher.
Another critical, often overlooked aspect of music production is the proper registration and monetization of your tracks. The course outlines a step-by-step guide to ensuring your music is registered correctly across all necessary platforms, from PROs to digital streaming services. This not only secures your intellectual property but also opens up multiple revenue streams, ensuring you receive the royalties and income you deserve from your music.
Sharing your music with the world, specifically with music publishers and licensing companies, is a nuanced process that requires more than just sending out emails. The course shares insider tips on crafting personalized emails, targeting the right publishers, and following up professionally. Patience and persistence, coupled with a strategic approach to networking and continuously creating new music, are highlighted as essential traits for success.
The Music Licensing Mastery course also contains a section that contains wisdom from industry professionals and personal reflections from the tutors themselves. Here. they offer both encouragement and cautionary tales. From understanding the importance of collaboration and clear communication to maintaining a healthy balance between creativity and business, these insights aim to prepare students for the realities of the industry.
Arn Andersson’s reflection on the virtues of patience, persistence, and the love of the process stands out as a guiding principle for aspiring composers. Meanwhile, Joshua Crispin’s emphasis on effective workflow, organization, and the value of networking and building relationships highlights the multifaceted nature of success in the music industry.
“Insights From The Industry” transcends the typical boundaries of a music production course, delving into the philosophical, psychological, and strategic aspects of building a successful career in music licensing. It doesn’t just teach you how to create licensable music; it prepares you to navigate the industry with confidence, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the business dynamics at play.
CONCLUSION
With lifetime access to over 8 hours of rich content, a vast 5 GB+ sample pack, an active private community, and direct feedback from industry professionals, it’s a comprehensive package that’s hard to overlook. The course meticulously bridges the gap between musical creation and its commercial potential, offering a step-by-step guide to monetizing, submitting, and pitching tracks that could very well redefine a composer’s career path.
Priced at a sale rate of $399, down from its regular $1174, the value proposition is compelling. Furthermore, Evenant offers a 21-day money-back guarantee in case you aren’t fully satisfied with the course. This investment not only grants access to an arsenal of resources but also opens the door to opportunities like pitching directly to Pacon Music Group, setting the stage for real-world application of the skills and knowledge gained.
However, it’s worth noting that the course, like any extensive educational offering, is not without its minor flaws. Some videos within the modules suffer from editing oversights, such as instances of doubled audio playback and uncut double-takes of certain passages. While these are small blemishes in an otherwise polished presentation, they remind us of the human element behind the course’s creation and do little to detract from the overall wealth of knowledge and opportunity it provides.
In essence, Music Licensing Mastery is more than just a course; it’s a comprehensive toolkit designed to arm composers and producers with everything they need to make a mark in the sync music industry. Whether you’re a budding musician or a seasoned composer, the course offers valuable insights, practical advice, and the tools needed to navigate the complex landscape of music licensing.
Getting back to the sailing analogy I made at the very beginning of this review: If the world of music licensing can feel like setting sail without a map, Music Licensing Mastery is the map I wish I had from the start—a treasure trove of insights, practical advice, and real-world strategies.
Pros
Over 8 hours of comprehensive content
Lifetime access to the course and updates
Access to a 5 GB+ sample pack
Active private community with direct tutor feedback
Practical templates for business dealings
Opportunity to pitch music to Pacon Music Group
Cons
Some editing mishaps in video lessons
RECOMMENDED 10/10
The Music Licensing Mastery course is available exclusively through Evenant at a discounted price of $399 (regular price: $1174).
Diving into the world of music licensing can feel like setting sail without a map. That’s where the online course Music Licensing Mastery by Evenant comes in. Music Licensing Mastery features industry experts Arn Andersson and Joshua Crispin as its tutors. Both renowned composers in their own right, Andersson, who is also the co-founder of Evenant, and Crispin share their vast knowledge and experience in the sync music industry.
As someone who’s navigated the highs and lows of creating music with the dream of hearing it in films, trailers, and TV shows, I know how daunting the journey can feel. You’re crafting these tracks, pouring your soul into them, but then what? How do you get from a hard drive full of passion projects to making a real impact (and income) in the sync music industry?
I have taken the course and will gladly share my learning experience with you in this comprehensive review.
DISCLAIMER: Please note, this review includes affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you decide to purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Being an affiliate partner of Evenant does not influence our rating of this course; all opinions and assessments are based on a thorough and unbiased review.
