Lyric House is a woman-led music publishing and sync licensing agency based in Los Angeles, founded in 2012 by Jessica Cole. The company represents over 250 artists and songwriters for placements in television, film, trailers, video games, and advertising. Lyric House operates as a full-service publishing company, handling both creative pitching and administrative services, with a pre-cleared catalog designed for fast all-in licensing. Best suited for independent artists who want publisher representation and direct pitching to music supervisors.
How Lyric House Works
Lyric House functions as a traditional music publisher adapted for the modern sync market. The company signs artists to its roster, represents their catalog globally, and pitches tracks directly to music supervisors and creative directors across film, television, trailers, gaming, and advertising.
The process works as follows:
- Artist submission: Artists submit music through the Lyric House contact page. The company requests download links or streaming links only. No attached MP3 files are accepted. Due to high submission volume, response times vary.
- Review and roster selection: The Lyric House team reviews submissions for quality, sync suitability, and rights clarity. Accepted artists join a roster of over 250 artists and songwriters.
- Publishing and pitching: Once signed, Lyric House handles creative pitching to supervisors and administrative publishing services. The catalog is represented by music publishers worldwide, giving artists access to international placement opportunities.
- Licensing and payment: When a supervisor selects a track, Lyric House negotiates the license, collects the fee, and pays the artist their share. The company also handles royalty administration on behalf of its roster.
All tracks in the Lyric House catalog are pre-cleared for all-in licensing, meaning both master and publishing rights are controlled in a single transaction. This eliminates the clearance bottlenecks that cause supervisors to pass on otherwise suitable tracks.
Real-World Example
A music supervisor working on an Amazon MGM Studios trailer needs a high-energy remix for the official trailer of "How To Rob A Bank." They license "America (Disciple Theory Remix)" from Lyric House. Because the track is pre-cleared, the supervisor signs a single license agreement and the track is placed within days rather than weeks.
In another scenario, Google Pixel needs an upbeat track for a digital ad campaign. Lyric House pitches "Outta This World" by lunaluxe. The supervisor licenses it for a national digital campaign. The artist receives their split of the sync fee and earns performance royalties through their PRO when the ad runs on broadcast platforms.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Lyric House offers independent artists access to major-brand placements that would be difficult to secure alone. The company has secured placements with Amazon MGM Studios, Google Pixel, HBO MAX, and Honda. For artists without an established supervisor network, Lyric House provides the relationships and pitching infrastructure to get music in front of decision-makers.
Key considerations before submitting:
- Your music must be broadcast-ready: Submit professionally recorded and mixed tracks. Lo-fi demos will not make it past the review stage. Read our guide to creating music for sync licensing for production standards.
- Have all rights cleared: Confirm ownership splits with all co-writers, producers, and performers before submitting. Use a split sheet to document agreements. Lyric House will not represent tracks with ambiguous rights.
- Prepare instrumental versions: Supervisors frequently need instrumentals for dialogue scenes and voiceover placements. If you cannot deliver them, you lose the placement.
- Be patient with response times: Lyric House receives a high volume of submissions. Do not follow up aggressively. If they are interested, they will contact you.
- Understand publishing representation: Lyric House is a full-service publisher, not just a licensing library. This means they may take a publisher's share of your royalties in exchange for pitching and administrative services. Read our guide to music licensing agreements to understand what rights you are granting.
Use our sync licensing fee calculator to estimate potential earnings from different placement types before signing any deal.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Limited public information on fee splits: Lyric House does not publicly disclose its commission structure or artist split percentages. You will need to negotiate terms during the signing process. Compare any offer against the industry standard of 50/50 before agreeing.
- Submission volume means low acceptance odds: With over 250 artists already on the roster, Lyric House is selective. Do not treat rejection as a final verdict. Continue building your catalog and resubmit when you have stronger material.
- Publishing deals require careful review: Full-service publishing agreements may involve transferring a portion of your publishing rights. Understand exactly what you are granting before signing. Some deals are exclusive, others are non-exclusive. Clarify this upfront.
- No self-serve licensing portal: Unlike platforms such as Epidemic Sound or Bopper, Lyric House does not offer a searchable online catalog for supervisors. All placements go through the pitching team, meaning your music only gets placed when someone actively advocates for it.
Company Type and Licensing Model
Lyric House is a full-service music publishing and sync licensing agency. It is not a production music library, a royalty-free platform, or a custom scoring house. The company signs artists to its roster, represents their existing catalogs globally, and pitches tracks directly to music supervisors and creative directors for placement in TV, film, trailers, video games, and advertising.
