Sync Licensing

Music licensing is becoming an ever greater source of income for musicians at any level. However, many acts just starting out fail to see the amazing opportunity for exposure that licensing may give you. One of the best ways to get your name known is through sync licensing.

Sync licensing is the process by which a song is placed in conjunction with another vocal track, image, or moving image. For example, all the great songs you hear in the movies, television ads and programs, and even some radio commercials are sync licensing. The possibilities continue beyond that though as, for example, corporations will often license music for use in their own in-house presentations.

Sync licenses can pay anywhere from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands depending on a few critical contract terms and how well the music is known. Those contract terms are usually how long your music is going to be played, how large a geographic area, whether you grant an exclusive or non-exclusive license, and the duration the license will be granted. A band who gets a sync license for advertising for a whole 30 second commercial, worldwide, for a year, and exclusive rights will be paid more than if the commercial was only in the U.S., for 10 seconds of a 30 second commercial, 3 month duration, and a non-exclusive license.

But don't let money be your only worry. Television commercials, movies, and shows are powerful ways to reach a large audience and increase your exposure. Many musicians have furthered their careers solely based on a national television spot. Be on the lookout for potential opportunities in this area if you are looking to further your exposure. Besides, it might also possibly lead to a nice paycheck.