Sync Basic Course Series
Do you want to…
Get international exposure?
Build your fan base exponentially?
Generate thousands in passive income?
You can do all this through licensing your music to film and TV — and Sync Basics can show you how.
Launching in 2022!
Welcome to Sync Basics
Who am I?
My name is Nat Jay and I’m an independent singer-songwriter who’s on a journey to continually grow and diversify my income as an artist.
Since my first sync placement, I’ve received over 35 sync placements in film and TV on networks around the world. I did most of it on my own, without help from a label, publisher, or sync agent.
And it’s provided me with thousands of dollars in passive income for over a decade.
Luck got my first placement. My commitment to learning the intricacies of the sync process has ensured my ongoing success in the 13+ years since.
Now I want to share that knowledge with YOU through the Sync Basics Course Series.
My music has been featured on shows like this and I want to teach you how you can do the same.
The moment I discovered sync
I got a crash course in sync licensing when a music supervisor in Los Angeles randomly reached out to me and said they wanted to use my song in a primetime show on ABC...and they wanted to pay me for it (mind blown). I had no idea sync licensing existed before that day.
This moment was hugely significant in what came next for me, as it showed me that it was possible to actually build a viable career as a singer-songwriter (read: earn actual income as an artist).
It also showed me that I didn't have to do it the same way everyone else was doing it—slugging it out on the road and selling albums off the stage—unless I wanted to. I could earn just as much, if not more than my peers, from the comfort of home.
For that first placement, I was lucky to have a friend sit down with me and explain all the parts of sync licensing and what they meant. Now, I want to be that person for others. I want to share everything I’ve learned so other artists can have the same success I’ve had.
Let’s talk about you for a second…
You’re an independent artist like me who wants to increase your income, diversify its sources, and get the international exposure your music deserves through film and television placements.
You’re a team of one (also like me) and want an easy-to-follow resource that won't take up too much of your time—because I know how busy you are!
You’re a bit unsure or confused about the steps and administration involved in getting your music placed, but you know that you want to learn more.
You’re looking for accessibly priced education options after looking into other well-known sync courses and finding they’re priced way outside your budget.
You’re eager to learn from someone who started exactly where you are now, who has a proven track record of success in this field for over 13 years and generated close to $75,000 in sync income.
You may have also tried stuff like…
ATTENDING INDUSTRY CONFERENCES
…only to get discouraged when music supervisors say they don’t accept unsolicited material.
ADDING YOUR MUSIC TO ONLINE SYNC PLATFORMS
…but it gets buried in a catalogue with thousands of other artists, so you never get any inquiries.
SENDING EMAILS TO MUSIC SUPERVISORS
…but you never seem to get a response and don’t know if they’ve even opened it.
Why sync?
Earn Cash - Funding is the #1 concern of both new and established artists. You need money to record and market your music. Live performance provides some income, but touring is often expensive and difficult to profit from. You need millions of streams to make anything from Spotify or Apple Music, which is highly unlikely for most independent artists. Getting music placed in film and TV can not only supply initial income upfront, but it can also provide years of back-end royalties.
Get Exposure - Getting a sync placement is like getting free marketing. It’s the kind of exposure money simply can’t buy for an indie artist: the chance to be part of of an established brand with a built-in following. And the best part about that? It can raise your artist profile and give you an international fan base through syndication and placements on networks around the world, exponentially growing your own following on social media and streaming platforms, as well as increasing potential for other money-making opportunities.
Sync Licensing has given me the highest amount of income and most international exposure of anything else in my career, and it can for you too.
TO FIND SUCCESS IN GETTING YOUR MUSIC PLACED IN FILM AND TV, ALL YOU NEED IS:
a clear understanding of the sync process
a simple, proven strategy to connect with music supervisors
a clear game plan with steps to follow
a roadmap that takes you from songwriting through to placement
Cue the excuses…
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I know how precious your time is as an indie artist--we're trying to be everyone and do everything for our music career, not to mention work a day job and care for our families. That's why I tried to make each lesson in Sync Basics under 10 minutes, so you can learn a little bit at a time and fit your learning into your busy schedule whenever you have a moment. Creating a new stream of income for yourself can take some time, but it can also GIVE you time once it starts to happen and the money starts to come, giving you the freedom you've been looking for in your artist life.
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Can you actually afford to miss out on an income stream of potentially thousands of dollars, for years to come? I'm still earning royalties on sync placements I got over 10 years ago, and each time I get those cheques, it means I can pay for food, rent, and bills. But more importantly it allows me to MAKE MORE MUSIC. Having a career in music means running your own music business, and that takes investment and commitment. Commit to investing $1.37/day for one year and you will have access to the information and support that can get you there through Sync Basics.
