General

What type of music does VTown Cartel place?

We place both vocal and instrumental tracks in all styles. You may be surprised at some of the requests from music supervisors. Some requests are very mainstream, while others are obscure. Some clients will use the entire song, while others may just want an intro. Send us vocal versions with instrumentals, if possible. It is not required, but the more options, the better.

What kinds of uses are possible for my music?

Uses include commercials, promotional spots, trailers, television shows, motion pictures, video games, industrial videos, web sites, and more as the media landscape developes.

What happens when my music gets used?

VTown Cartel will grant the appropriate license to a client for a specific use, territory, and time. The client will pay VTown Cartel. We will will then, within sixty (60) days of the following June 30 or December 31, send you a check in the amount of fifty percent (50%) of any gross license fees.

What can VTown Cartel's clients do with my music?

Clients can synchronize music according to the agreement based on their needs. It could be a background use for a film, theme for a television show, or six month use for an entire production company or network. Clients will have the right to music edit your tracks.

Will you tell me when my music was used?

Probably not. Your check should have an itemized breakdown of where it was used.

Do I get to approve where and when my music can be used?

No. Your agreement with VTown Cartel allows us to license your music to any client who is willing to pay money for its use. The agreement you sign with VTown Cartel pre-clears all of your music for potential licensing and distribution.

What is VTown Cartel's delivery system to music supervisors?

VTown Cartel provides a downloadable zip file for download by music supervisors. Working in their offices, clients are then able to search through thousands of songs by genre, mood, instrumentation, male vocal, female vocal, and sounds like. The music is then instantly available for use in their production. Those artists and bands who are accepted into the VTown Cartel catalog have the best chances not only for placement, but multiple placements as their music is being auditioned on an on-going basis with hundreds of music creatives across the world.

We also use our ftp server and mail depending on the request of the client.

What happens if my music doesn’t get used?

Nothing.

If I license my music to VTown Cartel, can I still do other things with it?

Absolutely. You can sell your music thru a digital download site and sell cd's at shows. Signing another publishing deal and/or placing your music in another music library is not allowed.

How do I know when my music has been received?

VTown Cartel will contact you via email to let you know your submission has been received and your contract has been approved. Your submission will then be reviewed. After your submission has been reviewed, you will be informed via email to let you know of its acceptance status. If your contract is missing information we will contact you via email to let you know exactly what is missing from the contract.

What rights do I give VTown Cartel when I sign the publishing agreement?

You give VTown Cartel the right to license your songs to any of our production or media clients worldwide at a license fee determined by VTown Cartel based on competitive factors and the type of usage. You agree to keep your music in the catalog for a minimum period of five years. You retain your writer's share royalties. VTown Cartel Music will now be your publisher and administrator distributing your music to our various clients.

What responsibilities do I take for the music I submit?

You are giving us your guarantee that the material you are submitting is your own, written and recorded by you. The use of any non-licensed samples is prohibited without written authorization. Anyone who owns any part of the master recording or the publishing, or has any rights over the music at all, must sign the agreement prior to submission. Should this turn out not to be the case you are fully responsible for the consequences as you are indemnifying VTown Cartel and our clients if your submission infringes on the rights of another person.

What happens if I get a record deal in the future?

You must tell the record company that certain songs that you have recorded have been provided to VTown Cartel and that VTown Cartel is the publishing administrator on those specifics tracks. If for some reason the company does not want these songs offered to customers through VTown Cartel, you can write us a letter, and we can take it from there.

What if I already have a record or publishing deal?

VTown Cartel needs the permission of every person or company that has control over the copyright in the sound recordings and songs that you wish to have licensed, which would presumably include your record company and music publishing company. The written consent of these parties is most likely necessary for VTown Cartel to place your music, so you need to put their names on the License Agreement and have them sign as well. If necessary, VTown Cartel will provide the label or publisher with a separate Publishing Agreement.

If I sign an agreement with VTown Cartel, can I work with any other music companies?

Absolutely. We encourage our artists to pursue other avenues with their music.

Submitting Music

What do I need to do to submit my music to VTown Cartel Music?

