The music licensing landscape can feel overwhelming at first because it involves multiple types of rights, multiple rights holders, and multiple organizations — all with their own terminology, rate structures, and processes. But at its core, music licensing follows a logical structure. Understanding the main categories of licenses makes the whole system much more navigable.
Synchronization License (Sync License)
A synchronization license grants the right to use a musical composition in timed synchronization with visual images. Any time music accompanies moving images of any kind, a sync license is required from the publisher(s) controlling the composition.
When you need a sync license:
- Television commercials and online video advertising
- Films, documentaries, and web series
- Video games (for music in cinematics and gameplay)
- YouTube videos and social media video content
- Corporate videos and presentations
- Music videos themselves
Master Use License
A master use license grants the right to use a specific sound recording — the particular recorded performance of a song by a particular artist. This license is required whenever you want to use a commercially released recording (as opposed to re-recording the song yourself).
Key distinction: A sync license covers the underlying composition. A master use license covers the specific recording. Both are typically required together when licensing commercially released music.
Mechanical License
A mechanical license grants the right to reproduce a musical composition in a physical or digital format. Mechanical licenses are relevant for producing CDs or vinyl records containing cover songs, digital downloads, and on-demand streaming. In the U.S., digital downloads and interactive streams are now covered by a blanket license administered by the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), established by the Music Modernization Act of 2018, while CDs and vinyl are still licensed under section 115 at the statutory rate.
For 2026, the Copyright Royalty Board's statutory rate for physical records and permanent downloads is 13.1 cents per work or 2.52 cents per minute or fraction thereof, whichever is larger.
The Copyright Office's June 2026 review continued the MLC's designation. Its blanket license covers permanent downloads, limited downloads and interactive streams. For rates and payment details, see the guide to mechanical royalties.
Performance License
A performance license grants the right to publicly perform a musical composition — in a concert, bar, restaurant, retail store, or via broadcast. In the United States, performance rights for compositions are managed mainly by the four major PROs: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and Global Music Rights (GMR). Businesses that publicly perform music typically obtain a blanket license from one or more of these organizations rather than negotiating individual song-by-song licenses.
Songview's September 2025 expansion announcement involves ASCAP, BMI, GMR and SESAC. A song split across PROs may require several performance licenses, as the Copyright Office explains.
Print Music License
A print music license grants the right to reproduce the written notation of a musical composition — sheet music, lyrics reprinted in a program, or tablature published in a book. This is important for educational publishers, music educators, and anyone reproducing song lyrics in print materials.
Choosing the Right License for Your Project
Most brand licensing scenarios require:
- Sync license — for any video content
- Master use license — for any commercially released recording
- Potentially a performance license — if the content will be broadcast on television or radio
The specific combination depends on your use case. A YouTube video that's streamed but never broadcast requires different licenses than a television commercial that runs nationally and is also posted online. Social media adds further complexity, as each platform has its own licensing arrangements with rights holders.