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In this episode, I sit down with Mike Turner and John Lane of Clearly Music to unpack what music supervision actually looks like across film, TV, trailers, and brand advertising. We talk about why Mike—longtime solo music supervisor—has officially teamed up with John under the Clearly Music banner, how they’re merging contacts across film/TV and advertising/entertainment marketing, and what that means for productions heading into 2025 as sets spin back up in LA.

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They break down the day-to-day (it’s way more project management and legal than playlist curating), how clearances and rights packages really work, how brands get in trouble using commercial music on social, and real-world budget ranges—from indie placements a few hundred bucks to seven-figure trailer and ad licenses. We also get into team ops at Clearly Music (shoutout Caleb McFadden) and how John’s Office Hours mentorship led to hiring and training a trusted coordinator.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why team up now: Mike joins John at Clearly Music to combine film/TV (Mike) with advertising, trailers & entertainment marketing (John), diversifying clients and smoothing feast-or-famine cycles.
• Real supervision, not just playlists: Roughly 30% creative / 70% project management—budgeting, clearances, on-set music needs, negotiating with labels/publishers, and shepherding rights from pre-production through post.
• On-screen performances 101: Pre-record sessions, hire players/coaches, coordinate set playback, and ensure performances look and feel authentic.
• Rights packaging that saves money: How term, territory, media, and usage decisions (theatrical vs streaming, regional vs national, 3 months vs 1 year) change the price dramatically.
• Brand safety on social: Why TikTok/IG music access ≠ a license for brand/influencer content—and how brands end up with stacked infringements.
• Library vs artist vs custom: When budget and strategy drive the choice—and why libraries cover more placements than most people realize.
• Career path & mentorship: John’s Office Hours → hiring and training Caleb McFadden into a trusted day-to-day operator handling clearances, publishing lookups, and searches.

Connect With Clearly Music: - https://www.clearlymusicservices.com/

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