5 Tips to Break Into Sync: What No One Tells You About Making Money in Music Licensing

Mar 10, 2025

Breaking into the world of sync licensing can feel like trying to crack a secret code.

When I first started, I thought the key to success was landing a massive commercial—something like a Burger King ad or a Target campaign—one big payday that would change everything.

Spoiler alert: That’s not how it works.

Sync isn’t about one big break. It’s about playing the long game, creating volume, and treating it like a business—not a lottery ticket.

Here are the five biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way:

1. Sync is a Numbers Game

If you’re only making one song, and hoping it lands a big placement, you’re doing it wrong. Sync is all about volume.

Think of it like the stock market.

Some investments (songs) are small and steady—reality TV placements, background music, indie films—and some are huge—Super Bowl ads, movie trailers, NFL spots.

But here’s the thing: You don’t get to control which songs hit big.

The best strategy?

Make so much music that success becomes inevitable.

The more songs you have out there, the more chances you have for placements.

2. The Money is in the Long Play, Not the Quick Wins

So many artists are out here chasing the big fish—waiting for that one blockbuster placement that’ll pay a fortune.

But if you talk to successful sync composers, they’re not banking on one placement—they’re building a catalog that keeps working for them year after year.

A single TV placement might only bring in $25-$100 dollars upfront, but what if you had 100 of those?

And what if one of those tracks later gets picked up for a bigger placement down the road?

That’s how sync works. It’s a long-term game, not a quick cash grab.

3. Major Libraries = Guaranteed Placements (If You Do It Right)

Here’s the truth:

I don’t like chasing down people and being a salesman for my own music. I’d rather spend my time creating, not pitching.

That’s why I work with major production music libraries—companies like Warner Chappell PM, Universal Production Music, and other major publishers.

Why?

Because they’re already plugged into major networks.

They have relationships with ESPN, CBS, NBC, Netflix, Hulu, HBO—so when they take on my music, it’s practically guaranteed to get placed.

I don’t have to DM music supervisors all day or cross my fingers that someone hears my track. I just focus on making high-quality music that libraries want, and they do the rest.

If you hate networking, pitching, and constantly “selling” your music, go where the placements already happen—BIG libraries.

4. Create Music for Sync, Not for Your Ego

One of the biggest mistakes I see artists make in sync is submitting music they love, instead of music that works.

Sync is not about you. It’s about what works for TV, film, trailers, and commercials.

Simple, clear themes win
Emotional impact wins
Usable instrumental versions win
Lyrics that tell a story but aren’t too specific win

A great song for radio isn’t always a great song for sync. Learn the difference, and your placements will skyrocket.

5. Stop Waiting, Start Building (Diversify & Dominate)

The biggest shift in my career happened when I stopped waiting for a big break and started building a machine.

🛑 I stopped relying on a few songs and started making entire albums.
🛑 I stopped chasing individual music supervisors and focused on libraries.
🛑 I stopped obsessing over one huge placement and instead aimed for 100 small ones.

Sync is not about luck. It’s about consistency, strategy, and volume.

If you want real success in sync, make more music. Submit more albums. Diversify.

And then sit back and watch the royalties grow over time.

Final Thought: Sync Success is Inevitable if You Play the Right Game

So many people waste years chasing supervisors, pitching to the wrong people, or waiting for a massive payday that never comes.

Instead, take the stock market approach:

Diversify your catalog
Create high volume
Partner with libraries that have the relationships
Be patient and let the royalties build over time

Success in sync is simple: Create so much music that you can’t help but succeed.

Now, go make some music!