When most musicians think about sync licensing, they imagine landing a track in a Netflix show or a big national commercial in the U.S. market. And while that’s a major piece of the industry, it’s also the most crowded. Everyone is aiming for the same few placements through the same well-known libraries, which makes it harder to break in and get noticed.
 

What many artists don’t realize is that there’s an entire world of licensing opportunities beyond the U.S. There are active and growing sync markets in Europe, South America, and Asia that are often easier to access, less saturated with competition, and in some cases even pay more. These international markets can be a major income stream if you know where to look and how to approach them.
 

Europe Pays Well and Values Artist-Driven Music

Europe has a deep respect for music and storytelling. In countries like Germany, France, the UK, Sweden, and the Netherlands, supervisors are often looking for more emotionally rich, cinematic tracks than what you typically find in U.S. briefs. They’re not afraid to license from lesser-known artists, especially if the music is well-produced and cleared.
 

Many libraries in Europe still operate on a non-exclusive basis and are transparent about how they pitch your music. You may even earn backend royalties on commercials and trailers, which isn’t always the case in the U.S. If your music fits the vibe and you’re easy to work with, you’ll stand out quickly.
 

South America Needs Content and Welcomes Outside Artists

Latin America is booming in terms of content creation. Platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and regional streamers are investing heavily in original shows and films throughout Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. These productions need a constant flow of music, and many local supervisors are open to using tracks from outside the region, especially when they’re professionally delivered and pre-cleared.

Latin culture tends to embrace heartfelt, emotional, and melodic music. Genres like indie pop, folk, Latin fusion, ambient, and even lo-fi can all find homes here. If your music connects emotionally, there’s a place for it. You’ll need to put in some extra effort to build relationships and understand cultural nuances, but this is a growing market with real demand.

Asia Offers Massive Exposure and Budget

Japan, South Korea, and China are major players in the global sync economy. Japanese advertising is known for being creative and cinematic. Korean dramas are internationally popular and rely heavily on music. Anime is now a global phenomenon with curated soundtracks. Even video games and mobile apps in this region often license original music.

These industries move quickly, and production quality is high. If your tracks are cinematic, highly produced, or emotionally rich, there’s strong potential. It can be harder to break in without a local connection or a trusted partner, but many music libraries and sync agents already operate with distribution channels in Asia.

International Royalties Are Often Overlooked

If your music gets placed overseas, you’re eligible to earn royalties from international PROs. Organizations like JASRAC in Japan, SACEM in France, or APRA in Australia collect performance royalties when your music is used publicly. These royalties are distributed to your PRO (like BMI or ASCAP) if your registrations and metadata are clean.

It’s common for artists to leave money on the table simply because they didn’t properly register their tracks or follow through with the paperwork. If you take the time to do it right, international placements can generate long-term backend income that keeps paying for years.

Thinking Globally Gives You a Major Advantage

If your sync strategy only targets the U.S., you’re missing out on a huge chunk of the market. These international sync scenes are active, hungry for new music, and more open to independent artists than many people realize.

When you start thinking globally and taking the right steps to enter these markets, you’ll face less competition, build more relationships, and create a more stable foundation for long-term sync success. The world is big, and sync opportunities are everywhere. You just need to know how to find them.

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