Explaining Sync Licensing From the Agents

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Learn more about Blue Buddha: https://bluebuddhaentertainment.com


This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari chats with Charles Levan (co-founder/ president) and Chase Walker (music coordinator) of Blue Buddha Entertainment, a boutique music licensing firm.


Established in 2002, Blue Buddha Entertainment specializes in sync placement for independent artists and labels, serving as a premier conduit for contemporary groundbreaking artists and repertoire. Blue Buddha’s diverse catalog is current, hit-driven, and reflects the highest level of artistry and production, providing One Stop Rep. music with a global tastemaker appeal.

Past sync placements include: Shrinking, Found, All American, This Is Us, Supreme Models, Lost, Atlanta, 4400, All American Homecoming, Criminal Minds, Chicago P.D, Grey's Anatomy, New Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dirt, One Tree Hill, Smallville, Party of Five, NCIS- Los Angeles, Californication, The Fosters, Pivoting, Good Trouble, The Sinner, Bull, Kung Fu, Vanderpump Rules, To All The Boys, Shameless, Charmed, Royal Pains & others.


With over 27 years of experience in the music industry, Charles' passion in the sync space is coupled with a focus on artist development, helping artists hone their musical craft in an ever-changing entertainment world. Learn more here.



05:11 Welcome

05:50 Sync licensing explained

10:06 Does Blue Buddha work with artists with co-writers?

14:06 What happens when a song has aired but was not legally cleared

19:28 How Blue Buddha services their artist roster and keeps relationship strong with music supervisions

21:17 The process of sync briefs and finding artists that'll fit the music request

26:46 Sync budgets in television now versus previous years

34:37 Sync agency business model and how Blue Buddha makes money

39:10 Retitling song agreements

45:21 Difference between sync agencies and music libraries

52:27 How often Blue Buddha signs new artists and how artists can manage their expectations

01:02:56 Advice for artists who want a sync placement

01:05:35 How a musician can balance creative authenticity while stills being syncable

01:13:51 Final question


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Edited and mixed by Maxton Hunter

Music by Brassroots District

Produced by the team at Ari’s Take


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