What sync licensing is
Sync licensing is how you get permission to use music together with moving images. "Sync" is short for synchronization. It covers films, TV shows, ads, trailers, video games, brand videos, apps and online content.
If you want to use an existing song in a production, you need permission from everyone who owns it. That means two kinds of rights, and often two separate deals.
The two licenses you need
Sync license (the composition)
The composition is the song itself: melody, lyrics and structure. It is controlled by the songwriters, usually through music publishers or a publishing administrator. Their permission is the sync license.
A song often has several writers and several publishers. You need a license covering every share.
Master use license (the recording)
The master is the specific recording you want to play. It is usually owned by a record label, or by the artist if they release independently. Their permission is the master use license.
If you re-record the song with your own musicians, you do not need the original master. You still need the sync license for the composition.
No shortcut through compulsory licensing
In the US there is a compulsory mechanical license for releasing audio recordings of songs. It does not apply to music paired with video. The U.S. Copyright Office states that a phonorecord "does not include sounds accompanying a motion picture or other audiovisual work." Sync is always negotiated with the owners.
Common sync uses
- Film and TV. Background music, featured performance, opening or end credits.
- Advertising. TV, online and social ads. Ads often need short, clear terms and fast answers.
- Video games. In-game music, menus, trailers and live-streamed gameplay.
- Trailers and promos. Often licensed separately from the main production.
- Online and branded content. YouTube, social media, corporate and event videos.
How it works on Clearhly
Clearhly is a marketplace where verified rights-holder businesses, such as labels, publishers, admins, songwriters and artists, list music they control. Licensees can request a license directly. Clearhly is currently in private beta.
- Send a license request. Describe the production, the scene or placement, length of use, media, territory and term.
- Negotiate terms. Agree on fee and conditions with the rights holder.
- E-sign the license. Both sides sign the agreement on the platform.
- Pay through Stripe. Payment is held for 14 days before it is paid out to the rights holder.
Every rights holder on Clearhly goes through business verification and confirms, for each listing and share, that they own or control the rights they license. Your license is a contract directly between you and the rights holder. If a song has several owners, a license covering each share and the master covers your use. The full legal terms are in the Terms of Service.
What affects the price
There are no statutory rates for sync. Every fee is negotiated. These are the factors that usually move the price:
- Type of production. A national ad, a feature film, a game and a small web video are priced very differently.
- How the song is used. Background versus featured. Vocal versus instrumental. A title or theme use is worth more.
- Length of use. Seconds used and how many times the song appears.
- Media. Broadcast, cinema, streaming, online, in-game, or "all media." Broader media costs more.
- Territory. One country versus worldwide.
- Term. A few months, several years, or perpetual.
- Exclusivity. Exclusive rights in a category, for example "no other car ads," cost more.
- The song's profile. Well-known songs and artists ask for more.
- Most favored nations (MFN). Publishers and labels often ask that each side gets the same fee. If one side's fee goes up, so does the other.
The clearer your request, the faster owners can quote. Include a short description of the scene or concept, your timeline and your budget range if you have one.
Planning ahead
Sync deals can take time, especially when a song has many owners. Ask early. Have a backup track in mind. Do not lock your edit to a song you have not cleared.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sync license?
A sync license is permission from the owners of a song's composition to pair it with moving images, such as a film, ad, game or online video. If you also use the original recording, you need a separate master use license.
Who do I contact for a sync license?
Contact the music publisher or publishing administrator for the composition, and the record label or artist for the master recording. A song can have several publishers, and you need each one.
How much does a sync license cost?
There is no set rate. Fees are negotiated and depend on the type of production, how the song is used, the media, territory, term and whether the deal is exclusive.
Is there a compulsory sync license like there is for cover songs?
No. The US compulsory mechanical license covers audio-only recordings, not music paired with video. Sync permission is always negotiated with the owners.
Can I avoid the master license by re-recording the song?
Yes, a new recording means you do not need the original master owner. You still need a sync license from the composition owners.
Do I need a sync license for a YouTube video or social post?
Using a song in a video is a sync use. Some platforms have deals that cover certain user uploads, but business and ad uses usually need a direct license, so check the platform's terms and ask the owners.