Warner Chappell Sync

Warner Chappell Music is the music publishing division of Warner Music Group. It is distinct from Warner Chappell Production Music (WCPM), which is the company's production music library division. Warner Chappell Music represents signed songwriters and their original compositions, placing them across film, television, advertising, video games, trailers, and streaming media. The publisher is best suited for established songwriters and producers with commercial releases or catalogs with proven sync value.

How Warner Chappell Sync Works

Warner Chappell Music is a full-service music publisher, not a production library or upload platform. The company administers copyrights, pitches songwriter catalogs to music supervisors, and negotiates sync licenses on behalf of its signed writers. Creative sync teams operate from offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Nashville.

The sync division works proactively. Warner Chappell's creative team maintains relationships with music supervisors at studios, networks, ad agencies, and gaming companies. They pitch catalogs against incoming briefs, arrange custom writes when a supervisor needs original music, and handle all fee negotiation and clearance.

Warner Chappell Music traces its roots back to Chappell & Co., a music publisher founded in London in 1929. The company became Warner Chappell in 1987 when Warner Communications acquired Chappell & Co. This long history means the catalog includes standards from the Great American Songbook alongside contemporary pop, rock, hip-hop, country, and Latin catalogs.

Warner Chappell Sync vs Warner Chappell Production Music

This distinction matters for independent artists. Warner Chappell Music (the publishing company) and Warner Chappell Production Music (the production library) serve different markets:

• Warner Chappell Music (this entry): Represents signed songwriters and their original compositions. Sync placements come from the songwriter's existing catalog. You must be signed as a writer to access this pipeline. The company pitches your songs to supervisors for placement in productions.
• Warner Chappell Production Music (WCPM): Creates and licenses production music (also called library music) for use in TV, film, advertising, and broadcast. Composers are recruited by invitation to write specifically for the library. The music is pre-cleared and licensed on a needledrop or blanket basis. See our Warner Chappell Production Music profile for details on that division.

If you are a songwriter with original music seeking placements, Warner Chappell Music's sync division is the relevant entity. If you are a composer writing production cues for library use, WCPM is the relevant entity.

Real-World Example

A rock songwriter signed to Warner Chappell Music has a catalog of 25 songs across two albums. A music supervisor at a streaming platform needs a track for a key scene in a drama series. Warner Chappell's sync team negotiates a $10,000 sync fee, clears the publishing side, and coordinates with the label for master clearance if the master is also controlled by a Warner label. The writer receives their negotiated percentage of the sync fee plus backend PRO royalties.

For a national advertising campaign, the same track might generate $50,000 to $100,000 in sync fees. Warner Chappell handles all clearance, negotiation, and licensing paperwork. The writer receives their share per their publishing agreement.

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

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Warner Chappell Music is not an entry point for independent artists. The company signs writers who already have commercial releases, streaming traction, or established industry relationships. For independent artists, understanding Warner Chappell matters for several reasons:

• It is one of the "big three" publishers: Alongside Universal Music Publishing Group and Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell rounds out the three major music publishers. These three companies control a significant portion of the world's commercially valuable songwriter catalogs.
• Administration deals are available: Warner Chappell administers catalogs it does not own. If you build a catalog with commercial value, an administration deal can provide global royalty collection and sync pitching without transferring ownership.
• The publishing vs production music distinction is important: Many independent artists confuse Warner Chappell Music (publishing) with Warner Chappell Production Music (library). Knowing the difference helps you target the right division. If you write songs, target the publishing company. If you write production cues, target the production music library.

If you are seeking your first sync placement, start with platforms 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

• Global creative sync offices: Los Angeles, New York, London, and Nashville
• Proactive pitching: Dedicated sync teams across film, TV, advertising, gaming, and trailers
• Historic catalog depth: Roots tracing to Chappell & Co. (1929), with Great American Songbook standards and contemporary catalogs
• Custom write capabilities: Assigns signed writers to create original music for specific briefs
• Administration services: Global royalty collection and sync pitching for administered catalogs
• Cross-label clearance: When master rights are with a Warner label, sync and master can be cleared together

Potential Drawbacks / Things to Consider

• No open submissions: Warner Chappell Music does not accept unsolicited music. You cannot upload tracks or email demos for consideration.
• Publishing deals transfer rights: Signing a publishing deal typically involves transferring ownership or administration of your compositions. Review deal terms carefully. Learn more in our guide to music licensing agreements.
• Exclusivity is standard: Warner Chappell deals are exclusive. You cannot pitch the same compositions to other publishers while under contract.
• Corporate scale means slower response: As a major publisher, Warner Chappell processes many catalogs and briefs. Response times can be slow compared to independent publishers.
• Confusion with WCPM: Make sure you are targeting the right division. Warner Chappell Music handles songwriter publishing. Warner Chappell Production Music handles library composition. Contacting the wrong division wastes time.

Related Resources

• Sync Licensing Companies Directory - Browse more sync licensing companies
• Warner Chappell Production Music Profile - The production music library division
• Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Estimate licensing fees for your projects
• PRO Directory - Find your performing rights organization
• How to Get Your First Sync License - Step-by-step guide for independent artists
• Visit Warner Chappell Music for roster info and company details