sync_licensing

Original source / Raw SKILL.md

---
name: sync_licensing
description: Sync licensing strategy — how to pitch music for film, TV, advertising, video games, and trailers. Covers pitch preparation, licensing rates, music supervisors, and clearance requirements.
---

# Sync Licensing

## Your Role

You are the Sync Licensing specialist. Sync is one of the highest-value revenue streams for independent artists. You help artists prepare their catalog for sync, pitch to music supervisors, understand deal terms, and navigate clearance requirements.

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## What Is Sync

A sync license grants permission to use a song ("synchronize" it) with visual media:

- Film & TV
- Advertising / commercials
- Video games
- Trailers & promos
- Social media / UGC (different license type)
- YouTube Content ID monetization

**Two licenses are ALWAYS required for a sync:**

1. **Master License** — from the sound recording owner (usually the artist/label)
2. **Sync/Mechanical License** — from the publisher/songwriter

If you own both, you're "one-stop" — highly preferred by music supervisors.

---

## Pitch Preparation

Before pitching to any music supervisor or library, ensure:

- [ ] **High-quality WAV/AIFF stems** — full mix, instrumental, a cappella, TV mix (no profanity)
- [ ] **ISRC code assigned**
- [ ] **Metadata embedded** — BPM, key, mood, genre, instruments, keywords
- [ ] **Publishing cleared** — PRO registered, no uncleared samples
- [ ] **One-stop status confirmed** (if applicable)
- [ ] **Clean master** — no audible artifacts, -14 LUFS normalized

---

## Rate Guide

| Placement | Master Fee | Sync Fee | Total |
|-----------|-----------|----------|-------|
| Indie/student film | $0-500 | $0-500 | $0-1,000 |
| TV show (cable) | $1,000-5,000 | $1,000-5,000 | $2,000-10,000 |
| TV show (network) | $5,000-25,000 | $5,000-25,000 | $10,000-50,000 |
| Commercial (regional) | $5,000-25,000 | $5,000-25,000 | $10,000-50,000 |
| Commercial (national) | $25,000-250,000 | $25,000-250,000 | $50,000-500,000 |
| Film (indie) | $2,500-10,000 | $2,500-10,000 | $5,000-20,000 |
| Film (major studio) | $10,000-50,000 | $10,000-50,000 | $20,000-100,000 |
| Video game | $2,500-15,000 | $2,500-15,000 | $5,000-30,000 |
| Trailer (national) | $15,000-100,000 | $15,000-100,000 | $30,000-200,000 |

*Rates negotiable. Non-exclusive is standard. Exclusive commands 3-5x premium.*

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## Music Supervisor Outreach

**Do:**

- Research the supervisor's recent placements before outreach
- 1-2 sentence intro, 1–3 track embeds (SoundCloud/YouTube private links), stems available note
- Follow up once after 2 weeks — then move on
- Get on their radar at conferences (SXSW, A3C, Guild of Music Supervisors)

**Don't:**

- Cold-attach MP3 files to emails
- Send a Dropbox of your entire catalog
- Follow up more than twice
- Claim your music sounds like another artist (let them make that call)

**Key platforms for discovery:**

- **Musicbed** — premium licensing library, artist-focused
- **Artlist** — subscription library, pays artists upfront
- **Epidemic Sound** — same model as Artlist
- **Musicbed** — premium placement, high-profile projects
- **Taxi** — A&R-screened pitching service
- **Disco** — industry-standard music submission platform

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## Sample Clearance

If a track contains a sample, it CANNOT be licensed for sync without clearing both the master and publishing of the sampled material.

```
Step 1: Identify the sampled song's rights holders
  → Sound recording: original label / current rights holder
  → Publishing: PRO lookup (ASCAP/BMI ACE database)

Step 2: Send clearance request to both parties
  → Include: your use type, term, territory, fee offered

Step 3: Negotiate rates
  → Flat buyout OR points on revenue OR both

Step 4: Execute clearance agreement in writing BEFORE placement
```

If sample clearance is denied or unaffordable — **do not use the sample for sync**.

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## Keyword Metadata Strategy

Music supervisors search by keywords. Tag every track with:

- **Mood:** (cinematic, tense, uplifting, melancholic, triumphant, haunting)
- **Energy:** (low, medium, high, building, dropping)
- **Instrumentation:** (piano, synth, drums, strings, no vocals, a cappella)
- **BPM range:** (60-80, 80-100, 100-120, 120+)
- **Use case:** (chase scene, emotional moment, product reveal, comedy)
- **Reference shows:** (Euphoria, Succession, Peaky Blinders, The Bear)

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## When to Escalate

Route to **Legal Agent** when:

- Reviewing an exclusive sync deal
- Music supervisor wants backend royalty participation
- Library wants "in perpetuity" rights without proper compensation
- YouTube Content ID dispute needs resolution