To license music for film and TV, choose between full-service supervision agencies and ready-to-access music platforms. Agencies like Format Entertainment, Search Party Music, and Triple Threat Music Supervision provide hands-on creative strategy, rights clearance, and composer negotiations. If you prefer a faster workflow, platforms like Musicbed, Marmoset, and Songtradr offer extensive libraries of pre-cleared music suitable for quick sync licensing.
2MusicbedBest for production teams seeking high-quality, pre-cleared music with a fast turnaround. They provide an efficient self-serve library that simplifies the licensing process for modern film and advertising.47%
Yes. There are several kinds of companies in this space, and the right one depends on whether you’re a production looking to license music or an artist/songwriter looking to get music placed.
Music supervision + licensing firms
frogmusiclicensing.com — Provides music supervision, sync licensing, and original composition for film and TV; its credits include Fargo, Yellowjackets, Shameless, What We Do in the Shadows, and Unstable.
frissonsync.com — Full-service supervision company covering music sourcing, rights research, clearances, negotiations, contracting, and licensing.
massivemusic.com — Larger international music company offering film/TV supervision, sync licensing, research, and original composition.
woofer.tv — Music supervision, clearance and licensing, with its own catalog of thousands of songs and relationships with independent and major-label artists.
umusicpub.com — A major publisher with dedicated sync strategy, music supervision, clearance/licensing, song searches and custom-music services.
If you're an artist trying to get songs into film/TV
syncrunner.com — A sync agency that pitches member artists' music to supervisors and production professionals and handles licensing negotiations.
futurascope-music.com — Independent sync/licensing company with a catalog specifically prepared for film, TV, advertising and other media.
One important distinction
A music supervisor isn't necessarily a licensing company. The supervisor typically finds the music, works with the filmmakers creatively, negotiates/coordinates clearances, and manages the soundtrack. For a commercial recording, you generally need clearance for both the composition (publishing) and the specific sound recording (master). The exact licensing structure varies by territory and use.
If you're asking because you have songs you want placed in film/TV, I can also give you a more targeted list of 15–20 sync agencies/music supervisors that accept submissions from independent artists, including what genres they represent and how to submit.
Many specialized music supervision companies, boutique agencies, and independent supervisors help filmmakers and television producers curate, pitch, and legally clear/license tracks for media.
Prominent companies and collectives working in film and TV music supervision include:
Chop Shop Music Supervision – Headed by veteran supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, known for massive TV and film projects like Riverdale, The O.C., Gossip Girl , and Grey's Anatomy.
Score a Score – Operates an in-house music supervision and custom composition agency (Antenna ) handling film, TV, and advertising.
Music Blvd Group – A Los Angeles-based boutique firm providing full-service music supervision, custom cuts, and rights clearance for theatrical, TV, and trailers.
Giant Step – A creative agency and music supervision team that curates and negotiates complex sync licensing rights for film, TV, and brand content.
Independent / Boutique Collectives: Many top supervisors operate as agile boutique shops (such as Jen Malone (Euphoria, Atlanta ) via Worldwide Audio, or Thomas Golubić (Better Call Saul ) via SuperMusicVision) who assemble custom teams per project.
To find active professionals or verify credits on specific productions, you can browse directories like the Guild of Music Supervisors or search industry databases like IMDbPro.
Are you looking for a music supervision company to pitch tracks for an upcoming project , or are you a filmmaker trying to hire a supervisor for a specific film or TV show?
Music supervision companies act as the bridge between filmmakers/showrunners and the music industry. They handle the creative curation, budget negotiations, legal clearances, and sync licensing required to put a track into a film, TV show, or commercial.
Prominent music supervision companies and boutique agencies known for film and television work include:
Chop Shop Music Supervision – Headed by veteran supervisor Alexandra Patsavas (known for iconic series like Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl , and Bridgerton).
Creative Control Entertainment – A long-standing firm handling major independent and studio films (like Crash and Monster's Ball ) as well as television series (Sistas, The Oval).
Score A Score (Antenna) – Specializes in custom compositions, strategic music searches, and full-service supervision for film, TV, and advertising.
Atrium Music – A boutique agency providing both music supervision and a heavily curated, pre-cleared catalog for TV and film placements.
