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Metadata and Sync Licensing: What You Need to Know

April 28, 2025

Success is Easy When You Master These Radio Terms

What is metadata, and what does it have to do with successfully navigating sync licensing?

When it comes to pitching for sync opportunities, it’s critical to make sure your music has accurate, complete metadata.

A big part of getting music licensed is building relationships with supervisors. Think of metadata as your first impression. And just as you wouldn’t show up to a job interview with cereal spilled down your front and no shoes on, you don’t want a music supervisor’s first experience of your music to be messy or nonexistent metadata.

“Tracks that don’t have metadata are like unassembled IKEA furniture without the instructions,” Lana Bui, a supervisor at Wildcard says. “Useless.”

“Bad metadata or no metadata makes me feel like I can’t trust them to understand a license,” Aminé Ramer, supervisor at States of Sound, told us. “It’s the 101 of music licensing.”

Having good metadata is “a time saver and keeps the detective work to a minimum,” supervisor Kasey Truman, from Chop Shop Music Supervision, says.

It shows that you’re serious about building the relationship, and about the music you’re sending. (For more on this, check out these tips from supervisors on sending new music blasts).

Once a supervisor has your music, your metadata is put to work and exponentially improves discoverability in future searches. While your odds of landing a sync the first time round might be pretty long, if your track appears again and again in future searches, your odds will gradually improve.

So, how do you get your metadata in order?

There are two key parts to getting metadata right: choosing the right file format, and putting the right info in the right places.


Choosing the right file format

When it comes to metadata, not all file formats are created equal.

Due to some unfortunate decisions made by IBM and Windows back in the early 1990s, .wavs, the most common high-resolution audio format, generally don’t carry metadata with them. Which causes a lot of confusion and concern. Some are confused why metadata appeared for a track in iTunes on one computer but disappeared when the .wav was sent to someone else. Almost all of the time, the culprit is a .wav.

If you’d like to send high-resolution audio, and have your metadata actually travel with it, your best bet is .aiff files.

.aiff is a hi-resolution, lossless format that supports ID3 metadata tags, the most commonly used audio metadata tags. Because of this fact, many sync companies phasing out .wavs and switching to .aiffs, and to help this shift, Disco.ac just launched a feature that will create .aiff copies of your .wavs in DISCO ?

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Filed Under: Free Advice

Unlocking Social Success: A Practical Guide to Marketing

February 27, 2025

Free Advice

Ready to level up your social media game? In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for success in the music industry. It’s time to work smarter, not harder, when it comes to promoting your music on social media platforms. Buckle up and let’s dive into this guide on social media marketing for musicians, because it’s crucial to your success! Whether you’re a musician, publicist, or manager, these tips will empower you to navigate the digital landscape with confidence.

First, decide which platforms to use. Then follow these guidelines.

Define Your goals

Let’s dive into the importance of setting clear goals. By defining your objectives, you can align your marketing efforts and track your progress. Whether you aim to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, or boost engagement, having a well-defined goal will steer your strategy in the right direction.

Once you’ve set your goals, it’s time to optimize your social media profiles. Consistency is key here. Ensure your bio, profile picture, and cover image reflect your brand identity. Use captivating descriptions and keywords relevant to your goals to attract your target audience. Don’t forget to include links to your website or other social media platforms for seamless navigation.

Content Creation

Now, let’s talk content creation. This is where your creativity shines. Craft compelling and engaging posts that resonate with your audience. Share behind-the-scenes glimpses, exclusive sneak peeks, or valuable insights related to your industry. Use high-quality visuals, such as photos, videos, and graphics, to capture attention and enhance the visual appeal of your content.

The Power of Engagement

Additionally, don’t underestimate the power of engagement. Interacting with your audience is a two-way street. Respond to comments, messages, and mentions promptly. Show genuine interest in your followers by asking questions, conducting polls, or running contests. Building a community around your brand fosters loyalty and increases your reach through word-of-mouth.

Know Your Audience

Now, you dive directly into the vast world of social media, take a moment to understand your target audience. Who are they? What platforms do they frequent? What content resonates with them? By gaining insights into your audience’s preferences, you can tailor your social media strategy to capture their attention and build a loyal following. Make a list. Write it down.

Be Authentic and Engaging

In a sea of content, authenticity stands out. Absolutely, be true to yourself and let your unique personality shine through. Engage with your followers by responding to comments, starting conversations, and showing genuine interest in their thoughts. Remember, social media is a two-way street, so make sure to actively listen and respond to your audience. No one gets on social media to be promoted to, so think of your promotions posts as commercials – the content has got to be good enough for people to want to sit through them.

Craft Compelling Content

You’ve got the talent, now it’s time to showcase it! Create high-quality content that captivates your audience. Share snippets of your music, behind-the-scenes footage, and engaging visuals. Experiment with different formats like videos, live streams, and stories to keep your content fresh and exciting. Pick on social media platform, and master it. That will go a lot further then being mediocre on a bunch of them.

