Licensing & royalties
Synchronization Rights
Synchronization rights are the rights to combine music with moving images — in a film, advert, video game, corporate video or social clip. A sync licence grants that permission for the composition; a master use licence does the same for the recording. Commercial use requires both.
In practice
A sync licence is defined by four variables: media (which platforms and formats), territory, term, and exclusivity. A licence for "online, Italy, one year, non-exclusive" cannot be reused for a television flight or a second market without a renegotiation, and fees rise steeply with each expansion. Campaign teams routinely discover that the successful test video cannot become the international campaign because the sync terms were scoped narrowly to keep the initial price down.
How SoniBuyout® handles it
When you own the track there is no sync licence to scope. Media, territory and term are unlimited by definition, so a video that outperforms in one market can be rolled out globally without returning to a rights holder or paying an expansion fee.
Real questions
What is the difference between a sync licence and a master use licence?
A sync licence covers the composition, a master use licence covers the specific recording. Both are needed unless one party controls both, or unless you own the track.
Does a sync licence cover YouTube monetisation?
Only if it explicitly includes monetised online use. Many sync licences exclude it, which is why a licensed video can still attract a Content ID claim on the revenue.
Related terms
Own the track instead of renting it
Sonify Music sells exclusive buyouts of catalogue tracks: one payment, full ownership, the track removed from sale and a named certificate of ownership.