…mainly because I thought of it.

The Twin Cities (where CULT STATUS calls its physical home) are bursting at the seams with all sorts of advertising and marketing firms, small and large. Along with these come the ever-needed support companies. I’m talking about film and production companies and a host of independent contractors that supply bigger marketing companies with creative stuff –photographs, video, music, etc. I’ve run into a number of professionals who need access to free/cheap music and images to use as filler in their media (Think music in car commercials, pic of band playing when advertising a guitar, subject matter for online and print portfolios, etc.) and will often put ads out on Craig’s List to get willing participants.

One SUPER DUPER way to get your band out there is to contact said photographers, film studios, and marketing companies and work out a little deal with them. Let them shoot your band (live or in studio) and/or give them your CD -only if it is professionally recorded and mixed- FREE of charge. Allow them to then turn around and use your music, photos and video in their creative product. Next thing you know, you might have your song turn up in a local TV spot as background music, or you might find your picture in the background of a billboard –and you’ll become famous over night and with that comes millions of dollars. I’m a genius.

I DO want to add an important note on licensing. You own the copyright to your image, your good name, your music and pretty much anything that you do. By lending this to another creative professional, you’re blurring the lines of the copyright and thus your rights become blurred along with that. I would suggest that before you go handing out your image and music all willy-nilly, you draw up a quick agreement that outlines what can and cannot be done with your pictures and music.

What is your intent? Do you just want to get out there no matter what, or do you want some limitation? If you say “go forth and be fruitful” you could end up in the next BMW commercial. Your free music means that nobody’s paying royalties –which means you just gave BMW free music to use as much as they want. The up-shot is that it gives you national/international exposure right away. HELLO RECORD AND MERCH SALES!! The downside is that you just let your song get played 1000 times and you still have a credit card balance from your last recording session (this all assumes you have the luck of a leprechaun and the drive of an angry bull).

Here’s what to do:

1. Decide how much control and compensation you want for your image and music (understanding that the more demanding you are, the more you’ll get shown the door)
2. Contact a bunch of creative professionals (Especially new ones and smaller operations) in the advertising, media, design, and film fields and pitch your my idea to them
3. Draw up an agreement stating what permissions are granted to whom. (maybe they’ll let you use certain shots for your album cover or music video for free)
4. Make sure that your name ends up in their credits (double bonus if it can link to your website)
5. Repeat the process.

This is a great long-term addition to your traditional promotion methods and to your overall presence… not to mention that it could eventually lead to some serious bragging rights.