License Your Music

Jody Friedman & Michael Elsner
  • 4.9 (14)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hosted by Music Supervisor & Sync Agent, Jody Friedman, alongside Composer/Producer, Michael Elsner. With over 30 years combined experience in Music Licensing, and 10,000+ placements including theme songs, blockbuster movie trailers, globally recognized brands, and more, our mission is to educate and inspire composers, songwriters, producers, and artists and to give them the necessary knowledge, and access on how to get licensed to Film, TV, Ads and Trailers. At Elite Music Coaching, we meet you where you are on your Sync Success Path so we can help you succeed. Interested in finding out your Sync Success Path? Go to: https://www.elitemusiccoaching.com/getstarted Youtube/Instagram/Facebook: @EliteMusicCoaching Twitter: @EliteMxcoaching

  1. 4D AGO

    Building a Music Catalog That Pays for Decades

    Most musicians focus on writing the next song. Professional composers focus on building a catalog. In this episode, composer Michael Elsner explains the mindset and systems behind building a music catalog that continues generating opportunities for years. With more than 3,000 placements in film and television, Michael shares how songs written decades ago are still producing royalties today. You’ll learn the difference between the song mindset and the catalog mindset, how to multiply the value of each track with alternate versions, why evergreen music stays relevant for years, and how metadata and industry relationships help your catalog keep working long after the music is written. If you want to build a sustainable career in sync licensing, this episode breaks down the strategy behind creating a catalog designed to grow in value over time.

    14 min

  2. FEB 24

    The Musician Who Made Me Cry (And Got Every Opportunity After)

    What if the biggest opportunities in your music career had nothing to do with technical perfection? In this episode, Jody Friedman shares the story of a musician whose song made him stop everything and listen. By the end of the track, he had tears in his eyes. The production was not flawless. The vocals were not perfect. But the emotion was undeniable. That moment led to placements, collaborations, and ongoing opportunities that many technically skilled artists never receive. After decades in the music licensing industry, Jody explains why emotional honesty is the rarest and most valuable currency in music today. In a world flooded with polished tracks, authenticity is what cuts through the noise, connects with audiences, and makes an artist irreplaceable. You will learn: • Why vulnerability creates career momentum • The difference between sounding professional and sounding human • What music supervisors actually listen for • How authenticity leads to more opportunities than perfection • Why emotionally honest artists become better collaborators If you are a songwriter, composer, producer, or independent artist trying to stand out, this conversation may completely change how you approach your craft. Your music does not need to be perfect. It needs to be true. Subscribe for more episodes on music careers, sync licensing, and building a sustainable creative life.

    10 min

  3. FEB 3

    From 0 to 50 Placements: The Sync Timeline

    Most musicians think sync success is random but the truth is predictable. Every successful career follows the same timeline: foundation, momentum, acceleration, and compounding. In this episode Michael Elsner breaks down the 0 to 50 placement sync timeline and explains how placements really build over time. He shares why the early placements are the hardest, how momentum starts to form once you reach the middle phase, and what triggers the acceleration where placements start stacking consistently. You will also hear how consistency, proper systems, and strong relationships create compounding growth and turn your catalog into a career-building asset. Whether you are just starting out, landing your first placements, or trying to break into the acceleration phase, this episode gives actionable insights to help you grow your sync licensing career and reach lasting success.

    11 min

  4. JAN 27

    Why Music Supervisors Skip Your Best Tracks

    Most musicians believe their most polished, complex songs give them the best chance at landing sync placements. But what if those “best” songs are actually the reason nothing gets placed? In this episode, Jody Friedman and Michael break down what they call The Sync Paradox—a counterintuitive truth that catches countless talented artists off guard. Drawing from real-world experience as a music supervisor and years of successful placements, they explain why music written to be the centre of attention often fails in TV, film, and advertising. You’ll learn the critical difference between showcase music and functional music, and why simplicity, space, and restraint are often far more valuable than big hooks and dense production. The conversation includes real placement examples from major television shows, including The Golden Bachelor, and an inside look at how producers, editors, and music supervisors actually use songs under dialogue and sound design. This episode also explores the mindset shift required to succeed in sync—moving from artist-first thinking to story-first thinking—without abandoning your artistry. You’ll hear practical strategies for writing and producing music that supports narrative, emotion, and pacing, while still staying authentic to your creative voice. If you’ve ever wondered why your strongest songs keep getting rejected, or why some simpler tracks seem to land placements over and over again, this episode will completely change how you approach sync music. To go deeper, this insight is expanded in the book Sync Titan Secrets, built from years of hands-on experience placing music in major TV shows, films, and commercials.

