Sync Fee
One-time payment for the right to synchronize music with visual media.
Definition
A sync fee is the upfront payment made to license music for use in audiovisual productions including films, television, advertisements, video games, and online content. This fee covers the synchronization right—the legal permission to combine sound recording with visual images.
Sync fees vary enormously based on usage type, duration, media, territory, and term. A local car dealer commercial might pay hundreds while a global brand campaign for a recognizable hit could cost millions.
Why It Matters
Sync licensing represents one of the most valuable monetization opportunities for catalog owners, often generating more revenue from a single placement than years of streaming. Strategic catalog management increasingly focuses on maximizing sync potential.
For artists, sync placements provide income diversification and promotional exposure that can revive catalog streams and attract new fans.
Examples in Practice
A classic rock song earns $500,000 in combined sync fees for placement in a major automotive campaign, with master and publishing splits negotiated separately.
An indie artist's sync fee for a Netflix series placement is $15,000, but the resulting streaming spike generates an additional $50,000 in royalty income.
A music supervisor quotes $75,000 for a fifteen-second use of a popular song in a Super Bowl commercial, knowing the brand has budget and the exposure window justifies premium pricing.