Dos Brains is a music production house based in Santa Monica, California, founded in 2011, that specializes in music and sound design for movie and video game trailers. The company operates seven label imprints distributed worldwide and employs approximately 10 people across five countries including the US, Spain, Italy, Hungary, and France. The company generates an estimated $4.1 million in annual revenue. Best suited for composers who create epic, cinematic trailer music and sound design.
How Dos Brains Works
Dos Brains operates as a multi-label production house. Each label targets a specific style of trailer music and sound design.
The process works as follows:
- Label structure: Dos Brains runs seven labels. Silver Screen covers epic orchestral themes and soundscapes. Third Rail targets rock and alternative. Heavy Melody focuses on hybrid orchestral. Rogue Souls delivers emotional hybrid orchestral and electronica. End Of Silence covers darker, intense styles. Gearbox provides trailer sound design elements. Volts rounds out the catalog with additional electronic and high-energy content.
- Composer roster: The company signs composers from around the world to its labels. Composers create music specifically for trailer use.
- Worldwide distribution: All labels are distributed worldwide, making tracks available to trailer houses and music supervisors globally.
- Sound design integration: Dos Brains produces both music and sound design. The Gearbox label offers trailer-targeted sound design including loops, drones, braams, and thematic elements.
- Trailer-specific production: All music is produced with trailer editing in mind. Tracks include build-ups, drops, and edit points that sync to picture cuts.
Real-World Example
A trailer house needs music for a blockbuster action film trailer. They search the Silver Screen label on Dos Brains' distribution platform and find a 2-minute epic orchestral track with a build-up and massive drop at the 90-second mark. The trailer editor cuts the picture to the track's structure. The licensing fee for a major film trailer use typically ranges from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on the film's budget and the trailer's distribution. Dos Brains clears the license through its distribution network.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Dos Brains represents the trailer music niche, a specialized segment of sync licensing with its own conventions and revenue model.
Consider these points:
- Trailer music is a distinct skill: Trailer music follows specific structural conventions (build, drop, edit points). If you can produce this style, Dos Brains offers a platform.
- Label specialization: Each Dos Brains label targets a specific style. This means your music sits alongside similar tracks, making it easier for supervisors to find.
- Global distribution: Dos Brains distributes worldwide. Your music reaches trailer houses in every major market.
- Sound design demand: The Gearbox label shows that sound design is a revenue stream alongside music. If you can produce both, you increase your value.
Drawbacks / Things to Consider
- Narrow specialization: Dos Brains focuses almost exclusively on trailer music and sound design. If you produce songs, indie rock, or pop for general sync, this is not the right platform.
- Work-for-hire model: Trailer music labels often operate on work-for-hire or exclusive publishing terms. This means you may give up ownership of your compositions. Review terms carefully.
- Competitive niche: The trailer music market is crowded with established players like Two Steps From Hell, Audiomachine, and Position Music. Dos Brains competes against these names for supervisor attention.
- Limited team size: With approximately 10 employees, Dos Brains has a small team. Active pitching capacity is limited compared to larger production music companies.
- No open submission portal: Dos Brains does not run a public submission form. You must contact them directly with a portfolio that fits their label styles.
Company Type and Licensing Model
Dos Brains operates as a production music house specializing in trailer music and sound design. The company is not a royalty-free platform or subscription service. It licenses music on a per-placement basis through its seven label imprints, with fees varying by media type, territory, and duration of use.
The company functions as both a catalog owner and a custom music creator. Its labels produce music specifically for trailer use, with tracks structured around build-ups, drops, and edit points that match picture cuts. Dos Brains also produces sound design elements through its Gearbox label, covering loops, drones, braams, and thematic sound design for ice, fire, weapons, and horror applications.
Dos Brains distributes its labels worldwide through partnerships with distribution platforms. The company does not offer direct-to-creator licensing or self-service portals. All licensing is handled through its distribution network and direct contact with the company.