Consistency is Key

Consistency is the secret sauce to successful social media marketing. Develop a posting schedule and stick to it. Whether it’s daily, weekly, or bi-weekly, regularity helps you stay on your audience’s radar and builds anticipation for your next release. Remember, the algorithm favors those who show up consistently. If it’s too much for you to do on a daily basis, use a scheduler like Later, and knock out all of your posts in one afternoon. Because we like to work smarter, not harder.

Leverage Influencers and Collaborations

Collaboration is a powerful tool in your social media arsenal. That is if you do it right. Partner with influencers or fellow musicians to expand your reach. Their endorsement and exposure can introduce your music to new audiences and give you a credibility boost. Equally important, seek out collaborations that align with your brand and target audience for maximum impact. In other words, the partnership has to make sense.

Don’t Forget the Power of Hashtags

Hashtags are like magic spells that can increase your visibility on social media platforms. Obviously you should research relevant and popular hashtags in your niche and incorporate them into your posts. This simple tactic can help you reach a wider audience and attract followers who are interested in your genre or style. Since this is such a simple hack, you should certainly use it.

Analyze and Adapt

Equally as important as content, always track your social media metrics and analyze the performance of your posts. Take note of what works and what doesn’t. Then use this data to refine your strategy and optimize your future content. Obviously, adaptation is key in the ever-evolving world of social media marketing. Furthermore, once you get the hang of it, it will become second nature.

In conclusion, unlocking social success is within your reach. By setting clear goals, optimizing your profiles, creating compelling content, and engaging with your audience, you can build a strong online presence and drive meaningful results.

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Filed Under: Free Advice

Learn Sync 101 And Get Remarkable Results Now

February 25, 2025

Free Advice

SYNC – Everyone wants it. Everyone sort of knows about it.  But not everyone has a black belt in Sync-Kwon Do. Here are some of the most important terms you’ll want to know when it comes to licensing your music for sync (TV, Film, Video Games, Ads, Etc). Welcome to Sync 101.


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Filed Under: Free Advice

Obscure Sound Reviews Noah Smith’s New EP

February 17, 2025

Cincinnati-based singer/songwriter Noah Smith stirs with an introspective combination of rock, country, and folk across his new EP, Cavaliers Into Cadillacs. The 37-year-old embraces an honesty within his songwriting, embracing vulnerabilities and impactful life moments — from watching one’s children grow up, to the multiple impacts of heartbreak. “I’m allowing myself to be as honest as I need to be to tell whatever story that needs telling,” Smith says.

“Don’t Break My Fall” opens the EP with an aptly dynamic aesthetical charm, swelling from folk-ready acoustics into rousing rock guitar bursts. “I know this is scary, and I know it’s gonna hurt,” the vocals convey a sense of vulnerability, capturing a crossroads in a relationship — when partners decide on a future or lack thereof. Organs bolster the beckoning vocals: “just let me drown.” A melodic yearning is palpable throughout, kicking off the EP in stellar form.

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Filed Under: HOME PAGE FEATURES

Nashville Scene Lists Ramona & the Holy Smokes as Artist to Watch

January 16, 2025

If you’re looking for a little trad country, look no further than Ramona and the Holy Smokes. The Charlottesville, Va., group takes on old-school honky-tonk with effortless ease, anchored by Ramona Martinez’s confident performance. Martinez has clarity and sincerity that bring Patsy Cline to mind — if Patsy had been allowed to get a little PG-13 with her lyrics. The band’s November EP Til It’s Over is a tantalizing sampler of what the band is capable of. Fortunately, they raised more than $20,000 on Kickstarter for their debut album, which promises to incorporate Martinez’s Latina heritage into their pitch-perfect vintage sound.

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Filed Under: HOME PAGE FEATURES

The Bluegrass Situation Reviews Ramona & the Holy Smokes’ New Song

December 13, 2024

“‘Til It’s Over’ is a song about knowing a relationship is doomed but not being ready to let go. I wrote this song after I had a terrible fight with someone I was dating at the time. I saw all the red flags and basically chose to keep going until the relationship self-destructed rather than being brave and ending it as soon as I knew it wasn’t right for me. I have done this more than I would like to admit, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

“The music video was inspired by the life of Vivian Cash, Johnny Cash’s first wife. I really feel history has done her dirty, most notably by her portrayal in the 2005 film, Walk the Line. I tried to honor her in a number of ways in the video with nods to her Catholicism, her amazing fashion sense, and her strength while her family was falling apart. ‘Til It’s Over,’ couched in the context of her life, becomes a much sadder song. Divorce was against her religious beliefs and even though she was basically abandoned, she loved Johnny Cash until she died. In our video, she reclaims her agency by picking up a guitar and writing her own song, but this is our way of wrapping up our version of the story with a redemptive moment.

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Filed Under: HOME PAGE FEATURES

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