Music supervisors work against tight deadlines. When they find a song they like, the one that can be cleared quickly usually wins. This checklist helps you be that song.
Rights and ownership
- [ ] You know who owns the master recording.
- [ ] Songwriter and publisher splits are agreed in writing.
- [ ] Every co-writer and producer has signed off on licensing.
- [ ] Any samples are cleared, or the track contains none.
Files
- [ ] High-quality WAV of the full mix.
- [ ] Instrumental version.
- [ ] Clean version if the lyrics contain explicit language.
- [ ] Stems available on request.
- [ ] Short edits or alternate endings if you have them.
Metadata
- [ ] Track title, artist name, writers, publishers and ISRC embedded in the files.
- [ ] Your contact details in the metadata or file name.
- [ ] Lyrics in a text document.
Registration
- [ ] Songs registered with your performing rights organisation so performance royalties from broadcast placements reach you.
Presentation
- [ ] A short, private streaming link with your best sync-friendly tracks.
- [ ] Two or three tags per track: mood, tempo, and the kind of scene it suits.
Expectations
- [ ] You understand terms like one-stop clearance, sync fee and term/territory.
- [ ] You know your minimum and when you would say no.
Getting all of this in order takes an afternoon and makes every opportunity easier. For artists who want an experienced team on the pitching side, here is what professional sync licensing support involves.