Sync License

In-Depth Explanation

What is a Sync License?

A Synchronization License (commonly abbreviated as "sync") is a legal agreement that grants a licensee (such as a film production company or advertising agency) the right to synchronize a copyrighted musical Composition with visual media.

Whenever you hear music playing over a visual image—in a movie, a Netflix series, a car commercial, a YouTube video, or a video game—a sync license was required to legally "sync" that audio to the video.

The Two Halves of a Sync Placement

This is the most critical concept to understand about sync licensing: Every recorded song requires TWO separate licenses to be placed in a visual medium.

1. The Sync License (for the Composition): This license is negotiated with and paid to the publisher and songwriter who own the underlying lyrics and melody.
2. The Master Use License (for the Sound Recording): This license is negotiated with and paid to the record label (or the independent artist) who owns the specific audio recording of the song.

If a Music Supervisor wants to use a song in a TV show, they must clear both sides of the copyright. If the publisher says yes, but the record label says no, the song cannot be used.

The Power of Independent Artists (The "One-Stop" Shop)

This dual-copyright system gives independent artists a massive advantage in the sync world. If you write, record, and self-release your own music, you own 100% of both the Composition and the Master Recording.

In the industry, this is called being a "One-Stop." Music supervisors love one-stop tracks because they only have to make one phone call, negotiate one fee, and sign one contract to clear the entire song. It is vastly faster and easier than trying to clear a major label pop song that has six different songwriters spread across four different publishing companies.

How Much Does a Sync License Pay?

Sync fees vary wildly depending on several factors: the budget of the project, the prominence of the song in the scene, the length of the use, and the popularity of the artist.

• Student Films / Indie Shorts: Often $0 to $500 (usually granted for exposure or portfolio building).
• Background Use in Reality TV (e.g., Keeping Up With The Kardashians): $500 to $2,000.
• Network TV Drama (e.g., Grey's Anatomy): $2,000 to $10,000+.
• Major Studio Film Trailer: $20,000 to $100,000+.
• National TV Commercial: $50,000 to $500,000+.

Note: In almost all cases, the total budget for the song is split 50/50 between the Master owner and the Publisher, often guaranteed via an MFN Clause.

Use our Sync Licensing Fee Calculator to estimate potential fees based on different usage scenarios.

Backend Performance Royalties

The massive upfront sync fee is only half of the financial benefit of a sync placement.

When that TV show or commercial is broadcast on network television, it generates Performance Royalties every single time it airs. These backend royalties are collected by your PRO (ASCAP/BMI) and paid directly to the songwriters. A single placement on a syndicated show like CSI can generate tens of thousands of dollars in backend royalties over several years as the show is re-run globally.

(Note: In the US, there are no backend performance royalties for the Master Recording owner for TV/Film broadcasts, only for the songwriters).

How to Get Sync Placements

Getting your music placed in TV and film requires building relationships with Music Supervisors—the people hired by production companies to find and clear music.

Because music supervisors are incredibly busy, most independent artists use Sync Licensing Agencies (also known as sync agents or sync libraries). These agencies represent a curated catalog of independent music. They have the established relationships with the supervisors and actively pitch your music for briefs. In exchange, the sync agent typically takes 30% to 50% of the upfront sync fee, but allows the artist to keep 100% of the backend performance royalties.