Sonoton

Sonoton is a production music library founded in 1965 in Munich, Germany, by Rotheide and Gerhard Narholz. With 61 years of operation, it is one of the longest-running production music libraries in Europe. The catalog spans hundreds of thousands of tracks across orchestral recordings, world music, classical, easy listening, electronic, and commercial scoring. Sonoton owns both the synchronization and performing rights to its compositions and recordings, which makes it a one-stop licensing source for music supervisors and producers.

How Sonoton Works

Sonoton operates as a traditional production music library with a modern online search and licensing platform. The company owns its catalog outright rather than acting as an aggregator, meaning it controls both the master recordings and the underlying compositions.

The licensing process works as follows:

1. Search: Clients use the SONOfind search platform at sonoton.com to browse the catalog by genre, mood, instrumentation, or keyword. The platform is available as a web application and historically as a mobile app for iOS and Android.
2. License: Clients request a license through the online licensing portal at licence.sonoton.com. The portal provides price estimates and allows clients to manage license applications.
3. Payment and clearance: Many licenses can be cleared immediately through online payment. For more complex usage, Sonoton's team provides dedicated support to structure the license.

In countries with mechanical copyright societies (such as GEMA in Germany or MCPS in the UK), synchronization rights are licensed through those societies. In the United States, sync licenses are obtained through Associated Production Music (APM), Sonoton's US representative since 1993.

Sub-Labels and Catalog Structure

Sonoton's catalog is organized across several specialized labels:

• Sonoton Main Catalog: The core library covering orchestral, electronic, jazz, rock, and pop genres
• SAS (Sonoton Authentic Series): World music label established in 1981, covering regional and traditional music from around the globe
• CNS (Commercials Non Stop): Commercial and promo-specific tracks, established in 1987
• SONIA Classics: Classical works collection available for synchronization, established in 1991
• SONOspheres: Sound effects and atmospheric sounds series, created in 1997

Real-World Example

A German television production company needs authentic world music for a documentary series about Southeast Asian culture. They search the SAS (Sonoton Authentic Series) catalog through SONOfind, find three tracks recorded with regional musicians, and license them through GEMA. The fee is structured per the society's standard production music rates.

A US-based advertising agency needs orchestral scoring for a national car commercial. They access Sonoton's catalog through APM, select a track from the main catalog, and license it for broadcast and digital use in the US market. The fee is negotiated through APM based on usage scope, territory, and duration.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Sonoton offers composers a traditional production music library model. The company signs composers to contracts where Sonoton owns the synchronization and performing rights to the works. Composers receive shares of licenses through their membership in mechanical and performing rights societies, or directly through Sonoton, depending on local legal conditions.

Key considerations for composers:

• Rights assignment: Sonoton owns the sync and performing rights to your contributions. This is standard for production music libraries but means you cannot independently license these tracks for sync.
• PRO registration: Composers must be members of a performing rights organization (such as GEMA, ASCAP, BMI, or PRS) to collect their writer's share of performance royalties. Sonoton collects the publisher's share.
• Quality standards: Sonoton maintains professional production standards. All submissions must be broadcast-ready with proper metadata, clean mixes, and consistent loudness levels.
• Genre fit: Sonoton's catalog is strongest in orchestral, world music, and classical genres. Composers working in these styles will find more opportunities than those producing mainstream pop or hip-hop.
• Long-term commitment: Production music library contracts are typically long-term. Read the agreement carefully before signing. Review our guide on music licensing agreements to understand what rights you are granting.

Potential Drawbacks / Things to Consider

• No direct artist submissions: Sonoton does not have an open submission portal like some newer sync libraries. Composers must contact the company directly and go through a review process. There is no guarantee of acceptance.
• Rights ownership: Sonoton owns the sync and performing rights to all catalog works. If you want to retain ownership of your masters and compositions, this model is not for you. Consider non-exclusive libraries or sync agencies instead. Read our comparison of sync licensing companies vs music libraries to understand the difference.
• US access through APM only: American clients and composers interact with Sonoton through Associated Production Music, which adds a layer of separation. If you want a direct relationship with the library, this structure limits that.
• Traditional fee structure: Licensing fees are negotiated per use rather than through a simple subscription model. This can mean higher costs for high-volume content producers compared to subscription-based libraries like Epidemic Sound or Soundstripe.
• Limited modern genre coverage: While Sonoton excels in orchestral, world, and classical music, its catalog is less competitive in contemporary genres like trap, lo-fi, or modern electronic pop. Music supervisors seeking these styles may find better options elsewhere.

Fee Structure and Compensation

Sonoton licenses music on a track-by-track or project-by-project basis. Fees vary based on:

• Usage type: Broadcast television, film, advertising, corporate, streaming, or non-profit
• Territory: Local, regional, national, or worldwide
• Term: 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, or in perpetuity
• Exclusivity: Non-exclusive or exclusive for a specific use

Composers receive their share of licensing revenue through their mechanical and performing rights societies. The exact split depends on the composer's contract with Sonoton and the local society's distribution rules.

Use our sync licensing fee calculator to estimate licensing costs for different placement scenarios.

Related Resources

• How to Get Your First Sync License - Step-by-step guide for beginners
• Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - Understanding different licensing models
• Music Licensing Agreements: Types, Terms, and Red Flags - What to watch for before signing
• Library Music and Production Music for Passive Income - How production music libraries generate revenue
• Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Estimate licensing costs for different usage types
• Sonoton Official Website - Browse the catalog and licensing portal