Music Licensing Companies Compared
For Artists
Music licensing companies connect artists with filmmakers, advertisers, content creators, and brands who need music for their projects. The terms vary widely: some pay upfront fees per placement, some operate on revenue share, and some buy blanket licenses that pay artists from a pool. Choosing the right company depends on your catalog, your goals, and who is licensing music from that platform.
Sync licensing is one of the most lucrative revenue streams for independent artists. A single placement in a TV show or ad can pay more than a year of streaming revenue. But the path to those placements runs through licensing companies, and they are not all built the same. Some serve corporate video editors who need affordable background music. Others serve major film and TV productions with higher budgets. Submitting to the wrong platform wastes your time and mispositions your catalog.
For the full breakdown of how sync licensing works, see How to Get Your Music in TV, Film, and Ads. For platform-specific recommendations, see Best Sync Licensing Platforms. This article compares the major licensing companies side by side so you can choose based on facts.
The Two Models: Exclusive vs. Non-Exclusive
Before comparing companies, understand the two licensing models.
Non-exclusive. You keep your rights. Your music can be on multiple platforms simultaneously. You can still distribute through Spotify and every other DSP. If a placement comes through one platform, it does not affect your presence on others. Most indie-friendly companies operate non-exclusively.
Exclusive. The platform controls your music exclusively. You cannot license it elsewhere, and in some cases you cannot distribute it on DSPs. In exchange, exclusive platforms often invest more in pitching your music and may offer higher per-placement fees or guaranteed income. The trade-off is control.
Some companies offer both models with different terms for each. Read the agreement carefully. "Exclusive" can mean different things depending on the contract.
Major Licensing Companies Compared
Company | Model | Who Licenses From Them | Typical Payout Structure | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Musicbed | Non-exclusive | Filmmakers, brands, agencies | 50/50 revenue split per license | High-quality indie and cinematic artists |
Artlist | Exclusive (catalog-specific) | YouTubers, content creators, brands | Upfront catalog fee, royalty pool | Artists willing to trade exclusivity for exposure |
Epidemic Sound | Exclusive | YouTubers, podcasters, social media creators | Monthly advance + streaming royalties | Producers making sync-ready, genre-flexible music |
Songtradr | Non-exclusive and exclusive tiers | TV, film, ads, brands, gaming | Per-placement sync fee, split varies by tier | Versatile catalogs, artists wanting control |
AudioJungle (Envato) | Non-exclusive | Small businesses, freelance editors, YouTubers | Per-purchase price set by artist, Envato takes cut | Production music and utility tracks |
Marmoset | Non-exclusive | Ad agencies, film, brands | Custom licensing fees per placement | Boutique indie artists with distinctive sound |
Musicbed
Curated catalog focused on quality. Musicbed reviews submissions and rejects music that does not meet their production standards. Their client base includes wedding filmmakers, documentary producers, and brand agencies. Placements range from a few hundred dollars (indie filmmaker) to tens of thousands (national brand campaign). The 50/50 split is straightforward. You retain your rights and can distribute your music on DSPs normally. If your music is well-produced with a cinematic or emotional quality, Musicbed is a strong fit.
Artlist
Operates on a subscription model for licensees: content creators pay a flat annual fee and get access to the full catalog. Artists are paid from a pool based on usage. Some catalog agreements are exclusive, meaning the songs you submit to Artlist cannot be licensed elsewhere. The upside is high exposure to YouTubers and creators with large audiences. The downside is that individual payouts per use are lower than direct placement fees because revenue comes from a shared pool.
Epidemic Sound
Fully exclusive. Songs submitted to Epidemic Sound are controlled by Epidemic. You receive a monthly advance and a share of streaming royalties (Epidemic distributes to DSPs on your behalf). The client base is massive: millions of content creators, podcasters, and social creators. If you produce high volumes of sync-ready music across multiple genres and are comfortable with exclusivity, the consistent income can be attractive. If you value independence and want to control your own distribution, Epidemic is not the right fit.
Songtradr
Offers both exclusive and non-exclusive options. Non-exclusive lets you keep your music everywhere else. Exclusive tiers may come with higher placement priority or advance payments. Songtradr has invested heavily in tech, including AI-powered music matching for briefs from TV, film, and ad clients. The catalog is large, so standing out requires strong metadata and production quality.
AudioJungle
Part of the Envato marketplace. The client base is primarily small businesses, freelance editors, and low-budget content creators. You set your own price per track (typically $15-$50 for a standard license). Envato takes a commission. Volume is the play here, not high-value placements. Best suited for artists who produce utility music, background tracks, or production music rather than artist-driven releases.
Marmoset
Boutique agency model. Marmoset curates a smaller catalog and builds personal relationships with music supervisors and ad agencies. Placements tend to be higher value: brand campaigns, films, and premium ads. The trade-off is lower volume. Getting accepted takes time and a strong, distinctive catalog.
How to Choose
Ask these questions:
Who is buying music from this platform? If the buyers are YouTubers, payouts will be lower but volume higher. If the buyers are TV networks and ad agencies, payouts are higher but placements are rarer.
Is the agreement exclusive? If yes, understand exactly what you are giving up. Can you still release on Spotify? Can you still pitch to other sync opportunities? Read the specific terms, not just the marketing page.
What is the acceptance rate? Curated platforms (Musicbed, Marmoset) reject music that does not meet production standards. Open platforms (AudioJungle, some Songtradr tiers) accept most submissions. Curated platforms command higher prices because buyers trust the quality.
What are the actual reported payouts? Talk to artists already on the platform. Published rates are theoretical. Actual earnings depend on how actively the platform pitches, how well your music matches incoming briefs, and how large the buyer base is.
For more detail on sync licensing platforms, see Music Licensing Libraries Comparison.
What to Prepare Before Submitting
Every licensing company values the same things in a submission:
High production quality (professional mixing and mastering)
Clean metadata (accurate genre tags, mood descriptors, tempo, key)
No uncleared samples (this disqualifies your music from licensing)
Instrumental versions available (many sync placements need instrumentals)
You own or control both the master and the composition
If you cannot deliver all five, address the gaps before submitting. A rejection from a curated platform based on production quality is harder to reverse than getting it right the first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be on multiple non-exclusive platforms at once?
Yes. Non-exclusive agreements allow your music to be listed on multiple licensing platforms and on streaming DSPs simultaneously. There is no conflict.
How long until I get a placement?
There is no guaranteed timeline. Some artists get placed within weeks. Others wait months or years. Having a large, well-tagged catalog with instrumentals improves your odds.
Do licensing companies take my publishing rights?
Non-exclusive companies do not. Some exclusive companies do, for the duration of the agreement. Read the contract. If the term "assignment of copyright" appears, have a music attorney review it before signing.
Read Next:
Organize Your Sync-Ready Catalog
Licensing companies want clean metadata, instrumental versions, and cleared rights. Orphiq helps you track your catalog details so you are ready when opportunities arrive.