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Sync licensing is actually the one area of the music industry that truly values independent artists and seeks out their music for lucrative placement opportunities. The truth is, indie artists are primed from success in sync for several reasons, and these are just a couple:
1. Most indie artists own or control all their copyrights, making it much easier for music supervisors to clear the rights, compared to major artists.2. Indie artists cost a lot less than major artists, and when the budget is limited (ie. most TV shows), opting for independent music is a given.
I am a living example of this! And you could be too, by spending a few minutes every day learning about this potential gold mine.
INTRODUCING…
The Sync Basics Course Series
Sync Basics is a three-part course series designed to walk you through the steps of preparing, pitching, and placing your music in film and TV.
There is no other course out there that takes you from songwriting to placement, providing support at each step. And it’s all taught by an artist just like you.
What Sync Basics will do for you
Simplify the sync process and provide step-by-step instructions towards getting your music licensed.
Ensure that your music is ready for its first placement and many more after that.
Effectively prepare you to build long-term professional relationships with music supervisors, so they want to work with you again and again.
Expand your knowledge of the sync world so you can navigate each sync opportunity with ease and confidence.
What you’ll be getting
Sync Basics will provide you with the framework you need to:
Diversify where your income is coming from, so you have money coming in even when you don’t or can’t perform (like during COVID!).
Build an important part of your career that will allow you to reach thousands of fans around the world with your music, increasing your streams and social media following.
Open yourself up to more opportunities to create and spend more time earning an income doing what you love.
Create a passive income for yourself through sync fees and back-end royalties, so you can:
—make music in a pressure-free environment
—break free from a constant performance schedule
—focus on mental and physical wellness
—do whatever you want to do with your time
The Courses
Sync Basics is designed to construct your sync knowledge from the ground up, with a strong foundation to build on. Because the courses are progressive in nature, it's recommended that you take all three courses and in the order indicated. The first course is especially important, as it contains much of the terminology and practices that I'll reference in the later courses AND that will ultimately make you successful in pitching and placing your music.
SYNC BASICS I:
Preparing to Pitch
the sync process and how music gets from you to a production
what kinds of songs get placed and the ones that don't
what recordings to have on hand and what formats to have them in
the copyrights involved in getting your music licensed and who owns them
what important info to embed into your song files
how to set up your online catalogue
SYNC BASICS II:
The Perfect Pitch
the role and workflow of a music supervisor
the wrong ways to connect + communicate with music supervisors
the right ways to connect and grow your relationships with music supervisors
how to formulate your pitching emails (templates!)
what a sync agent is and red flags to look out for
sync agent contract examples + breakdown
how to break free of sync myths
SYNC BASICS III:
The Placement Pro
what to do when you get a sync placement
what the placement process looks like
how you'll get paid for your placement
the different kinds of placements you can get
how to promote your placement
what a license looks like and understanding the important parts of it
actual license samples + breakdown
With or without you
What would life be like with or without Sync Basics in your life?
What Students Are Saying
“What an informative seminar yesterday with Nat Jay...I had been to a couple of similar seminars in the past and was still left mystified. Not so anymore, as you clearly demystified the road map into coherent concrete steps. So helpful!”
— Christie, Sync Seminar attendee
“After three informative and inspiring hours…music licensing for film and TV was no longer a mystery to me! No better way than learning from someone who has walked the walk, found her way, yet still one of us, Nat Jay. Highly recommended!”
— Anqi, Sync Seminar attendee
“I enjoyed having Nat as a teacher. All the online research doesn't compare to having someone in the industry answer your questions personally. She is a talented musician and gave me an in-depth understanding of the music industry.”
— Callahan, “Music Business” college student
“The course content was very thorough, and presented in a clear digestible manner. It was refreshing to learn from the perspective of Nat Jay who has had extensive experience with sync placements, and her very specific first hand examples really helped put things into context. The format also helped to make each section very digestible! I look forward to more courses offered by ScratchSpin Music!”
— Tania, Sync Basics student
“For any musician looking to understand how best to prepare and navigate getting your music into film and TV, Nat Jay's seminar is a MUST! I went yesterday, and it was exceptional! Do yourself a large favour - connect with her and get on her list for the next time she runs one. You will be inspired!!”
— Michael, Sync Seminar attendee
Join the waitlist now and get
first access to the Sync Basics series when it launches in 2022
(let me at ‘er)access to early bird pricing
(yay discounts!)an exclusive “waitlist only” group Q&A zoom call with Nat Jay after sign up
(let’s talk it out)
"You are one of my favourite people to license music from so please train everyone to be as awesome to deal with as you are! I'm excited to have another batch of Nat-educated musicians correctly sending me their music to license. Thanks Nat Jay!"
