Affix Music is an Atlanta-based music licensing company founded in 2008 that places premium independent urban music in TV, film, advertising, gaming, and digital media. The company maintains a pre-cleared catalog and a web platform that simplifies the licensing process for media clients. Best suited for independent urban music artists (hip-hop, R&B, trap, soul) who want sync representation without giving up rights ownership.
How Affix Music Works
Affix Music operates a pre-cleared catalog model designed to simplify licensing for both artists and clients. The company focuses specifically on urban music genres.
The process works as follows:
- Artist submission: Artists submit music through the Affix Music website. The team reviews submissions for production quality, sync suitability, and genre fit.
- Pre-clearance: Accepted tracks are pre-cleared, meaning both master and publishing rights are secured for one-stop licensing. This removes the clearance delays that often kill sync deals.
- Catalog placement: Approved tracks are added to the Affix catalog, organized by genre, mood, and theme for easy searching by music supervisors.
- Client licensing: Media clients search the catalog, select tracks, and license them through the platform. The pre-clearance system solves the legal and creative issues that complicate urban music licensing.
- Rights retention: Artists retain ownership of their music. Affix operates on a non-exclusive basis, allowing artists to pursue other licensing opportunities.
Real-World Example
A music supervisor needs an authentic trap track for a 45-second scene in a streaming drama. They search the Affix Music catalog, find a pre-cleared track from an independent Atlanta producer, and license it for $2,500 for one episode, all media, worldwide, 12 months. Because the track is pre-cleared, the deal closes in 48 hours instead of the typical two-week clearance process. The producer receives their split of the fee within 30 days.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Affix Music addresses a specific gap in the sync market. Urban music from independent artists often faces clearance problems because rights ownership is fragmented across producers, writers, and labels. Affix solves this by pre-clearing tracks before they enter the catalog.
Consider these points:
- Urban music specialization: If you make hip-hop, R&B, trap, or soul, Affix understands your genre. Generalist libraries often mislabel or misunderstand urban music.
- Pre-clearance advantage: Pre-cleared tracks close deals faster. Supervisors prefer one-stop tracks because they avoid multi-party negotiations.
- Rights retention: You keep ownership of your music. Affix operates non-exclusively, so you can still pitch your music elsewhere.
- Atlanta roots: Atlanta is a global center for urban music. Affix's location gives it access to emerging talent and industry connections in that scene.
Drawbacks / Things to Consider
- Genre limitation: Affix focuses on urban music. If you produce rock, folk, electronic, or orchestral music, this is not the right platform for you.
- No guaranteed placements: Being in the catalog does not mean your music will be licensed. Placements depend on client demand and supervisor preferences.
- Limited public information: Affix does not publicly disclose its exact fee split, client roster, or catalog size. You must contact them directly for specifics.
- Small team: With approximately 2 employees, Affix has limited bandwidth for active pitching compared to larger agencies with dedicated sync teams.
- Non-exclusive competition: Because the catalog is non-exclusive, your music competes with tracks that may be available on other platforms. Supervisors may find the same track elsewhere for less.
Company Type and Licensing Model
Affix Music operates as a specialized sync placement agency focused on urban music. The company does not own music. Instead, it represents independent artists and places their pre-cleared tracks in TV, film, advertising, gaming, and digital media.
The licensing model is non-exclusive. Artists retain ownership of their music and can pursue other licensing opportunities simultaneously. Affix pre-clears all accepted tracks, meaning both master and publishing rights are secured before tracks enter the catalog. This enables one-stop licensing for music supervisors.
Affix charges no subscription fee to artists. The company earns revenue through a split of licensing fees. The exact split percentage is confirmed during the agreement process and is not publicly disclosed.
Catalog and Clients
Affix Music does not publicly disclose its catalog size. The catalog focuses exclusively on urban music genres: hip-hop, R&B, trap, soul, urban pop, electronic, blues, jazz, and gospel.
Notable clients include:
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- ABC (placement in "Don't Trust the B in Apt. 23")
- Viacom
- NBC/Universal
- ESPN
- TBS
- Cartoon Network
- HBO
- BET
- Disney
Co-founder Simon Horrocks previously worked as a management consultant for Ciara and as GM of Upfront Records (home to Akon and Kandi). The company has also placed music in Clear Channel brand advertising campaigns and projects for The Athlete's Foot.
Affix employs approximately 2 people. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Payment Structure
Affix Music operates on a non-exclusive revenue split model. When a track is licensed, the licensing fee is split between Affix and the artist. Artists retain ownership of their music throughout the relationship.
The company does not charge upfront fees or subscription costs to artists. Payment is performance-based. If a track is not placed, the artist earns nothing and loses nothing. When a placement occurs, the artist receives their split of the fee within approximately 30 days.
Artists also earn performance royalties through their PRO when placements air on broadcast television. Affix does not collect or administer performance royalties. Artists must register with a PRO independently.
Comparison: Affix Music vs Other Sync Licensing Companies
| Company | Company type | Licensing model | Catalog size | Exclusivity | Artist payout | Typical fee range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affix Music | Urban music sync agency | Non-exclusive, pre-cleared | Not disclosed | Non-exclusive | Split of licensing fees | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| Bank Robber Music | Boutique sync agency | Per-placement negotiated | 20+ labels, 150 bands | Exclusive | Split (20 to 25% commission) | $2,000 to $10,000 |
| Audiosocket | Sync agency + micro-licensing | Non-exclusive + subscription | Not disclosed | Mixed | Split of licensing fees | $50 to $10,000 |
| Bodega Sync | Boutique sync agency | Per-placement negotiated | Not disclosed | Exclusive | Split of licensing fees | $1,000 to $8,000 |
| Secret Road | Sync licensing agency | Per-placement negotiated | Not disclosed | Exclusive | Split of licensing fees | $2,000 to $15,000 |
Videos
Similar Sync Licensing Companies
- Bank Robber Music - Boutique sync agency for indie and alternative music
- Audiosocket - Sync agency with micro-licensing platform
- Bodega Sync - Boutique sync licensing agency
- Secret Road - Sync licensing agency for film and TV
Related Resources
- Sync Licensing Companies Directory
- Sync License Glossary Term
- Visit Affix Music for submissions