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THE TUTORS
The tutors for this Evenant course are Joshua Crispin and Arn Andersson, a duo that embodies the spirit and dynamism of contemporary music production and licensing. With a combined experience spanning over a decade in the industry, they have placed their compositions in Hollywood movie trailers, video games, and advertisement campaigns, and released music with world-class orchestras and DJs.
The past three years have seen Joshua and Arn collaborate closely on a diverse range of projects, a partnership that has not only honed their skills but also deepened their understanding of the sync music industry’s nuances. Now, they’re turning their attention towards empowering the next generation of composers and producers.
With Music Licensing Mastery, their mission is to share the wealth of knowledge they’ve accumulated—highlighting the strategies that led to their successes, and the pitfalls that taught them the most valuable lessons. Through their guidance, you’re invited to learn from their victories and sidestep the errors they’ve encountered, smoothing your own path into the world of music licensing.
WHAT IS SYNC MUSIC?
Before we dive into the actual review of the Music Licensing Mastery course, let’s talk about what “license music” or “sync music” actually is. Sync music, short for “synchronized music,” refers to the art of placing music in sync with visual media. The process involves carefully selecting and integrating music tracks to enhance the emotional impact, atmosphere, or storytelling of the visual content it accompanies.
For composers and artists, sync music represents a dynamic and lucrative facet of the music industry, offering them a unique avenue to monetize their creations. In this context, it involves licensing music for use in conjunction with visual media—be it films, TV shows, commercials, video games, or trailers. This not only provides an additional revenue stream but also amplifies the exposure of the music to wider audiences.
Moreover, having music featured in popular media can bolster an artist’s or composer’s profile, leading to further opportunities in the industry. It’s not just about immediate financial gain; it’s about building a reputation and expanding one’s portfolio in a highly competitive field.
In essence, sync music stands as a vital component of the modern music industry, providing artists and composers with a platform to earn revenue, gain exposure, and connect with new audiences through the power of visual media.
COURSE OVERVIEW
From the moment you enroll in Music Licensing Mastery, you’re granted lifetime access to the course, including all future updates. This invaluable feature ensures that the course grows alongside you, allowing you to revisit lessons as your skills and career evolve. With over 8 hours of video content spread across five comprehensive modules, the course is a journey through the essentials of sync music, advanced production techniques, and the business knowledge required for success in the industry. The self-paced structure respects your individual learning speed, making it suitable for both budding composers and seasoned producers alike.
A standout feature of this course is the generous inclusion of a 5 GB+ sample pack. Curated by Joshua Crispin and Arn Andersson, this collection is packed with their favorite sounds and sound designs, tools that they rely on in their day-to-day projects. This sample pack alone could be the catalyst for your next groundbreaking track, offering a taste of the professional sound palette used by successful composers.
Another valuable resource is a collection of meticulously crafted templates for emails, spreadsheets, and contracts—each designed with the specific needs of composers and producers in mind. These templates not only streamline the often complex process of pitching and submitting music to publishers and libraries but also ensure that course participants are well-prepared to handle the business side of music licensing with professionalism and efficiency.
Beyond the lessons and resources, the course introduces you to a private community of students and industry professionals. This digital gathering space is where you can share your progress, showcase your work, and connect with fellow students. It’s a nurturing environment that encourages growth, feedback, and collaboration, underpinned by a sense of shared purpose and passion. You can even get feedback and guidance from the tutors themselves. Arn and Joshua are not distant figures; they’re active participants in the community, ready to answer questions, offer critiques, and share insights gleaned from their extensive experience in the industry.
Another great opportunity presented by the course – especially for aspiring new composers – is the chance to pitch your music directly to Pacon Music Group, Joshua Crispin’s own music publishing company. This can be a real-world application of your skills, offering a tangible step towards launching your career in sync music.
In the following, we’re taking a deep dive into each main module of the Music Licensing Mastery course, highlighting their key concepts and takeaways.
Introduction To Music Licensing
The course begins with an enlightening overview of the current state of the music licensing industry. It’s a field that has evolved rapidly in recent years, presenting both challenges and opportunities for new entrants. Understanding the landscape is crucial for anyone looking to navigate this competitive arena successfully.
