Also known as: Sync Licensing Assistant, Sync Co-ordinator, Licensing Assistant
Skill Level: Entry level
What does a Sync Assistant do?
Within a sync team you will be licensing music for use in film, TV, advertising, live events and games responding to briefs and pitching your company’s repertoire for placements. You will be working on different mediums on an international level. Working on multiple projects at once but making sure that your writer/producer is getting the correct licensing agreement and value for the medium/piece.
Watch and read (links to videos /cases studies):
What is music sync licensing? https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is-a-sync-license-2460940
Different forms of licenses: https://www.prsformusic.com/licences
Understanding Music Licensing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwx9m6-z0fE
What’s a Sync Assistant good at?
- Multitasking over different projects at the same time
- Responsive and working to fast and strict deadlines
- Very organised and high attention to detail
- Strong networking skills to maintain and establish new contacts and business opportunities for your company’s writers and repertoire
- Creative ability to pitch to briefs
- Strong negotiation skills
- Strong understanding of the music industry and a passion for music, must know the company’s repertoire and catalogue inside out
- Proactive person
Tools of the trade:
Understanding of licensing of music is a huge benefit for the role.
https://www.musicgateway.com/blog/how-to/beginners-guide-to-sync-licensing-tips-and-tricks-of-the-trade
Who does a Sync Assistant work with?
Songwriters/Artists and Producers
Music supervisors
External Creative Clients (film makers, writers, advertising companies etc)
Various internal departments within a music publishing company including business affairs
How do I become a Sync Assistant?
Although many executives working in sync do not have qualifications in music specifically, the following courses may be helpful within the role:
Get a degree in: Music, Music Business/Management (Non-Essential)
At School or College: Music, Business Studies
Look for an apprenticeship within: a record label or publisher
You might also be interested in: Training / Workshops / Courses on Sync and/or Licensing
Search for jobs:
• MPA Jobs: https://mpaonline.org.uk/careers/jobs/
• Music Week: https://www.musicweek.com/jobs
• Music Business Worldwide: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/jobs/
• Complete Music Update: https://completemusicupdate.com/jobs/
• Record of the Day: https://www.recordoftheday.com/jobs
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/
• The Dots: https://the-dots.com/jobs/search
• Art Jobs: http://www.artsjobs.org.uk/arts-jobs-listings/
Volunteer work always give you a good idea of the music industry, also a chance to network with music professionals.
If you’re a student or recent graduate currently seeking work experience or a paid internship within one of the Music Publishers Association Publisher Member companies you can fill out a form and upload any supporting documents by clicking here. All information collected here will only be shared with MPA Publisher Members and will be destroyed after 6 months. There are many different websites that advertise work experience and internships within the music industry, such as The Big Music Project, UK Music and Arts Council England. You can take a look at UK Music’s Careers Pack here. The MPA endorses UK Music’s Internship Code of Conduct and do not support unpaid internships.
Is the role a skills shortage?
For further information about music publishing please go to https://mpaonline.org.uk/
Search for a course of study with trusted UK Music partners here: https://www.ukmusic.org/education-skills/music-academic-partnership-map/
Further Information
For more inspiring ideas on careers in the Creative Industries check out: https://discovercreative.careers/#/