My main business is to secure clearances for music, TV and movie footage, and other forms of intellectual property for use in documentaries, CD and DVD compilations, movies, and Internet based projects. My principal clients are TV producers, record companies and digital content providers. For instance, I am presently clearing numerous songs, masters, videos, performers and celebrities in a History of Hip Hop documentary to air next fall on VH1. Another project is an Imax movie which will feature music and fashion. On that project I am helping the producer secure new performances by major music recording artists as well as licenses to use pre-recorded music.

For an in depth discussion of tips on clearances you can read my article on the topic in my website, or just click on "Tips for Clearing Music for Television and Motion Pictures." I would strongly suggest that prior to finalizing your budget for any entertainment project, if you intend to use any third party music or footage, that you consult with a professional on clearance strategies. If you want to save money and you have the time, you can always try to secure the clearances yourself. But an expert can inform you what the industry standards are so you can fashion your requests for permission to use copyrighted material for the lowest possible fees. For instance, there are different industry standards to use music (i) in different media such as cable or network TV, (ii) territories such as U.S. or foreign, and (iii) terms such as one year or five years. The consultant can help you figure out how much it will cost to clear what you want to use, whether you can afford it, how to cut the cost of clearances by using different or less material, and what media you want to clear. With regard to the last point, many TV as well as movie projects have an additional life on DVD now. You should plan for this opportunity. A consultant will be able to tell you what the cost of DVD licenses will be. There are also techniques of getting the costs down. For instance, by using options for future uses and media you can avoid up front payments. This can save you a lot of money.