How Much Do Artists Make from Sync Licensing?
The short answer: it varies wildly. But in 2025, sync licensing remains one of the most lucrative and accessible revenue streams for independent artists—not only in terms of money, but long-term value. Understanding what to expect can help you set realistic goals and price your music strategically.
What You Can Earn
A typical TV sync for an indie artist can range from $500 to $5,000, depending on the network, the size of the audience, and how much of the track is used. Major network shows or globally distributed series can offer significantly more—$10,000 to $50,000 or higher—especially if the song plays a key role in a scene or is featured prominently.
Film placements usually pay more upfront, especially if the film is expected to hit theaters or streaming platforms with wide distribution. Placements in trailers or end credits are typically higher because they’re so visible.
Commercials often come with the biggest payouts. National campaigns for major brands can reach six figures, though more commonly you’ll see indie brand placements in the $2,000 to $15,000 range. Online-only ads and short-term campaigns tend to sit at the lower end of that scale.
Micro-licensing—for YouTube creators, small business videos, or educational content—pays less per use, often $10 to $100, but may be recurring or volume-based.
What Impacts Your Earnings
Ownership: If you own both the master and publishing, you take 100% of the sync fee. If others are involved (labels, co-writers, producers), the fee gets split accordingly.
Exclusivity: Exclusive deals often come with higher payouts, but limit where else you can license that track. Non-exclusive deals are more flexible, but the licensing fees may be lower.
Reputation: Established artists or those with a track record in sync can often command higher fees. But newcomers with sync-friendly music—well-produced, emotionally clear, and rights-cleared—are still in high demand.
Passive vs. Active Income
Some artists get sync deals by actively pitching. Others get discovered through platforms that allow supervisors to search and license directly—without any manual outreach. This passive discovery model is becoming increasingly important, especially as supervisors work under tighter timelines and want pre-cleared tracks they can use immediately.
That’s where SyncIt plays a role. Rather than pitching track by track, your music can live in a system that understands how scenes work—not just how genres sound. If someone’s looking for “moody indie rock for a rainy flashback,” and you’ve created it, your music rises to the top—without needing to send a single email.
