While
the country is draped in gloom and doom, a music supervisor
and licensing expert wants to spread some, well, Joy to the
visual media business.
Joy Tillis’
wants to bring upbeat, positive music to visual media, save
clients from paying big fees for an often overused tune, and
help talented young composers get a foot in the door of commercial
music.
She calls
this “the new template for the times” and wants
to get it out there.
As a music
supervisor with 17 years experience, Tillis of WJOY has seen
how the roller coaster economy affects client thinking about
song availability.
“Clients
are currently looking for upbeat, positive themes in songs
that inspire, motivate, and support visuals to tell a story,”
she says.
“They
look at songs, however, that might be too big for their uses
and budgets, such as obvious songs, like “(Simply) the
Best,” “Wouldn’t It be Nice” or “The
Best is Yet to Come.”
“Searching
for a discount is one thing. Thinking that the Beach Boys
want to donate a hit for your YouTube posting is another,”
she says.
“In
fact, it might be pretty delusional.”
To initiate
“the new template,” Tillis recommends looking
at the scores of new composers “who have the energy,
talent, the ability to write meaningful lyrics at affordable
costs”
Working
out of her large and sunny West Loop loft apartment, with
a music library of thousands of cuts from worldwide publishers
and labels, Tillis receives as many as two dozen song submissions
from new composers all over the country looking for a start
in the competitive commercial field.
The music
pours in through Email, YouTube, website and telephone. Tillis
remembers a call from one self-assured composer who told her,
“This is the call you’ve been waiting for all
your life and thought would never come.” Reaally!
While
these “really good new songs” convey the positive
messages clients are seeking, the client doesn’t know
about them. All too often the composer’s unprofessional
presentation dooms the disk before a music supervisor takes
the time to listen to it.
Tillis
has advice to the newbies on how they can improve their chances
of getting their music heard.
“When
you call to pitch your work, give a one-minute elevator speech.
Send me your strongest music – not 14 songs. Label the
disk or an accompanying sheet with the songs’ genre,
and provide information where you can be reached by Email.”
Tillis
adds: “Keep listening, read the news and know what’s
going on in the world so you can compose accordingly.”
Any takers
for her “new template?”
Actually,
yes. Out of requests from six diverse clients, she sold a
new composer’s upbeat song for an area casino commercial
and is working with another composer to satisfy an online
college’s needs.
“Two
of the others strapped themselves to license music,”
Tillis notes, “and two are still undecided.”
Still,
the old templates are moving aside, she asserts. “It’s
time to consider a new alternative to the scene and listen
to fresh new material with fresh new ears and an open mind.”
And remember
all the money that can be saved. |
