ishlab music

Our clients are filmmakers, television producers, creative advertising directors, web site designers, and all other media users. Our goal is to offer high quality audio that is both creative and fresh. Since some of our clients will want to use different lengths and/or parts of a song, please send us full versions, lyric sheets, and both vocal and instrumental versions if you can.

Do I have to pay any submission fees?

Nope, that's the great news. There is absolutely no cost for you to submit music to us. Produce your best work, and we’ll handle the rest.

What percentage of the licensing fee will I receive if my music is licensed?

Here at ishlab™ we value our artists, and we firmly believe that any money we receive from placements should be split equally. We pride ourselves in being one of the few music agents to still offer a 50/50 net split.

What types of uses will my music be eligible for?

Your music will be available for use in multiple types of media including, but not limited, to: television, radio, Internet, advertising, and film. Possible uses include commercials, promotional spots, background music on a television show, motion pictures, video games, industrial videos, websites, etc. The music industry considers a Synchronization use as the act of making a piece of music an integral part of an audiovisual work. The music, therefore, enhances the quality of that visual. In determining our licensing fees, we consider the benefits a particular piece of music will add to a work. We also consider several other variables (length of song, foreground vs. background, term of use, territory/geography, etc.) and then quote our clients accordingly.

How will I be paid?

When we receive payment for a use (licensing fee), we will within (60) days of receipt pay you (50%) net of any fees or royalties generated by your music.

What can ishlab™ iD and its customers do with my music?

When your music submission and agreement are accepted, we add your music to our catalogue with the intention of marketing and exploiting it for synchronizational uses, and in some cases for music programming as well. A customer may license your music for a set time period that can be anywhere from six months to a year. Because ishlab™ also does music programming, you have the option to submit your music to our programming catalogue as well, which will provide another possible source of income to you. For more information on our music programming services, please check out www.ishlab.com/styling.

Will I be notified when my music is used?

In certain instances, it is difficult to determine exactly when a piece of licensed material will be used. Often times companies that are creating the shows are not the actual broadcaster; therefore, it is difficult for us to notify our artists as to when a program will air. Many times we do not receive cue sheets from clients until well after the production has aired. You should not expect to be informed by us where/when your music has been used until the use shows up in your pay period report.

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

No. Your agreement with ishlab™ gives us the ability to license your music to any client who is willing to pay a fee for its use. The agreement that you sign with us will "pre-clear" all of your music. Please note that by giving us the ability to license your music without the hassle of a potentially long approval process, your music is significantly more appealing to potential clients than music that has not been pre-cleared.

What happens if my music is not licensed?

Nothing. You retain ownership of all of your music and are free to pursue and explore other opportunities. We do not charge any penalties for songs that are not used/placed.

If I license my music to ishlab™, can I still do other things with it?

Yes. You are providing your music to ishlab™ on a non-exclusive basis, which means you are not restricted in any way and may continue to do what you want with your music. We will, however, deal with issues of exclusivity with a client on a case by case basis. You will be contacted directly to negotiate and approve any exclusive agreements.

What rights do I give ishlab™ when I sign the Artist Agreement?

You give ishlab™ the right to license your songs on a non-exclusive basis to any of our media or production clients worldwide at a fee determined by ishlab™, based on the type of usage and other competitive factors. You agree to keep your music in our catalogue for a mininum of onw year. You will retain all ownership of publishing, copyrights, and masters. Our role is that of an agent, we broker your music to interested parties for production or entertainment services.

What responsibilities do I take for the music I submit?

When you submit your music you are giving us your guarantee that the material you are submitting is your own; recorded and written by you, 100% sample free. Anyone who owns any part of the publishing or the master recording, or anyone who has any rights over the music at all, must sign the agreement that you will be presented with upon acceptance of your submission. If all required signatures are not on the agreement you are fully responsible for any consequences as you are indemnifying ishlab™ and our clients if the music you have submitted infringes on the rights of any other individual.

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

You are responsible for telling your record or publishing company that you have a non-exclusive licensing contract with ishlab™ and that some of your recordings are being represented by us. If for some reason the company does not want these songs offered to customers through ishlab™, you may write us a letter and we will remove the songs.

