JSM Music is a New York-based global commercial music production and sound design company operating for over 30 years. Founded by Joel Simon, JSM creates original music and sound design for the world's most influential brands across digital, broadcast, film, television, live experiential, and mobile platforms. The company has won 110+ Cannes Lions including 4 Grand Prix and 2 Titanium awards, and produced 7 projects for Super Bowl LVIII.
How JSM Music Works
Unlike production music libraries that license pre-existing catalog tracks, JSM Music creates custom music and sound design for specific campaigns and projects. The company operates from a state-of-the-art facility in midtown Manhattan.
The JSM workflow:
- Creative brief: Advertising agencies or brands approach JSM with a campaign brief. JSM's creative team interprets the brief and proposes a musical direction.
- Talent sourcing: JSM draws from a global pool of composers, producers, musicians, and sound designers. The company secures talent matched to the specific creative needs of each project.
- Production and recording: Music is produced and recorded at JSM's Manhattan facility, which functions as a full creative powerhouse with recording studios and production resources.
- Sound design and mix: Beyond music composition, JSM handles sound design, mixing, and final audio delivery across all media formats.
- Delivery: Final assets are delivered across digital, broadcast, film, television, live experiential, and mobile platforms.
JSM collaborates with advertising agencies and directors rather than working directly with independent artists seeking sync placements. The company is hired to create original music, not to license existing tracks from external catalogs.
Real-World Example
A global consumer brand launches a Super Bowl campaign through a major advertising agency. The agency hires JSM Music to produce the original soundtrack for a 60-second spot. JSM assembles a team of composers and musicians, records the music at their Manhattan studio, and delivers the final mix in multiple formats for broadcast, digital, and social media.
For a Super Bowl-level campaign, the music production budget typically ranges from $50,000 to $250,000+ depending on talent, recording scope, and usage rights. JSM produced 7 separate projects for Super Bowl LVIII, indicating the scale at which the company operates.
The company's award record validates the investment. In 2024 alone, JSM won 12 Cannes Lions (including 1 Grand Prix), 6 One Show Pencils, 10 Clio Awards, and was named #1 Music & Sound Company at the Immortal Awards. In 2023, JSM was named ADC Global Creative Rankings Music and Sound Company of the Year #1 Global.
Use our sync licensing fee calculator to compare custom production budgets against catalog licensing costs.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
JSM Music is not a sync licensing library or a platform for independent artist submissions. The company produces custom music in-house for specific brand campaigns. However, understanding JSM's operation matters for independent artists in several ways.
First, JSM represents the top tier of custom music production for advertising. If you aspire to work in commercial music production, JSM sets the standard for quality, creativity, and execution. Study their award-winning work to understand what global brands and top agencies expect.
Second, JSM hires musicians, composers, and sound designers from its global talent pool. Building a reputation as a versatile, reliable session musician or composer can lead to opportunities with companies like JSM. Networking within the advertising and commercial music community in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and London is how these relationships form.
Third, the distinction between custom music production (JSM's model) and catalog licensing (libraries like Extreme Music or Jingle Punks) matters for your career strategy. Custom production pays upfront fees but requires ongoing client relationships. Catalog licensing pays per placement but generates passive income over time. Read our guide on library music and production music for passive income to understand the catalog model.
For artists pursuing sync placements through catalog licensing rather than custom production, start with our guide on how to get your first sync license.
Awards and Recognition
JSM Music has accumulated one of the most extensive award portfolios in the commercial music production industry:
- 110+ Cannes Lions total, including 4 Grand Prix and 2 Titanium
- 2024: 12 Cannes Lions (1 Grand Prix), #1 Music & Sound Company at Immortal Awards, 10 Clio Awards, 6 One Show Pencils
- 2023: ADC Global Creative Rankings Music and Sound Company of the Year #1 Global, 33 One Show Pencils, 54 Clio Awards, 20 D&AD Pencils
- 2022: LIA Global Radio & Audio Company of the Year, 10 Clio Awards
- 2021: 34 Cannes Lions (2 Grand Prix, Titanium), One Show Music and Sound Company of the Year #1 North America
- 2020: Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Commercial
The company has been recognized by every major advertising and creative awards institution, including Cannes Lions, The One Show, ADC Awards, Clio Awards, D&AD Awards, LIA, Webby Awards, Effie Awards, and the Immortal Awards.
