A lot of musicians treat sync like a guessing game. Write some songs, send out a few emails and sit back and hope someone bites. And when nothing happens, they either get discouraged or move on to something else.
But sync doesn’t work that way. At least not if you’re
trying to make real money with it.
What does work is building a simple, repeatable system. A process you follow every time you create and pitch music. Something that takes the mystery out of the whole thing and helps you build momentum over time.
I like to think of it as a funnel. Here’s how to build
yours...
Start With Music That Actually Works for Sync
If you’re trying to get placements, you’ve got to start with music that fits the world of sync licensing. That means writing tracks with visual storytelling in mind.
You don’t need to sound like everyone else, and you don’t need to chase whatever’s trending. But you do want to focus on things like mood, emotional tone, pacing, and structure.
Think about what kind of scene your music would support. Would it work in a breakup montage, a quiet emotional moment, or a high-energy celebration? What role does your music serve
within the context of sync?
That kind of thinking helps you write with purpose. And that’s a big part of what makes a song "syncable".
Get Your Tracks Fully Ready to Pitch
Once your song or
composition is done, the real prep work begins. This is where a lot of musicians drop the ball.
You need clean, professional mixes. You need alternate versions. Instrumentals, stems, no-vocal versions, and short edits. Every track should be clearly labeled with your name and contact info. Metadata should be filled in completely.
Supervisors and editors are busy. They’re not going to chase you down for missing files or try to decode vague track names. If you make their job easy, they'll be much more likely to want to work with you.
Send Music to the Right People
This step makes
or breaks the whole funnel. If you’re sending your music to the wrong people, it doesn’t matter how good it is.
Do some research. Find shows, ads, or films that use music similar to yours. Figure out who placed that music. Look at which libraries specialize in your genre. Identify supervisors who work on projects that align with your sound.
Pitching to the right people beats blasting your catalog to random addresses every single time.
Send Clean, Simple Pitches That Respect People’s Time
When you reach out, keep it short and clear. Introduce yourself in one or two lines.
Mention why you’re reaching out. Include a link to stream your tracks. Let them know the music is cleared and ready to license.
This is not the time to oversell. Just make it easy for them to hear your music and understand how it might fit their needs.
Track What You Send and Who You Send It
To
This is what turns pitching into a system.
Keep track of what you’ve sent, who you’ve sent it to, when you followed up, and what the response was. Over time, this shows you what’s working and what isn’t. If a certain pitch gets multiple replies, you’ll know that direction is landing. If
someone never responds, you can move on and put your energy elsewhere.
Without tracking, you’re guessing. With it, you’re learning.
Follow Up and Build Relationships
Sync licensing is a
relationship business. A lot of placements come from people who already know you or have worked with you before.
So once you make contact, don’t disappear. Follow up occasionally when you’ve got something new. Thank people when they reply. Stay on their radar in a way that’s helpful and respectful.
Most
musicians give up too early. If you keep showing up with good music and a professional attitude, people will remember you and will be much more willing to work with you when the time is right.
Putting It All Together
When you write music intentionally, prepare your music the right way,
pitch strategically, track your results, and build relationships, you’re no longer just hoping for placements. You’re building a real business. One track at a time.
