How Sync Royalties Differ from Other Music Payments

Let’s say your song lands in a Netflix series, an Adidas commercial, or a big-budget video game. You know you’ll get paid, but what exactly are you earning—and how’s it different from all the other checks that come in for your music? Getting this straight can make the difference between leaving money on the table or building a real career. Here’s exactly how sync royalties set themselves apart from other music income, what it means for your bottom line, and what to watch for in every sync deal.

What Are Sync Royalties?

Sync royalties—short for synchronization royalties—are the payments you earn when your music is paired with (or “synced” to) visual media. That could be movies, TV shows, ads, trailers, or even YouTube series. When a music supervisor wants to use your track with their visuals, they need a synchronization license, and you get paid in two main ways:

• Sync License Fee: A one-time payment for the right to synchronize your song with a specific visual project.
• Backend Royalties: Additional performance royalties if the media is aired publicly (TV broadcasts, streaming, etc.), paid by performing rights organizations (PROs) after the sync.

For example, if your track is featured in an episode of a hit TV show, you get a sync fee upfront and can also collect performance royalties every time that episode airs.

Sync Royalties vs. Performance Royalties

It’s easy to mix up sync and performance royalties, but they’re not the same.

Performance Royalties: The Broadcast Backbone

Performance royalties are earned when your music is played or performed publicly—think radio, live concerts, and even streaming platforms. These are tracked by PROs like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the US, and collected over time, often without you ever knowing who pushed play.

Key Distinction: Use Case Drives the Royalty

• Sync royalties come from licensing your music to be used with visual content. The payout happens when your track is licensed for a film, ad, or show.
• Performance royalties come from your music actually being played—in public, on broadcast, or on streaming.

A sync deal can lead to additional performance royalties if the media featuring your song gets broadcasted, but the two are tracked and paid separately.

Licensing Income: The Power Behind Sync Deals

When your music is licensed for media, the income typically breaks down into:

1. Sync Fee (Licensing Income): Flat fee paid by the production for using your music. Rates can range wildly—from $500 for an indie documentary to $100,000+ for a prime ad campaign. Negotiation is key.
2. Master Use Fee: If you (or your label) own the recording, you get a fee for use of the actual sound recording—the “master.” Songwriters and publishers get a sync fee for the composition itself.

Practical example: Let’s say a car company wants your song for a new ad. They’ll pay:

• One fee to the publisher/songwriter (sync fee)
• One fee to the label or whoever owns the master (master use fee)

If you own both, all the better: you collect both checks.

Sync Royalties and Music Revenue Streams: A Broader Perspective

There are more ways to get paid in music than you might think. Here’s how sync fits among other revenue streams:

• Mechanical Royalties: From physical/digital sales or streaming (think Spotify, Apple Music).
• Performance Royalties: From live/public performances or radio/TV/streaming broadcasts.
• Print Music Income: Sheet music sales or lyric reprints.
• Direct Licensing Income: Includes sync—licensing your work directly for use in media.
• Merchandising, Crowdfunding, Patreon, etc.: Tied to your brand and fans, not song usages.

Sync royalties are unique because they’re not triggered by someone simply playing your song—they require a direct agreement and a creative pairing with visual content.

Film Sync Deals: Why Everyone Wants In

Landing a film sync deal is coveted not just because of the check (which can be huge), but because it opens doors:

• Exposure to new audiences (everyone who watches the show or ad hears your song)
• Leveraging “as heard in…” for more PR opportunities
• Potential for spikes in streams and sales after big sync placements

Compare that to getting your song on Spotify playlists—it builds fanbase and brings some royalties, but sync is often a game-changer for visibility and upfront payment.

Key Takeaways—and How to Maximize Your Sync Income

1. Tag Your Rights: Make sure you know who owns your publishing and master rights, since both get paid in a sync deal.
2. Metadata Matters: Keep your tracks’ metadata up to date for easier pitching and licensing.
3. Consider Representation: Music libraries and sync agents can help you land placements, but they take a cut. Make sure the math works out.
4. Be Organized: Track every placement and payment. Sync income can be unpredictable, so don’t lose sight of what’s owed.

Remember, sync royalties aren’t passive income—you have to pitch, network, or get your music into libraries, and be ready to negotiate when a deal lands. But in a world where getting paid for streams is getting tougher, sync income can diversify—and supercharge—your music revenue streams.

Real-World Example: Indie Artist Sync Win

Musician A licenses a song to a Netflix series. They’re paid a $5,000 sync fee (split equally between the publisher and master owner). Over the next year, as the episode airs globally, performance royalties start rolling in—another $1,500 distributed via their PRO. Streams of the song triple that month, leading to extra mechanical and performance royalties from digital platforms. That’s the compounding power of landing a sync deal—it’s a gateway for multiple income streams.

If you’re aiming for real, scalable music revenue, understand your rights, optimize your catalog for sync, and be intentional with every deal. Sync royalties aren’t just one more royalty—they can change your trajectory.