In this episode, I sat down with Taz Mattar, Head of Studio and IT Services at Cavendish Music—one of the UK's largest production music libraries. With nearly 20 years in the industry, from working with legendary producer Trevor Horn to mastering 70+ albums annually, Taz pulls back the curtain on how production music really works.

What We Cover:

The Business Behind the Music

* How production music libraries actually operate and make money

* Why Netflix chooses library music over commercial tracks

* The difference between sync fees, royalties, and custom work

Getting Your Music Placed

* What's currently in high demand (spoiler: reality TV music is huge)

* The biggest mistakes composers make when submitting demos

* Why presentation matters as much as the music itself

Industry Insider Secrets

* The "50-track rule" most composers never learn

* Why being "precious" about your art kills your career

* How AI is starting to impact the industry (and what's safe for now)

Practical Advice

* What libraries actually want in demo submissions

* How the approval and production process really works

* Timeline expectations for seeing real income from production music

Key Takeaway:

The production music industry isn't as mysterious as it seems—but it requires treating your music as both art and business. Success comes down to consistent output, professional relationships, and understanding what clients actually need.

Want the full breakdown? Read the complete article and actionable insights in my detailed blog post: Inside the Production Music Industry with Taz Mattar: A Library Insider's Guide to Getting Your Music Placed

Useful for: Composers wanting to break into production music, understanding the sync licensing world, or building sustainable music income streams.

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