TuneCore Sync

TuneCore Sync is a creative pitching and licensing service operated by TuneCore that connects independent artists with sync placement opportunities in film, TV, advertising, video games, and digital media. The service draws from a catalog of over 30,000 composers and 15 million tracks, with dedicated creative teams based in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Paris. TuneCore Sync handles pitching, negotiating, and paperwork on behalf of artists, taking a 50% commission on sync fees while artists retain 100% ownership of their copyrights.

How TuneCore Sync Works

TuneCore Sync operates as an opt-in service for artists who use both TuneCore distribution and TuneCore Publishing Administration. The process works as follows:

1. Sign up for Publishing Administration: Artists enroll in TuneCore Publishing Administration ($75 one-time fee). This registers their songs with thousands of income sources worldwide, including PROs, mechanical societies, and sub-publishers.
2. Opt into sync: During publishing enrollment, artists choose whether to opt into TuneCore Sync. Opting in means submitted songs become eligible for the sync team to pitch and license. Artists who do not opt in remain free to work with other sync agents.
3. Submit songs for consideration: Artists submit tracks they want the sync team to pitch. The creative team reviews submissions and selects music they believe fits current briefs from music supervisors and creatives.
4. Pitching and licensing: The sync team pitches selected tracks directly to music supervisors, agencies, and decision-makers. When a placement is secured, TuneCore negotiates the terms and fees, executes the agreement, and collects payment.
5. Payment: Sync fees appear in the artist's Quarterly Publishing Royalties Statement, typically posting 45 days after each quarter. Fees are recorded in the quarter TuneCore receives payment from the production, not when the sync airs.

Artists do not need to approve each individual sync placement. By submitting songs, they pre-approve the sync team to pitch and license their music. This allows TuneCore to move quickly when opportunities arise, since sync decisions often operate on tight approval schedules.

Real-World Example

An independent artist distributes an album through TuneCore and enrolls in Publishing Administration for $75. They opt into TuneCore Sync and submit 10 tracks for consideration.

The sync team identifies one track that fits a brief from a TV show music supervisor. TuneCore negotiates a sync fee of $2,000 for the placement. The artist receives $1,000 (50% of the sync fee) in their quarterly statement. The artist also earns performance royalties when the show airs on television, collected through their PRO and TuneCore's publishing administration.

If the same artist had not opted into TuneCore Sync, they would need to find and negotiate their own sync deals or hire an independent sync agent, who might charge similar or higher commission rates without the backing of a 15-million-track catalog and established supervisor relationships.

For comparison, a recognizable hit song might command $10,000 to $50,000 or more for a single TV placement, while an unknown indie track might license for $500 to $2,000. Pricing correctly for sync can optimize the number of opportunities available.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

TuneCore Sync offers one of the most accessible entry points into sync licensing for independent artists. Consider these factors:

• You retain 100% of your copyrights: Unlike traditional publishing deals that require surrendering 50% ownership, TuneCore Sync is a service, not a copyright grab. You keep full ownership of your masters and compositions.
• 50% commission is the trade-off: The sync team takes half of each sync fee. Compare this to traditional publishers who may charge varying rates above 50% while also taking copyright ownership. Songtrust charges 15% for publishing administration but offers no sync pitching service.
• No guaranteed placements: Submitting songs does not guarantee any sync opportunities. The creative team selects music based on what fits current briefs from supervisors. Quality, genre demand, and clear metadata all affect your chances.
• 100% of publishing rights must be accounted for: If your song has multiple writers and publishers, every party must agree to the sync. Even if 99% of rights holders approve, the remaining 1% can block the deal. Register all co-writers properly.
• Opt-out flexibility: You can cancel sync participation at any time. The termination takes effect at the end of the following quarter, and TuneCore continues to license your works until that effective date.
• Geographic reach: TuneCore's partnership with Sentric Music expands publishing administration worldwide, increasing the territory coverage for sync opportunities.

Read our guide on how to get your first sync license for strategies on making your music attractive to sync teams. Use our sync licensing fee calculator to estimate potential earnings from different types of placements.

TuneCore Sync vs Traditional Publishing

TuneCore Sync fills a gap between full-service traditional publishers (which take copyright ownership) and publishing administration-only services like Songtrust (which do not pitch for sync). For independent artists who want sync representation without giving up ownership, TuneCore Sync is one of the few options available.

Learn more about the broader landscape in our guide to sync licensing companies vs music libraries.

Related Resources

• How to Get Your First Sync License - Complete guide to breaking into sync licensing
• Sync Licensing for Independent Musicians - Strategies for indie artists
• Music Publishing Explained: Complete Guide to Royalties - Understanding publishing administration
• TuneCore Alternatives: Top Music Distribators for Indie Artists - Comparing distribution platforms
• TuneCore Sync Official Website - Current catalog and licensing requests
• TuneCore Sync Support FAQ - Official documentation on how the service works