Gotham Music Licensing

Gotham Music is an American production music library founded in September 1996 by Claude Lewin and Emanuel Kallins in New York. The library is now distributed through Universal Production Music as one of its in-house labels. Gotham's distinguishing feature is that it is the only production music library exclusively produced by a music director. Emanuel Kallins, Gotham's producer, assembles Emmy award-winning composers alongside New York session musicians to create tracks designed specifically for scoring television, advertising, sports, and fashion content.

How Gotham Music Works

Gotham Music operates as a curated production music label within the Universal Production Music ecosystem. Unlike open-submission libraries, Gotham's catalog is hand-assembled by Kallins, who brings his experience as a music supervisor to the selection and production process.

1. Curated production: Kallins commissions composers to produce tracks for specific scoring categories. The library does not accept unsolicited submissions. Every track is produced to meet the needs of music supervisors and editors working in television, advertising, and branded content.
2. Catalog access: Clients access Gotham's catalog through the Universal Production Music platform at universalproductionmusic.com. The platform includes search tools, preview streaming, and licensing management.
3. Licensing: Tracks are licensed through Universal Production Music's standard rate structure. Both needledrop (per-use) and blanket licensing options are available. Gotham tracks are part of Universal Production Music's catalog of over 240,000 tracks across all its labels.

Catalog Coverage

Gotham Music's album titles reveal its scoring focus areas:

• Sports and fitness: "Explosive Actions," "Extreme Power Sports," "Furious Fitness," "Champion of Champions," "Path to Victory," "Final Showdown"
• News and media: "Media Hype," "Celebrity Pop News," "Classified Scandals," "Investigating," "Forensic Findings"
• Fashion and lifestyle: "Gloss and Glam," "Fashion World," "Miami Vibes," "Designer Pop," "Health and Beauty"
• Drama and emotion: "Everything Drama," "Emotional Scores," "In My Feelings," "Hidden Discoveries," "Reflective Lives"
• Hip-hop and urban: "Gotham Rap 3," "Hip Hop Stories," "Hip Hop Funk"
• Rock and alternative: "Alt-Rock Motion," "Indie Folk Rock"
• Patriotic and seasonal: "Patriotism," "Voting," "Very Christmas"
• Inspirational and corporate: "Let's Build This," "Let's Get Inspired," "Inspiring Stories"

Key composers include Emanuel Kallins (BMI), Chieli Minucci (ASCAP), and Steve Skinner (BMI), among others.

Real-World Example

A television network needs music for a sports highlight package covering a championship game. They search the Gotham catalog on Universal Production Music's platform, find tracks from the "Champion of Champions" and "Explosive Actions" albums, and license them for broadcast and digital use. The needledrop fee covers a 12-month broadcast license with digital streaming rights.

A fashion brand needs runway music for a seasonal campaign video. They select tracks from Gotham's "Fashion World" and "Gloss and Glam" albums, license them for digital and social media use, and pay a per-use fee through Universal Production Music.

Use our sync licensing fee calculator to estimate licensing costs for different usage scenarios.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Gotham Music is not an open-submission library. It is a curated label produced by a music director who hand-picks composers. This creates both a barrier to entry and a quality standard that music supervisors trust.

Key considerations for composers:

• Curated, not open: You cannot simply upload tracks to Gotham. You must be invited or referred. This means the catalog maintains a consistent quality level, but new composers face a significant barrier to entry.
• Universal Production Music distribution: Gotham tracks are distributed through Universal Production Music, which gives them global reach. Universal PM is one of the largest production music companies in the world, with over 240,000 tracks across its labels.
• New York session musicians: Gotham recordings feature professional New York session musicians. If you are a composer who works with live instrumentation, this aligns with Gotham's production approach.
• Emmy-winning composers: The library features Emmy award-winning composers. If your work has industry recognition, you may have a stronger case for inclusion.
• Scoring-focused: Gotham tracks are designed for scoring, not for standalone listening. Composers who understand how music functions under dialogue, action, and visual cuts will fit better than those who write songs.

Potential Drawbacks / Things to Consider

• No open submissions: Gotham does not accept unsolicited music. Composers must build relationships with Emanuel Kallins or Universal Production Music to be considered. This is a significant barrier for independent artists without industry connections.
• Single producer control: All catalog decisions are made by Emanuel Kallins. This means the catalog reflects one person's taste and vision. If your style does not match Kallins' approach, there is no alternative path into the library.
• Universal PM rate structure: Licensing fees are governed by Universal Production Music's standard rates. Composers do not negotiate their own sync fees. The publisher's share of performance royalties goes to Universal Production Music.
• Limited genre range: Gotham's catalog is strongest in sports, news, fashion, and drama scoring. Composers working in niche genres like ambient, world music, or experimental electronic will find limited fit.
• No direct artist relationships: Because Gotham operates through Universal Production Music, composers do not have direct relationships with clients. You will not know where your tracks are placed unless you track performance royalties through your PRO.

Fee Structure and Artist Compensation

Gotham Music tracks are licensed through Universal Production Music's standard rate structure. Fees depend on:

• Usage type: Broadcast television, cable, streaming, advertising, corporate, non-profit
• Territory: Local, regional, national, or worldwide
• Term: 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, or in perpetuity
• Exclusivity: Non-exclusive or exclusive for a specific use

Composers under contract with Gotham receive a share of licensing revenue and performance royalties. The publisher's share of performance royalties goes to Universal Production Music. Composers collect the writer's share through their PRO.

Use our sync licensing fee calculator to estimate potential earnings from different placement types.

Related Resources

• How to Get Your First Sync License - Complete guide for beginners
• Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - Understanding different licensing models
• Music Licensing Agreements: Types, Terms, and Red Flags - What to watch for before signing
• Library Music and Production Music for Passive Income - How production music libraries pay composers
• Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Estimate licensing costs for different usage types
• Gotham Music on Universal Production Music - Browse the catalog and licensing options