[Fmpro] concerns/ideas for submitDIRECT

[Mark Northam]

Hi Bettie -

Thanks for the note. Some responses:

* SubmitDIRECT is a delivery technology, rather than being anything like an
agency - it's merely a technology platform that allows composers,
songwriters, publishers and labels to submit music using an online platform
and allows the job poster to review those music submissions.  SubmitDIRECT
doesn't represent or present anything, but instead functions as a technology
platform to allow the streamlined submission and review of music for FMN Job
Postings.

By the way, for a quick tour of SubmitDIRECT, you can check out:

Submission Interface:
http://www.filmmusicworld.com/submitdirect

Reviewer Interface:
http://www.filmmusicworld.com/musicreview

* We use SubmitDIRECT only on jobs where the job poster has requested it,
and it can be requested as the exclusive submission method, or an optional
submission method in addition to traditional (CDs in the mail, etc) options.
It's totally a choice of the job poster.

* For jobs where the job poster requests it, the SubmitDIRECT system
supports submitting text along with MP3 files so composers can cut & paste a
credits list, bio, or whatever else the job poster requests. Composers can
put links to their own websites in there or whatever else they'd like.

* For jobs where the job poster is looking for existing music to license,
they're less concerned about credits - especially in the case of song
placements, library music placements, etc.

* One of the big issues composers have to deal with, and it's no secret to
those on this list, is the fact that there are way, way more composers than
there are agents to represent them. This shortage of agents / oversupply of
composers has created an imbalance in the industry where many talented
composers lack agency representation. But even with agency representation,
most composers report that they (the composers) have to go out and make the
contacts, schmooze the music supervisors and directors, etc., and the agent
is only brought in to negotiate and do the paperwork. So in the end,
composers' own efforts - more than any agents' efforts - is usually the
reason composers get gigs.

We've received a tremendous response about our new SubmitDIRECT system since
we introduced it yesterday, almost all of it positive. I can certainly
understand those who may not want to pay for delivery technology such as
SubmitDIRECT, and they're entitled to their opinions and I respect that.
Going forward our goal is to provide the best, most beneficial and useful
services to the industry and we're always looking for ways to improve our
services, whether they be new services like SubmitDIRECT or existing ones.

Thanks again for your note and thoughts.

Best,

Mark Northam 


On 1/23/07 4:16 PM, "TheOrchsVoice at aol.com" <TheOrchsVoice at aol.com> wrote:

>> From what I've read so far, like an agency, FMN's submitDIRECT  service will
> be presenting music tracks for job consideration,  but unlike an agency, it
> will not be an official, legal  representative of those music-makers. FMN's
> service will not  have researched any of its submitters nor be able to assure
> a 
> music  buyer of a composer's level of professionalism, their track  record,
> previous working relationships with directors, ability to be  "creative on
> demand" 
> or deliver a product on time and within budget, etc.  From my experience in
> the film music business for the last 8 years, those things  are considered
> just 
> as important, if not more so, than the actual music  itself. With the scoring
> process being in the last phase of a film's  production, there's usually a
> very short window of time for decisions to  be made about music. That's why
> the 
> majority of those "juicy  jobs" are brokered through agents who've already
> done the necessary  homework on a composer for the music buyer. It would be
> great 
> to find  one of those "juicy jobs" posted on the FMN's service but perhaps we
> should ask  ourselves - Why would a producer of such a job choose the
> submitDIRECT service to find his composer instead of simply using an  agency?
> Agencies don't charge the music-buyer anything. They receive a  commission
> from the 
> selected composer for the contract they  negotiate. While they might not offer
> a music buyer hundreds of  composers to choose from, the ones they do offer
> have built  a reputation in the industry. While competing with agencies &
> their represented clients for music jobs may not be submitDIRECT's official
> intention, it will essentially be doing that. To make the service more
> valuable, 
> faster and convenient to music-buyers, I suggest that  submitDIRECT offer more
> info on its submitters. If the service  doesn't want to make the time to list
> or upload each composer's  credits with his mp3's, perhaps it could at least
> include a link to  the composer's own website. That would certainly help the
> music-buyer make a more informed decision quicker. Anyway, those are some  of
> my thoughts. I look forward to hearing yours.
>  

---------------------------------
Mark Northam - Publisher
Film Music Magazine
The Professional Voice of Music for Film & TV
http://www.filmmusicmag.com
1-800-774-3700 x702 / (310) 645-9000 x702