What is sync licensing and how do I prep my tracks for TV and film placements?

Dec 3, 2025

Sync licensing (short for synchronization licensing) is when your music gets placed in visual media like TV shows, films, commercials, video games, or trailers. To prep your tracks for sync placements, you need to ensure your productions are high quality and professionally mixed, own or control all the rights to both the composition and recording, and create instrumental versions alongside your main tracks. Music supervisors look for polished productions with clear licensing that's easy to clear in one place, so having proper metadata, multiple versions (clean, instrumental, stems), and high-quality audio files ready to go will put you ahead of the competition.

Getting your tracks sync-ready requires not just production skills but also understanding how music supervisors evaluate quality and commercial viability. At Futureproof Music School, Kadence (Futureproof's AI music coach) helps you polish your mixes to professional standards with real-time feedback on balance, EQ, and arrangement, while our Futureproof Mentors provide industry insights on making music that's actually placeable in TV and film.

What file format and sample rate should I export my tracks for sync licensing submissions?

Export your tracks as 24-bit WAV files at 48kHz sample rate, which is the broadcast standard for TV and film. This ensures your music meets technical requirements and maintains professional quality throughout the post-production workflow.

Do I need to clear all samples before submitting tracks for TV and film placements?

Yes, you must have full ownership or clearance for every sample, loop, and preset in your track. Most sync libraries and music supervisors require 100% copyright clearance to avoid legal issues, so stick to royalty-free samples or original recordings.

Should I create instrumental and stems versions of my tracks for sync opportunities?

Absolutely. Most sync placements require an instrumental version at minimum, and having organized stems (drums, bass, synths, vocals) gives music supervisors flexibility to edit your track for specific scenes, significantly increasing your chances of placement.