Sync licensing funding

Sync licensing is when music is used within a piece of visual content, such as film, television, digital or games content.

Our remit is to fund public media content that reflects the cultural identity of Aotearoa and connects with audiences. This includes Non-fiction and Scripted content as well as music.

We are committed to showcasing outstanding New Zealand music and songs within local screen offerings to enhance the experience for our audiences. Because we fund both content types, we can promote the increased integration of local music into Aotearoa New Zealand's screen productions.

Sync licensing can be:

• specially commissioned music
• specially composed music
• licensing an existing music track
• licensing production music.

The requirement for this funding is that the production contains 80% New Zealand music. Not all of that music will be NZ On Air funded.

Here's how we define ‘New Zealand Music’.

Scripted content

In 2023 we began funding specifically for sync licensing in Scripted applications. At present, we are not funding sync licensing for Non-fiction projects due to funding constraints.

While music can still play an important role in Non-fiction productions to set the tone or complement the storytelling, it is arguably not as integral to the overall narrative as it is in Scripted projects.

Music documentaries

We may make an exception for music-related projects that are able to make a strong case for funding, such as a music documentary. Those projects would need to seek an exemption from the Associate Head of Funding or Head of Funding prior to submission.

Sign up to our NZ On Air newsletter to keep an eye on funding rounds. Look out for when we are open to receiving applications from producers of Scripted projects planning to incorporate a significant amount of local music (both track licensing and composition) into their productions.

Include your plan

Projects seeking sync licensing funding should at the time of application provide a clear plan indicating the likely amount and type of music required along with intended personnel and timeframes.

Prioritising funding

It is unlikely that we will be able to accommodate all Scripted projects that request funding with an additional sync licensing budget.

Priority will be given to projects that present the strongest rationale for why a deeper integration of local music will enhance and elevate their project.

Specialists, called Music Supervisors, work with the production to find where music can be used within that content. They bring together music alongside the visual content.

Music Supervisors identify where music will be heard or used in the script and/or the edit. They recommend the best options for each scene within the production’s music budget.

They also manage the agreements between the artists (sound recordings) and the writers (publishing rights), as well as the production company to obtain the "sync licensing" rights to the music.

Another specialist is Music Clearance, whose role it is to clear the publishing and sound recording rights to songs with rights owners. They manage the licensing process and agreements. They are not involved in the creative.

Sync licensing is a huge paid opportunity for our local music and songs to be used to enhance the quality and reach of our local screen projects. It allows local artists to reach a wider national and international audience, and at the same time, build recognition for Aotearoa New Zealand’s wider music industry.

In 2020, we commissioned a piece of research to understand why we weren’t hearing more Aotearoa New Zealand music featured in our local screen content. We also wanted to identify opportunities for upskilling our screen producers, and to encourage greater use of local music in our funded screen productions.

It led to a decision in 2023 to begin funding certain productions to plan and budget for the integration and licensing of New Zealand music and songs – as an integral part of the creative development process for screen productions.