What is a Sync Fee?

A sync fee, short for synchronization fee, is a payment made to the copyright owner of a musical composition for the right to use the music in combination with visual media. It is commonly paid when a song is used in films, television shows, advertisements, video games, or online videos.

The sync fee is negotiated between the party licensing the music and the owner of the composition, which is usually the songwriter or music publisher. The fee compensates the rights holder for allowing the music to be synchronized with visual content.

If the original recording of the song is used, a separate master use license is typically required from the owner of the sound recording, often a record label. In that case, both a sync fee for the composition and a fee for the master recording may be paid to complete the licensing process.