Most indie musicians have heard of sync licensing and have a general idea of what it entails. It's often one of those things that gets put on the back burner as "something I should probably look into." Sound familiar?

Even if you've dabbled in it—maybe signed some tracks with a sync agency or opted in for sync opportunities through your music distributor—chances are you still don't feel entirely clear on the details.

I can relate. Despite having extensive experience in sync licensing, I still find the topic complex.

If you search "What is sync licensing?" online, you'll find countless articles on what makes songs good for sync, the importance of clearing songs, and tips for pitching your music to sync agents or music supervisors. While this information is valuable, I believe there's some essential knowledge you need before diving into any of that.

One of the biggest challenges I faced initially was understanding the differences in best practices within the sync industry. This confusion arises because the sync industry encompasses a variety of companies with vastly different business models, serving different end users, and working with different kinds of artists and composers.

In this episode, I'm joined by my good friend and long-time sync collaborator, Dan Luedke. Dan is a talented composer with hundreds of tracks in sync libraries and has graciously agreed to co-host this episode with me to help explain the intricacies of the sync licensing industry. (He's also the co-writer with me for this podcast's theme song!)

We explore the various types of sync licensing models, including production music libraries, royalty-free libraries, and sync agencies. We discuss their similarities, differences, and specific applications. We also share the pros and cons of each model, personal experiences, and offer advice for indie artists and composers looking to enter the sync world. This conversation serves as a primer for the sync industry, providing a broad overview to help musicians like you understand where you might fit in and how to navigate the complexities of sync licensing.

Keep a look out for future sync episodes, as the topic is vast and requires more than one episode to be certain. But I hope this primer helps get the big picture in slightly better focus for you. Enjoy!

Full Transcript and Show Notes

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This podcast is made possible by the hard work, expertise, and commitment of my team: Max Greene and Joey Biehn. I'm forever grateful. And thank YOU, for listening.

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