A significant highlight of this module and a crucial element of what Arn and Josh base their work on is the introduction of the 7 Pillars System, a comprehensive framework designed to make tracks more licensable. The pillars include:
The module doesn’t stop at theory; it dives deep into practical advice with a case study that reveals the potential for success even with new projects. By consistently releasing licensable music through different sync music publishers, Arn and Josh managed to collect a six-figure revenue in licensing fees over just one year. This was accomplished without benefitting from their established names in the industry or additional advertisement of their project as they were using non-descript artist names for this endeavor.
One of the key takeaways of this module is the importance of doubling down on winners—focusing on creating more of what has proven to license well. A strategic approach to creating music that benefits music libraries, researching publishers, and finding out what they need is encouraged. The course advises reaching out to libraries on the rise, suggesting that becoming a big fish in a small pond might be more advantageous than being a tiny fish in the vast ocean of publishers.
Why Your Tracks Aren’t Licensing
The second module of the Music Licensing Mastery course dives deep into common pitfalls that prevent tracks from being licensed and offers targeted advice to overcome these challenges. Each section is designed to address specific aspects of music production that, when optimized, significantly increase the likelihood of your tracks being selected by music editors and publishers.
Pillar 1: The Editor’s Role
Understanding the editor’s perspective is crucial. This section emphasizes the importance of edit points and creating a toolkit that makes it easy for editors to use your music. It suggests pulling up visual references to better understand how your track could be used and encourages making your music sections loopable and collaborative with the visual elements, including dialog and sound effects.
Pillar 2: Structure
A well-structured track has a clear beginning, build, and finale. This pillar challenges composers to critically assess their tracks for variation, purposeful sections, and overall journey. Presenting multiple intensities within a track not only adds depth but also caters to the dynamic needs of a project.
Pillar 3: Energy & Momentum
To ensure your track maintains its energy and momentum, test it against visual media like movie trailers. Identifying parts that may disrupt the flow is key. This section also highlights the importance of choosing the right sound effects and maintaining the momentum throughout the track to make it more engaging.
Pillar 4: Arrangement & Orchestration
Orchestration and arrangement tips include studying real instruments, understanding their limitations, and writing music that is idiomatic to specific genres or styles. Using live instruments can add depth, and comparing your work to successful soundtracks can provide valuable insights.
Pillar 5: Complexity
A common mistake is overcomplicating tracks. Simplifying the track to its core theme and carefully building around it can make the music more accessible and licensable. Especially in genres like hip-hop, varying intensities can enhance licensability.
Pillar 6: Industry Insights
Patience and focus on effort over immediate returns are emphasized. Diversifying your portfolio across publishers and understanding different income streams, such as sync vs. performance rights organization (PRO) income, are discussed to give a comprehensive view of the industry.
Pillar 7: Export & Organization
The final pillar addresses technical and organizational aspects crucial for licensing success. Tips include exporting all stems with clear metadata, avoiding technical glitches, and organizing tracks efficiently for easy access by publishers. The flexibility and functionality of the stems are underscored to make your music more adaptable.
Make Your Tracks Licensable
In the third module of the Music Licensing Mastery course by Evenant, Arn Andersson and Joshua Crispin offer an invaluable practical application of the course’s foundational principles through an in-depth exploration of their own diverse song projects. This hands-on demonstration spans a wide array of genres, from epic orchestral pieces to hip-hop, trap, and electronic dance music, effectively bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world practice.
The module begins by emphasizing the importance of thinking like an editor, suggesting composers start tracks with engaging textures and simple, live instrument-led intros that encapsulate the essence of the piece. The significance of edit points and tonal swells for smooth transitions is highlighted, alongside the need for sound effects that enhance the flow of the track rather than merely serve as a transitional crutch. This approach ensures tracks are versatile and editor-friendly, a critical aspect of licensability.
As the tutors delve into track structure, they advocate for a narrative approach that includes introducing themes, amplifying them, and concluding with a satisfying resolution. Each section should add a new element to deepen the narrative. This methodology not only helps editors with blending and editing sections but also maintains listener engagement by ensuring a consistent ramping up of intensity.
Using one of their songs as a case study, Arn and Josh illustrate how subtle pulses and strategically delayed powerful elements can imbue a track with a sense of perpetual motion and growth. They share specific techniques, such as auto-panning higher sounds in a texture group and using breaks as reflective pauses, to maintain momentum throughout the piece.
