Two Steps from Hell

Two Steps from Hell is a production music company founded in 2006 by composers Thomas Bergersen and Nick Phoenix. The company specializes in epic orchestral and trailer music, and its catalog has appeared in trailers for major films including Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Star Trek (2009), Pirates of the Caribbean, Interstellar, The Avengers, The Dark Knight, and hundreds of other campaigns. Two Steps from Hell is best known among music supervisors and trailer editors who need high-impact, emotionally charged orchestral music for film, TV, advertising, and gaming campaigns.

How Two Steps from Hell Works

Two Steps from Hell operates differently from institutional production libraries like Extreme Music or Warner Chappell Production Music. The company is composer-owned and composer-driven. The majority of its catalog is written and produced by founders Thomas Bergersen and Nick Phoenix, with occasional contributions from a small circle of additional composers.

The company serves two markets simultaneously:

1. Trailer and sync licensing: Music supervisors and trailer editors license tracks for use in film trailers, TV promos, advertising campaigns, and video game trailers. Licensing is handled through their website or direct contact. Fees vary based on usage scope, territory, and campaign budget.
2. Commercial releases: Two Steps from Hell releases public albums available on streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music) and through their online store. These albums have generated hundreds of millions of streams, making the company one of the few trailer music brands with a genuine public audience. Albums include "Invincible" (2010), "Archangel" (2011), "Battlecry" (2015), "Vanquish" (2018), "Dragon" (2019), and "Myth" (2024).

This dual model is unusual in the production music world. Most trailer music companies operate purely as B2B licensing operations with no public-facing commercial presence. Two Steps from Hell's streaming success has created a fanbase that actively seeks out their music, which in turn increases brand recognition and licensing demand.

Real-World Example

A trailer house is cutting a teaser for a major studio fantasy film. They need a 90-second cue that builds from quiet strings to a massive orchestral and choir climax. The editor searches the Two Steps from Hell catalog, finds a track from the "Battlecry" album that matches the emotional arc, and licenses it for the teaser campaign.

The sync fee for a major studio trailer placement typically ranges from $5,000 to $25,000 depending on the film's budget, the length of the campaign, and whether the music appears in the theatrical trailer, TV spots, or both. For a full advertising campaign across multiple media, fees can reach $50,000 or more.

Compare this to licensing a track from a mid-tier production library, where the same placement might cost $500 to $2,000. The premium reflects Two Steps from Hell's brand recognition, production quality, and the fact that their music is specifically designed for trailer use (with clear build sections, hit points, and edit-friendly structure).

Use our sync licensing fee calculator to estimate potential sync fees for different media types.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Two Steps from Hell is not an open platform for independent composers. The company does not accept submissions or sign outside writers. However, understanding how the company operates provides several lessons:

• Trailer music has a public audience: Two Steps from Hell proved that trailer and epic music can generate real streaming revenue and build a fanbase. If you produce cinematic orchestral music, there is a listener market beyond sync placements. Consider releasing public albums alongside your licensing catalog.
• Quality over quantity: The company's catalog is relatively small compared to institutional libraries with 100,000+ tracks. Their success comes from consistently high production quality and emotional impact, not volume. A focused catalog of 50 exceptional tracks can outperform 500 average ones.
• Edit-friendly structure is non-negotiable: Trailer music must have clear build sections, distinct energy levels, and hit points that sync to visual cuts. Study Two Steps from Hell's track structures to understand what trailer editors need. Read our guide on creating music for sync licensing for production techniques.
• Brand identity drives licensing demand: Two Steps from Hell's name recognition means music supervisors seek them out. Building a recognizable brand in a niche (like epic trailer music) creates inbound demand rather than requiring constant outbound pitching.

If you are an independent composer targeting trailer music placements, start with libraries that accept open submissions. Read our guide on how to get your first sync license and our comparison of sync licensing companies vs music libraries.

Platform Features

• Composer-owned and operated: Music written primarily by founders Thomas Bergersen and Nick Phoenix
• Dual market model: B2B sync licensing alongside public commercial album releases
• Streaming presence: Hundreds of millions of streams across Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music
• Trailer-specialized catalog: Tracks designed with build sections, hit points, and edit-friendly structure
• Album catalog: Multiple public releases spanning 2006 to 2024
• Brand recognition: One of the most recognized names in trailer music among supervisors and editors

Potential Drawbacks / Things to Consider

• No open submissions: Two Steps from Hell does not accept outside demos or sign new writers. The catalog is primarily written by its founders.
• Premium pricing: Licensing fees for major campaigns are higher than mid-tier libraries. For lower-budget productions, their music may be cost-prohibitive.
• Narrow genre focus: The catalog is heavily focused on epic orchestral, trailer, and cinematic music. If your project needs pop, hip-hop, or ambient music, this is not the right library.
• Limited catalog size: Compared to institutional libraries with hundreds of thousands of tracks, Two Steps from Hell's catalog is focused and relatively small. This means fewer options per search but higher consistency.
• Public availability can complicate exclusivity: Because their music is available on streaming platforms, using a Two Steps from Hell track in a production means audiences may recognize it. Some supervisors prefer less recognizable music for original scoring needs.

Related Resources

• Sync Licensing Companies Directory - Browse more sync licensing companies
• Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Estimate licensing fees for your projects
• Creating Music for Sync Licensing - Production techniques for sync-ready tracks
• How to Get Your First Sync License - Step-by-step guide for independent artists
• Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - Understanding different licensing models
• Visit Two Steps from Hell for catalog, licensing inquiries, and album store