With an increase in the use of film and TV streaming services, such as Netflix, Apple TV, and Disney+, there are more opportunities than ever for artists to get their music featured in media products.
The sync sector can be fast-paced and complicated – so it’s important to be ready! This guide will give you the information you need to prepare your music for sync opportunities.
If you need support or more information, get in touch with one of the team on 0116 253 0203 or drop us an email here.
Create an instrumental version
Instrument versions of your song are critical for sync opportunities, not only are they dialogue friendly, but certain sync briefs will only ask for instrumentals. Production teams like to have freedom and autonomy with submissions, to allow them to make the music fit the particular product. For example, cutting vocals when dialogue starts within the product.
Sync briefs can have quite short deadlines, meaning that having these files to hand can make pitching and submissions easier. Having an instrumental version also protects you if you lose the DAW project or audio files. This version should be mixed and mastered the same as the original – but just with vocals cut.
Provide accurate lyrics
Lyrics can play a significant part of the sync process. They can help when matching briefs with specific lyrical themes. If your song is written in a foreign language, provide the english translation.
This will allow supervisors to understand your piece and see if it’s the right fit for their project. Similar to instrumental versions, keeping a well-formatted document containing accurate lyrics can make sync submissions stand out. This can also prove useful if you decide to connect lyrics to your releases on DSPs.
Prepare your stems
Having stems (individual audio tracks for each element of your song) is a huge advantage. These allow production teams to alter your track slightly to fit it to a scene, while keeping the integrity of the track. They can also offer more lucrative deals for your songs.
Tip: Bounce each stem from the start of the project, even if it doesn’t come in until later. This means that when the stems are uploaded to a different project as audio files, nobody has to guess where in the song each stem is supposed to start.
Document ownership and split sheets
Collaborations are a large part of the music industry, so it’s important to keep track of ownership and split sheets. You should ensure that everyone has agreed and signed the documents to avoid arguments later on. Be transparent about what split that you think your contribution deserves, as this can prevent resentment and disputes later down the line, especially if you sign the documents but think that you deserve a higher royalty rate.
When the split sheets are signed, make sure everybody has a copy, and keep them safe. Publishers, Music Supervisors and other entities may require them for sync pitches to be accepted.
License your samples
If you’ve included samples in your song, it’s essential that these are licensed properly. Check the sync eligibility and terms and conditions (loops and beats) to ensure they are sync eligible.
If you have used a sample in your recording, it will need clearing in writing – regardless of the length of the sample, or how extravagantly it has been edited, etc. Some sites may include an automatic license in their Terms and Conditions (check this thoroughly), however it is important to keep any written clearance for, and openly declare, samples used in music for sync pitches.
This also applies to interpellation, which is effectively the publishing equivalent of a sample, meaning that it applies just to the components of a song, and not a recording.
For example, if another Songwriter’s lyrics are quoted, or even paraphrased, in your work, this should be cleared with the rightsholder/s of the work (this may be the Publisher and/or Songwriter).
Provide accurate metadata
A song’s metadata is a crucial component in the sync process, including ISRCs, Artist name, Album title, Release dates and Barcodes/UPC. These will ensure that your music is properly identified and credited. This also applies to a song and recording’s genre and mood. It is important to make sure that this metadata is also accurate so that the music can be placed properly.
Getting a small group of third-party listeners together (a bit like a focus group!) and asking them what they think the genre/mood is, without your input, can help with this.
Your perception of what mood/genre your song and recording is may be tainted by what you wanted it to be when you started the project, but you may have unknowingly strayed from this during the creative process.
How can Horus Music help?
Sync is a complicated sector with lots of behind-the-scenes admin and expertise required to secure placements, beyond what we have explored in this guide.
Horus Music Publishing+ regularly finds sync placements for its clients and takes care of the licensing and admin. To find out how we can help, click here or give us a call om 0116 2563 0203
