Guys, music licensing is complex. The legalese alone can be overwhelming, not to mention the actual process of setting rates and differentiating between multiple kinds of usage. And that's just with Western music. Truth be told, there are thousands of acts just waiting to be discovered in far-off lands that don't get nearly enough attention from Lady Gaga fans like us. True, many big names—such as Blur frontman Damon Albarn and recent Music Times profile Bill Laswell to name a few—are eager to bring us new sounds from other nations. The problem is licensing becomes even more complex when it stretches to countries with less developed music industries. How to bring the music of Dimi Mint Abba to the world while affirming that she'll see a fair cut? (Just an example...Ms. Abba passed away during 2011).
Seven Seas Music, a San Francisco-based company, was created to curate authentic "world music" from around the globe with the purpose of international customers licensing it for use in all sorts of commercial projects (check out Digital Music News' full profile here). If you find a song that hits the spot, the licensure can be granted within 48 hours.
The site will launch later during November to the general public. The number of pre-launch customers demonstrates that the company is in a position to gain acclaim quickly: Red Bull Media, Dodge and several forthcoming feature films will feature music gathered by Seven Seas.
The format is simple to use if you've got an idea in mind: A world map shows every country and what's available accordingly, or you can search based on the characteristics of the sound you want. Right now there are "only" 3,500 tracks available but that number can only go up.
The best part: It gives international musician a payday they might otherwise not expect, ensuring both that traditional music continues to get made and continues to flow to curious audiences in major markets.
To further help the cause, check out Kitaro, our current obsession:
