Shelter for the Sounds:
Atrium Music:
Contact: Josh Young, Atrium Music, http://atriummusic.com
Pasadena, CA-based Atrium Music is a creative team spearheaded by co-founder Josh Young. As the lead supervising editor for major television shows like the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Bachelor and Big Brother, Young’s expertise in episodic network TV became a springboard to the formation of a consortium of enterprises. Young describes Atrium as a music library, but with an onsite recording studio and a roster of custom music creators, it is much more.
MC: Your knowledge as an editor must be a huge asset when pitching projects.
JY: Yes. As an editor, when I get notes back that the scene’s not working, it is because the music isn’t working. It is so important especially in reality television. You’re telling a story, and without the right music it isn’t going to work. You can’t force music into a picture or a film. If you have piece of music that takes your attention away, it’s not right. The music there to enhance the enjoyment––not stick out.
MC: What is Atrium’s strong suit?
JY: Quality not quantity separates us from the other libraries out there. And we call ourselves a library because that’s what the industry knows it to be. It’s kind of a dirty word because people might think it’s low quality. We are more of a collective of music of amazing artists from round the world. That takes longer to say.
MC: Do you observe that fees for licensing television music are reduced?
JY: Fees have gone down, especially for television. The market is saturated and shows are demanding the music for free. There are other companies undercutting everyone. It hurts. But it is still a big business, the major supervisors are licensing tracks for $50,000 - $150,000 per use for TV or film. I am talking about the well known tracks.
MC: Atrium Music is expanding?
JY: Yes, we have a new office in San Francisco and a new sales staff for Los Angeles and New York. We now have relationships with television in 24 countries. And we’ve begun licensing for Greek television and radio
MC: In addition to indie songwriters and artists, does Atrium Music also work with composers?
JY: We have real film composers who write for us in their down time because they like us. We also reach out to them. We have composers doing games and commercials; we just placed music on a commercial for a squirt gun.
MC: What is the Atrium philosophy, and how does your personal philosophy influence this?
JY: When I went to school for music it was “mine, mine, mine.” People didn’t want to share. When I started editing I found an internship where they were doing two shows, and I worked 60 hours a week for free. That’s how I learned. It blew my mind that you could lift someone up with real knowledge and experience. If someone is going to excel and go higher, that’s a great thing. I really care about people. I want to grow and affect the world in a positive manner.
