Music licensing for film and advertising: License Any Song.
Name the track and we handle the rest: publishers, labels, negotiation, and paperwork. You stay focused on the cut.
Any song, any artist, any era. One point of contact from request to signed license.
A licensing specialist replies within 24 hours.
Request a License
Takes about 30 seconds. No commitment.
Request received.
Your request number
This matches a request you sent a few minutes ago, so we kept the original number.
Thanks, . We're on it. A licensing specialist will contact you within 24 hours by phone or email to confirm how you'll use “” by . Once we hear from the rights holders, we'll come back with a quote and next steps.
A confirmation email is on its way to . Didn't get it? Check your spam folder, or call us at 917.524.9959.
We couldn't send your confirmation email, but your request is saved. Keep this number, and call us at 917.524.9959 if you have questions.
Have a deadline or budget we should know about? Reply to our email or write to grd@lionfishmusic.com.
Three steps. We do the heavy lifting.
Tell us the song.
Share the title, the artist, and what it's for. A few details are plenty to get started. One of our team members will email you back requesting specific project details.
We secure the rights.
We identify every rights holder for the composition and master recording, and negotiate the sync and master-use licenses on your behalf.
You get your license.
You receive a clear quote. Once you approve, we deliver executed licenses covering your usage, term, and territory.
Built for the work you're making.
Feature Film
Source cues, opening titles, end credits, and trailers. We clear songs for festival, theatrical, and streaming releases, scope terms to your distribution plan, and keep the paperwork your distributor will ask for in order. We work directly with directors, producers, and music supervisors.
Commercial & Advertising
Broadcast, online video, social, and in-store campaigns. We move at agency speed, negotiate usage by media, term, and territory, and keep client approvals on schedule.
We also clear music for other projects, such as TV, trailers, games, and podcasts.
We handle the rights so you can focus on your project.
Trusted behind the scenes.
[PLACEHOLDER testimonial]
[Name], [Title], [Company]
[PLACEHOLDER testimonial]
[Name], [Title], [Company]
Straight answers.
Licensing has a lot of moving parts. Here's what to expect.
How long does licensing take?
It depends on the type of project, the song, and how quickly the approval parties respond. Straightforward advertising requests can come together in about a week; films usually take up to two weeks. Tell us your deadline up front and we'll tell you honestly whether it's realistic.
What does it cost?
The rights holders set the price, and it depends on the song, how it's used, the media, the term, and the territory. The same song can cost very different amounts for a festival-only film and a national TV campaign. We come back with a real quote, not a guess.
What information do you need to start?
Just the song title, the artist, and your project type. To speed up the quote, also tell us how the song is used (scene or spot description and duration), where it will run, for how long, in which territories, and your deadline.
Can you license major-label songs?
Yes. We work with major and independent labels and publishers alike. Approval is always the rights holders' decision, and some artists decline certain uses, so we'll tell you early if a song looks unlikely to clear.
Can you clear music for TV, trailers, games, or podcasts?
Yes. Film and advertising are most of our work, but clearing a song for a TV series, trailer, video game, or podcast works the same way: we identify the rights holders and negotiate the licenses your use needs. Choose Other in the form and tell us what the project is.
Does Lionfish Music own the songs?
We control the master recordings to tens of thousands of songs but not all the songs in the world, obviously. For those we don't control, we work on your behalf with the rights holders who do, and secure the rights you need from them.
What's the difference between a sync license and a master use license?
Every recorded song has two copyrights. The composition (the melody and lyrics) belongs to its writers/publishers, and pairing it with video takes a synchronization, or sync license. The recording belongs to the artist or label, and using it takes a master-use license. Using an existing recording needs both licenses; a new recording (or cover) of the song needs only the sync license. We secure whichever your project needs.
What if the song can't be cleared?
Sometimes a rights holder says no, or the price doesn't fit the budget. We'll tell you as soon as we know and help you find a path forward, such as a new recording of the song (which needs only the publishing rights) or alternative tracks with a similar feel.
Does it cost anything to submit a request?
No. Submitting a request is free and doesn't commit you to anything.
Have a song in mind? Let's clear it.
Tell us the track. We'll take it from there.
Prefer email? Write to contact@lionfishmusic.com.