Finding licensing for your songs has become a popular pursuit, especially during our pandemic world. More and more artists, without the income from live stage have had to turn to other avenues to keep income flowing, and sync is one of them.

Many songwriters and music artists want to submit their album (already written + recorded) for sync licensing. However most sync houses want writers to write for specific projects or “pitches”. In other words, they aren’t looking to fit a song already written to a project, they want the writer to write to the screen or visual episode.

The other issue with sync is the difference in lyric writing styles used.

How is writing for sync different from writing for your own artist career or as a songwriter or producer writing for other artists?

Sync is not for everyone, and even if you do get some sync (and I hope that you do), there could be some ramifications for your artist career if you are trying to make waves there as well.

For example, Sync asks that you write lyrics that are more generalized so that more people can relate. That’s because if you get too specific, it lessens the chance of being used in a particular scene.

However, in your artist career, writing like this can dilute the more personalized aspect of your artist persona. A record needs to be deeply personal and from a particular period of time in that artist’s life.

Think of Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”. A very personal intimate record about her life at the time. If she wrote that for licensing she would have left half of it out and therefore diluted the record. It would not have won critical acclaim as it has.

Think of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On?” album. At the time it was a radical departure from the 60’s R&B ballads he was putting out. He took a risk to write an album about what was happening with the Vietnam War and how radically opposed to it he was. That album was rejected by his label at the time but went on to be one of the greatest records of all time. What if he hadn’t expressed his opinion so boldly?

Writing for sync can cost you your artist career if you are not careful.

If you are going to try to do both – here is what I recommend.

1. Write from a personal perspective but don’t skim the surface. Trying to write more “vague” lyrics only results in diluted emotions. We find that when artists dig down deeper into their emotions and feelings, they can locate the more deeply human universal themes in their material.
2. Once you write from a deeply personal perspective, you can go back in another session and take out or replace anything that is “too personal” that could throw the listener out.
3. A great example of this is Sara Bareilles’ song “Love Song”. At first listen, most people think it’s a song about her boyfriend wanting her to write a love song about him. The song is actually about her record label. The song is written so well that the lyric solidly pertains to either scenario all the way through.

If you are going to pitch your music for sync after it is written I would recommend 3 things.

1. Look for a licensing house that is into your genre and has had success with other artists like you.
2. Submit your songs to a lot of playlists where music supervisors look, but don’t hold your breath. Just set your intention and then let go of it :). Nothing ever comes when you hold on too tight.
3. Form a management team or find a song plugger and have them submit your music for you. No one likes when the artist represents themselves. Makes it harder to say no directly so people don’t respond.

If you are going to try writing for sync I would definitely make 2 distinctions when you are writing so that you don’t compromise your artist career.

1. Writing for sync is a different style of writing where you write emotionally but less personally. Designate time if you have interest and the option to submit for these opportunities. You have to be ready to write on the spot and to produce record quality music in a short period of time.
2. Writing songs for your own artist career is where you write more personally. Like Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” or Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On?” remember to take the deep dive into your perspective and take some risks.

These two styles of writing are mutually exclusive unless you just happen to achieve both with the same song.

To learn more about writing songs for your artist career, the kind that garner critical acclaim, check out our upcoming Signature Songwriting Circle where you can come write from a deeper perspective in a therapeutic setting and apply for an opportunity to write with our chart topping songwriters.