What is a synchronization license, and for what uses is it typically required?

What is a synchronization license, and for what uses is it typically required?

• A. License to publish sheet music.
• B. Permission to pair a musical composition with visual media; required for audiovisual uses.
• C. License to sample from a song.
• D. License to perform in public.

Answer: (D)

A synchronization license is permission to pair a musical composition with visual media. It’s needed whenever music is synchronized to moving pictures—think movie scenes, TV shows, trailers, commercials, video games, or online videos—so the music plays in time with the visuals. This license is typically obtained from the copyright owner of the musical work (the composer/songwriter and publisher). If you want to use a specific recording of that song, you also need a master use license from the owner of the recording (usually the record label). So, using music in film or TV usually involves both the sync license for the composition and a master use license for the particular recording. The other options aren’t about pairing music with visuals: publishing sheet music rights govern printing and distributing the score, sampling rights cover using a portion of a recording in another track, and public performance rights cover playing music in public or broadcasting it—none of which automatically grant the right to synchronize music with visuals.

A synchronization license is permission to pair a musical composition with visual media. It’s needed whenever music is synchronized to moving pictures—think movie scenes, TV shows, trailers, commercials, video games, or online videos—so the music plays in time with the visuals.

This license is typically obtained from the copyright owner of the musical work (the composer/songwriter and publisher). If you want to use a specific recording of that song, you also need a master use license from the owner of the recording (usually the record label). So, using music in film or TV usually involves both the sync license for the composition and a master use license for the particular recording.

The other options aren’t about pairing music with visuals: publishing sheet music rights govern printing and distributing the score, sampling rights cover using a portion of a recording in another track, and public performance rights cover playing music in public or broadcasting it—none of which automatically grant the right to synchronize music with visuals.