There’s long been a debate over how much TV/movie production companies should expect to pay for a piece of music.
Some argue that the exposure an artist will receive from featuring in their title justifies a smaller fee or even no fee at all – much to the music business’s annoyance.
But it appears the needle has now swung even further away from music rights-holders.
An independent UK movie production company, Department-F Films, contacted a series of labels and managers last week with details of what it called a ‘golden opportunity’.
Yet those who have subsequently contacted MBW haven’t exactly been left delighted by Department-F’s offer.
Livid would be a better description.
“Finding new ways to break a band/solo artist and getting exposure is proving ever more difficult for record labels, managers and bands,” reads the opening sentence of the firm’s pitch.
So far, so fair.
Department-F then explains that it’s creating a feature film called ‘Over and Over’ based on a “music business revenge story”, and that it’s offering an up-and-coming artist the chance to feature in a short scene as the support act to the headline band in the movie.
The selected act will also see their poster featured elsewhere in the film’s footage and enjoy ‘the option to have one track featured as a bonus track on one version of the soundtrack album, which is going to be promoted like a regular album’.
“The minimum bid to get in on this opportunity will be £10,000 so please don’t waste your time or ours if you can’t afford to pay for this opportunity.”
In addition: ‘The artist may also perform in one real live support slot for the film if one takes place. Plus they can have one of their CDs and a T-shirt included in the goody bag given out at the film’s premier and two tickets per band member or solo artist for the premier [sic].’
Department-F will require the chosen artist to record three songs in total, performed live, which will be included on the film’s DVD extras.
How much is the film company willing to pay for the privilege?
If you guessed ‘nothing’, you’re close.
It is, in fact, worse than nothing.
Here comes the clincher.
“Because this opportunity can only go to one artist and it will be hotly contested we are likely to hold an auction to win this opportunity.”
An auction. With a minimum bid (deep breath) of £10,000 ($15,000).
Try this on for an explanation:
“Record labels, managers and acts have always bought themselves tour supports in the past so this idea is another twist on a music business staple of breaking an act.
“The minimum bid to get in on this opportunity will be £10,000 so please don’t waste your time or ours by contacting us if you can’t afford to pay for this opportunity.”
If you didn’t catch that, this is very much an ‘opportunity’.
The kiss-off: “The artist will have to grant all rights to music used in the film, on DVD extras and soundtrack, free of charge, including any sync rights, to Department-F as this is predominantly a promotional avenue. However where any radio plays occur they will get the PRS payment as normal.”
Well that’s mighty generous, isn’t it?
Department-F doesn’t just hope to score a chunk of cash from one ‘lucky’ artist, though.
Plenty more ways to skin this cat.
25 runners-up will be granted the ‘opportunity to have their merchandise featured in a key scene in the film for a smaller fee’ (as well as other trinkets, including a ‘snatch of one song on [a] jukebox in pub scene’ and tickets to the film premiere).
Five of these runner-up ‘opportunities’ cost £2,000 each, ten cost £1,000 each and a further ten cost £500 each. (See below for full list of verbatim ‘packages’.)
Which all means that if Department-F can convince enough desperate labels/musicians that all of this is a good idea, it will bank £35,000 minimum for using other people’s music.
And then it will also keep the sync rights as, you know, ‘this is predominantly a promotional avenue’.
Just to add insult to injury, look what Department-F is telling labels as a key reason for them to hand over cash.
“A big marketing spend is lined up for the film in the UK alone.”
Oh, we have money.
We just want your money.
If you’re interested in getting in touch above Department-F’s ‘packages’, you can email them here: department-f@live.co.uk.
OVER AND OVER: ‘ARTIST BUY ON’ PACKAGES
Package One:
- Support act in films live sequence playing thirty seconds to one minute of track live and getting a plug for artist’s name.
- Three live performance tracks and the acts own pop video promoting their latest single, if applicable. Link to website & contact details on DVD extras.
- Poster to feature prominently in one major scene in the film.
- The artist’s promo T-shirt featured in another scene, if they have one.
- Snatch of one song on jukebox in pub scene.
- Listed in film credits.
- Option to have their CD and T-shirt or alternative merchandise in goody bag for film premiere.
- Two tickets per solo artist or per band member to film premiere.
- One copy of official DVD of film.
- One real support slot on one gig that the main band may play to promote the film.
- One track on download version of the film’s soundtrack album on itunes etc and Spotify but not on the CD or vinyl version of the soundtrack.
Highest bidder; Starting bid £10,000
Package Two:
- Poster to feature prominently in one major scene in the film.
- The artist’s promo T-shirt featured in another scene, if they have one.
- Snatch of one song on jukebox in pub scene.
- Listed in film credits.
- Option to have their CD and T-shirt or one alternative merchandise product in goody bag for film premiere.
- Two tickets per solo artist or one ticket per band member to film premiere.
£2,000 (5 opportunities)
Package Three:
- Poster on walls in background of one major scene.
- The artist’s promo T-shirt featured in another scene, if they have one.
- Option to have their CD and T-shirt or one alternative merchandise product in goody bag for film premier.
- Two tickets to premiere.
£1,000 (10 opportunities)
Package Four:
- Fleeting shot of artist’s poster or flyer on wall in one scene.
- Option to have their CD and T-shirt or one alternative merchandise product in goody bag for film premiere.
£500 (10 opportunities)
‘All artists will waive any image rights and music sync rights in the film. ie we use them for free with no payments due in any way. The artist will not receive any fee for a live support slot outside of the film.
No artist’s royalty will be paid for appearing on the download soundtrack but the artist will receive PRS payment for airplay and MCPS song writing royalties for download and Spotify sales.
Artists, their management or label manager will supply all posters, T-shirts, CDs and any merchandise required at their own expense to the film company.’Music Business Worldwide
