A sync licence is the permission to put a piece of music together with moving images: a film, a TV series, an advert, a corporate video, a YouTube video or a game. It is one of the most common licences in the music industry and one of the most misunderstood. This guide explains how it works, who grants it and what to check before you sign.
Two copyrights in every song
Every recording you hear is made of two separate works, often owned by different people:
- The composition: the melody, harmony and lyrics written by the songwriters. It is usually managed by a music publisher.
- The master: the specific recording of that composition, owned by the record label or by the artist who financed it.
To synchronise a song you need a sync licence for the composition and a master use licence for the recording. If you only clear one of the two, the use is not authorised.
What “one-stop” means
A track is one-stop when a single company controls, or is authorised to license, both the composition and the master. Instead of negotiating with a publisher, a label and sometimes several co-writers, you deal with one licensor and receive one licence for everything. This is why music supervisors and production companies love one-stop catalogues: clearance takes hours instead of weeks.
All tracks in the PA74 Sync Library are one-stop: PA74 Music Publishing can grant both rights for each of them.
The key terms of a sync licence
| Term | What it defines | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Media | Where the production can be shown | Online only; online and TV; all media |
| Territory | Where it can be distributed | One country, Europe, worldwide |
| Term | For how long | 12-month campaign; perpetual for the production |
| Production | Which project is covered | One film, one ad and its cut-downs |
| Exclusivity | Whether others can use the track | Non-exclusive (standard) or exclusive (on request) |
| Fee | What you pay | Flat fee, agreed once |
Sync licence, royalty-free and stock music: the difference
“Royalty-free” only means that you pay once instead of paying per use. It is still a licence, with limits on media, clients and advertising that change from one library to another. Stock libraries usually offer production music written for background use. A bouquet library like PA74 offers commercial songs and instrumentals by artists from around the world, licensed with the same clear terms.
Who pays performance royalties?
Not the producer. When a production is broadcast on TV, radio or shown in cinemas, the broadcaster or venue pays performance royalties to the collecting societies (SIAE, PRS, ASCAP, BMI and others), which then pay the songwriters and publishers. For broadcast use the producer only needs to provide a cue sheet: a list of the music used, with titles, writers and durations.
How to read a licence before you sign
- Check that both rights are licensed, or that the licensor is one-stop.
- Check that the media include every place the production will appear, including paid social media if you plan to sponsor it.
- Check the territory and the term: perpetual is standard for online productions; campaigns often run 12 months.
- Check what is not allowed: remixes, changes to lyrics, use in other productions.
- Keep the certificate with the project files.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sync licence exclusive?
Standard sync licences are non-exclusive: the same track can appear in other productions. Exclusivity for a sector, territory or period is possible on request and is priced separately.
Can I edit the music?
Cutting, looping and fading to fit the picture are normally allowed. Remixing, re-recording or changing the lyrics need specific written consent.
How long does clearance take?
With a one-stop licensor and a standard online use, minutes: you choose the licence online and receive the certificate by email. Custom uses such as TV, cinema or global campaigns usually take one to three working days. See the licence prices or tell us about your project.
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