When I first started talking to apps and platforms about original music, I kept running into the same problem. They knew they needed music. They didn't know how to buy it.
The traditional music industry model — commission a track, negotiate a fee, get a license, repeat — is slow, expensive, and inconsistent. Every time you need something new you're starting from scratch. You're negotiating. You're waiting. You're hoping the composer you used last time is available.
There's a better way. It's called a retainer. Here's how it works.
The Basic Idea
A music retainer is a fixed monthly arrangement. You pay a set fee. I deliver a set number of original tracks. Every month, on time, to broadcast standard, fully licensed.
No per-track negotiation. No scrambling when your content calendar changes. No wondering if the music you need will be ready when you need it.
Think of it like having a composer on staff — without the overhead of actually having someone on staff.
What's Included
Every track I deliver on retainer includes:
Original composition. Made specifically for your platform and brand. Not pulled from a library. Not recycled from another client. Yours.
Full production. Mixed and mastered to broadcast quality. Ready to use in your app, your marketing, your content — without additional production steps.
Full licensing. You can use the music globally, across all your platforms, in perpetuity. No per-use fees. No clearance headaches.
SOCAN registration. Every track is registered with SOCAN — Canada's performing rights organization, equivalent to ASCAP or BMI in the US. This ensures the music is properly tracked and attributed for royalty purposes. When your app or platform uses the music publicly, I collect performance royalties through SOCAN as the composer. This is standard practice in every professional composer-client relationship and does not affect your license or your cost.
No Content ID claims. I do not register retainer music with Content ID systems. That means when you use the music in your app, your YouTube channel, or your marketing — you won't receive automated copyright claims. Your license agreement confirms your right to use the music across all your platforms without interference.
Revisions. Included. I work until the track is right. In practice, most tracks land close on the first delivery because I spend time understanding your brand and audience before I start composing — not after.
What It Costs
I offer three tiers:
Starter — $1,500/month. One original track per month.
Growth — $2,500/month. Two tracks per month plus brand music consultation.
Partner — $4,000/month. Four tracks per month, priority turnaround, quarterly sonic brand review.
Each track is up to 1:30 with or without vocals depending on what you need. If you need longer music then contact me below to discuss your musical needs.
WhisperWings — a children's sleep app currently being presented at APEX FTE EXP Asia — has been a retainer client for over two years. Their arrangement has evolved over time to include original music, podcast production, and other audio work. That's what happens in a good retainer relationship: it grows with the product.
What You Don't Own
Worth being clear about this because it comes up.
Under the retainer model, you receive a full license to use the music — globally, in perpetuity, across all your platforms. What you don't receive is the underlying copyright.
I retain the copyright and register each track with SOCAN. This allows me to collect performance royalties when the music is broadcast or streamed publicly. It doesn't affect your ability to use the music however you need to. It's standard practice in composer-client relationships and it's how every major production music library works.
If full copyright transfer is important for your situation, that can be discussed on a case-by-case basis at a different rate. It's not a deal-breaker. It just changes the number.
How To Start
I don't require long contracts to begin. The initial arrangement is 90 days. After that it continues month to month and can be cancelled with 30 days notice.
I'd rather earn your continued business by delivering work you love than lock you into something that isn't working. That's the only way a retainer relationship makes sense for either side.
The first step is a 20-minute conversation. Tell me what you're building and what music challenge you're trying to solve. If it's a good fit, we'll know within that call.