I just released a new episode of The Sync Lab Podcast, and it’s one of the most honest and informative conversations I’ve had so far.

In this episode, I sit down with veteran music supervisor Gary Calamar, whose work spans some of the most influential television series of the last few decades, including Six Feet Under, True Blood, Dexter, Entourage, Weeds, House, The Man in the High Castle, Titans, and Netflix’s 3 Body Problem.
 

We get into how music supervision actually works behind the scenes. Gary breaks down how music ends up in shows, how decisions are made between music supervisors, editors, showrunners, and producers, and how those creative dynamics play out in real productions. This is the stuff most artists never get to hear about.
 

We also talk openly about licensing fees, what different types of projects tend to pay, and why context and budget matter far more than most musicians realize. There’s a lot of misunderstanding around money in sync, and Gary offers a grounded, realistic perspective based on decades of experience.
 

Another big part of the conversation focuses on how supervisors discover music, the role of relationships and trusted sources, and how independent artists should think about positioning themselves professionally. There’s no hype here. It’s about understanding how the system actually operates and where artists fit into it.
 

We also discuss AI in music and why Gary continues to prefer music written and created by humans. He explains what he listens for emotionally and why authenticity and intention still matter deeply in his decision making process.
 

My goal with this podcast is simple. I want to educate my subscribers and listeners by pulling back the curtain and sharing real conversations with people who are actually working in the industry. I plan to release new episodes every week in 2026, schedule permitting, and bring on more great guests and industry insiders who can offer practical insight you can actually use.
 

If you want to better understand how sync licensing works from the inside, this episode is well worth your time.
 

You can listen on Spotify here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2q7RIMi8IFfTP6ZksnpU2B?si=hjaxhNiwRLitDet741dgUw
 

More episodes coming soon!
 

Aaron Davison