Exclusive or
Non-Exclusive?
If you’re an indie artist navigating the sync licensing world, this is the question.
A
month ago, I was still debating it. Now, my answer is crystal clear: Non-exclusive only. And if you’re serious
about protecting your music, I’m going to tell you why.
How
a Corrupt Distributor Woke Me Up
Last
year, my former distributor — the Swedish company AMUSE — accused me of using
AI playlists. Without warning, they locked my account.
I
had no access to my music for an entire month.
No explanation. No respect.
I
had to start an online petition and publish open letters to their CEO to get my
own copyrighted work back.
It was one of the most stressful experiences of my career. And yet,
looking back now, I’m grateful
for it.
The Harsh Truth About Streaming Platforms
That incident made me realize I was playing a rigged game:
·
Artists promote their music for free.
·
Corporations get richer.
·
We get paid pennies.
Let’s talk numbers: 1 million
streams = roughly $3,000.
When Spotify claimed my music had landed on an AI playlist (without my
knowledge), I had only a few hundred streams — yet they treated me like a
criminal.
If that’s how they act over a few hundred plays, imagine what they’d do
if you actually hit a million.
This is modern-day artistic
slavery: hopeful indie artists doing free labor for billion-dollar
companies.
From Streaming to Sync Licensing: Same Game, Different Rules
After walking away from streaming, I dove into sync licensing.
It didn’t take long to see the same patterns:
·
Exploitative
contracts that
give away your rights forever.
·
No upfront
payment, just
vague promises.
·
Zero guarantee your music will even get placed.
Some “exclusive” deals are basically a black hole for your songs.
Why I Choose Non-Exclusive Licensing
Recently, I had the chance to sign my album with three exclusive
libraries in the USA, Switzerland, and Italy.
After emails and video meetings, one thing became obvious:
Signing away my music forever without
upfront payment would be insanity.
As a lyricist and vocalist, my songs are my identity. I’m not handing
them over to one company, especially if they:
·
Don’t give me credit in their catalog.
·
Control how and where my music is used.
·
Keep the majority of the profit.
My Reasons for Staying Non-Exclusive
·
Legacy4Humanity
is message-driven. These are more than songs — they’re stories.
·
I want creative
control.
Always.
·
Freedom over
restriction.
My music won’t belong to one gatekeeper forever.
·
Flexibility. I can release remixes, reworks, and
new versions whenever I choose.
·
Direct
connections. I
can pitch to music supervisors who resonate with my work.
·
Multiple
opportunities.
My songs can live on many platforms at once.
·
Purpose over
profit. My
music stays accessible.
Even Non-Exclusive Deals Require Caution
Don’t be fooled — not all non-exclusive contracts are safe.
Always:
1.
Read the fine print.
2.
Keep your rights intact.
3. Understand how
the company will promote (or not promote) your music.
I’m still carefully searching for the right non-exclusive libraries for
my album. It’s exhausting work, but it’s worth every hour.
Final takeaway:
Don’t give away your music for the possibility
of success.
Your art is worth more than crumbs.
Protect it, value it, and never marry it to one gatekeeper.
My Final Advice: Even with non-exclusive libraries, stay alert. Read every contract. Protect your rights. Don’t sell yourself — or your work — short.
I’m still searching for the right non-exclusive homes for my album. It’s
time-consuming and exhausting, yes. But it’s worth it. Because good research
now means avoiding nasty surprises later.
Your art deserves
more than crumbs. Don’t hand over your soul for the promise of a slice of cake that
someone else is eating.
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