    15 min

  5. JAN 20

    Why Rejection Is Part of Sync Success

    Rejection is one of the most misunderstood parts of sync licensing. Most musicians assume a “no” means their music isn’t good enough, or that they’re doing something wrong. In reality, rejection is built into the sync process, and understanding it correctly is often the difference between musicians who quit and those who build long-term careers. In this episode, we break down what rejection actually means in the world of sync placements, using real data from thousands of pitches sent over multiple years. You’ll hear why silence from music supervisors is rarely personal, how rejection patterns reveal when you’re getting closer to a breakthrough, and why nearly every successful sync career includes far more rejections than wins. We also talk about the marathon mindset required for sync success. Unlike the traditional music industry, sync rewards consistency, systems, and patience over time. When you stop interpreting rejection as failure and start seeing it as feedback and data, everything about how you pitch, create, and show up begins to change. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should keep going, pivot, or walk away from sync altogether, this episode will give you the clarity and perspective you need to stay in the game and build something sustainable. In this episode, we cover: Why rejection is a normal and necessary part of sync licensing What “no response” actually means from a supervisor’s perspective How rejection patterns point toward future placements Why most musicians quit right before progress begins The long-term mindset that separates working composers from hobbyists Rejection isn’t the end of the road. It’s proof you’re in the system.

    23 min
  6. From Hip Hop Trailers to 1,000,000+ Spotify Streams: How Eclipse Darkness Builds His Artist Career

    08/13/2024

    From Hip Hop Trailers to 1,000,000+ Spotify Streams: How Eclipse Darkness Builds His Artist Career

    Want to get your tracks into Film & TV? Go to https://www.elitemusiccoaching.com/getstarted When we met Eclipse Darkness, it was clear he was crushing it with sync licensing. He had unlocked his full potential, and we had to know his secrets to landing those lucrative placements! In this episode, discover how Eclipse Darkness transitioned from creating high-energy hip hop trailers to achieving over 1,000,000 Spotify streams. Join us as Eclipse shares his journey, insights, and secret sauce for success in the music industry. If you create epic hip hop trailer music, cinematic hip hop trailers, rap trap, uptempo hip hop beats for TV sync licensing, or hip hop and trap action cinematic trailer background music for film trailers, this episode is perfect for you. Don't miss out on this inspiring story—subscribe now! #hiphoptrailers #synclicensing #musicsuccess #hiphopbeats #cinematichiphop #trapmusic #tvlicensing #musicindustry #musicjourney #spotifystreams

    23 min
  7. How Hip Hop Producers & Beat Makers Can Really Land Syncs

    08/06/2024

    How Hip Hop Producers & Beat Makers Can Really Land Syncs

    Want to get your beats into Film & TV? Go to https://www.elitemusiccoaching.com/getstarted Did you know that Hip Hop and beats are widely used in films, TV shows, and commercials? Composing beats for these projects can lead to consistent royalties for years, but there are key rules and insights you need to understand to secure those placements. In this episode, you’ll learn from my experience on how I made money licensing beats to TV shows and uncover the secrets of sync licensing success. #hiphopbeats #beatsforsync #synclicensing #musicproduction #tvlicensing #filmandtvmusic #hiphopinstrumentals #musicroyalties #beattv #musicforcommercials

    6 min
  8. Navigating Songwriter and Producer Splits for Sync Success

    07/30/2024

    Navigating Songwriter and Producer Splits for Sync Success

    Get Your Songs into Films, TV Shows, & Ads using our FREE Step-by-Step System: https://www.elitemusiccoaching.com/getstarted Have you ever wondered: How do producer and songwriter splits work? What rights do I own when I write a song? When is a producer entitled to a publishing split? What happens when I record a song? Are there songwriter and publisher royalties? Do band members or session musicians share in those songwriting splits? Before pitching your songs for sync placement opportunities, it's crucial to have your Songwriter and Music Split Sheets squared away. When the money starts coming in, the dynamics of songwriting and collaboration relationships can change quickly. In this episode, we dive into the process of managing splits and rights, ensuring all your affairs are in order. This will help you confidently market and monetize your songs. #songwriting #songwriter #songwriters #songwritingjourney #careerinmusic #musicindustryinsights #musiccollaboration #writingsongs #songwritingtips #musicsuccess

    8 min
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
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About

Hosted by Music Supervisor & Sync Agent, Jody Friedman, alongside Composer/Producer, Michael Elsner. With over 30 years combined experience in Music Licensing, and 10,000+ placements including theme songs, blockbuster movie trailers, globally recognized brands, and more, our mission is to educate and inspire composers, songwriters, producers, and artists and to give them the necessary knowledge, and access on how to get licensed to Film, TV, Ads and Trailers. At Elite Music Coaching, we meet you where you are on your Sync Success Path so we can help you succeed. Interested in finding out your Sync Success Path? Go to: https://www.elitemusiccoaching.com/getstarted Youtube/Instagram/Facebook: @EliteMusicCoaching Twitter: @EliteMxcoaching

Information

  • Creator
    Jody Friedman & Michael Elsner
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    ©2024 Elite Music Coaching LLC
  • Show Website
    License Your Music