The Ins and Outs of Sync Licensing: How Independent Musicians Can Get Their Music Placed in TV Shows and Movies | Indie Music Journey

Sync licensing is the process of placing your music in TV shows, movies, commercials, and other forms of visual media. As an independent musician, sync licensing can be a great way to increase your exposure and earn additional income. However, the process of sync licensing can be confusing and overwhelming. In this article, we’ll break down the basics of sync licensing and provide some tips on how independent musicians can get their music placed in TV shows and movies.

Create a Music Catalogue

The first step in getting your music placed in visual media is to have a catalog of recorded music that is ready for licensing. This means that your music should be recorded, mixed, and mastered to a professional standard. It’s also important to ensure that your music is properly registered with a performing rights organization (PRO) such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.

Make Your Music Available For Licensing

Once your music is ready, the next step is to make it available for licensing. This can be done by submitting your music to music libraries, sync agents, and publishers. Music libraries are companies that curate music for licensing to visual media, while sync agents and publishers represent specific artists and their catalogs.

Create A Press Kit

It’s also a good idea to create a press kit that includes information about your music and your career, along with audio and video samples. This can be useful when submitting your music to music libraries, sync agents, and publishers.

Understand Licensing Deals

Another important aspect of sync licensing is understanding the different types of licenses available. The most common types of licenses are sync licenses, which grant the right to use a specific piece of music in a specific piece of visual media, and master licenses, which grant the right to use the actual recording of a piece of music in a specific piece of visual media.

What Is A Music Supervisor?

When it comes to getting your music placed in TV shows and movies, it’s important to understand the role of the music supervisor. Music supervisors are responsible for selecting and placing music in visual media, and they often work closely with music libraries, sync agents, and publishers to find the right music for their projects.

Be Patient and Persistent

Finally, it’s important to be patient and persistent when it comes to sync licensing. It can take time to get your music placed in visual media, and it’s important to continue submitting your music and networking with industry professionals.

Summary

Sync licensing can be a great way for independent musicians to increase their exposure and earn additional income. However, the process can be confusing and overwhelming. By having a catalog of recorded music ready for licensing, submitting your music to music libraries, sync agents, and publishers, understanding the different types of licenses available and networking with industry professionals, independent musicians can increase their chances of getting their music placed in TV shows and movies.

Originally published at https://indiemusicjourney.com on January 25, 2023.