Getting your music placed in television, film, and media is one of the most effective ways for musicians and producers to create revenue, gain exposure, and expand their career. Sync licensing, the process of licensing music for visual media, offers a tremendous opportunity to get your music in front of new audiences, while also being financially rewarding. However, breaking into the world of sync licensing and getting your music into television and film can seem daunting, especially for independent artists. But with the right approach, you can significantly increase your chances of landing placements.
In this article, we’ll cover essential tips and strategies for getting your music placed in television, film, and media through music licensing libraries and publishers. From creating sync-friendly music to building relationships with music supervisors, these tips will help you get your music heard by the right people and secure placements.
1. Create Sync-Friendly Music
Before you start submitting your tracks to music libraries or pitching to music supervisors, it’s important to make sure that your music is sync-friendly. Sync-friendly music refers to tracks that are more likely to be placed in visual media due to their structure, tone, and versatility. Many successful sync tracks share similar qualities, and understanding what works can give you a leg up in the competitive world of licensing.
Key Characteristics of Sync-Friendly Music:
- Emotional Clarity: Music that clearly conveys an emotion or mood (e.g., uplifting, somber, tense) is more likely to be selected. Music supervisors look for tracks that enhance the emotional impact of a scene.
- Simple Arrangements: Songs with clean, uncluttered arrangements are often easier to sync with visuals. This means fewer instruments competing for attention, allowing the track to sit well under dialogue or action.
- Instrumental Versions: Instrumental tracks are widely preferred for television and film. Even if your song has vocals, always provide an instrumental version. Lyrics can sometimes clash with dialogue, so the instrumental version often becomes the go-to for placements.
- Short Edits: Provide multiple versions of your track, including 30-second, 60-second, and loopable versions. These are often requested by editors working on shorter commercial spots or scenes.
How to Apply This:
- Focus on creating tracks that fit various genres and moods, but ensure they aren’t overly complex. Think of how your music could complement a specific scene or theme, and create clean, focused arrangements with minimal clutter.
- Always have instrumental versions and short edits ready to submit along with the full version of the track.
2. Build a Diverse Catalog of Music
When submitting music for licensing, it’s important to have a diverse catalog of tracks available. Music supervisors and licensing agencies often look for a variety of styles, genres, and moods to fit different types of projects. Having a range of tracks in your portfolio increases your chances of landing a placement.
Steps to Build Your Catalog:
- Explore Different Genres: Even if you specialize in one genre, consider experimenting with others that are popular in sync licensing, such as indie rock, electronic, or cinematic scores. Expanding your stylistic range can make your catalog more appealing to a broader range of clients.
- Create for Different Moods: Emotions are central to sync placements. Ensure that your catalog includes tracks that convey a wide range of emotions—uplifting, melancholy, suspenseful, etc.
- Consistent Quality: Your entire catalog should be high-quality, professionally mixed, and mastered. Music supervisors need tracks that are ready to use without further tweaking.
How to Apply This:
- Start by identifying which genres and moods are in demand for TV, film, and media placements. You can research popular music used in shows, commercials, or trailers and try to produce tracks in similar styles.
- Aim to create at least 10-20 high-quality tracks in various genres and moods to build a strong portfolio that can be easily submitted to licensing opportunities.
3. Submit Your Music to Licensing Libraries
One of the most effective ways to get your music placed in television, film, and media is by submitting it to music licensing libraries. These libraries serve as a marketplace for music supervisors, filmmakers, and content creators to browse and license tracks for their projects. By making your music available in these libraries, you increase your chances of getting your tracks discovered and placed in various media.
Top Music Licensing Libraries:
- Pond5: A popular platform for licensing music, sound effects, and stock footage. Musicians can upload their tracks, set their prices, and earn royalties when their music is licensed.
- AudioJungle: Part of the Envato Market, AudioJungle is a large library where musicians can upload royalty-free music for licensing. It's especially popular with YouTube creators, advertisers, and small production companies.
- Songtradr: A user-friendly platform that allows musicians to license their music to various media. It offers both free and premium options for artists, with sync licensing opportunities and a marketplace for songs.
- Motion Array: Known for its simplicity and high traffic from video creators and editors. This platform is great for placing instrumental tracks and sound effects.
How to Apply This:
- Choose 2-3 music libraries that align with your style and submission criteria. Each library has different audiences and reach, so diversify where you submit your tracks.
- Ensure your tracks are properly tagged with relevant keywords, such as genre, mood, and instruments, to make them easily searchable in the libraries.
- Regularly update your catalog in these libraries to keep your content fresh and increase the likelihood of placements.
4. Network with Music Supervisors and Publishers
While music libraries are a great starting point, building direct relationships with music supervisors and publishers can significantly increase your chances of landing high-profile placements. Music supervisors are responsible for finding and licensing music for specific projects, and working with them directly can lead to more tailored opportunities.
How to Build Relationships with Music Supervisors:
- Attend Industry Events: Attend film festivals, music licensing conferences, and sync summits where you can network with music supervisors. Events like Sync Summit or ASCAP Expo are great places to make connections.
- Cold Pitching: You can also pitch directly to music supervisors via email or social media, but ensure your pitch is professional, concise, and includes a link to your music catalog.
- Music Publisher Partnerships: Many music publishers specialize in sync licensing and can pitch your music to music supervisors on your behalf. Partnering with a reputable publisher can give you access to more opportunities.
How to Apply This:
- Focus on building a network of contacts in the sync licensing world. Whether through online communities, LinkedIn, or in-person events, stay proactive in getting your name and music in front of industry professionals.
- Partner with a music publisher or sync agent who can pitch your music directly to supervisors for projects like TV shows, films, and ads.
5. Stay Persistent and Keep Creating
Success in music licensing doesn’t happen overnight, and persistence is key. Many artists face rejection before landing their first placement, but consistency is critical. Keep submitting your music, building relationships, and creating new tracks. Over time, your efforts will lead to opportunities.