A New Way to Get Paid for Your Music — Without Needing More Streams

What Is Sync Licensing?

Sync licensing is when someone pays to use your song in something they are making.

That could be a TV show. A movie. A commercial. A video game. A YouTube channel with a big following.

They pay you upfront to use your song. Then every time it plays — every time someone watches that show or that ad — you can earn more money on top of that.

It is called a "sync" because your music gets synced up to what they are showing on screen.

How Much Does It Pay?

The amount depends on where your song gets used.

Most placements for independent artists pay somewhere between $500 and $5,000 per song. Some pay more. A song in a national TV commercial can earn $10,000 or more. A spot in a major film can go even higher.

That is more than most artists earn from streaming in a whole year — from a single placement.

What Do You Need Before You Submit?

Before you send your music anywhere, make sure you have these things ready:

• You own your song. You wrote it and you own the recording. If you used samples you did not clear, it will get rejected.

• It sounds professional. Your mix and master need to sound like they belong on TV or in a film.

• You have an instrumental version. A lot of sync placements need a version with no vocals. Have one ready.

• You know your song's mood and genre. When you submit, you will need to describe what your song sounds like and what kind of scene it fits.

3 Companies That Work With Independent Artists

You do not need a label to get into sync licensing. These three companies accept submissions directly from independent artists:

1. Musicbed (musicbed.com) A well-known sync library used by brands, filmmakers, and content creators worldwide. They have a high standard, but independent artists get in regularly. They are selective, so only submit your best work.

2. Artlist (artlist.io) One of the most widely used music platforms for video creators and filmmakers. They accept independent artist submissions and are known for fair, transparent licensing deals.

3. Songtradr (songtradr.com) Built specifically for independent artists. You upload your catalog, set your own pricing, and get matched with people looking for music. It is one of the most accessible starting points for artists new to sync.

Step One: Get Your Music Out There

Before sync licensing companies can use your music, it needs to be properly distributed and available. The more platforms your music is on — and the cleaner your rights situation — the easier it is for people to find you and clear your music fast.

That is where having the right distributor matters.

At Joose Distro, we make sure your music gets to every major platform with your rights fully intact — so when a sync opportunity comes, you are already ready.

Get distributed at JooseDistro.com →

Have questions about getting your music ready for sync? Talk to a real person on our team. Contact us here.