Catalog Size and Genre Coverage
Dos Brains operates seven label imprints, each targeting a specific style:
- Silver Screen: Epic orchestral themes and soundscapes (the largest label, with albums including Below The Horizon, Gods Reborn, State Of Chaos, Defiance, Only The Brave, and Freedom Fighters)
- Third Rail: Rock and alternative trailer music
- Heavy Melody: Hybrid orchestral trailer music
- Rogue Souls: Emotional hybrid orchestral and electronica with guitar elements
- End Of Silence: Darker, intense cinematic styles blended with sound design
- Gearbox: Trailer-targeted sound design (loops, drones, braams, thematic elements)
- Volts: Electronic and high-energy content
The catalog spans orchestral, hybrid orchestral, electronic, epic, rock, and cinematic genres. Dos Brains has released dozens of albums across these labels, with recent 2024-2025 releases including Freedom Fighters (April 2024), Gods Reborn (January 2024), Wild Heart (January 2025), and Only The Brave (January 2025). The YouTube channel has approximately 250 videos and 3,120 subscribers.
Client Base
Dos Brains serves clients in the trailer and advertising space:
- Movie trailer houses: Companies that produce theatrical trailers for major film studios
- Video game publishers: Studios needing music for game trailers and promotional content
- Film studios: Major and independent studios licensing music for trailer campaigns
- Advertising agencies: Agencies producing commercials that require epic or cinematic music
The company does not serve individual YouTube creators or content producers looking for royalty-free music. Its client base consists of professional trailer editors and music supervisors working on high-budget productions.
How They Pay Artists
Dos Brains signs composers to its label imprints under specific agreement structures:
- Work-for-hire agreements: Many trailer music labels operate on work-for-hire terms, where the composer creates music and the label retains ownership of the compositions and recordings. Composers receive an upfront payment for their work.
- Exclusive publishing arrangements: Composers may sign exclusive publishing deals where Dos Brains administers their music. In these cases, composers typically receive a percentage of sync fees and performance royalties.
- Sync fee splits: When a track is licensed, the sync fee is split between the label and the composer according to their agreement. The specific split percentage varies by contract.
- Performance royalties: Composers earn performance royalties through their PRO when music airs on broadcast television or in public venues. Dos Brains registers works with PROs to ensure royalty collection.
- No upfront fees to composers: Dos Brains does not charge composers for representation. The company invests in production and distribution, recouping costs through licensing revenue.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Dos Brains | Two Steps From Hell | Audiomachine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Production music house with 7 labels | Trailer music production company | Production music company |
| Founded | 2011 | 2006 | 2005 |
| Genre focus | Orchestral, hybrid, electronic, rock, sound design | Epic orchestral, hybrid | Epic orchestral, cinematic |
| Catalog size | Dozens of albums across 7 labels | 30+ albums | 100+ albums |
| Sound design | Yes (Gearbox label) | Limited | Limited |
| Distribution | Worldwide through distribution partners | Worldwide through Extreme Music | Worldwide through Audiomachine direct |
| Team size | ~10 employees across 5 countries | Small team | ~20 employees |
| Annual revenue | ~$4.1 million | Not publicly disclosed | Not publicly disclosed |
Videos
Similar Sync Licensing Companies
- Two Steps From Hell - Epic trailer music production company founded in 2006
- Audiomachine - Production music company specializing in cinematic and epic orchestral music
- Position Music - Production music and publishing company for trailer and media use
- Extreme Music - Production music library distributed by Sony Music Publishing
Related Resources
- Sync Licensing Companies Directory
- Sync License Glossary Term
- Sync Licensing for Independent Musicians: Complete Guide (2026) for understanding the sync industry
- Library Music and Production Music for Passive Income for the production music revenue model
- Work for Hire Agreements: What Musicians Need to Know for understanding work-for-hire contracts
- Sync Licensing Fee Calculator to evaluate trailer music licensing offers
- Visit Dos Brains for inquiries
