Sync · 5 min read
Instrumentals unlock sync money.
Sync is the highest-margin income a signed indie can earn — often four to six figures for a single placement. It's also the easiest to lock yourself out of by forgetting one deliverable. If your song hasn't got an instrumental and a TV mix, it isn't even in the conversation.
The five deliverables per song
1) Full master. 2) Instrumental (no lead vocal, backing vocals intact). 3) TV mix (no lead vocal, no backing vocals — just music). 4) A cappella (isolated vocal). 5) Stems (drums, bass, guitars, keys, vocals as separate WAVs).
How supervisors actually search
They search music libraries by mood, tempo, key, and — critically — whether an instrumental exists. If the box isn't ticked, your song is filtered out before a human ever hears it. This is the single most common reason indie tracks miss placements.
Where to register
Get on at least one non-exclusive sync library (Musicbed, Marmoset, Songtradr). Register with a UK collection society (PRS + PPL) so you can actually collect the money. Make sure your publisher — or your label's publishing arm — has your splits filed correctly.
Working with supervisors directly
Follow supervisors on LinkedIn, not Instagram. Send one email per quarter with two new tracks and a one-line brief per song ('Ad-friendly, uplifting, 118bpm, sub-30 seconds hook'). Never chase — the good ones will file and come back months later.
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