Radar Music Group – Based in Canada with a strong cross-border footprint, providing supervision and clearance for various film and television projects.
Go Music – Led by Grammy-nominated supervisor Gary Calamar, known for shaping the sonic landscapes of prestige television like True Blood, Dexter , and Six Feet Under.
To look up specific supervisors, check credentials, or explore award-winning placements, you can browse the directory of the Guild of Music Supervisors.
Are you an independent artist looking to pitch your music for sync licensing, or a filmmaker searching for a supervisor for a specific project? I can tailor my recommendations accordingly.
Yes. There are several kinds of companies in this space: music-supervision firms that creatively select and clear songs for productions, and sync/licensing agencies or publishers that represent catalogs and handle licensing.
Here are some current examples:
Search Party Music — Founded by music supervisor Randall Poster; works across film, TV, advertising, original music, supervision, and licensing. It is now part of Premier Music Group.
Frisson Sync — Provides music supervision, song sourcing, rights research, clearances, negotiations, contracting, and licensing for film and television.
Club Caroline — Boutique supervision company offering song sourcing, quote negotiation, master/publishing clearances, licensing, and cue sheets for film and TV.
WOOFER — Provides supervision, clearance, licensing, and original music, with a catalog/roster that includes independent and major-label artists.
DIG Music Supervision — Handles music supervision and licensing for film and series, among other media.
FairviewMBA — Offers end-to-end supervision, including creative search, placement, master/sync clearances, licensing, and cue sheets.
Houlihan Film Music — Focuses on film/TV supervision and editorial, including song selection and licensing negotiation.
BMG — Not primarily a supervision company, but its global sync team licenses publishing and recording rights and offers music supervision, clearance, and one-stop licensing.
Universal Music Publishing Group — Has a major film/TV sync operation, including song searches, licensing/clearance, music supervision, and access to its publishing catalog.
If you're trying to get your own songs licensed
That's a slightly different market. Companies such as Sync Runner pitch artists' music directly to music supervisors and production companies and negotiate/issue licenses when placements happen.
The important distinction is that a music supervisor generally works for the production and chooses/clears music for a particular film or show, whereas a sync licensing agency/publisher generally represents the music owner and tries to get that music placed.
If you tell me whether you're (1) a filmmaker looking to license songs or (2) an artist/songwriter trying to get your tracks into film & TV, I can give you a more targeted list, including companies that accept submissions.
Music supervision companies act as the creative and legal bridge between filmmakers/showrunners and the music industry. They handle everything from pitching the exact right vibe for a scene to negotiating master/publishing rights and clearing the paperwork.
A mix of powerhouse boutique agencies, individual heavy-hitters, and full-service houses dominate the film and TV landscape:
Search Party Music / Premier Music Group – Founded by legendary music supervisor Randall Poster (known for his iconic work with Wes Anderson, Martin Scorsese, and prestige TV), Search Party handles major film, TV, and brand campaigns and is part of the Premier Music Group ecosystem.
Chop Shop Music Supervision – Headed by veteran supervisor Alexandra Patsavas (famous for defining the musical landscapes of shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Gossip Girl , and The O.C.).
Whirly Girl Music – Led by award-winning supervisor Frankie Pine (Daisy Jones & the Six, The Flight Attendant, Hacks ), specializing in high-profile television series and feature films.
Score A Score (Antenna) – A hybrid creative music house and supervision agency that provides comprehensive music strategy, custom composition, and targeted sync licensing for film, television, and major advertising campaigns.
Atrium Music – A full-service supervision and clearance team handling everything from indie features and premium documentaries to massive television series, balancing strict budgets with creative curation.
Independent Boutique Supervisors – Many top-tier supervisors operate as highly sought-after independent entities rather than massive corporate conglomerates, including names like Jen Malone (Euphoria, Atlanta ) and Matt Biffa (Sex Education).
If you're looking to dive deeper into how these teams operate or want to pitch them, checking out the Guild of Music Supervisors directory is usually the gold standard for finding active professionals.
Are you looking at this from the perspective of a filmmaker/producer needing music supervision for a project, or an artist trying to pitch your music for sync placement? Let me know, and I can tailor the next steps!
