Job Highlight: Synch Licensing Assistant

If you haven’t already realized - music is everywhere in our society. More and more of us are constantly consuming media - scrolling on our phones, streaming on our laptops, watching on our Smart TVs - and most of the content we consume includes a musical accompaniment. But how does a specific song or piece of music end up in a film, TV, commercial, or short video? And who oversees the licensing and royalties arrangements to ensure that artists get their fair share when their music is used? All of this falls under the job description of a Synch Licensing Assistant. In this article, we’ll walk through exactly what this job entails

Synch licensing (short for synchronization licensing) involves securing permission to use music in various visual media such as films, TV shows, advertisements, video games, and more. Those who work within these roles help promote artists, ensure they get paid fairly, and ensure that visual media creators find the right music for their needs.

The music industry is dynamic, with a lot of evolving trends that mean it can be difficult to keep track of where a song might end up once it’s released into the world. Within that dynamism, the role of a Synch Licensing Assistant is important, as these are the experts who work to help link music artists with filmmakers, advertisers, and other media content creators.

A Guide to Synch Licensing

Synch licensing plays a vital role in sound and visual media. Not only does synch licensing help link up music with visual media, but it also provides artists with an important source of income. In the cases of an artist such as, say, Canadian singer-songwriter Feist, a synch licensing placement in an Apple commercial was literally the cornerstone of her entire career.

Synch licensing is synchronization, meaning that - in the best cases - it works for both the musician and the person or groups they’re collaborating with.

As a Synch Licensing Assistant, your primary responsibility will be to secure the rights to use music in synchronization with visual content. This involves several different things, but one of the main tasks you’ll be undertaking is negotiating licensing agreements, ensuring compliance with copyright laws, and coordinating with artists, labels, production companies, and other involved parties.

As well as this, Synch Licensing Assistants will often work as part of a legal team to make sure that a licensing agreement is legally sound. They’ll navigate the legal aspects of synchronization to avoid copyright infringement and legal disputes.

Synch Licensing has Long-Term Impacts on Brand Identity and Music Industry Trends

While much of synch licensing involves a lot of quiet paperwork, back-and-forth negotiations, and dense legalese, synching impacts the music world in many ways.

Synching provides an important source of revenue for artists and rights holders. It can enhance the impact of visual media, it can create a memorable and immersive experience for an audience, and in some cases it becomes an entire brand identity for a business (hello Cadbury’s, hello gorilla, hello Phil Collins).

It also sets trend: consider how a timely synch placement of Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ in a 2022 episode of Stranger Things encouraged a massive resurgence of interest in ‘80s alternative pop.

Synch Licensing Assistant Job Description

So, synch licensing is important for the music industry. Got it.

But what’s actually in the job?

A typical Synch Licensing Assistant job description might ask candidates if they can perform the following tasks:

• Research and identify potential tracks and music pieces for appropriate synchronization opportunities
• Contacting rights holders and artists to negotiate licensing agreements
• Create agreements and ensure compliance from all involved parties
• Communicate with artists, labels, lawyers, production teams, etc - to make sure the licensing of a work of music is seamless and beneficial to everyone involved.

It’s a job that requires someone who is highly motivated, has an eye for the details, and is also creative enough to recognize a useful music/media partnership when they see one.

These aren’t the only tasks involved, of course. As a Synch Licensing Assistant, your role can vary depending on what your organization requires. For example, some Synch Licensing Assistants deal almost exclusively with the specifics of licensing agreements, whereas others are tasked with identifying and capitalizing on wider music industry trends. It can all depend on the job you apply for.

Tips for Those Wanting to Be Successful Synch Licensing Assistants

You might already be thinking you have what it takes to be involved in Synch Licensing. Maybe you’ve already got a song in mind that you believe could be marketed to a wider media base.

If you think you might have what it takes to become a successful Synch Licensing Assistant, here are a few industry tips to help you as you prepare to seek out jobs:

1. Constantly keep updated on music licensing laws and regulations:

Laws and regulations change all the time, and your employer will expect you to be constantly in the loop. If you want a job as a Synch Licensing Assistant, be prepared to always be aware.

2. Cultivate strong relationships with artists, labels, and industry contacts:

When you’re applying for a job, it’s always useful to be able to drop in that you have a network of contacts who can help you do business. Licensing agreements often start off as casual conversations - so get to know people in your industry.

3. Stay detail-oriented and be aware that each licensing agreement you encounter will be unique:

Licensing agreements can be incredible when they’re a success, but behind every agreement is a lot of meticulous work. Before you apply for jobs, be prepared to put the work in.

4. Continuously expand your knowledge of music (and media) trends:

It probably doesn’t need to be stressed, but if you want to enter the world of music licensing, you should already be living and breathing music. As with knowing the latest laws and regulations, make sure you know all the latest music and media trends as well!

Career outlook

It should be clear by now that synch licensing assistants have a pretty big role to play within the industry. The average synch licensing assistant salary falls at roughly $45,000 a year, according to recent reports. However, this can vary depending on the company you work with and level of experience. It’s also worth noting that, since we’re only highlighting a Synch Licensing Assistant role, that salary can rise considerably as a person moves up the career ladder. We hope this article has given you a good overview of a Sync Licensing Assistant!

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The number of opportunities may surprise you, and you won’t need to be an expert concert pianist to succeed. If you're considering a path in the music industry, take the first steps and follow your dreams! Read The Beginner's Guide to Working in Music for you to get started!