“How much does it cost to use this song?” is the first question every producer asks, and the honest answer is: it depends on how you use it. A sync licence is priced on the use, not on the track alone. This guide explains the factors that set the price and gives concrete reference prices for the most common online, advertising and film uses.
The five factors that set the price
- Media: online only, TV, cinema, radio or all media. Broadcast and paid advertising cost more than organic online use.
- Territory: one country, a region or worldwide.
- Term: perpetual for a production (typical for online videos and films) or a fixed campaign period (typical for advertising).
- Exclusivity: standard licences are non-exclusive. Exclusivity for a sector or a period is priced separately.
- The track and its role: a famous hit costs far more than a song from an independent catalogue, and music that is the centre of a scene is valued more than background music.
Major hits versus independent catalogues
Songs by major artists are licensed by the major labels and publishers case by case. Fees vary widely and can reach tens of thousands of euros for national TV campaigns, with clearance times of weeks. Independent and one-stop catalogues offer commercial-quality songs and instrumentals at transparent prices, cleared in minutes for standard uses. For most corporate, online and independent productions this is the realistic choice.
Reference prices: the PA74 catalogue
All prices are per track, per production, excluding VAT:
| Use | Licence | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Personal YouTube channel, podcast or social account | Creator | €39 |
| Company up to 50 employees: website, organic social, events | Business Online | €149 |
| Larger companies, agencies and production companies | Corporate Online | €349 |
| Paid online advertising, one country, 12 months | Online Ads – 1 country | €490 |
| Paid online advertising, worldwide, 12 months | Online Ads – Worldwide | €790 |
| Short film, documentary or feature under €750k budget, all media | Festival & Indie Film | €590 |
TV commercials, cinema advertising, trailers, video games and global campaigns are quoted case by case.
Licence packs for regular productions
If you produce videos every month, prepaid packs lower the cost per track. In the PA74 catalogue you can buy packs of 5, 10 or 20 Business or Corporate licences: for example 10 Business licences cost €1,120 instead of €1,490, and the credits stay valid for 12 months.
How to keep the budget under control
- Define the use before you choose the music: media, territory and how long it will run.
- License for what you need now and upgrade later if the video becomes an ad.
- Prefer one-stop tracks: one licence instead of two negotiations.
- Ask for a pack if you have several productions in the pipeline.
- For big uses, send a short brief: a quote with exactly what is included saves time.
Frequently asked questions
Are performance royalties included?
The licence fee covers synchronisation. Performance royalties for broadcast or public screenings are paid by broadcasters and venues to the collecting societies, not by the producer.
Is VAT added to the price?
Prices are shown excluding VAT. VAT depends on where the customer is and whether it is a business with a valid VAT number; it is calculated at checkout.
Can I get a discount for a non-profit project?
For charities and cultural projects, write to us with a description of the project: we evaluate each case.
Compare every option on the licence prices page or browse the Sync Library.
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