— Natasha Duprey, music supervisor
(Snowpiercer, Tiny Pretty Things, Van Helsing, Wu Assassins, The Kids in the Hall, The Astronauts)
FAQs
Got questions about Sync Basics? I thought you might, so I’ve tried to answer as many as I could think of below.
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Sync Basics is video based and I'll lead you through the whole series of courses. There will also be supplemental articles that I'll direct you to so that you can continue learning outside our virtual classroom.
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For some parts of the courses, I'll provide exercises to coincide with the learning topics. These exercises are optional, though many are related to the steps you'll need to take in getting your music placed. None of the exercises need to be submitted, so it's up to you when you do them, but the sooner you do, the closer to sync success you'll be!
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The time it will take to complete the courses will vary for each student, depending how much time you have to put towards the course and whether you decide to complete all the exercises. The good news is, all the Sync Basics courses are self-paced, so you can complete them as quickly or as slowly as your schedule allows. Each course contains around 90-120 minutes of videos plus exercises, and most choose to space this out so they can absorb the information more effectively.
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You'll have access to the course material for one full year (365 days) from the day you purchase it, so you can review it whenever you need a refresher during that time.
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The Sync Basics series comes with three courses, and it's recommended that you take all the courses and take them in the order indicated. The courses are progressive in nature and designed to build your sync knowledge base with a strong foundation. The first course is especially important, as it contains much of the terminology and practices that I'll reference in the later courses AND that will ultimately make you successful in pitching and placing your music.
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You’ll be able to purchase the Sync Basics series with a one-time payment or break it up into three easy payments, whichever is most convenient for you. ScratchSpin Music believes in offering financially accessible education to artists who want to learn, and therefore offers competitive prices in comparison to other well-known industry courses.
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I'm only an email away if you have any questions about what you're learning. Email me anytime at info@scratchspinmusic.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. You can also find me on Instagram @ScratchSpinMusic.
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The Sync Basics series will start from the very beginning, from songwriting through to placement. You'll learn all the steps you need to understand and master the sync process. Scroll up to view a more detailed breakdown of each course.
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Not at all! This is an amazing time to build the foundation of knowledge that will help you succeed throughout your career. I started my sync education in my first year in the industry and it's allowed me to have steady success and income for over 13 years. All terminology will be explained and the steps broken down for easy comprehension, and additional resources will be provided for those who require a bit of extra learning.
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The Sync Basics series is designed for learners of all levels. If you've had success in other areas of the industry, but feel like you'd like to develop a new stream of income, this series will help. If you've got gaps in your knowledge in the sync realm, Sync Basics will fill them. If you have a proven track record with your music in other facets of the industry, the Sync Basics series can benefit you the most of all the learners and set you up with a lucrative stream of income for your music.
Meet Your Instructor
"My goal is to give you a strong foundation of knowledge about licensing your music to film and TV so that you feel empowered and confident in your ability to create a new stream of income for your music, like I’ve done for more than a decade. After taking these courses, I guarantee you'll be 10 steps ahead of other artists and ready to take your new expertise into the sync world.”
— Nat Jay
Hi, I’m Nat Jay
The first song I ever recorded was placed in an emotional episode of a major ABC TV show, making a statement that my music could stand up on an international level. Since then, I have strived to keep creating world class music and to learn as much as I possibly can about the logistics of the sync world, resulting in over 35 placements in film and TV on networks around the globe. My most recent album, The Flash of a Fight, has already received several placements on MTV, E! Network, Nickelodeon, and Netflix.
Some of my placements include:
-Tiny Pretty Things on Netflix
-The Astronauts on Nickelodeon
-The Hills, The City, and Awkward on MTV
-Men in Trees on ABC (my first!)
-Heartland on The CW/CBC
-Degrassi on TeenNick
-Holiday Joy on Freeform
-The Ghost Wars and Bitten on Syfy
Fellow artists have been asking about my sync success for years, so I developed a seminar to walk them through the most important information. Fast forward eight years and now I'm an Instructor of Music Business at Langara College in Vancouver. In 2020, I launched my company ScratchSpin Music, "Empowering Artists to DIY" by offering accessible music business education to musicians worldwide through e-learning opportunities.
"Nat has a great ear for sync and is a charm to work with. She is quick, efficient and knowledgeable and has made every sync a pleasure!"
— Jeremy von Hollen, former music supervisor
(Degrassi TNG, The Best Years, Vikings, ‘Da Kink In My Hair)