As 2024 winds down, it’s the perfect time to revisit your goals, sharpen your focus, and lay out a clear game plan for 2025. If sync licensing is something you’re serious about (or want to get serious about), then this is for you.

Whether you’re just starting out with zero placements or you’ve been landing syncs for a while but want to level up, I’m going to walk you through a step-by-step framework to crush it in the new year.

Let’s break this into two parts:

1. New to Sync – The must-do steps for getting started.
2. Leveling Up – For experienced sync creators who want to maximize their results.

PART I: THE NEWBIE EDITION

If you’re just discovering sync licensing or CTRL Camp, welcome! Sync is one of the clearest, most actionable income streams available to independent musicians, producers, and songwriters. It’s not easy (nothing worth pursuing is), but it is understandable. There’s a roadmap.

That’s why I always say sync licensing should be a part of every indie artist’s strategy, whether it’s your main focus or a piece of a larger music career puzzle.

Step 1: Understand the Rules of the Game

Sync isn’t just about having great music. This is a business—and businesses run on rules.

Do you have split sheets and agreements in place with collaborators?

Is your music “one-stop” (meaning it’s 100% cleared and ready to go)?

Did you create your songs with sync in mind—no leased beats, no copyrighted samples, and full ownership of everything?

If you don’t know what these terms mean, don’t panic. I’ve got you covered.

Take the Sync 101 Course

Before you do anything else, take our free Sync 101 course on CTRL Camp. If I were selling this, I’d price it at $299, but I want everyone to have access to this knowledge. It’s free, it’s comprehensive, and it will give you a foundation to build from.

Find the course here: Pass the quiz (you need 80%—like a lawyer passes the bar!), and you’ll be ready for what’s next.

Step 2: Identify Your Lane:

Here’s where the real homework begins—

• Watch TV
• Watch movies
• Watch ads
• Listen closely

Pay attention to the music:

• Does anything sound like what you already make?
• Could you make something similar?

Understanding what works in sync will tell you whether your current catalog is syncable or if you need to create something new. This is critical.

You can have two catalogs:

1. Your “artist” catalog (for streaming, fans, live shows).
2. A sync catalog (specifically designed to land placements).

Or they can be one and the same. But you need to know what you’re pitching and where you fit.

Step 3: Build Your Team and Production Process

Once you know your lane, ask yourself:

• Are you a producer or an artist?
• Do you need collaborators to help create this style of music?
• Will you hire work-for-hire vocalists, musicians, or producers?

Don’t try to do everything yourself if it slows you down. Collaboration is a sync superpower.

Use the CTRL Camp Community: Post in our collab section. Share your skills, your sound, and the kind of collaborator you’re looking for. Make sure anyone you work with knows sync basics (ideally, they’ve taken Sync 101). This avoids heartbreak later—like finding out a killer track you made can’t be pitched because of a leased beat or a licensing issue.

Step 4: Start Building Your Catalog

Notice this is step 4—not step 1. Don’t skip ahead!

Once you’ve got your team and lane sorted out, start creating songs. But here’s the key:

Get feedback.

You need qualified, objective feedback before you pitch your music. Most sync agencies and music supervisors won’t tell you why they pass on a track—they’ll just pass. And without feedback, it’s hard to get better.

Find feedback opportunities:

• Listening sessions
• Coaching groups (like CTRL Camp’s Winners Circle)
• Trusted sync professionals

The Winners Circle is a game-changer because you can get unlimited feedback from me and my team to make sure every song is pitch-ready. If you’re serious about sync, this is worth checking out.

Click Here For More Info on The Winner’s Circle

PART II: LEVEL UP YOUR SYNC STRATEGY

If you’ve been in sync for a while—maybe you’ve landed placements or have a few agencies repping your music—2025 is about leveling up.

Start by assessing where you are:

• How many pitchable songs are you creating each month?
• Are you consistently delivering new music to your agents or libraries?
• Is your music spread out to multiple agencies, or are you relying on just one?

Focus on Output

The truth about sync is that it’s still a numbers game. If you’re only creating 1 song per quarter, it’ll be tough to build momentum. Your goal for 2025 should be to increase your output without sacrificing quality.

Here are a few ways to do that:

Learn to Record Yourself: If you’re paying for studio time, consider investing in a basic home setup. Spend the first 1–3 months of the year learning to record and export your own vocals and stems. You don’t need to mix—just record. This can triple your output.

Collaborate with More Producers: If you’re a songwriter or vocalist, reach out to producers who match your style. Send them examples of what you do and ask for tracks.

Ask yourself: How can I go from one song per month to one song every two weeks?

Spread Your Music Strategically

If you’re creating 12–24 songs a year, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Non-Exclusive Deals: Split your songs across multiple non-exclusive agencies or libraries. Test relationships.

Deepen Existing Partnerships: Agencies work harder for creators they know are consistent. Don’t just send them one song—send 5–10 songs over time to show you’re serious.

Building strong relationships with sync agents and supervisors takes time, consistency, and quality. Make 2025 the year you focus on both your output and your strategy.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Sync is a marathon, not a sprint. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to scale up, this is the perfect time to map out your 2025 game plan.

What’s Your Sync Strategy?

Comment below and let me know:

• What’s your biggest challenge in sync right now?
• Where do you want to be by the end of 2025?

I’ll create more content to help you tackle those challenges. Make sure you’re on our mailing list so that you stay updated.

If you want personalized coaching to make 2025 your best sync year yet, join our Winner’s Circle. You’ll get direct feedback, strategy sessions, and access to a community that’s crushing it in sync.

Let’s crush 2025 together. I’m rooting for you.

Happy New Year,
Eric