Sync licensing in the UK is one of the highest-value income streams available to independent artists — but only if your rights are correctly cleared and your catalog is registered properly. Here is how it works.
What Is Sync Licensing in the UK?
Sync licensing is the process of licensing a piece of music for use alongside visual content — television, film, advertising, video games, and online video. 'Sync' refers to synchronising audio to picture. In the UK, a sync licence involves two separate rights: the synchronisation right (covering the musical composition, administered by PRS for Music or your publisher) and the master use right (covering the recording, administered by PPL or your label). Both must be cleared before a placement can proceed. Missing either one can cause a deal to fall through at the last minute.
Who Is Sync Licensing For?
UK sync licensing is relevant to:
- Independent artists and songwriters who own both their master recordings and their compositions
- Labels and publishers managing a catalog with commercial or cinematic qualities
- Artists in specific genres that over-index in sync placements: gospel, jazz, ambient, reggae, orchestral, and electronic
- UK artists with international catalog who want their music in US or European productions
What Clears a Sync Licence in the UK
Before a music supervisor can use your track, both sides of the copyright must be cleared. Here is what must be in place:
- PRS registration: your composition must be registered with PRS for Music and the split sheet must be accurate and complete
- Publisher share: if you have a publishing administrator, they hold the sync rights on the composition side. If not, you hold them yourself — and you must be contactable quickly
- PPL registration: your master recording must be registered with PPL with accurate ISRC codes and performer credits
- Clean ownership chain: no unresolved splits, no samples, no co-writer disputes — supervisors will not touch a track with unclear ownership
- Quick turnaround: advertising in particular moves fast. Artists who can confirm rights clearance within 24 to 48 hours win more placements
How UK Sync Deals Are Structured
A sync fee is a one-time licence payment for the right to use the music in a specific project. It is separate from backend royalties. A TV placement in the UK generates: an upfront sync fee negotiated directly with the production company or publisher; a PRS broadcast royalty each time the programme airs on a licensed broadcaster; and a PPL neighbouring right payment to the recording rights holder. The sync fee can range from a few hundred pounds for a short online video to tens of thousands for a major advertising campaign or feature film.
How to Get Your Catalog Into Sync
The most common routes for independent UK artists to place music in sync:
- Sync agencies: companies like Musicbed, Artlist, Epidemic Sound, and UK-based agencies like Bucks Music Group license pre-cleared tracks to content creators and broadcasters
- Music supervisors: the professionals at production companies and ad agencies who select music. They take pitches from publishers and sync agents but rarely from artists directly
- Publishing administrators: a publishing administrator with sync relationships can pitch your catalog proactively and handle clearance when opportunities arise
- MCPS licensing: for physical and digital use, MCPS (part of PRS for Music) handles mechanical sync licences for many production contexts
How to Get Started
If your catalog has sync potential and you want the rights infrastructure to support it:
- Complete the Catalog Assessment at codegroupmusic.co.uk/#catalog-assessment
- We review your composition registrations, master ownership, and split sheets for sync-readiness
- A publishing administration engagement sets up the clearance pipeline so you can respond to sync enquiries quickly
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a publishing deal to get sync placements?
No. You can hold your own sync rights as a self-published writer. However, having a publishing administrator increases the chances of placement because they have existing relationships with supervisors and can pitch proactively.
What is the difference between a sync fee and a royalty?
A sync fee is a one-time payment negotiated upfront for the right to use the music. Royalties (from PRS and PPL) are ongoing payments generated each time the content airs or streams. A good placement generates both.
Can I license my music for sync if it contains samples?
Technically yes, but in practice it is very difficult. Any sample must be cleared with the original recording owner and composition owner before you can grant a sync licence. Supervisors will almost always choose a clean track over a sampled one for ease of clearance.
Published