Composer FAQs
About etrax
Is etrax linked to any currently existing music libraries or major labels?
etrax is an independent music library and publishing company.
How do you promote your clients' music? What marketing methods do you use?
Music is presented in the categorised and searchable library on the website. We have a dedicated marketing team who contact end users of the music directly. We actively market the library to production companies and license music direct to them for use in their productions.
Is it possible to have a look at the web site you use to list and make available your clients' music?
Use the etrax.eu links on the site or copy and paste http://etrax.eu into your browser.
Submission of music
Do your composers master the tracks (I mean the very last stage - mastering EQ and brick-wall compressing/limiting across the whole mix etc) themselves or you use professional mastering suite(s) like most of the other music/production libraries?
Composers generally submit finished masters.
What styles/genres are you currently looking for? I'm covering quite a wide range of genres for different companies and it would be nice to know your top priorities at this moment. Can I post you the tracks for consideration via Email (zipped mp3-files) or make them available to listen to on my server?
You can send an mp3 clip by email to submissions@etrax.eu for advice on which tracks to submit. If we receive particular requests from producers, which we often do, you will see a notice on your logged-in page.
Can I offer you tracks I successfully used in the past and also theoretically be able to further license the music non-exclusively to other companies/publisher?
We can only include your works in the library if the publishing for that work is not exclusively assigned elsewhere.
How soon do you require works to be submitted?
There is no time limit for submission of music.
File Formats
Which file formats are suitable for your library and how do I upload them to your site?What format do you prefer the music to be submitted - audio CD, data CD/DVD with .wav/aiff files (in the latter case 16 or 24 bit)? What do you mean by various file formats? What kind of formats? What specific file formats will you require me to send you?
The tracks are presented on the website in mp3, AIFF, ac3 and 5.1 AIFFs (if you are geared for surround). If you supply us with 24 bit AIFFs via ftp we can do the necessary conversions here. Please see our document "Submission of music" for further details.
Do you accept music recorded in 5.1 surround format only?
Some of the catalogue is available in 5.1 surround. If you are geared for surround a 5.1 mix would be a plus point but not essential.
Edits
Do you usually present the music to your clients in variety of mixes - e.g Full Mix, Underscore, 60'', 30'', 20'' commercial cutdowns, Stings etc? Is there any specific length for the tracks? Do you require few different versions for each track? What edit lengths will you be requiring?
The edits are usually 60”, 30”, 15”, 10” and 5” (with the full track, of course, which can be any length but 2'30" is adequate) plus a bed (underscore) of about a minute. Producers find it useful to have a few options.
Royalties
Can you please explain the flow of royalties for a license on, for example, a radio commercial. Would etrax collect all monies upon download and then split it accordingly?
We collect synchronisation and music use licence fees from producers on download of the music. We
then make regular distributions of the composers share by cheque or direct to your bank account if you
prefer. You will receive a statement documenting use of your music. Performance royalties will be
distributed to you via your performing right agency. If you are not a PRS member we can collect these
for you and distribute to you as above.
What will the licensing rates be for different kinds of productions - tv, radio, podcasts etc. Is it possible to see a copy of the licensing conditions?
Rates differ for different media and usage. We have a competitive schedule of fees which is published on the etrax website, as is a specimen licence.
Is my membership with Italian PRS ("SIAE") ok, or would it be better if I became a member of the UK PRS?
PRS have an association with SIAE and will collect royalties on your behalf and distribute to you via SIAE, so it would be unnecessary to join PRS as well.
How will I know if my music is being used?
Full details of all downloads and the licensing of your tracks is shown in the "Your Account" section of the mediacomposers website. You will also see an account of the fees due to you at the next distribution and your account history in this section.
Contracts
Are your contracts exclusive?
We do not require you to assign tracks to us exclusively. However, we can only include your works in the library if the publishing for that work is not exclusively assigned elsewhere.
What is the period of the agreement?
You and we have an option to terminate the contract at any time at 30 days notice in writing.You can view a copy of the mediacomposers terms of use here.
If I choose to publish (say) eight pieces with you, am I allowed to publish another four unrelated pieces with somebody else?
You personally would not be exclusively bound to publishing your entire output with etrax.
Is there an advance fee upon contractual agreement?
There is no advance with the works agreement. |