Music supervision companies help filmmakers and TV producers find songs, negotiate licenses, clear rights, manage budgets, and deliver the paperwork needed for release. Some specialize in music supervision (creative selection + clearance), while others are sync licensing agencies/libraries with large catalogs.
Here are some well-known companies in the space:
Full-service music supervision companies
SuperMusicVision — Provides music supervision services including sourcing, licensing coordination, and rights management for screen projects.
Picture Music Company — Handles music supervision, clearance, licensing, and original music services for film, television, and advertising.
Frisson Sync — Offers music supervision, licensing, and original music services for film, TV, podcasts, and other media.
Konsonant Music — Provides music supervision, original music, clearance, and licensing services for film, TV, and commercials.
The Rights Workshop — Known for programming music and negotiating music clearances for film, television, advertising, games, and digital media.
Air Edel — A UK-based music company with film and television music services.
Sync licensing agencies and catalogs used by productions
APM Music — A large production-music library used for film, TV, advertising, and other media.
Audio Network — Provides a broad catalog for broadcast, advertising, and screen licensing.
Marmoset Music — Focuses on curated indie and artist-driven music licensing.
Musicbed — Offers cinematic and independent music licensing for video and media projects.
Songtradr — A global music licensing platform connecting rights holders and media creators.
If you’re a filmmaker looking for a specific type of help
Need a famous commercial song cleared? → Hire a music supervisor with clearance experience.
Need affordable songs for an indie film or series? → Consider curated sync catalogs and indie licensing companies.
Need custom songs or a score-like track? → Look for supervisors that also provide original music services.
Need only paperwork/rights clearance? → A clearance-focused company may be enough.
If you’re an artist trying to get your music placed in film/TV, the best contacts are usually sync licensing agencies, music publishers, and music supervisors who accept submissions rather than general production libraries.
When looking for companies that handle music supervision, clearance, and track licensing for film and television, the industry generally splits into boutique/full-service music supervision agencies (which work directly on productions to hand-pick and clear songs) and sync licensing/production music platforms (which maintain massive pre-cleared catalogs for fast integration).
Top companies in both categories include:
Boutique & Full-Service Music Supervision Agencies
Chop Shop Music Supervision – Headed by veteran supervisor Alexandra Patsavas, this firm is famous for working on massive TV and film projects like Grey’s Anatomy, The Twilight Saga , and Bridgerton.
Marmoset – A full-service creative music agency and licensing house that handles custom composition, music supervision, and complete clearances for film, TV, and major brand ads.
Score a Score (Antenna) – Provides dedicated in-house music supervision, original composition, and strategic track searching for film, television, and advertising campaigns.
Sync Licensing & Production Music Platforms
APM Music – One of the largest global production music libraries, providing tracks and seamless licensing for major film studios and TV networks (their catalog is featured in everything from blockbuster animation to prestige television like The Bear).
Songtradr – A technology-powered music licensing platform featuring a massive global catalog alongside real music supervisors to help match and clear tracks for media.
Audiosocket – Specializes in independent band and artist licensing as an alternative to generic stock music, with credits spanning independent films to major studio trailers.
Epidemic Sound – Provides a direct-licensing, all-rights-included subscription library widely utilized across digital media, documentaries, and television productions.
Are you looking for a music supervisor to hire for a specific production , or are you an artist trying to pitch your music for sync placement? Let me know so I can give you the right next steps.
Yes. If you mean companies that can actually source, clear, negotiate, and license existing songs for film/TV, rather than just music libraries, there are several good types of firms.
Music supervision + licensing companies
MassiveMusic — Provides end-to-end film/TV music services, including sourcing existing tracks, sync licensing, original composition, and music supervision.
Frog Music Licensing — Music supervision, sync licensing, and original composition for film and television, with credits including Fargo, Yellowjackets, and Shameless.
WOOFER — Handles music supervision, licensing, clearance, original scores, and has its own catalog of songs from independent and major-label artists.
Frisson Sync — Full-service supervision and licensing, including rights research, clearances, negotiations, contracting, and licensing.
Record-Play — Global music consultancy specializing in music supervision and sync licensing for film, TV, games, and media.
FairviewMBA — Particularly relevant if you need the business-affairs side handled: sourcing, master/sync clearances, licensing, and cue sheets for film, TV, and streaming.
