Immediate Music

Immediate Music is a trailer music company founded in 1993 by composers Yoav Goren and Jeffrey Fayman in Santa Monica, California. The company pioneered the concept of creating original music specifically for motion picture trailers. In September 2017, Bertelsmann acquired Immediate Music through BMG Rights Management, and the company now operates as BMG Production Music. Its catalog of approximately 4,500 unique compositions (closer to 20,000 tracks including alternate versions like piano-only and no-drums mixes) has been used in trailers for some of the highest-grossing films of all time, including Avatar, the Harry Potter series, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and The Matrix franchise.

How Immediate Music Works

Immediate Music provides three main services: catalog licensing, custom scoring, and public album releases.

1. Catalog licensing: Trailer houses, TV promo producers, advertising agencies, and video game publishers license pre-cleared tracks from Immediate's catalog. The catalog is organized into two tiers:
   • Immediate Music Premium: Over 300 tracks of orchestra and choir-heavy music, targeted at larger-budget projects including major studio film trailers, premium video game launches, and national advertising campaigns for automobile manufacturers, alcohol brands, and airlines.
   • Immediate Music Library: 1,000+ tracks targeted at cost-conscious advertisers, regional and local agencies, network and cable TV promos, and smaller video game publishers.
2. Custom scoring: Immediate produces original music for specific trailer campaigns, TV promos, and advertising projects. Custom scoring is quoted individually based on production scope, usage rights, and timeline.
3. Public releases: Through its Imperativa Records label (founded in 2006), Immediate releases select albums to the public, including the "Themes for Orchestra and Choir" series and albums by Globus, the company's symphonic rock band that fuses cinematic orchestral music with contemporary and world music rhythms.

Real-World Example

A major studio is cutting the trailer for a blockbuster superhero film. They need a 90-second orchestral cue that builds from quiet tension to an explosive climax. They search the Immediate Music Premium catalog, select a track from the "Themes for Orchestra and Choir" series, and license it for theatrical trailer use, worldwide, for 18 months. The fee for a major studio theatrical trailer placement typically ranges from $5,000 to $25,000+ depending on the film's distribution scope and the length of the license.

For a custom scoring project, the studio commissions Immediate to create an original cue tailored to the trailer's edit. Goren and Fayman's team records with a live orchestra, delivers the final track within the trailer house's deadline, and the fee is negotiated based on production costs, usage rights, and exclusivity.

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

Notable Placements and Recognition

Immediate Music has produced, scored, and licensed music for more than 7,000 film trailers and TV spots. Notable placements include:

• Franchise trailers: Harry Potter, Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean, X-Men, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Da Vinci Code, The Hobbit, The Dark Knight Rises
• Individual films: Avatar, Iron Man 3, Toy Story 3, Argo, Cloud Atlas, Oblivion, After Earth, Twilight Saga: Eclipse
• Television: Stranger Things trailer (Netflix), NBC Olympics coverage (2006 Winter Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympics)
• Awards: 2007 Emmy for "Outstanding Music Composition in a Sports Program" for the 2006 Winter Olympics

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Immediate Music is a closed catalog. The company does not accept open submissions from independent artists. It works with a small team of in-house composers and selected external contributors. This creates a high barrier to entry but also maintains the catalog's reputation for quality.

Key considerations for composers:

• Closed catalog: Immediate Music does not have an open submission process. Composers must be invited or build relationships with the company's team or BMG Production Music. This is not a library where you can simply upload tracks.
• BMG ownership: Since the 2017 acquisition, Immediate operates within BMG Production Music. Composers interested in contributing should approach BMG PM rather than Immediate directly. BMG PM's US Managing Director, Mitch Lijewski, was a founder of X-Ray Dog, another major trailer music company, and understands the trailer music market.
• Specialized genre: Immediate's catalog is heavily focused on epic, cinematic orchestral music. Composers who specialize in this style and can produce at a professional level may find opportunities. Those working in other genres should look elsewhere.
• Live orchestral recording: Immediate's best-known tracks are recorded with top orchestras around the world. Composers who can write for live orchestra have an advantage. Those working exclusively with samples and virtual instruments may not meet the catalog's production standards.
• Performance royalties: Composers collect the writer's share of performance royalties through their PRO when trailers air on broadcast television. BMG collects the publisher's share.

Potential Drawbacks / Things to Consider

• No open submissions: Immediate Music is one of the most exclusive trailer music libraries in the industry. Independent composers cannot submit tracks through a website portal. This is a relationship-based business, and breaking in requires industry connections.
• Narrow genre focus: The catalog is almost entirely epic orchestral and hybrid cinematic music. If you produce pop, hip-hop, electronic dance music, or singer-songwriter material, Immediate is not a fit. Consider Crucial Music or Musicbed for broader genre acceptance.
• BMG corporate structure: Since the 2017 acquisition, Immediate operates within BMG's corporate framework. Administrative and marketing functions are handled by BMG PM. Some composers may prefer the independence of a smaller, boutique library.
• Not publicly available: Most of Immediate's catalog is not available for public purchase. Only select albums released through Imperativa Records are commercially available. This limits the audience for your work to industry professionals.
• High competition: The trailer music market is competitive, with established companies like Extreme Music, Position Music, and Jingle Punks all competing for the same placements. Breaking into this market requires exceptional production quality and persistence.
• Custom scoring pressure: Trailer music operates on tight deadlines. Trailer houses often need music overnight or within 48 hours. Composers who cannot work under extreme time pressure will struggle in this environment.

Subsidiaries and Related Entities

• 1 Revolution Music: Founded in 2010, specializes in television soundtracks and trailers. Operated alongside Immediate Music as part of the BMG PM acquisition.
• Imperativa Records: Record label founded in 2006, releases trailer music albums to the public, including the "Themes for Orchestra and Choir" series and Globus albums.
• Globus: Immediate Music's symphonic rock band, founded in 2006, fusing cinematic orchestral music with contemporary and world music rhythms.

Fee Structure and Artist Compensation

Immediate Music's licensing fees are negotiated per project. Factors include:

• Usage type: Theatrical trailer, TV promo, advertising, video game trailer, corporate
• Library tier: Premium library (higher fees) vs. standard library (lower fees)
• Territory: Worldwide, North America, regional
• License duration: 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, in perpetuity
• Exclusivity: Non-exclusive or exclusive to a specific film or brand

Composers under contract receive a share of licensing revenue and the writer's share of performance royalties. BMG Production Music collects the publisher's share. The exact revenue split depends on the composer's individual contract with BMG PM.

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

Related Resources

• How to Get Your First Sync License - Complete walkthrough for beginners
• Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - Comparing 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 trailer music libraries generate revenue
• Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Estimate licensing costs for different placement types
• Immediate Music Official Website - Browse the catalog and services