Should I Write Music For Epidemic Sound? 

Epidemic Sound: Worth composing for or not? Do you agree with the composers who say that they are potentially destroying composer's careers? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Thank you for all this true information, your videos are very helpful. Just now I bought your book, I can't wait to read it

Very interesting topic and a lot to think about in this video. I totally agree that having your track played on TV is an amazing feeling :) Thank you!

Michael Great stuff Thanks for all that you do.

Great insight, thank you.

Thanks for raising awareness about this topic, Michael! 🙏 It's interesting how ES has created its very own rhetoric of revolutionary change in paradigm to try to take advantage young composers with no prior business experience, while everyone, who actually understands what their words mean together applied in the real world, sees the company is far more interested in temporary gains than in having a sustainable reputation in the metagame (the win-win game, which makes the industry tick).

Interesting and original content. Definitely gonna dig your channel. What libraries would you name as strong altertnative to ES that respect royalties? Also would like to know more about music licensing regarding performance royalties. What PRO would you register with prior to submitting your music to any library?

Great video, I'm a composer and I was thinking of submitting my songs to them, but after hearing what you have said, I now won't. Thank you!

Great video,very informative and happy you took the time to create it thanks ! I had considered signing up but I won't be now ! Artists again been devalued is not the direction we need to be going.

Thanks for this, Michael! What a crazy world.

Yeah, glad I'm not the only one having doubts!

Great video! We are a part of a few non-exclusive stock music libraries and they all allow us to be a part of a PRO! With this library, we just stayed away from them! So many opportunities out there now these days with the way technology is! No need to be stuck with epidemic sounds! We rather receive ongoing royalties than just short-term $$$$ and giving up publishing just to get money or a so call following! Great video like always we appreciate your valuable input! Have a great day and thanks again!

thanx for sharing

Fascinating video! Spot on.

And they sound quite hypocritical too: on the FAQ from their website, they state that of course, you're allowed to create music outside Epidemic while still being with them, since they offer non-exclusive agreements. But what's the point if you're not part of a PRO? Even being on usual Stock libraries like Audiojungle artists make money through royalties.

Thank you for the rare, 'both sides' perspectives on the issue.

Great video, I can't see any upside to going with Epidemic for me personally, thank you for the info!

Thanks for making this video. Having recently written a few tracks I've been wondering where would be the best place to upload them and I was considering Epidemic Sounds as I've used them for RU-vid videos. After hearing this I think I'll be looking into other options.

Thanks, Michael! You’re awesome 😎

Thanks for giving us the heads up. Enlightening video and I think I will stay away from RF Libraries.

Are there any good alternatives to making music for creators? It’s non my main music I’d be using but just some Lofi throw away tracks that could be worthy for royalty free music.

I don't want to be to overly pro Epidemic Sound here, but I feel like most times they are discussed publicly it's very black or white in a sense. Yes, if you are an up and coming, determined, composer or producer looking to really make a career then Epidemic is definitely not for you in the long run. However most people won't get their music on TV or any other big platform ever, even if they are fairly good. It takes a hell of a lot of determination and frankly a little luck sometimes to achieve that great success. Epidemic Sound to me, is, and should be regarded as an alternative to actually make some money while creating music. Basically for good hobby musicians. I can only refer to myself here. There was a time when I was a little younger when I dreamt about being the next big producer or songwriter, but I guess I didn't really have "it" and honestly I might not have had the determination needed. Music is still a big part of my life and I love writing and producing songs, just like I enjoy spending time with family and playing golf besides work. Either I could continue writing songs with other people just for fun and hoping for that off chance that one song suddenly becomes a hit. Or I could join Epidemic Sound, writing songs in different genres and styles, with or without vocals, for some good side money. I think it all comes down to what type of musician you are and what stage you are in life. I was actually a member of ES briefly when they had just started out and back then the pay was pretty awful, the briefs were basically 1:30 minute long instrumentals in different moods, no vocals and no royalties. If your song made it to a TV trailer or something there was a bonus, that's it. Now obviously they've broaden their spectrum musically and are paying creators better, that's why I'm possibly considering it. And also, if your "normal" songwriting career begins to take off, then you can always quit.

