What is “sync” licensing?
syn·chro·ni·za·tion
noun ËŒsiÅ‹-krÉ™-nÉ™-ˈzÄÂ-shÉ™n, ËŒsin-
Sync licensing is the popular area of music publishing where songs are used to support and enhance audio-visual media. This includes the use of songs in films, TV and commercials, as well as interactive and emerging platforms like video games, mobile apps and other web applications. Pre-existing compositions (publishing or the “sync” rights) are licensed for all kinds of uses in these media and in projects of scope ranging from student films to Spielberg epics. Often (but not always) songs are licensed alongside a companion master recording and then edited to picture (example = Steven Tyler’s “Dream On” in the trailer for Argo) and often compositions/sync rights are licensed as ends in themselves (example = Hall & Oates’ “Maneater” in ad for Google)