Composing / Arranging / Songwriting

From mono optical recordings to multi-terabtye software instruments, legendary composer AR Rahman has always embraced new technology, and his latest venture is a futuristic recording space in Dubai’s Expo City.

We conclude our in-depth guide to the world of library music with an essential cut-out-and-keep explanation of the key words and phrases you’ll hear.

Composers need publishers. But are they there to help us, or help themselves?

Like any way to make a living, library music has its pitfalls. We help you look out for some of the biggest!

There’s a lot of money to be made writing music for movie trailers — so you have to be good. Have you got what it takes?

A trailer can make or break a blockbuster movie, and the choice of music can make or break a trailer. Chances are that music will be library music...

Success in the library music world is partly about who you know — so get out there and get to know people!

How can you ensure that your library music hits the spot? What better way to find out than to ask the people who buy it!

Successful library music writers are efficient, productive and reliable as well as musical — all skills you can develop too.

We saw last month that library music can provide composers with a good income. This month, we explain how that income is generated.

Production music is rarely glamorous, but it can be very lucrative. In the first of a major new series, we explain how to get your foot in the door.

As a songwriter, I write, record and master on my beloved Boss BR8 (I'm soon to updgrade, possibly to the Tascam DP32). Would...

I've spent years dabbling with studio technology, but when get a few spare minutes to actually sit down and create music, I seem to be devoid of inspiration. Can you offer advice?

I have a melody which I'm absolutely sure I made up when I was a kid and I want to use it in a composition I am working on. However, the things kids make up can be 'derivative', and I need to confirm that I hadn't heard it before. Do you know of any melody databases that could help me find out?

I know that the white keys on a keyboard form a diatonic scale, but what does diatonic really mean?...

I'm thinking about hiring an arranger to do a half a dozen or so of my compositions so that I can get them recorded...

Big George Webley has survived as a media composer for over a dozen years. He learned the following lessons the hard way; you get them free!