Starving artist, here. I filled out their application, and shortly stumbled upon this video. I have officially changed my mind. If you don't mind sharing, what are some great alternatives to epidemic sound?

Outstanding!

Are you kidding?!?! They won't let you be a member of a PRO?!? At first I thought this must be a joke. Yikes.... that's an atrocious thing for a library to require of their composers. I can't imagine their quality of music is high AT ALL, if none of their composers are PRO members. Seems like this business model would only appeal to new composers who don't know any better...

Great video. Composers (especially young composers who aren't too savvy about royalties) should be made aware of this company and their ilk and steer well clear. It's profoundly unethical to deprive musicians of royalties, which many of us rely on to make a living.

Great vid! Just wondering, what would happen if I submitted music to them for a couple years, and then eventually signed up for PRS years down the line?

These types of companies are devaluing composers and their music. It’s just another example of corporate greed. There needs to be laws in place to stop this and require all broadcasting to pay performance royalties. I thought the music modernization it covered this but apparently, it did not. We have a lot of work to do to fix this problem.

Great video! I am new to the process of selling music and find the legal information a bit overwhelming. Which music libraries would you suggest for composers who are looking to generate additional income? Thanks.

The royalty system is not very good for young composers, specially because the American market, arguably the biggest and most profitable, is sort of monopolised by the big established publishers who don't even accept music submissions anymore, I've worked for "big brands" publishers both in production and trailer music and it's a numbers game and it's infuriating in how much they undermine composers mostly because it's a over-saturated market and a lot of composers just work for free without any assurances of compensation, you say composers might be undervaluing their music if they work for epidemic but there is no lower value than working for free waiting for a lottery ticket in the case of trailer music for example also in some of these royalty free publishers also devalue their music for the sake of subscription plans or as a way to attract more ppl into their service, also in terms of licenses some publishers do blanket deals just to get their catalog rolling without asking the composer that also undervalues music, Epidemic pays from 1000$ to 5000$ upfront , unfortunately I don't live in the US or Sweden to be able to consider but if I make 15 to 20 tracks a year like I have been doing I would really consider it, just full disclosure I have 110 tracks on ascap all published so royalties aren't really cutting it

As an ascap writer I can add a composition or song as a work or not. So why do they not allow your to be a member of ascap when you don’t have to add it to your library? 6:59

Curious - what would be the deal with working for Epidemic under a pseudonym? Could you use different names to duck issues with PROs? I know ASCAP doesn’t seem to require you to use the name on your birth certificate. Could this cause a problem?

Hello! As a consumer, who wants royalty free tracks: I dont want to join a platform, that doesnt support their artists. Which services like epidemic sound (like muiscbed, artlist etc) do have this "fair paid" P.R.O. structured system, that allow creators, artists / musicians to flow through their career? In the end: why should I buy an epidemic sound subscription, if I now know, that the best artists might get "shocked away" you know? Thanks! for the informative video.

Is this still the case? When I go to the submit form, they ask if you are a member of a PRO. I guess if I say yes they’ll not accept me lol cuz I am part of BMI already.

So if i downloaded the music in 30 days free trial, can i still use the music from epidemic now?

Thats why these artists are underrated...

This might be a really stupid question and you may already had answered it but couldn't you just have two different artist names and collect royalties as one of them? I mean it had been anonymous artist before who obviously been able to collect. And how would epidemic found out? I wouldn't do it but one could right? Thanks.

thank you for this advice! I was considering going w/ epidemic UNTIL I saw they were going to OWN my copyrights. Heck no.

I live in Sweden and almost every TV program I see (even Swedish RU-vidrs) use Epidemic. There must also be some kind of ''support Swedish companies'' policy here from the TV (or they may be good friends), they seem to almost have monopoly. Sad.

