What is Sync Licensing?

In today’s content-driven world, opportunities to monetise your music are greater than ever. Sync licensing—the process of synchronising your music to visual media—is one of the most powerful ways to gain exposure and revenue. Whether it’s a YouTube video, a TV show, or an ad campaign, sync deals can put your music in front of new audiences and generate significant income.

What is Sync Licensing?

Sync licensing is the process of pairing music with visual content. This could be anything from films, TV shows, commercials, to even online videos and video games. The term “sync” refers to the synchronization of your music to visuals—ensuring that it fits seamlessly into scenes and moments.

Every time a track is licensed for sync, two permissions are needed:

1. Master Use License - This is for the actual recording of the song.

2. Sync License - This is for the underlying composition, which means the lyrics and melody of the track.

Sync licensing can be incredibly lucrative, not just from the one-time fees paid for the rights but also from ongoing royalties when the media is broadcast or streamed.

The Role of Metadata in Sync Licensing

If you want to get your music synced, metadata is crucial. It’s what allows music supervisors, sync agents, and even automated systems to identify and categorise your music correctly, ensuring that it’s discoverable for sync opportunities.

According to Disco, the key metadata fields that must be filled in when pitching for sync licensing include:

• Title of the Song: Be consistent with naming across all platforms.

• Artist Name: Ensure it’s easy to locate and clearly stated.

• Writers and Publishing Info: This includes all relevant songwriters, composers, and publishers—essential for ensuring proper rights clearance.

• Contact Information: Include a direct point of contact to streamline the licensing process.

• Descriptors/Moods: Tags like "happy," "uplifting," "melancholy" are invaluable in searches and help music supervisors narrow down appropriate tracks quickly.

• BPM and Genre: These technical details can help categorise your music for specific sync purposes, such as energetic commercials or slow, emotional TV scenes.

By ensuring that your metadata is accurate and thorough, you increase your track’s chances of being discovered and synced. Many sync opportunities are missed simply because the appropriate contact information was absent, or the song was poorly categorised. Make your music easy to find and license by treating metadata as an integral part of the sync process.

Tips for Getting Your Music Synced

Securing sync deals can feel overwhelming, especially for independent musicians. Here are some actionable tips to get your music noticed by music supervisors and licensing agents:

1. Build Relationships with Music Supervisors
   Music supervisors are responsible for selecting tracks for visual content, and they are your gateway to sync opportunities. According to music supervisor Lindsay Wolfington, supervisors appreciate artists who reach out with thoughtfully curated material, especially when the artist takes the time to understand the show or brand's aesthetic.
   The key is to provide music supervisors with options that align with their needs. Understand the types of projects they work on—TV dramas, comedies, documentaries, or ads. Tailoring your pitches to their specific styles or needs can dramatically increase your chances of success.

   
   

2. Tag and Organise Your Tracks Properly
   Music supervisors often search for specific moods, styles, or lyrics. Ensuring your tracks are well-tagged with appropriate descriptors (e.g., “upbeat,” “soulful”) will make it easier for your music to be found and selected. Use terms that evoke specific emotions or match themes, such as “uplifting,” “tension,” “mystery,” or “romance.” This helps music supervisors find the perfect track to accompany their visuals.

   
   

3. Produce High-Quality Music
   Your recordings need to be broadcast quality. Supervisors and sync agents won’t consider poorly recorded or unmastered tracks. According to Disco, audio quality should be professional-grade, as sync opportunities can disappear instantly if the track doesn’t meet production standards.

   
   

4. Work with Sync Agents
   Sync agents are professionals who pitch songs to media producers and music supervisors. Although they take a percentage of any deal, their expertise and industry connections can be invaluable. Ari Herstand emphasises that having a good sync agent can drastically increase your chances of landing deals—especially those with high visibility, such as commercials or Netflix series. Agents often have insights into what projects are coming up, and they can push your music to decision-makers, giving you a better shot at getting synced.

   
   

5. Have Instrumental Versions Ready
   Lyrics can sometimes clash with dialogue or branding, so be prepared to provide instrumental versions of your tracks. This is a simple step that can make a big difference in getting your music selected. Many music supervisors require instrumental versions to make sure the track fits seamlessly into scenes without disrupting the dialogue.

   
   

6. Create Music with Specific Media in Mind
   Some artists create music with specific media purposes in mind—such as trailers, commercials, or even background scores for reality TV. Tracks that build, have high emotional energy, or are flexible to editing (e.g., crescendos, pauses, and breakdowns) are more likely to be synced. Research trending styles and try composing tracks that could fit into upcoming themes or media types.

Best Practices for Pitching Your Music

Getting your music synced isn’t just about having the right track—it’s also about the way you present it. Here are some of the best practices for pitching your music:

1. Make It Easy for Supervisors to Listen
   When pitching your music, always make it as simple as possible for the recipient to listen. Use streaming links (like private SoundCloud or YouTube links) instead of attachments. If supervisors are interested, they should be able to download the track easily from the same link.

