What does an independent artist need to know to find success in the world of sync licensing? Michael Donaldson of 8DSync and 8sided.blog shares his experiences as an artist with sync placements spanning the past couple of decades.
“[Music supervisors] want to discover bands. They want to support a band that has a story that they connect with. And obviously, they also want a really good song that fits the project. But if you have [a compelling story] I feel like you have a greater chance of getting your song to them.”
Michael Donaldson
Michael Donaldson is best known in the music industry as Astralwerks/Virgin Records recording artist Q-Burns Abstract Message. Under this name, Michael wrote and produced four acclaimed albums and performed around the world. With Q-BAM songs licensed to the likes of Sex and the City, BMW, Spike Lee’s The 25th Hour, and the video game Test Drive 6, Michael fortuitously learned the ins-and-outs of music licensing. He used this knowledge to raise the licensing profile of Eighth Dimension Records, an influential label on the US electronic music scene that Michael co-founded in 1994. In 2011, Eighth Dimension transformed into 8DSync, allowing Michael to capitalize on his taste-making prowess, licensing expertise, and access to a distinctive and inspiring music catalog. He continues to expand his roles in music publishing, content licensing, and industry consultancy. Michael also writes about music’s place in the 21st century on his thought-provoking blog: www.8sided.blog
For questions or information about Michael’s workshops, contact Michael at www.8sided.blog/about
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