At Leeds Conservatoire we constantly strive to create modern music industry focused opportunities for our community, developing employability and learning experiences for our students/graduates, and creating platforms to both promote their brilliant work but also monetise it.
Our Library Music Platform does just that…
Partnering with MediaTracks, an existing and successful library music provider, supports talent development within the music industry, while creating new, relevant and authentic compositions for clients and users of library music catalogues.
Core to the partnership, and powered by MediaTracks experience and expertise, the conservatoire has created this online music library platform to showcase our student and graduate music. The platform and the content within it is supported by a team of student interns who are tasked with finding and nurturing talent, inputting accurate data and promoting our composers and their releases.
The core objectives and beliefs of this project are:
- To represent diverse voices and talents while ensuring equitable access and opportunity for all at Leeds Conservatoire.
- Create a forward thinking, market leading platform that nurtures new and exciting talent, helping to create the music industry that our students and graduates want to inhabit.
- Promote exciting and original compositions that meet the requirements of end users and customers, but challenge norms and conventions to continue the development of this industry.
- Create a sustainable project, that links our students/graduates directly to the creative industries, develops understanding of said industries and of transferable skills, and generate income streams for those engaged with it.
These core objectives sit alongside Leeds Conservatoire’s and MediaTracks joint commitments to access and diversity equality, diversity and inclusion, seeking to promote music and artists currently underrepresented in the music industry.
- Library Music, also known as production music, is non-bespoke music. It is composed to a brief or in a specific style with a strong idea of the market it will be used for but not for a specific programme.
- The tracks written are made into Albums and Playlists which are then sent to sub-publishers and music supervisors and placed on TV, Radio and other forms of broadcast media.
- The tracks can be used repeatedly. The composer receives a share of mechanical, synchronisation and performance royalties.
- The revenue generated from library music can often take a long time to be accounted, so it does not provide a 'get rich quick' income stream. However, its’ longevity can provide a reliable income stream which can contribute towards a “portfolio career” in music. The more successful tracks you have in library music catalogues, the more chance you have of building long term income.
Through our partnership with established library music company, MediaTracks, Quarry Music publishes music selected from students and alumni, making it available to purchase as part of a commercial production music catalogue.
It is a fantastic opportunity for composers and songwriters from all pathways and genres to generate a royalty based income stream from their work.
Our team of student interns, guided by industry specialist mentors, will review all submissions, providing feedback and track development in order to promote work to our professional platform ready for release.
Composers who's musical works are selected will be required to sign a contract with MediaTracks in order for their works to be added to the catalogue.
Support is available throughout the whole process to ensure you fully understand the opportunity available, but ultimately we are here to support and promote your work.
Its fairly simple...
- Submit a track via our uploader form ensuring you have read the basic requirements. This doesn't need to be a finished, ready to release track, but try to make sure its relevant i.e. would be suitable within a library music catalogue.
- Our team will review your submission and provide constructive feedback where possible. This might include tips on how to improve the work, or how to make it more suitable for catalogue. They will also be able to explain more about what library music is, our composer contract, and the opportunities within this industry and in particular Quarry Music.
- After responding to feedback or resubmitting works, if the music is deemed suitable and of high enough quality it will be shared with our partner MediaTracks for further approval.
- If approved at all levels your music will then be contracted, released and placed within our Quarry Music catalogue.
- Usage of your track will be shared with you annually, and any income generated will come in the form of royalties via PRS for Music.
Quarry Music is delivered by our student interns, supporting development of the service by growing visibility, demonstrating the opportunities available to LC composers, by talent scouting for suitable contributors and materials, and onboarding successful content to the platform.
In return we ensure that our interns receive direct mentorship from experienced music publishing professionals, supporting their practical hands on learning, and helping them to explore all facets of the industry.
We have already confirmed our Quarry Music Interns for this academic year. We will be providing similar opportunities and roles in academic year 23/24.
Who owns the music if Leeds Conservatoire/Quarry Music choose to use it?
If a submitted musical work is chosen to be used, you will be required to sign a contract with our partner MediaTracks. The rights to release this music will be assigned to MediaTracks, and income generated will be split 50/50 between MediaTracks and the composer(s) in question. Leeds Conservatoire will not own any part of your musical work or take any commission.
Can I use the song/music elsewhere?
No. If you sign the contract for your music to be sold via the Quarry Music/MediaTracks catalogue, this will be on an exclusive basis, and you will no longer have the right to use this track elsewhere.
How long does the license period last?
The license is “in perpetuity” i.e. forever. This is because the music will be embedded in a TV show, film or other media, and in order for the production company to feel comfortable with the license they will need this level of certainty, matching the potential life span of the media in question.
How does payment work?
Usage payments will come in the form of royalties which Media Tracks will account twice yearly to the composers. Performance also money flows through to the composers through performing rights organisations such as PRS, IMRO and GEMA.
Can I ask for my song to be removed?
Once you have signed the contract and therefore reassigned rights, we will not be able to remove the track.
We are here to support you in this process, and we will ensure you fully understand the agreement you are entering in to should your track be chosen. We are here to support all students and graduates submitting music and this project is only here to promote your work, and create a professional platform on which to sell it.
Please ensure you fulfil the following requirement:
- If appropriate supply instrumental versions of the same track (if a top line/lead vocal is on the original track). You can submit this at the same time.
- Any swearing should be removed from the recording.
- There should be no infringements of another piece of music.
- The music should be an original composition.
- You must own the publishing and master rights to the songs submitted.
- If using samples, these must be 100% cleared for use with accompanying paperwork.
- Only submit one track at a time.
Please make sure you have read all of the supporting documentation on this page prior to submitting works.
If you have any questions regarding this support, please feel free to get in touch.