VTown Cartel has developed an online application process to expedite music submissions. You will create a writer's account with either BMI, Ascap, or Sesac. You will then download the publishing agreement and w9. Fill out the agreement and w9, scan, and upload documents with music in interleved aiff, wav formats at 44.1kHz/16bit, or mp3 at 320 kbps 44.1 kHz. Click HERE to get started

Can I submit songs that have co-writers?

Yes. Songs with multiple writers are eligible if you are able to obtain the signatures of all parties who have any ownership of the music. This includes master rights, writers, and/or publishing rights. If there are co-writers listed on the submission schedule who have not signed the license agreement, your submission will be delayed in order to obtain the necessary confirmation from licensor. Songs that are not to be considered for licensing (i.e. cover songs or songs where co-writer does not give permission) are to be clearly listed as such on the submission schedule.

How do I know when my music has been received?

VTown Cartel will contact you via email to let you know your submission has been received and your contract has been approved. Your submission will then be reviewed by Artist Relations. After your submission has been reviewed, you will be informed via email to let you know of its acceptance status. If your contract is missing information we will contact you via email to let you know exactly what is missing from the contract.

How much music can I submit?

Please submit as much music as you like. As long as each submission is accompanied by an Agreement we will listen to every track.

I already have music with VTown Cartel. What do I have to do to submit more music?

If you wish to submit more music for catalog consideration, you must send it along with a new contract found on our web site www.music-licensing-film-tv.com. Even if you have already been accepted into the catalog, we treat each CD as a separate, time-sensitive entity. It is also a beneficial way to update us with any new contact information such as change of address, email or phone number.

My co-writers don't live near me, how can I get their signatures?

Mail the agreement to each writer or email and scan. We require the signature of every writer, publisher and master owner before reviewing your submission.

Can I submit music that has samples? How about royalty-free samples?

If you wish to submit music that contains samples, you must be absolutely certain that they are royalty-free and cleared for use. The best way to indicate that is by a photocopy of the company's copyright agreement.

Do you accept instrumentals?

Absolutely. If you have a vocal version, send that also.

P.R.O./Royalties/Administration

What if I'm not yet a member of a performing rights organization (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.)?

You can submit to VTown Cartel Audio and join a P.R.O. (like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, e.g.) later on. When/if you do sign up with a PRO, please email ar[at]vtowncartelmusic.com your PRO affiliation, member number and CAE/IPI number. We do strongly recommend you join a P.R.O. at some point so that you're eligible to collect performance royalties.

Will I receive performance royalties (i.e. ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc)?

Any use of your licensed material in broadcast, cable or certain Internet transmissions, as well as a number of foreign broadcasts and exhibitions, will entitle you to certain performance royalty payments from your respective performing rights society such as ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, if you are a member of one of these performing rights societies.

I do not live in the USA. Will I receive royalties for uses of my music anywhere in the world and how?

Is the an Administration Agreement or a Publishing Agreement?

It is both.

How long does the Publishing Agreement last?

The term is (5) years. If for some reason during that time your music is not licensed, notify us in writing within 30 days of the 5 year term and all rights will be reverted.

How does VTown Cartel monitor royalties?

VTown Cartel will register songs with the performing rights societies and will track and confirm all uses of your music through the use of a digital watermarking / fingerprinting system. Domestic and specific foreign territories are reported through this system which enables VTown Cartel to aggressively pursue every royalty owed to you by ensuring the broadcast client fills in and submits accurate cue sheets in both the USA and internationally.

What is a CAE/IPI#?

A CAE/IPI number is a unique international identifying number given to you by your Performing Rights Organization.
US Residents: If you are a member of ASCAP this number can be found by clicking here. If you are a member of BMI this number can be found by clicking here. If you are a member of SESAC this number can be found by clicking here.  If you are a member of a Performing Rights Organization outside of the US, please check with your respective PRO's website.

International

I do not live in the USA. Will I receive royalties for uses anywhere in the world? How?

Depending upon your affiliations with rights organizations in your country, you may receive writers and/or performers royalties directly. Many of the PRO's have agreements with the Ascap and BMI to help streamline this process.

Payment

What are the possible payments I can expect?

Payments vary according to type of use—a TV show vs. commercial, the broadcast market it is used in, etc. Many of our artists have received thousands of dollars as a result of dozens of incidental uses. Some have received thousands for a single use. Usage fees can range from several thousand dollars for a national advertising spot, to hundreds of dollars for a cable placement.