This happened today and it is tangentially related to music making - I really need to get this off my chest, so here we go..
A new local taxi company has a competition for a new jingle, awarding 500 quid for the "best jingle" - approx 30 seconds of music that they can use across social media and radio.
So I threw my hat in the ring and wrote them a doozy: a catchy hook, cheesy, studio quality, the whole shebang.
I get a call from them saying that they loved the entry, in fact they were already using the jingle on the radio (I checked and right enough, they were) and they wanted me to add a line about downloading their app, so I figured, heck if they are using it already, then I don't mind putting in a bit more work to get the cash.
Fast forward up to today, they give me a call to inform me that I have come second in the competition, offering 100 quid on the condition that they can continue to use the track across their social media platforms and presumably radio spots.
I basically told them that if they wanted to use it, they would have to pay for it and they said "well that's what the 100 euros is for".
I know I don't have any recourse as this was a competition entry, but I feel really cheated by this, considering extra work was put in and they seemed to like the track enough to put it on the radio.
So what would you guys do? Take the 100 and suck it up? Or protest and not let them use the track?
For reference you can find the track here:
Comments
i don’t suppose you will get any coverage from it , it’s not as though they are going to say “jingle written by StephenB” at the end of each advert.
id all their bluff. Tell them they are in breach by using your jingle, which you only authorised to be used in the event that you “won” and they paid you £500
that’s for the winning entry right?
You came second... thank them for the £100 runners up prize and tell them if they’d like the rights to use your jingle it’s “X pounds”...
You'll have a commercial jingle on the radio which may leads to other things. You've done the work, don't let it go to waste and get £100 into the bargain.
They sound like dicks, but that's useful information going forward - people.will take advantage of you don't tie up all the details.
Nice Caembert-flavoured jingle, BTW!
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
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