A great song is only the starting point for sync. Music supervisors work on tight deadlines, and they pass on tracks that are hard to clear, hard to find, or not ready to deliver, no matter how good they sound. This checklist covers what "sync ready" actually means and how to get every track there.

Why "Sync Ready" Matters

When a supervisor finds the perfect track, they often need it cleared and delivered within days, sometimes hours. Every question they have to ask, every missing file, and every unclear rights holder is a reason to move on to the next option. Sync-ready music removes those obstacles before anyone asks.

If you are new to sync, start with our guide to what sync licensing is and how placements work. Then use the checklist below for each track you want to pitch.

The Checklist

1

You control 100% of the rights

A sync license needs two approvals: the master recording and the composition. If you wrote and recorded the song yourself, you likely control both. If you had co-writers or a producer, get their shares in writing with a signed split sheet, and make sure everyone agrees the track can be licensed. A supervisor who has to chase down a co-writer will often choose a different song.

2

No uncleared samples

An uncleared sample from another recording is a dealbreaker. That includes vocal chops, drum breaks, and short snippets. Royalty-free loops and sample packs are usually fine, but read the license, since some prohibit use in commercial sync. When in doubt, replace the sample or replay the part.

3

You are registered with a PRO

The sync fee is only part of the income from a placement. When your music airs on TV or streams in a show, performance royalties flow through your Performing Rights Organization, such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the US, or PRS in the UK. Register as a writer, register your publishing, and register each song. Without it, those royalties can go unpaid.

4

You have an instrumental version

Many placements need music under dialogue, where lyrics would compete with the scene. An instrumental version can double your chances of placement. If your song has explicit lyrics, a clean version opens up broadcast and advertising opportunities too.

5

Stems and edits are available

Editors sometimes need to drop the drums for a quiet moment or build a custom edit to fit a scene. Having stems (drums, bass, music, vocals) ready, and even 30 and 60 second cutdowns for advertising, makes your track easier to use. These are not always required, but they set you apart.

6

Your files are lossless and well mastered

Deliver WAV or AIFF files at 44.1 kHz or higher, 16 or 24 bit. MP3s are fine for previews, never for final delivery. Your master should be competitive without being crushed: we recommend -13 to -7 LUFS integrated with true peaks at or below -1 dBTP. Our guide to LUFS for streaming and sync explains why.

7

Your catalog metadata is complete

Supervisors search, filter, and sort. Genre, mood, BPM, key, keywords, and a vivid description are how your track surfaces in those searches. Thin metadata means your music never shows up in the first place. See how to write metadata that gets your music licensed.

8

Your files carry embedded metadata

Once a supervisor downloads your track, the file itself becomes the only record of who made it. Embed the title, artist, composer, publisher, ISRC, and a licensing contact directly in the file, so anyone who finds it later knows exactly who to call. Here is how to embed metadata in your audio files.

9

Titles and file names are clean

Use the official song title, and name files so they are clear at a glance, such as Artist_Song-Title_Instrumental.wav. Names like "Final Mix v3 MASTER" look unprofessional and get lost in a folder of downloads.

10

You are easy to reach and quick to respond

Supervisors value artists who reply fast and make clearance simple. Pre-cleared music, where one party can approve both the master and the composition, is the easiest yes in sync. Listing your music on a sync licensing platform that handles the licensing for you removes the back and forth entirely.

Lyrics matter too. Songs about universal themes like love, freedom, loss, and hope fit far more scenes than lyrics about a specific person, place, or brand. Explicit language, drug references, and brand names narrow the placements a song can land.

Check Your Track in Seconds

Items 6 and 8 are the easiest to overlook, because you cannot see them just by listening. Our free Music Health Scan checks both. It measures your loudness, true peak, and file quality, reads the metadata embedded in your file, and gives you a sync readiness score with clear steps to improve it.

Is your track sync ready? Upload a WAV, AIFF, FLAC, or MP3 and get your results in seconds. No account required, and your file is deleted as soon as the scan finishes.

🎚ī¸ Run a Free Health Scan

Getting Your Catalog Placement Ready

If you have a catalog of tracks that need work, OnChain Music can help. Members can see a metadata score for every uploaded track in the Sync Optimizer, and our Sync-Ready service pairs you with people who know what supervisors search for. They review your tracks by hand and optimize the metadata, titles, and descriptions so your music surfaces in the right searches.