The course also tackles the concept of effective minimalism, urging composers to simplify their tracks without sacrificing their essence. This minimalist approach is shown to be especially crucial in contexts where music supports visual narratives, requiring composers to leave room for voiceovers and other elements without overwhelming the scene.
Arn then explores what a powerful arrangement is made of, with a focus on avoiding elements that compete for space. The tutors explain the science of harmonics and voicing, emphasizing the importance of arrangement and instrument selection in creating clear, impactful music. They advocate for arrangements that follow the harmonic series and discuss the practical application of these principles in layering tracks and orchestrating for different instruments.
On the business side, patience and a deep understanding of the industry’s payment timelines and licensing models are highlighted as key to success. Arn and Josh discuss the importance of diversifying revenue streams and focusing on quality over quantity. Learning to let your music go is a difficult challenge every composer has to overcome. Here, again, the course’s seven pillars are suggested as guidelines to gauge when your music is ready to be released into the world.
Lastly, the importance of proper file organization and delivery is addressed, underscoring the necessity of providing editors with comprehensive toolkits through well-organized stems and ensuring project files are prepared for future use.
This module is a comprehensive guide that not only reinforces the foundational principles introduced earlier in the course but also provides concrete examples of their application across various musical genres. It offers aspiring composers and producers clear strategies for enhancing the licensability of their music.
Licensing In Practice
In the “Licensing In Practice” module of the Music Licensing Mastery course by Evenant, Arn Andersson and Joshua Crispin dive deep into the nuances that differentiate successful tracks in the licensing world from those that fall short. This module presents a goldmine of practical advice, underscoring the journey from initial track conception to final mix and delivery, focusing on making music that not only resonates with listeners but also meets the critical technical standards of the licensing industry.
These are some of the key insights and strategies of this module:
Good vs. Bad Tracks: The distinction between licensable and non-licensable music often lies in dynamic growth, variation in sections, and the use of live versus solely MIDI instruments. The tutors elaborate on the pitfalls of poor MIDI mockups, overly aggressive mixing, and compositions that lack purpose or clarity for their intended use.
Mixing Philosophy: Central to the course’s approach is a mixing philosophy that prioritizes essence and simplicity. Instead of heavily relying on extensive plugin chains, the focus is on identifying what each track truly needs and achieving it most straightforwardly. Mixing decisions are continually questioned to ensure every sound contributes meaningfully to the track, with strategic breaks and references used to maintain objectivity.
The pyramid structure of sound —comprising high-quality source sounds as the base, effective arrangement in the middle, and thoughtful mixing at the top—serves as a guide to achieving productions that sound cohesive and well-balanced.
Favorite Plugins and Workflow Tips: A rundown of Arn’s and Josh’s favorite plugins for mixing, including compression, EQ, reverb, and more, reveals the tools behind their polished sound. The tutors also provide workflow organization tips. They encourage the creation of templates and grouped tracks for efficiency, aiming to minimize repetitive tasks and keep the creative process flowing smoothly.
Creative Process: Arn and Joshua share their personal approach to starting and developing ideas, beginning with quick sketching of core ideas and gradual layering. They suggest starting with distinctive textures and building complexity thoughtfully, always keeping attention to dynamic growth and emotional impact.
Overcoming Creative Obstacles: This lesson addresses common creative blocks, offering strategies for maintaining a playful, exploratory mindset and setting practical limits to foster creativity. The importance of organization and avoiding the loop stage trap is underscored, with advice on expanding or simplifying ideas as needed.
Using Live Instruments: Live performances play a major role in the creative output of Arn and Josh. They emphasize that live recordings add a unique, organic feel to tracks, whether it’s recording your voice, a simple violin pluck, or layered guitar textures. Including live elements in a composition underlines the value of authenticity and individuality in a track’s sound.
Intros, Hits, Transitions, and Sound Design: These lessons provide detailed strategies for creating compelling intros, selecting impactful hits and transitions, and innovative sound design techniques. Arn and Josh show again that the use of live instruments as well as creative processing enriches the sonic palette, offering a distinct edge in the licensing market.
