What is the difference between a master license and a synchronization license?

What is the difference between a master license and a synchronization license?

• A. Master license covers use of the actual sound recording; synchronization license covers use of the musical composition with visuals.
• B. Master license covers the composition; synchronization license covers the sound recording.
• C. They are the same thing.
• D. Neither covers use with visuals.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that rights for music are split between the actual recording and the underlying song itself, and each is licensed separately for audiovisual uses. A master license is the permission to use the actual sound recording — the tangible recording you hear on a track — and it comes from the owner of that recording (usually a label or the artist). A synchronization license, on the other hand, is permission to pair the musical composition (the song itself, the melody and lyrics) with moving images, and it comes from the publisher or owner of the composition. So, for a film or TV show, you typically need both: the master license to use the recorded performance and the sync license to synchronize the composition with the visuals. The other options mix up which rights cover the recording versus the composition and ignore the visual aspect of synchronization.

The key idea is that rights for music are split between the actual recording and the underlying song itself, and each is licensed separately for audiovisual uses. A master license is the permission to use the actual sound recording — the tangible recording you hear on a track — and it comes from the owner of that recording (usually a label or the artist). A synchronization license, on the other hand, is permission to pair the musical composition (the song itself, the melody and lyrics) with moving images, and it comes from the publisher or owner of the composition. So, for a film or TV show, you typically need both: the master license to use the recorded performance and the sync license to synchronize the composition with the visuals. The other options mix up which rights cover the recording versus the composition and ignore the visual aspect of synchronization.