Cherry Lane Music

Cherry Lane Music is an independent music publishing company founded in 1960 by producer and arranger Milt Okun in New York City. The company administers music catalogs for film and TV studios including DreamWorks, The Weinstein Company, NFL Films, and Electronic Arts. Its historical catalog includes works by Elvis Presley, John Denver, Quincy Jones, and the Black Eyed Peas. Best suited for established composers, songwriters, and film/TV productions needing administration and sync licensing support.

How Cherry Lane Music Works

Cherry Lane operates as a traditional music publisher with a focus on film and TV music administration. The company built its business by finding revenue in areas that major conglomerates often overlooked.

The process works as follows:

1. Catalog administration: Cherry Lane administers music rights for film and TV studios. The company collects royalties, negotiates licenses, and manages copyrights on behalf of its clients.
2. Sync licensing: The company licenses music from its administered catalogs for use in film, TV, advertising, and other media. Cherry Lane negotiates fees and handles clearance.
3. Production music partnership: In 2007, Cherry Lane signed a long-term agreement with APM Music to make its catalog available through APM's production music library. This includes music from NFL Films and EA video game scores.
4. Co-publishing: Cherry Lane enters co-publishing agreements with songwriters and composers, handling administration, royalty collection, and creative pitching.
5. Original music creation: The company has historically created original music for TV shows and films, rather than relying solely on catalog exploitation.

Real-World Example

A film production company needs to license a track from the DreamWorks catalog for a documentary. Cherry Lane, as the administrator of DreamWorks music, handles the clearance. The sync fee for a 60-second use in a theatrical documentary runs approximately $5,000 to $15,000 depending on territory and duration. Cherry Lane negotiates the terms, issues the license, and collects the fee. The songwriter receives their share of royalties through their PRO when the film screens on broadcast television.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Cherry Lane represents a traditional publishing model. The company demonstrates how independent publishers can build profitable businesses by serving niche markets that major publishers ignore.

Consider these points:

• Administration focus: Cherry Lane excels at catalog administration for film and TV studios. If you are a composer for film or TV, this type of publisher can handle your royalty collection and licensing.
• Industry relationships matter: Cherry Lane built its business through relationships with studios like DreamWorks and Weinstein. Access to the company requires similar industry connections.
• Production music access: Through the APM partnership, Cherry Lane catalog tracks are available to the production music community. This increases exposure for administered works.
• Long track record: A publisher operating since 1960 brings decades of institutional knowledge and industry relationships. This stability can benefit writers with long-term career goals.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

• No open submissions: Cherry Lane does not accept unsolicited music. The company works with established writers and studios through direct relationships.
• Traditional publishing model: Cherry Lane operates traditional co-publishing and administration deals. These may involve giving up a portion of your publishing share. Review terms carefully before signing.
• Corporate changes: The music publishing industry has undergone significant consolidation. Cherry Lane's position and ownership structure may have shifted since its peak years. Verify current operations before pursuing a deal.
• Limited indie artist focus: The company historically served established catalogs and studio clients. Independent artists with small catalogs may not fit their business model.
• APM dependency: Much of Cherry Lane's production music distribution flows through APM Music. If you want direct control over how your music is pitched, this layered arrangement may not suit you.

Related Resources

• Sync Licensing Companies Directory
• Sync License Glossary Term
• Visit Cherry Lane Music for inquiries