Insights From The Industry
In the final module of the Music Licensing Mastery course, Arn Andersson and Joshua Crispin offer a deep dive into the practical steps and strategic insights for navigating the music licensing industry post-creation. This comprehensive guide doesn’t just stop at crafting licensable tracks; it equips composers and producers with the knowledge to strategically place their music, understand the intricacies of the industry, and capitalize on their creative efforts effectively. In contrast to the previous video lessons, the lessons in this module are predominantly presented in text form.
One key takeaway from this module is that the journey doesn’t end at creating great music. The next crucial steps involve choosing the right platform for your tracks, understanding the diverse landscape of licensing opportunities—from micro-licensing platforms to high-end trailer music libraries—and strategically positioning your music where it has the best chance to thrive and generate income. Each licensing platform, whether it’s designed for small independent projects or blockbuster trailers, offers unique advantages and challenges, and understanding these nuances is key to making informed decisions.
Deciding where your music fits best is just the beginning, however. The tutors emphasize the importance of diligent research to identify potential libraries that match your style and the meticulous preparation required for submission. Adherence to submission guidelines is not just encouraged; it’s mandatory for success. Arn and Josh provide a roadmap for navigating the submission process, enhancing your chances of getting noticed, and successfully partnering with a library or publisher.
Another critical, often overlooked aspect of music production is the proper registration and monetization of your tracks. The course outlines a step-by-step guide to ensuring your music is registered correctly across all necessary platforms, from PROs to digital streaming services. This not only secures your intellectual property but also opens up multiple revenue streams, ensuring you receive the royalties and income you deserve from your music.
Sharing your music with the world, specifically with music publishers and licensing companies, is a nuanced process that requires more than just sending out emails. The course shares insider tips on crafting personalized emails, targeting the right publishers, and following up professionally. Patience and persistence, coupled with a strategic approach to networking and continuously creating new music, are highlighted as essential traits for success.
The Music Licensing Mastery course also contains a section that contains wisdom from industry professionals and personal reflections from the tutors themselves. Here. they offer both encouragement and cautionary tales. From understanding the importance of collaboration and clear communication to maintaining a healthy balance between creativity and business, these insights aim to prepare students for the realities of the industry.
Arn Andersson’s reflection on the virtues of patience, persistence, and the love of the process stands out as a guiding principle for aspiring composers. Meanwhile, Joshua Crispin’s emphasis on effective workflow, organization, and the value of networking and building relationships highlights the multifaceted nature of success in the music industry.
“Insights From The Industry” transcends the typical boundaries of a music production course, delving into the philosophical, psychological, and strategic aspects of building a successful career in music licensing. It doesn’t just teach you how to create licensable music; it prepares you to navigate the industry with confidence, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the business dynamics at play.
CONCLUSION
With lifetime access to over 8 hours of rich content, a vast 5 GB+ sample pack, an active private community, and direct feedback from industry professionals, it’s a comprehensive package that’s hard to overlook. The course meticulously bridges the gap between musical creation and its commercial potential, offering a step-by-step guide to monetizing, submitting, and pitching tracks that could very well redefine a composer’s career path.
Priced at a sale rate of $399, down from its regular $1174, the value proposition is compelling. Furthermore, Evenant offers a 21-day money-back guarantee in case you aren’t fully satisfied with the course. This investment not only grants access to an arsenal of resources but also opens the door to opportunities like pitching directly to Pacon Music Group, setting the stage for real-world application of the skills and knowledge gained.
However, it’s worth noting that the course, like any extensive educational offering, is not without its minor flaws. Some videos within the modules suffer from editing oversights, such as instances of doubled audio playback and uncut double-takes of certain passages. While these are small blemishes in an otherwise polished presentation, they remind us of the human element behind the course’s creation and do little to detract from the overall wealth of knowledge and opportunity it provides.
In essence, Music Licensing Mastery is more than just a course; it’s a comprehensive toolkit designed to arm composers and producers with everything they need to make a mark in the sync music industry. Whether you’re a budding musician or a seasoned composer, the course offers valuable insights, practical advice, and the tools needed to navigate the complex landscape of music licensing.
Getting back to the sailing analogy I made at the very beginning of this review: If the world of music licensing can feel like setting sail without a map, Music Licensing Mastery is the map I wish I had from the start—a treasure trove of insights, practical advice, and real-world strategies.
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RECOMMENDED 10/10
The Music Licensing Mastery course is available exclusively through Evenant at a discounted price of $399 (regular price: $1174).
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