The licensing model is commission-based. Lyric House negotiates sync fees on behalf of its artists, collects the fees, and pays the artist their share after deducting the company's commission. The specific commission percentage is not publicly disclosed and varies per deal. The company also handles publishing administration, which may involve collecting the publisher's share of performance royalties.
Lyric House does not offer subscription pricing, per-use self-serve licensing, or buyout options. All placements go through the company's pitching team. There is no searchable online catalog for supervisors to browse independently.
Catalog Size and Genre Coverage
Lyric House represents over 250 artists and songwriters (the ESPN interview with founder Jessica Cole cited 300+ artists as of early 2022). The catalog includes thousands of tracks across multiple genres:
- Pop: Mainstream pop, indie pop, synth pop
- Rock: Indie rock, alternative rock, singer-songwriter rock
- Electronic: Electronic pop, EDM, ambient electronic
- Hip-Hop: Hip-hop, R&B, trap
- Indie: Indie folk, indie rock, bedroom pop
- Singer-songwriter: Acoustic, folk, piano-based vocal tracks
The most marketable genres for Lyric House placements, according to founder Jessica Cole, are singer-songwriter, indie rock, and indie pop. All tracks in the catalog are pre-cleared for all-in licensing, meaning both master and publishing rights are controlled in a single transaction.
Client Base
Lyric House pitches music to music supervisors and creative directors across multiple media sectors. Confirmed clients and placement partners include:
- Amazon MGM Studios: Trailer placements including "How To Rob A Bank"
- Google Pixel: Digital ad campaign placements
- HBO MAX: Television and streaming placements
- Honda: Advertising placements
- Apple: Ad placements (confirmed in 2021 Magnetic Magazine interview)
- ADT: Super Bowl ad placement (confirmed in 2021)
- Film trailers: Space Jam, Billions, After, Raya And The Last Dragon
The company also works with television networks (scripted and unscripted), video game studios, and advertising agencies. Senior Director of Creative Sync Flannery Johnston works across scripted TV, unscripted TV, film, and advertising.
How They Pay Artists
Lyric House operates on a commission-based model with two revenue streams for artists:
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Sync fees: When a music supervisor selects a track, Lyric House negotiates the sync license fee, collects payment from the client, and pays the artist their share after deducting the company's commission. The industry standard for sync fee splits is typically 50/50 between publisher and writer, though Lyric House does not publicly disclose its exact percentages. Artists should negotiate and confirm split terms during the signing process.
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Performance royalties: When placed tracks air on broadcast television, streaming platforms, or other performance venues, performance royalties are generated. If Lyric House holds the publishing rights, they collect the publisher's share. The writer's share goes to the artist through their PRO (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC). Artists must be registered with a PRO to receive writer's share payments.
There are no upfront fees paid to artists for joining the roster. There are no per-placement bonuses or buyout payments. Artists earn income only when their tracks are placed and licensed. The company grosses millions of dollars per year in sync and publisher revenue on behalf of its roster.
Use our sync licensing fee calculator to estimate potential earnings from different placement types before signing any deal.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Lyric House | Secret Road | Music Vine | Marmoset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company type | Sync agency + publisher | Sync agency + publisher | Sync licensing platform | Sync agency + publisher |
| Roster size | 250+ artists | 500+ artists | 5,000+ artists | 2,000+ artists |
| Self-serve catalog | No (pitching only) | No (pitching only) | Yes (online search) | Yes (online search) |
| Pre-cleared all-in | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open submissions | Yes (via contact page) | Yes (via contact) | Yes (via platform) | Yes (via platform) |
| Genre focus | Indie, pop, rock, electronic | Indie, alternative, electronic | Indie, folk, electronic | Indie, folk, soul, pop |
| Client types | TV, film, trailers, ads, games | TV, film, ads, trailers | Brands, agencies, creators | Brands, agencies, TV, film |
| Artist payment | Commission-based sync split | Commission-based sync split | Per-placement fees | Commission-based sync split |
Videos
Similar Sync Licensing Companies
- Secret Road - Los Angeles-based sync agency and publisher with a large roster
- Music Vine - Sync licensing platform with self-serve search and curated roster
- Marmoset - Portland-based sync agency with indie and folk focus
- Crucial Music - Independent sync licensing company representing artists for TV, film, and ads
Related Resources
- How to Get Your First Sync License - Complete walkthrough for beginners
- Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - Understanding the difference between publisher-agencies and stock libraries
- Music Licensing Agreements: Types, Terms, and Red Flags - What to watch for before signing any publishing deal
- Sync License Glossary Definition - Core sync licensing concept explained
- Lyric House Official Website - Submission details and current roster