Many conventional libraries don't bother to listen to submissions and don't have the courtesy to reply to enquiries. PROs use pretty hopeless methods to monitor and collect royalties. Is it any wonder that composers trying to get started lose patience, and go to Epidemic?

Terrific video, thanks for educating composers about this unethical business model that is so harmful to the industry

I don't think I'll be writing anymore music for anyone. Somethings happened on my dell gamer PC. My daw runs fine, the plugins are fine but if I play a few midi notes in, the power trips in the house for just one second but enough to shut off the computer and everything plugged in around it. The switches don't trip, I just lose power for about 2 seconds. Tried different power outlets, tried changing usb cable from midi controller keyboard to USB port on my powerful PC. It's only started a few weeks ago. Tried it with different DAWS. Still shuts the PC off along with everything else. Anyone encounter this problem? I can't play anything on the midi keyboard without the shutdown.

streaming royalties can support you get around a million a month on spotify your'll be pretty cozy

I still don't understand why they won't let their composers be members of a PRO. Do they lose something then?

umm, yeah, from what I see just create your own website and be protected by PRO's, but only if you have the right business model for your music/FX, this is the first step, and do that for a few years before you start dishing out stuff to sites like epidemic/beatstars, etc. If you're just looking for minor income from your stuff, you can just dish out tiny itsy bitsy 30 second tracks, and only if you have dedicated 10000 fans that will boost you on a daily basis on those sites. but if you're a nobody with no interest in making this your daily grind, upload to these sites cuz they are definitely not taking much of your time obviously. I myself, am a composer/songwriter/foley artist, I don't care to make simple non EPIC quality tracks that sell for a penny per customer ,cuz that's all you'll get

I do get copyright claims on videos though I am a member. They let you download stems but don't allow you to remix songs.

What is not covered here and seems like you don’t necessarily recognize is the hassle that new composers go though to have their music heard. You just seem to see and hear about artists whose work is featured in prime time network TV programs… you are NOT aware how many artists are simply being ignored in the industry because they are not as well connected as you.

Not based in US or Sweden so I crossed epidemic off my list a few weeks ago.

Im sharing your video..epidemic are greedy

I told ppl I knew yrs ago to go Nashville they would do good but they didn't listen

From what I understand, you can opt out of epidemic at any time.

How can you be a "more established composer" without already being a PRO member?

The Amazon of music licensing.

They take 100% of publishing for life and can do whatever they wish with your music. Company greed is real. Awful company.

I beg fellow composers and artists not to write for Epidemic. They are scum. An upfront fee may be tempting over waiting for royalties. But performance royalties will far outweigh any nominal upfront fee. Epidemic are a huge threat to performance royalties, which have been the bread and butter of many composers for decades now. Your music is worth more!

It's frustrating, because Epidemic seems great... on the end of the consumer. But for the people who actually make their platform exist to begin with, they're just yet another greedy tech startup focused on short term games. It's really frustrating that companies like this seem so pro-consumer yet treat the artists and engineers who let them make money like an asset. So many like this. I was considering going with Epidemic to try and make some money on the side in the short term, but after everything I've heard about working with them I think I'd rather eat a glass of dirt.

You can't write for Epidemic unless you live in the US or Sweden...

Sounds more like Pandemic Sound

Obviously don't unless they are your trash tracks. Lol. We can do better.

I have a question regarding for example registering your music on BMI. When I register a song, let's say it's named somethijng common like "Great day", just as an example. How do BMI know that my exact song is played somewhere? Cause there has to be thousands and thousands of songs named "Great day". Regarding Epidemic sounds, I think it's worth it if you are not confident to make it on your own as an artist or if that is not your goal and you're simply just good at making "soundtrack" type of music, or just do it for the money. If you are an aspiring artist and believe in your abbilites, it's probably not worth it. 1 mainstream somewhat of a hit song (but nowhere near like the tophits) can make like 10 grand in a couple of years in streaming like Spotify.