Same shelf: Getting it heard
Sound for Picture: Film, Games and Ads
“I make music, but a director needs footsteps, rooms and a whole world of sound.”
2621452,137
CH 04 · Course
“The track is finished. Everyone tells me something different about what happens next.”
The course that answers it
Release It: Distribution, Rights and Royalties
44 lessons · 10 h 16 min · 6 units · 24 months of access
What it is
How a UK release is set up: ownership, splits, distributors, metadata, collecting societies, and what actually goes in your account.
What is inside
- 01A release timeline from final master to launch day, with lead times
- 02Split sheets and agreements explained in plain English, with examples
- 03A walk-through of metadata, identifiers and artwork requirements
- 04How collecting societies and distributors differ, and what each pays for
The units, in order
Running time is how long the video lasts by the end of each unit, at about 14 minutes a lesson.
-
Unit 01 · lessons 1–6
The release timeline
6 lessons · 1 h 24 min
Running total 1 h 24 min
-
Unit 02 · lessons 7–14
Who owns what
8 lessons · 1 h 52 min
Running total 3 h 16 min
-
Unit 03 · lessons 15–21
Splits and written agreements
7 lessons · 1 h 38 min
Running total 4 h 54 min
-
Unit 04 · lessons 22–29
Distribution and metadata
8 lessons · 1 h 52 min
Running total 6 h 46 min
-
Unit 05 · lessons 30–38
Collecting societies and royalties
9 lessons · 2 h 6 min
Running total 8 h 52 min
-
Unit 06 · lessons 39–44
Launch week and beyond
6 lessons · 1 h 24 min
Running total 10 h 16 min
By the end you will be able to…
- Agree who owns what before a track is released, in writing
- Set up a release so the right people get paid
- Plan a release calendar that gives playlists and press time to respond
Is it for you?
Who this suits
- Independent artists, small labels and producers releasing their own music. This course is education, not legal or financial advice.
- You are happy to learn by watching, pausing and trying things in your own software or equipment.
- You can give it about 2 hours a week, which is roughly 6 weeks of video, before time spent practising.
Who should wait
- You want a teacher to answer questions or mark your work. The course is recorded: there is no tutor and nothing is marked.
- You need a certificate or an accreditation. None is issued.
- You want files to keep. Lessons are streamed only and cannot be downloaded; access lasts 24 months.
- Your music is not finished yet. This shelf starts where the track ends.
- You need advice on one specific contract, tax position or dispute. This course is education, not legal or financial advice.
Pairs with
Same shelf: Getting it heard
The Producer Programme: Idea to Release
“I want to learn the whole job in order, not collect fifteen separate courses.”
2621453,189
Questions about this course
How much time should I set aside?
There are 44 lessons in 6 units, 10 h 16 min of video in all. At the suggested 2 hours a week that is about 6 weeks of watching. The time you spend trying things yourself comes on top, and you can go faster or slower.
How does access work, and can I download the lessons?
You watch online, streamed through your browser. The lessons cannot be downloaded. Access lasts 24 months, and your access details arrive by email within one working day of payment. If they do not, tell us in the chat and we will look into it.
Will anyone check my work?
No. This is a recorded course: there is no tutor and nothing is marked. End-of-unit prompts are answered on screen for your own benefit. If you want to know whether the course covers something before you buy, ask in the chat or use the contact page.