Company Type and Licensing Model
JSM Music is a custom music production and sound design company, not a production music library or sync licensing platform. Unlike libraries that license pre-existing catalog tracks, JSM creates original music and sound design for specific brand campaigns and projects. The company operates from a 15,000-square-foot facility in midtown Manhattan with five recording studios.
JSM collaborates with advertising agencies and directors on a project basis. The company is hired to create original music, not to license existing tracks from external catalogs. This model pays upfront fees but requires ongoing client relationships rather than generating passive income from catalog placements.
Catalog Size and Genre Coverage
JSM does not maintain a traditional licensing catalog. The company produces custom music across all genres for each project, drawing from a global pool of composers, producers, musicians, and sound designers. Genres range from orchestral scoring and pop to hip-hop, electronic, and world music, depending on the creative brief.
The company has produced music for over 60 Super Bowl commercials across its 30+ year history, covering every genre and style that global brands require.
Client Base
JSM serves the highest tier of advertising and brand clients:
- Super Bowl advertisers: Produced 7 projects for Super Bowl LVIII and multiple projects for Super Bowl LX
- Global Fortune 500 brands: Companies like Uber Eats, Hellmann's, MasterCard, Progressive, Samsung, and Verizon
- Major advertising agencies: McCann New York, BBDO, Ogilvy, FCB, VML, and others
- Film and television: Original music for network and streaming productions
- Live experiential: Music and sound design for brand activations and events
How JSM Music Pays Artists
JSM hires composers, producers, musicians, and sound designers from its global talent pool on a project basis. Payment is typically upfront fees for session work or composition services, negotiated per project based on scope, talent, and usage rights.
JSM does not operate a royalty-based catalog model. Musicians and composers hired for JSM projects receive upfront payment for their work. Performance royalties may apply when the music airs on television or radio, collected through the composer's or publisher's PRO registration.
Specific payment splits vary by project and are negotiated individually. JSM's premium pricing reflects its award-winning production quality, with Super Bowl-level campaign budgets typically ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 or more.
Videos
Comparison: JSM Music vs Other Music Production Companies
| Feature | JSM Music | Bleeding Fingers Music | Groove Addicts | Burnett Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company type | Custom music production and sound design | Custom music production | Custom music production and library | Custom music production and library |
| Licensing model | Project-based custom production | Project-based custom production | Project-based + library licensing | Project-based + library licensing |
| Starting price | Custom (typically $50,000+ for major campaigns) | Custom per project | Custom per project | Custom per project |
| Catalog size | No traditional catalog (custom only) | Custom + select catalog | Custom + library catalog | Custom + library catalog |
| Artist payment | Upfront project fees | Upfront project fees | Upfront fees + library royalties | Upfront fees + library royalties |
| Awards | 110+ Cannes Lions, Emmy, 51+ Super Bowl spots | Emmy nominations, film scores | Industry awards | Industry awards |
| Best for | Global brands needing award-winning custom music for major campaigns | Film and TV composers wanting custom scoring work | Composers wanting both custom and library opportunities | Composers wanting both custom and library opportunities |
Similar Sync Licensing Companies
- Bleeding Fingers Music - Los Angeles-based custom music production company for TV and film
- Groove Addicts - Los Angeles-based music production and library company
- Burnett Music - Nashville-based music production and licensing company
- Extreme Music - Sony-owned production music library for high-end placements
- Jingle Punks - New York-based music licensing company for advertising
- Score-a-Score - Los Angeles-based music production and licensing company
- Videohelper - Boston-based production music library for broadcast media
Related Resources
- How to Get Your First Sync License - Step-by-step guide to landing sync placements
- Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - Comparing different licensing models
- Library Music and Production Music for Passive Income - Understanding upfront payments vs royalty models
- How to License Music for Commercials and Ads - Guide to advertising music licensing
- Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Estimate licensing costs for different placement types
- JSM Music Official Website - View their work and awards portfolio