   
   

2. Be Brief but Informative
   A great pitch is short and to the point. Introduce yourself and your music, mention any notable syncs you've already achieved, and be clear about how your track fits their needs. Avoid overly long emails—they rarely get read in their entirety. Instead, make your value and relevance apparent within the first few sentences.

   
   

3. Metadata is Key
   As mentioned earlier, metadata is not optional—it is absolutely vital. Make sure your tracks are well-organised with full metadata, including your contact information, mood descriptors, genre, and BPM. As Disco notes, the accuracy and completeness of metadata are what allow your music to actually reach the ears of decision-makers.

   
   

4. Be Open to Custom Work
   Sometimes, music supervisors may need a specific tweak to a track—such as altering the tempo, removing certain lyrics, or extending a part of the composition. Artists who are willing to make adjustments to meet project requirements will always be in a better position to land deals.

Sync Licensing Success Stories

Sync licensing has played a pivotal role in launching many artists' careers, from being featured in popular TV shows to massive ad campaigns. As you explore your sync licensing journey, look to examples of artists like Stormzy, whose track "This Is What I Mean" was recently synced for the EA Sports FC 24 Trailer, giving it massive exposure.

Another great example is the track "Shut Up and Dance" by WALK THE MOON, which saw its popularity skyrocket after being used in numerous trailers and commercials. Similarly, Regina Spektor's career took off when her song "Us" was synced in the trailer for the film "500 Days of Summer," bringing her music to millions of new listeners.

The Future of Sync Licensing

The sync landscape is changing rapidly as more creators and companies seek out quality music. ReRight Music is at the forefront of this transformation, providing music creators with a simpler and more effective way to license their work.

Traditionally, sync licensing required navigating complex rights and often relying on collecting societies or intermediaries. This old model could take months for royalties to filter back to the original artists, often with significant cuts taken by intermediaries. Additionally, licensing music for visual media was hindered by slow, fragmented processes that made sync difficult for many independent artists to break into.

With the increase in demand for digital content—from online streaming services to social media—the opportunities for music sync have expanded. However, so have the challenges. Rights management and payments have become even more convoluted, with many artists still missing out on royalties they rightfully deserve. ReRight Music aims to tackle these inefficiencies head-on by offering a direct and transparent licensing solution.

ReRight’s Approach to Sync Licensing:

• No Compromise on Quality or Ownership: Unlike some platforms that pressure artists to give up their rights or accept a lower quality of representation, ReRight ensures creators retain full ownership and control of their music. This means you’re always in the driver’s seat when it comes to licensing opportunities.

  
  

• Direct Licensing: ReRight bypasses traditional Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) and instead licenses music directly, cutting out unnecessary intermediaries. This ensures creators receive royalties faster and at a higher percentage than legacy models allow.

  
  

• High-Quality, Low-Friction Solutions: Music supervisors often turn to “royalty-free” options to avoid the complications of traditional licensing. ReRight provides a unique solution that matches quality with efficiency, ensuring that high-quality, original compositions can compete with pre-packaged royalty-free tracks without compromising the creator’s rights.

  
  

• Technology-Driven Simplicity: ReRight uses state-of-the-art technology to manage rights efficiently. Instead of relying on old, manual systems to match songs to visuals and clear rights, the platform leverages data to offer instant rights clearance and precise royalty calculations.

Best Practices for Preparing Your Music for Sync

• Register Your Music: Ensure all of your music is properly registered with a platform like ReRight to make licensing easy and efficient. This registration enables quick licensing for film, television, and digital use, so supervisors have the confidence that the rights are handled.

• Create Ready-to-License Packages: When pitching your music, think like a music supervisor. Create packages that include not only your high-quality tracks but also instrumental versions, short samples, and information on the mood and feel of each track.

  
  

• Stay Up-to-Date on Trends: The sync industry moves quickly, and trends change often. Whether it’s a particular sound (e.g., lo-fi beats) or a particular artist who’s trending, stay informed and create music that is relevant. Music that evokes current trends is more likely to capture the interest of supervisors working on today’s media projects.

The Role of Music Supervisors and Sync Agents

Sync agents and music supervisors play a crucial role in the sync licensing ecosystem. Music supervisors, such as those working for Netflix or major advertising firms, are constantly on the lookout for tracks that match their projects. Their job is to find music that enhances the visual storytelling experience—so artists who are adaptable, responsive, and offer tracks with versatile moods have an edge.

Sync agents, on the other hand, act as intermediaries who push your music to potential buyers. Sync agents have the relationships that can get your track directly in front of decision-makers. Ari Herstand says that having a reputable sync agent representing you can open doors that may be closed to most independent musicians.

Conclusion: Sync Licensing with ReRight

Sync licensing is a powerful way to monetise your music, build your brand, and reach new audiences. Whether you’re looking to get featured in a Netflix series, a national ad campaign, or a viral TikTok video, there are numerous opportunities in sync licensing today.

ReRight simplifies this process, offering a transparent and direct way for independent musicians to license their work without giving up control or compromising on quality. With ReRight, you can focus on creating the music that syncs perfectly with visual media—while we handle the details and make sure you get paid quickly.

Ready to make your music the perfect soundtrack for the next big hit? Join ReRight today and unlock the full potential of sync licensing.