Sonic Storytellers: Screen Music Business On the Go

In this recent interview with composer Austin Wintory (Journey, Erica), we discuss how to overcome the fear of rejection and much more! Listen in to our chat...0:00 Let's Go! 0:40 Catching up on current projects 6:33 How has 2020 effected your career? 11:54 What do you predict for the future of the film & TV industries? 20:48 What advice do you have for composers early in their career who want to pursue multiple industries? 28:33 Have a posture of Yes 37:39 How do you brand yourself as someone who writes for multiple industries? 45:14 Misconceptions of the Business Artist 57:11 What have you changed your mind about in the last few years? 1:09:57 John Williams and the Future of Star Wars music 01:13:28 Overcoming the Fear of Rejection and writing Demos

In this recent Audience Q&A chat with Alec Weesner, we discuss how to focus on building a career as a music composer. Topics include growing a YouTube channel, building an audience, creating music products, taking financial risks through investing, approaching AAA composers during this COVID-19 season, becoming a specialist, & working with other composers to grow faster. Listen in to our conversation! ✅ Recommended Reading – "Success Is Not An Accident" by Tommy Newberry: https://amzn.to/2KKB0xE *This Amazon affiliate link supports my channel at no additional cost to you.

In this recent Audience Q&A chat with Matt Everett, we discuss how to take risks in music business, how to use the 80/20 Principle to focus on top priorities, and how to choose business activities that actually earn income.

In this recent Audience Q&A, Daniel Keating asks how to get un-stuck on his first game soundtrack where he's been asked to write in a music genre he's not passionate about. He knows that as a composer early in his career he needs to say Yes to as much as possible, but at what cost? Listen in to our conversation...   TIMECODE: ========= 0:00 Welcome 2:03 Should I put my music on Spotify? 5:57 How should I market my music with social media? 12:46 How do I finish a game soundtrack I'm not passionate about? 22:32 How to hire help to focus on your strengths 23:44 How do I get more film music jobs? 29:42 How to take advantage of this COVID-19 season ✅ New to the show? Come join the Become A Game Composer Discord community: https://discord.com/invite/fdQfrxh

Learn how to create and upload game music packs to sell on Unity, Itch.io, & GameDev Market. These continue to be some of my highest and most consistent music income sources! ✅ Download my free guide 10 Steps to Become a Game Composer ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/10steps

In this recent Audience Q&A chat with Phil Fallway, we discuss how to earn sustainable income as a game composer, including specific strategies to earn $4,000+ per month to support his family. ✅ Download my free guide 10 Steps to Become a Game Composer ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/10steps

In this recent chat with Grant Kirkhope (legendary composer for Banjo-Kazooie, Goldeneye 007, Donkey Kong 64, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, and many more!), we discussed the core differences between being a staff composer & a freelancer. We tackle how to negotiate better game music contracts and how to be flexible with game developers to better serve their games and ultimately build a lifelong career as a game composer.   ✅ Download my free guide 10 Steps to Become a Game Composer ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/10steps

Let's explore my 6 computer drives (x2 internal SSD, x4 external HHD) and how I organize them for maximum efficiency as a music composer on a budget PC...all for instantaneous loading times. ⚡ My favorite internal SSD: https://amzn.to/35Bhr1z ⚡ My favorite external HDD, USB 3.0: https://amzn.to/34t5GuL ⚡ My favorite backup HDD with power supply: https://amzn.to/3mlKwF6 *These Amazon Affiliate links support my business at no additional cost to you. Thanks for you support!   MY DRIVE BREAKDOWN: Windows: 1 TB internal SSDSamples: 2TB internal SSD Samples 2: 5TB external HDD Projects: 2TB external HDD Media: 2TB external HDD Backup: 3TB HDD with power supply ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

In this recent chat with viewer Marcus Manderson, he asks how to get more work as a composer and how to focus on one primary income stream when he wants to pursue 7 or 8 possible opportunities. ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

How much does a music composer actually earn each month? Let's take a deep dive into my last 9 income & expense budgets to see what trends we might learn about which of my 15-20 monthly income sources have the best short & long-term returns. ✅ Download my free Budget Template to use for your own music business: https://www.stevenmelin.com/budget

In this recent chat with Adam Gubman (composer for countless Disney, Blizzard, & Zynga projects), we explore how he manages dozens of projects each week and how that has turned into over 800 credits over his short 15-year career...all while putting his family first! ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

In this recent chat with viewer Kyle Mesce, he asks about how to grow a music composition business while working at a full-time job. ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

You might have income that you are sleeping on just sitting on your hard drives! Here's how you can make passive income selling music packs online. ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

In this recent chat with game audio legend Brian Schmidt, we talk about how to find work as a game composer in 2020 and do a deep-dive into the history and impact of GameSoundCon and the annual income survey. ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

In this recent Q&A chat, viewer Johannes von Stryk asks "When is my music ready to be presented to clients or sold for licensing?" We unpack what it means for music to be "marketplace ready" and how to build foundational business pillars to always have passive income, savings, and systems in place to provide true autonomy in your life, even during a global pandemic & recession. ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

I always get asked how to attract game developers to your work. I believe you'll find its simpler than you think!  ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

In this chat with Disasterpeace (Rich Vreeland), we discuss the major projects he's turned down, including Stranger Things. We also chat about how to discover your style as a composer and how to navigate career direction in a world of endless possibilities. ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

Today, I talk with Thomas Minuto about job security as a game composer, full-time jobs, and choosing what you value most in your career. ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

Learn my 3 steps for pricing your game music, growing your business, & supporting your family! ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

In this recent chat with game composer Garry Schyman, he teaches us how to land more gigs by breaking the stranger-barrier with game developers. ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

"I don't know if I should start with my portfolio, writing game music packs, reaching out to game developers on Twitter...or all of these? Where do I begin as a game composer?" In this chat with audience composer William Ratnage, we find a creative solution for solving all these game music goals with one consistent weekly action (*hint: it involves YouTube)! ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

How do you get the first custom music job as a game composer? Let's talk about how to choose a game genre, attract your ideal game developers, and sell at the right price. ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

Today we're chatting with Graham Cochrane, creator of the Recording Revolution (7-figure/yr business) & a personal coaching brand (multiple 6-figure/yr business), about how to earn passive income, how to build wealth, how to spend wealth, and the mindset & responsibilities of being a multi-millionaire musician. I believe that this chat is going to be unbelievably valuable for you. Buckle up & let's go! ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions

Welcome to the Screen Music Academy podcast, where I help you support your family composing music for film, TV, & video games. I'm your host Steven Melin and I'm excited that you're here.   New episodes release every Wed @ 10am EST and rotate among 3 different formats:   Chats with Industry Pros (Garry Schyman, Disasterpeace, Brian Schmidt, Adam Gubman, and many more on the list) Audience Q&A where members of the Screen Music Academy ask their top music business questions Thoughts from Steven where I share my experience on a multitude of topics within music composition, production, technology, & business   With these 3 rotating perspectives, you'll get a wholistic approach of advice from industry pros, myself, and other listeners.    ✅ Download my free guide 25 Questions Every Composer Asks ($17 value!): https://www.stevenmelin.com/25questions