For the very first time in its 20 years history, the Production Music Association (PMA) has placed a dollar value estimate on the revenues generated by production music – citing it as a one billion dollar a year global industry. “Yet one that is almost quite literally ‘hidden in plain sight,’ according to PMA Chairman Adam Taylor, who is also the president of APM Music.
Anyone who has ever watched a TV, film or mobile screen, or listened to the radio for any amount of time, is almost certain to have heard production music – and likely never realized it. From the biggest events (the Olympics, the Academy Awards, the World Cup) to the most widely-used platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Netflix), to the Billboard charts, production music is quite literally everywhere.
According to the PMA, the production music industry creates meaningful economic value for publishers and composers around the world. For example, in 2017 the PMA estimates that production music will generate revenue of at least $500 Million a year in the U.S. alone, and well over $1 Billion a year globally. Notably, production music is a sector that not only supports tens of thousands of songwriters, composers and musicians, but also provides increased opportunities for a host of related professions, ranging from graphic designers to music rights administrators to software developers.
“With substantial economic, creative and technological impact, the production music community has evolved during the past 90 years to become a significant part of the entertainment landscape in its own right,” said Joe Saba, PMA Vice Chairman. “Yet, the community has often not quite gotten the full respect or recognition it deserves – and has long been treated as the music industry’s step-child. Today, production music stands ready for its spotlight, and is poised for an even brighter future.”
The PMA will host its fourth annual Production Music Conference (PMC) Oct 4-6 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel. Begun in 2014 as a one-day series of panels, the conference has grown significantly. This year, the PMC will be a three-day event with 80 speakers across 16 panels, and will also feature The Mark Awards, a ceremony honoring production music excellence across 28 categories.
Partners and sponsors for this year’s PMC event include BMI, ASCAP, Haawk, AdRev, and others. Keynote speakers will include David Israelite, CEO of the National Music Publisher’s Association, along with composers Jeff Danna and his Academy Award™- winning brother, Mychael Danna. For full schedule and information, please see: pmc.pmamusic.com
Background
The first production music library was established in 1927, almost immediately after the arrival of sound in motion pictures. Loosely defined as music primarily composed for media, and designed to be easily licensed for multiple projects, production music has evolved dramatically over the last several years.
While historically a relatively small community, the recent explosion in visual content creation across multiple platforms and screens has fostered tremendous growth in the production music industry. Today, the industry includes an estimated 1,000+ production music catalogs, featuring millions of copyrights in a global and dynamic multi-media marketplace.
All of the major record labels are actively invested in production music: Sony/EMI, Warner, Universal and BMG each have substantial production music divisions, and each have greatly expanded their catalogs over the last few years while making significant commitments for the future.
In addition, a diverse and thriving independent music scene provides opportunities for both musical and business-model innovation. Creatively, the industry has attracted an extraordinary range of talent, from legendary figures such as Hans Zimmer, Chuck D and George Martin to current indie artists such as Tamarin and The Last Year.
At the highest levels, the quality of production music equals any traditional record album being released today. Indeed, production music libraries work with many of the world’s greatest musicians, including the London Symphony Orchestra, and regularly book the best studios, including as the historic studio at Abbey Road.
More importantly, there are thousands of talented composers and songwriters actively working in the field within the United States alone, and they’re pushing the creative envelope in everything from epic trailer music to avant-garde sound design.
Though traditionally behind the scenes, production music has always stood at the cutting edge of technological innovation, leading the music industry in search engine development, monetizing videos, integrating fingerprinting with rights societies, and deploying digital detection and monitoring in innovative and unprecedented new ways.
About THE PRODUCTION MUSIC ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1997, the Production Music Association (PMA) is the leading advocate and voice of the production music community. A non-profit organization with over 40 member companies, hundreds of partner companies and representing thousands of composers and industry professionals, the mission of the PMA is to elevate the unique value of production music and to ensure the viability of the production music industry.
Adam Taylor, the president of APM Music, is the Chairman of the PMA.
Joe Saba, the Co-Founder of Videohelper, is the Vice Chairman of the PMA.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, the PMA strives to fulfill its mission by:
- Working with performing rights organizations, legislators, legal counsel and broadcasters with the aim of improving the reporting, monitoring, collection and distribution of performance fees and royalties for PMA members;
- Providing its members with a forum in which issues of common concern and interest can be discussed;
- Educating its members and the marketplace about music rights and other issues affecting the production music community; and
- Enhancing the value of PMA members' music through research, education and public relations.
For more information about the PMA, please visit: pmamusic.com