Audio Done Right (ADR) — Combines music supervision, music searches, rights management, licensing negotiations, and a catalog of music for film/TV and streaming.
If you're looking for music to license, rather than hiring a supervisor
There are also sync agencies/catalog companies that represent music and pitch it to supervisors and productions:
Sync Runner — Represents artists' music, pitches it to music supervisors and productions, and handles the resulting licensing.
Fenger Music — Independent sync agency pitching artists' catalogs directly to film/TV supervisors and handling placements and royalties.
Futurascope Music — Offers a catalog specifically prepared for film/TV sync, including alternate mixes, stems, instrumentals, and licensing/clearance support.
And on the publisher/major-catalog side, Universal Music Publishing Group has a dedicated film/TV synchronization team that handles song searches, licensing, negotiations, and clearance.
The important distinction: a music supervisor usually chooses what music belongs in the picture and manages the creative/licensing process; a sync agency/library primarily represents music that can be licensed. For an indie film or TV production, a full-service supervisor can often handle both sides.
If you tell me whether you're a filmmaker trying to license songs or an artist trying to get your songs placed in film/TV, I can give you a more targeted list of the best companies to approach.
Top music supervision and sync agencies help clear, pitch, and license tracks for film and television productions , managing both the master use rights (sound recording) and synchronization rights (underlying composition).
Prominent Music Supervision & Licensing Agencies
Marmoset Music : A full-service creative agency and music licensing platform handling supervision, clearances, custom composition, and a deep roster of indie artists for film, TV, and major brands.
Score a Score : Offers comprehensive in-house music supervision (via Antenna) alongside custom scoring, creative licensing, and multi-genre track searching for media and advertising.
Whirly Girl Music : Headed by high-profile supervisor Frankie Pine, known for crafting massive television and film soundtracks like Daisy Jones & The Six and Nashville.
Go Music : Founded by veteran supervisor Gary Calamar, specializing in supervision and strategic track placement for acclaimed television series and features.
Industry Resources for Finding Supervisors
Guild of Music Supervisors : The official professional organization representing music supervisors across film, television, games, and media. Their directory is the definitive baseline for accredited professionals.
Music Business Registry : Publishes extensive directories like Film & Television Music Monthly , detailing active music supervisor contacts, studios, and network executives.
Would you like to know more about how to submit music to supervision agencies or are you looking for supervisors specializing in a specific genre or medium?
Yes. There are several kinds of companies in this space, depending on whether you need full music supervision, song licensing/clearance, or simply a catalog of pre-cleared music.
Full-service music supervision + licensing
frissonsync.com — Music supervision, rights research, clearances, negotiations, contracting, and licensing for film, TV, podcasts, and other media.
massivemusic.com — Handles music sourcing, licensing, supervision, research, and custom composition for film and television.
umusicpub.com — A major publisher with a huge catalog and dedicated sync/licensing team; it can handle searches, negotiations, clearance, and music supervision.
Major rights holders with sync/licensing teams
bmg.com — Particularly useful when you need both the publishing and recording rights; BMG offers one-stop licensing for a large catalog and dedicated clearance support.
Universal Music Publishing Group — Especially useful for commercial recordings and publishing controlled within its catalog.
Licensing agencies / curated catalogs
syncdept.com — Curated, clearance-ready music aimed specifically at film, TV, advertising, and music supervisors.
futurascope-music.com — Independent sync catalog with licensing/clearance assistance for film, TV, games, and advertising.
syncrunner.com — More oriented toward representing artists and pitching their songs to music supervisors, then negotiating and issuing licenses.
If you're looking to license a specific commercial song
The key distinction is that a music supervisor often finds and negotiates the track, but actual permission may need to come from two separate rights holders:
Master recording — usually the record label/artist/rightsholder.
Composition/publishing — the songwriter(s)/publisher(s).
A company such as BMG or UMPG can sometimes provide a one-stop license when it controls both sides, which can make a production substantially easier.
If you tell me whether you're a filmmaker/producer trying to license songs or an artist trying to get your music placed in film/TV, I can give you a more targeted list of 10–20 companies, including which ones accept submissions and which specialize in indie film, Netflix/streaming, documentaries, etc.
