Best Practices to Increase Your Chances of Landing Sync Placements

In today’s music industry, sync licensing (placing your music in TV shows, films, commercials, and video games) has become one of the most powerful ways for artists to build exposure and generate income. But landing a sync isn’t just about making great music. It’s about understanding how to make your tracks work for sync licensing.

Below are some essential best practices to help you increase your chances of landing that next big placement.

1. Write Emotionally Driven, Story-Friendly Music

Sync supervisors aren’t just looking for good songs - they are looking for emotion. Each scene in a film or commercial serves a purpose, and the music must amplify it.

At the end of the day, the reason sync music can be so lucrative is because the job of sync music is to amplify the emotion of the visual.
Ask yourself: What emotion does this track communicate? Joy? Nostalgia? Triumph? Regret? The clearer the emotional tone, the easier it is for a music supervisor to picture it syncing with a visual moment.

Pro tip: Instrumentals and stripped-down versions of your tracks can often be more sync-friendly than full vocal versions, especially for background placements.

2. Keep Your Lyrics Universal

When it comes to sync, simple and relatable lyrics win. Avoid overly specific names, places, or inside references that limit where a song can fit. Instead, use universal themes like love, freedom, overcoming challenges, or self-discovery - simple concepts that align with countless visual narratives.

3. Master Your Production Quality

Music supervisors and editors expect high-quality sound. Even the best-written song can be skipped if it sounds muddy or unpolished.
Make sure your tracks are:

• Professionally mixed and mastered

• Properly tagged with metadata (title, writer, contact info)

• Delivered in multiple versions (instrumental, vocal, 30s/60s cuts, etc.)

Think of your catalog like a product line - each song should be “shelf-ready” for sync placements.

4. Control Your Rights and Splits

A common deal-breaker in sync is unclear ownership. Supervisors want to know exactly who owns what and how to clear the song fast.
Always keep your publishing splits, master ownership, and writer shares documented and agreed upon in writing.

If your song has co-writers or multiple producers/collaborators, make sure everyone is aligned before pitching the track.

5. Be Easy to Work With

Sync placements often come with short deadlines and last-minute changes. The artists who respond quickly, provide alternate versions, and handle business professionally are the ones who get called back.
In sync, relationships are everything - every great placement can lead to five more if you’re reliable and responsive.

6. Pitch Strategically (Not Randomly)

Instead of sending your music everywhere, take time to understand what kind of projects fit your sound.

• Watch shows, films, and ads that use similar music.

• Research music supervisors or agencies working in those styles.

• Build a curated playlist of your most sync-ready songs and make them easily accessible.

When your music aligns with a project’s needs, you’re not just another email in the inbox - you’re a solution.

7. Partner with the Right Publishing Team

Managing registrations, licensing, and global royalty collection can quickly become overwhelming, especially if you’re also creating new music. That’s where a strong publishing partner comes in.

At Elizabeth Music Group, we specialize in helping artists and composers navigate the sync world from organizing rights and metadata to pitching music for high value opportunities. Our team ensures your songs are not only properly registered worldwide but also positioned for placements through transparent, proactive publishing collection.

In short: landing sync placements is about more than luck - it’s about preparation, clarity, and professionalism. By crafting emotionally powerful, well-produced, and properly managed music, you make it easier for your art to find its perfect visual match.

If you’re ready to make your music sync-ready and start collecting what you’re owed globally, Elizabeth Music Group can help turn your catalog into opportunity.