Notethrower’s Frequently Asked Questions
The following frequently asked questions and corresponding answers were created to provide you with further insight about becoming a member and licensing your music with Notethrower.
1. What is licensing?
2. What is the Notethrower Music Licensing Widget?
3. Who does Notethrower license music to?
4. What happens if someone remixes my original song?
5. What is the difference between Notethrower and a record label or publisher?
6. I’m sold on licensing—Why Notethrower?
7. How do I get paid?
8. Do I have to pay any membership fees to become a member of Notethrower?
9. Will you ask my permission before you license my music?
10. Sometimes I use samples in my songs or I cover a song, is that okay?
11. What am I signing?
12. Who is the Music Representative and why are they important?
13. Can the Music Representative be my company or label?
14. Why does my balance need to reach $10.00 before you pay royalties?
15. What if my songs don’t have names?
16. How should I send my music?
17. Should I register with a Performing Rights Organization (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.)?
18. Will I still be able to work with a manager, a label, or another licensing company?
1. What is licensing?
When we say licensing, we mean forming an agreement with one of our customers (e.g. a TV or film producer, video game company, etc.) that allows them to use your music for a fee, where the fee is based upon the use, duration, and distribution of your music.
2. What is the Notethrower Music Licensing Widget?
The Notethrower Music Licensing Widget allows businesses to search our catalog of music, listen to tracks, and purchase song licenses instantly. Over the past few years our clients have continually asked why licensing music wasn’t as easy as buying it from iTunes or other online stores; the Music Licensing Store is the answer to that question. It’s a simple, easy way for content creators to add high-quality music to their projects at affordable rates.
3. Who does Notethrower license music to?
Notethrower licenses our Members’ music to be used in Hollywood films, TV commercials, video games, podcasts and many other media.
4. What happens if someone remixes my original song?
When another artists downloads your original song or song "stem" they agree to upload their remixed work and offer it for licensing. By the terms of the Artist agreement, each "new" remix of an original song or "stem" is then co-owned by the original artist and the "remixer". NOTE: Only two artists can own a "remix" – each splitting the licensing profits 50/50. A remix of a remix is not allowed under the artist agreement. This makes payments to Notethrower artists much more transparent and easy.
5. What is the difference between Notethrower and a record label or publisher?
A record label or publisher will usually want ownership of some or all of your rights, in addition to sharing in your revenues from sales of CDs or licenses. At Notethrower we don’t get paid until we license your music, and we will never take ownership of our members’ music.
6. I’m sold on licensing—Why Notethrower?
Over the past 10 years we’ve built a network of clients and customers who trust us and count on the services we provide. With the Music Licensing Widget and the industry-first licenses we’ve developed we have a track record of innovation in the licensing field. We’re an independent company made up of music lovers who are committed to building a music industry that is fair to working artists and makes it easy for businesses to access quality music at a reasonable price.
7. How do I get paid?
You will be paid 80% of gross licensing fees that we secure for the use of your music. We send payments and statements to the "Music Representative" quarterly (4 times per year).
8. Do I have to pay any membership fees to become a member of Notethrower?
No.
9. Will you ask my permission before you license my music?
No. One of the great benefits of Notethrower—and a huge reason why our customers keep licensing music from us—is that we can grant licenses instantly. This gives us (and you) a competitive advantage over other music companies who need to track down rights-holders for every potential license.
10. Sometimes I use samples in my songs or I cover a song, is that okay?
No. We cannot accept any songs that are covers, or that contain samples, quotes, or contain any part of another’s copyrighted work. Please review your musical works and make sure they do not contain any samples and are not covers. Failure to do so can result in messy legal disputes.
11. What am I signing?
The agreement is a legal way of saying that you give Notethrower the non-exclusive right to license your music on your behalf.
12. Who is the Music Representative and why are they important?
The Music Representative is the individual or entity with whom Notethrower will work on behalf of the rights holder(s). The Music Representative will basically be the liaison between the artist or band and Notethrower.
13. Can the Music Representative be my company or label?
Yes. But the agreement needs to be between Notethrower and that entity.
14. Why does my balance need to reach $10.00 before you pay royalties?
Notethrower incurs expenses when processing and paying royalties; the $10.00 minimum balance helps us decrease those expenses.
15. What if my songs don’t have names?
Please give your songs names.
16. How should I send my music?
We accept songs in Mp3 ( at least 128 Kbs) or WAV format
17. Should I register with a Performing Rights Organization (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.)?
It is not required that you are registered with a PRO to become a member of Notethrower, but we advise that you do so. Visit the PRO websites for more information and to obtain the necessary forms.
18. Will I still be able to work with a manager, a label, or another licensing company?
Yes. Our agreement is non-exclusive. There is nothing in our agreement that prevents you from working with other third-party vendors for licensing or other business purposes.
