Exciting News About Medleys!

As anyone who has been involved in sourcing arrangements for vocal ensembles over a period of years knows, the introduction of Sheet Music Plus’s ArrangeMe programme has been a game-changer. A huge proportion of in-copyright popular songs can now be arranged and published without all the time-consuming and expensive sourcing of bespoke licenses for each ensemble who wants to sing it.

To be sure, there have been a few drawbacks. Commissioning ensembles can’t be guaranteed a period of exclusivity for music licensed through the programme, and the level of remuneration for arrangers is pretty paltry. But I know I am not alone in valuing the reduction of admin and the opportunity to make my music accessible, so we just accept it. Such is life in late capitalism.

Until recently another drawback was that you could only licence individual songs through ArrangeMe, not medleys or mash-ups. But the exciting news of my title is that who subscribe to the premium ArrangeMe Pro can now publish medleys of up to 5 songs. And, whilst the sense of being exploited only increases when you have to pay to publish your own work, I’m already used to feeling that way, and once again the gratitude for the added facility and convenience significantly outweighs that.

So, I am gradually adding medleys to my off-the-shelf collection. There’ll still be a few that need bespoke licenses, but a good deal will be publishable. And it also removes a significant obstacle for the commissioning of new medleys if people don’t need to get an individual licence for each song included. So bear that in mind if you’re after new music.

I’m adding them initially in the order that people have been enquiring about them, and then according to whim. So if there’s one you’re interested in, drop me a note and it will jump the queue. And in the meantime, have a listen to my Meatloaf Medley,* which this development prompted me to revisit. Jim Steinman is such a fabulous songwriter!