What to Include in a Sync License Request
You found a track that fits. The next step is asking for a license, and the fastest way to a quote is a request that answers the questions up front. A vague “what would it cost to use this?” usually starts a back-and-forth that eats days you don’t have.
Here’s what to include when you send a request through DropCue. None of it locks you in. It just gives us what we need to price the use and write the license.
The track
- Title and project, as they appear on DropCue (for example, “Afterburn Sequence by Rogue Pilot”).
- Which version, if there’s more than one: full mix, an edit, an instrumental.
- How much of it you’re using, roughly. A 15-second sting and a full two-minute run are different uses.
The production
- Title of the film, show, ad, game or video, even if it’s a working title.
- Who’s making it: the production company, agency or brand.
- What it is: feature, episode of a series, trailer, commercial, corporate video, social campaign, game.
Where it will run
This is the part that moves the price the most, so be as specific as you can.
- Media: theatrical, festival, broadcast TV, streaming, online ads, social, in-game, internal or industrial use.
- Term: how long you need the license for. A one-year ad campaign and a film that needs the song forever are priced differently.
- Territory: one country, a region, or worldwide.
If you’re not sure yet, say so and give the likely range. A quote for “worldwide, all media, in perpetuity” is very different from one for “online only, one year, US,” and knowing which one you actually need saves money.
How the scene uses the music
- Background or featured. Is it under dialogue, or is it carrying the scene on its own?
- Placement. Opening titles, a montage, end credits, a key emotional moment.
- Number of uses. Once, or does it come back later in the piece?
A sentence or two describing the scene helps more than you’d think.
Timing and budget
- Your deadline. When do you need a signed license? When does the piece lock or air?
- A budget range, if you have one. You don’t have to share it. If you do, it’s the quickest way to find out whether the use works for both sides, and it helps us suggest options if the first ask doesn’t fit.
After the license: cue sheets
If the production files cue sheets, the publishing details for Pinions Music are on the licensing page. Publishing is self-administered, so the names there are the ones to use.
Send it in one message
Copy the headings above into your DropCue message, fill in what you know, and mark anything that’s still open. We’ll come back with terms for your use. If nothing in the catalog quite fits, say what you’re after: custom music for picture starts with the same message.