What if I already have a record or publishing deal?

It is imperative that ishlab™ have the permission of every person or company that has any control over the copyright in the sound recordings that you wish to have licensed, which will most likely include your music publishing company and record company. It is likely that written consent will be required from theses parties in order for ishlab™ to place your music. You must put the names of any of the other copyright owners on the License Agreement and have them sign as well. If necessary, ishlab™ will provide the label or publisher with a separate License Agreement.

If I sign an agreement with ishlab™, can I work with any other music companies?

Yes. We encourage our artists to pursue other avenues with their music. Our agreement is completely non-exclusive.

How do I remove my music from ishlab™?

If you would like your tracks removed from the ishlab™ catalogue, we will need this request in writing. Please include a reason for removal and sign the request.

REMOVALS
ishlab™ Music Licensing

10 Jay Street, Suite 608A

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Submission Flow:

What is the submission process?

Please send us your strongest TWO songs first. We will review your songs and contact you if your music is "green lit". We accept mp3s for your initial submission only.

By submitting your music, you agree to the below Terms:

ishlab™ Music Licensing may use copy and store the tracks you have submitted in order to consider them for inclusion in our catalogue. We have no obligation to accept your tracks into our catalogue and you are not entitled to any compensation for the submission of your tracks.

Send tracks to ishtracks@ishlab.com.

Please include:

First Name

Last Name

Phone Number

Artist/Band Name

Company/Label

Genre/Style of music

We would also love to know how you heard about us!

Or by snail mail to the below, please also include all the above information and a valid email address.

ishlab™ Music Licensing

10 Jay Street, Suite 608 A

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Please note that by sending us your music, you maintain that you have all rights necessary to allow ishlab™ Music Licensing to evaluate the tracks and are not violating any other agreements.

If your tracks are accepted, you and all others with a copyright interest in the tracks will be asked to provide additional information.

You will also need to send your music to us in the highest quality aiff, wave or m4a file (at least 320 kpbs) via CD/DVD, hard drive or digitally. Please note that great sound quality increases the types of uses available for your music.
We will also need lyric sheets for each song you submit.
Lastly, you will be required to sign an Artist License Agreement which will enable us to add your music to our catalogue for the purpose of marketing and exploitation.

What criteria must my music fulfill to be accepted into the catalogue?

1) You must confirm via our Artist License Agreement, that all of the songs you submit alone are controlled by you 100%. If there are co-owners, we will need their permission as well. Any samples used must be royalty-free and pre-cleared for use. Unauthorized samples are not accepted or permitted.

2) All music must be submitted (after your audition aac or m4a) digitally in the highest quality aiff, wave, or m4a file (at least 320 kpbs).

Can I submit songs that have co-writers?

Yes. Songs with multiple writers are eligible for catalogue consideration if you are able to obtain the original signatures of all parties who have any ownership of the music. This includes those who possess rights to the master and/or the publishing. If there are co-writers listed on the submission schedule who have not signed the license agreement, ishlab™ will not be able to add your music to our catalogue.

My co-writers don't live near me; how can I get their signatures?
Please have each writer fill out the Signature Page of our Agreement and mail it back to you before submitting music. We require the original signature of every writer, publisher, and master owner before reviewing your submission.

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

Please have each write fill out the Signature Page (pg 10) of our Agreement and mail it back to you before submitting music. We require the original signature of every writer, publisher and master owner before reviewing your submission.

What is the standard length of tracks for submission?

We prefer full tracks that are at least 3-4 minutes in length rather than edits. If you have longer or shorter tracks that you would like reviewed, feel free to send those as well, as they may qualify for music cues.

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

If you choose to submit music that contains samples, you must be 100% certain that they are royalty-free and cleared for use. The very best way to prove that is by sending a photocopy of the company's copyright agreement.

Do you accept instrumentals?

Yes. We recommend sending the instrumental mixes of your tracks along with lyric versions, if possible. If you don't have instrumental mixes, that's fine too.

about music licensing

4.1: artists/labels
4.2: prospective clients
4.3: past clients
Current page is 4.4: frequently asked

license music from catalogue

submit music to catalogue

sample licensing agreement