Hey guys. Once again... I post something about paperwork. This is a very unique gig coming up for me. It's for a showcase of merches (clothing) where I will be composing for them. Like a fashion show (lowkey). My question is: Do I (in the receipt) tell this person that the music belongs to them completely? Do I tell them: Hey this track was purposely made only for this event and you can't use it anywhere else. Is it a buyout? I will be writing a receipt for them and I'm not sure how to act with the licensing and copyright for this kind of work. They want a track of mental health mixed with magic cause every showcase represents a world and feeling/moral Thanks in advance everyone!

Hey everyone, as for the Audio Artist Rise Call tonight (in 4 hours) I publically wanted to collect a few topics that are currently important to you. What's on your mind? What is important to you? What you are struggling with? How can I support you? No matter if it's track feedback, current issues, struggles, business or mindset questions - let me know, just post your stuff in here and let's talk about it later. The live call replay can also be checked later in the Audio Artist Rise live call archive. In case you are interested in the Audio Artist Rise Program, make sure to check it out here

Does anyone here have their own contracts? I've refused to sign, or made amendments to contracts that have had things in it like "Artist does not have an absolute ownership right in their names or likenesses." I've seen other things in contracts that have made me uncomfortable as well. I realize that when working with a larger business they'll provide their own contracts, but I think I might feel more comfortable not signing away too much when working with a smaller company. Any thoughts on this? Thank you in advance!

We know there are many variables to be considered, bjt what are standard rate ranges for music licensing to avoid underquoting? Looking for both large clients (pharma, auto, insurance) and smaller gigs. For context, I recently met a Telly and Emmy award winning composer placed on HBO, NASCAR, ESPN, MLB, F1, etc. — What do those top-tier placements pay? Thanks!

The Sound Roadmap 1. Function Comes First Ask yourself one thing before touching gear: what do you want sound to do for you? Composer / Creator: you’re shaping ideas and telling stories. Performer / Musician: you’re playing and bringing skill to life. Engineer / Technician: you’re catching sound and making it clean. Producer / Director: you’re pulling the pieces together into a finished thing. You don’t have to lock into one path forever. But knowing where you lean helps you avoid chasing every option at once. 2. Three Pillars of Sound Every path leans on these, just in different amounts: Musicality: rhythm, notes, harmony, taste. Technology: DAWs, mics, plugins, boards. Judgment: knowing when something works and when to stop. Beginners usually get stuck in technology. Pros spend more time on judgment. 3. The Timeline of Mastery Think of growth like layers, not steps to check off. Year 0–1: Curiosity Mess around. See what lights you up. No pressure. Year 2–5: Craft Pick one DAW, one main instrument, maybe a mic. Learn them inside out. Year 6–10: Style You stop copying. You bend the rules. Your way of writing and mixing shows up. Year 10+: Legacy Decisions come quicker. You move across roles. You leave behind a body of work. 4. North Stars Keep these in mind, no matter the stage: Finish more, polish less. Trust your ears before your gear. Build taste, not just follow trends. Make music with people. It’s never only solo. 5. False Summits Watch out for these traps: Collecting gear: doesn’t mean making music. Watching tutorials: doesn’t mean finishing songs. Picking one genre too early: can box you in. Awards: don’t always equal impact. 6. The Horizon Zoom out as far as you can. Music production isn’t about tools. It’s about turning ideas into something people can hear and feel. A feeling: into structure. Silence: into experience. Talent: into voice. The tools are just bridges. The work is the translation. Always remember, when you feel lost, this too shall pass. If you hit a high peak, this too shall pass…Music is a village, and it’s an isolated journey… it’s a choice… ok to explore both.