Synchronization rights

What are synchronization rights?

Synchronization rights are the rights to use a musical work in an audiovisual work, for example, a movie, TV program, video game, or website. This could be by recording the musical work specifically for that use or by using a pre-existing sound recording of a musical work.

If a pre-existing sound recording is being used, then master rights will also be applicable when it is used with audiovisual media. See our page on Master Rights to learn more.

Synchronization rights include the right of adaptation of a musical work into an audiovisual work. They may involve other rights typically transferred to the producer of the audiovisual work, which are part of economic rights protected by copyright law.

You can delve further into this on our pages on Rights in Musical Works and Rights in Performances and Sound Recordings.

Who has the synchronization rights?

Synchronization rights are owned and split between the songwriters of the musical work. Songwriters may also share their synchronization right split with their music publisher.

When a pre-existing sound recording is incorporated into an audiovisual work, performers and owners of sound recordings, such as record labels, self-releasing artists and independent music producers, also have rights.

Visit our pages on Songwriter Splits, Sound Recording Splits, Music Publishers, and Getting Credited and Paid to learn more.

Image credit: Martin Fabricius Rasmussen