Bank Robber Music

Bank Robber Music is a boutique sync licensing agency founded in 2004 in New York that exclusively represents over 20 independent record labels and nearly 150 bands for placements in film, television, advertising, and gaming. The company focuses on indie, alternative, punk, and experimental music with a reputation for edgy, authentic placements.

How Bank Robber Music Works

Bank Robber Music operates as a third-party licensing representative. They do not own the music. Instead, they negotiate sync and master use licenses on behalf of the labels and artists they represent. When a music supervisor requests a track, Bank Robber handles the quote, negotiation, paperwork, and payment distribution.

The agency works through two channels:

• Label representation: Bank Robber exclusively handles sync licensing for over 20 independent record labels, meaning any supervisor wanting to use a track from those labels must go through Bank Robber
• Publishing administration: Through its Rough Trade Publishing offshoot, the company administers copyrights for nearly 150 bands, handling both the composition and master sides of sync deals

Founder Lyle Hysen leads licensing operations, with a West Coast creative team based in Los Angeles. License requests must include the song title, usage type (TV, film, trailer, commercial, video game), media rights, synopsis, scene description, term, territory, and production budget.

Real-World Example

An indie film producer wants to use a track from one of Bank Robber's represented labels in a key scene. They email info@bankrobbermusic.com with the song title, scene description, and their music budget of $5,000. Bank Robber negotiates a $4,000 sync fee plus a $1,000 master use fee. The label receives 50% of the total ($2,500), the artist receives their contractual split, and Bank Robber keeps a commission (typically 20-25%). The producer gets a cleared license within days.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Bank Robber Music has built its reputation on getting indie bands paid. Their own description states the goal plainly: if a license helps a drummer buy new sticks, a band keep the van on the road, or a songwriter skip a week of temp work, they have done their job.

For independent artists, Bank Robber represents a specific type of opportunity. They do not accept unsolicited submissions. You need to be on a label they represent or connected through industry relationships. However, their model demonstrates an important principle: having a dedicated licensing representative who knows your catalog and has relationships with music supervisors generates more placements than cold-pitching supervisors yourself.

If you want to work with an agency like Bank Robber Music:

1. Build your catalog on an independent label that already has representation
2. Ensure all your metadata, splits, and rights are documented before seeking representation
3. Register with a PRO to collect performance royalties on placements
4. Use a split sheet for every collaboration
5. Keep instrumental versions and stems ready for quick delivery

Calculate potential earnings with our Sync Licensing Fee Calculator.

Notable Placements

Bank Robber Music has licensed music for Marc Jacobs runway shows, including a Philip Glass composition used at the Park Avenue Armory. Their catalog has appeared across independent films, alternative TV series, and streaming platform productions. The agency's strength lies in placing music that would be difficult for supervisors to clear through traditional channels, because they control both the master and publishing sides for many of their represented artists.

Related Resources

• Sync Licensing for Independent Musicians - Complete guide to getting placements
• How to Get Your First Sync License - Step-by-step process
• Music Licensing Agreements: Types, Terms, and Red Flags - What to watch for in contracts
• Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - Understanding different representation models
• Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Estimate placement fees
• Bank Robber Music Official Website - View their represented catalog