{
  "slug": "sync-licensing-fee",
  "title": "Sync Licensing Fee Estimator",
  "heading": "Sync Licensing Fee Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/sync-licensing-fee",
  "summary": "Ballpark sync fees for film, TV, ads, and games by usage type.",
  "description": "Sync fees vary wildly by media type, usage duration, exclusivity, and the licensee's budget tier — a national TV commercial can pay $50,000–$250,000+ while an indie YouTube video license might be $50–$500. This calculator uses common industry benchmark ranges by placement type and territory scope to give a realistic starting quote, split between the master owner (usually the artist/label) and the publisher (the songwriter side), which traditionally split 50/50 on sync deals.",
  "formula": "Base fee × duration multiplier × territory multiplier × exclusivity multiplier, split 50/50 master/publishing.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=sync-licensing-fee",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "placement",
      "label": "Placement type",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "indie-film",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "youtube",
          "label": "YouTube creator / indie video ($50–500 base)"
        },
        {
          "value": "indie-film",
          "label": "Indie film / streaming series ($1,000–5,000 base)"
        },
        {
          "value": "network-tv",
          "label": "Network TV background ($5,000–15,000 base)"
        },
        {
          "value": "national-ad",
          "label": "National commercial ($25,000–100,000 base)"
        },
        {
          "value": "video-game",
          "label": "Video game ($2,000–10,000 base)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "duration",
      "label": "Duration used",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 30,
      "unit": "sec",
      "min": 5,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "territory",
      "label": "Territory",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "national",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "local",
          "label": "Local / regional"
        },
        {
          "value": "national",
          "label": "National"
        },
        {
          "value": "global",
          "label": "Worldwide"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "exclusive",
      "label": "Exclusivity",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "non-exclusive",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "non-exclusive",
          "label": "Non-exclusive"
        },
        {
          "value": "exclusive",
          "label": "Exclusive"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Estimated sync fee",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "masterShare",
      "label": "Master (recording) side",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "pubShare",
      "label": "Publishing (song) side",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "low",
      "label": "Low end of realistic range",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "high",
      "label": "High end of realistic range",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Placement type: Indie film / streaming series ($1,000–5,000 base)",
      "Duration used: 30 sec",
      "Territory: National",
      "Exclusivity: Non-exclusive"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Estimated sync fee: $3,000",
      "Master (recording) side: $1,500",
      "Publishing (song) side: $1,500",
      "Low end of realistic range: $2,100",
      "High end of realistic range: $4,200"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter placement type.",
      "Enter duration used (sec).",
      "Enter territory.",
      "Enter exclusivity.",
      "Read your estimated sync fee on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "placement": "indie-film",
        "duration": 20,
        "territory": "national",
        "exclusive": "non-exclusive"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "placement": "indie-film",
        "duration": 30,
        "territory": "national",
        "exclusive": "non-exclusive"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "placement": "indie-film",
        "duration": 50,
        "territory": "national",
        "exclusive": "non-exclusive"
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why is the fee split between master and publishing?",
      "a": "A sync license actually requires two separate licenses: a master use license from whoever owns the recording (label or artist) and a synchronization license from whoever owns the composition (publisher/songwriter). If one entity owns both, they collect the whole fee; if not, each side negotiates and is typically paid separately, commonly at a 50/50 split."
    },
    {
      "q": "Can I negotiate a higher fee if the show is popular?",
      "a": "Yes — prestige and reach (a hit Netflix series versus an unknown indie short) push fees well above baseline, and so does the song's importance to the scene (opening theme vs. brief background). Ask for the actual budget and negotiate from there rather than accepting the first number."
    },
    {
      "q": "Do independent artists actually get sync placements?",
      "a": "Yes, especially through sync licensing agencies (Musicbed, Marmoset, Songtradr) or direct submissions to music supervisors. Indie placements pay less per sync but the checks and exposure add up, and many supervisors specifically seek out unsigned artists to avoid major-label licensing overhead."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/split-sheet-royalty",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/beat-lease-vs-exclusive"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Sync Licensing Fee Estimator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/sync-licensing-fee)"
}