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In this episode of The Sync Lab Podcast, Aaron Davison sits down with composer and trailer music producer Gregory Tan, a former client who went on to build an impressive career in sync licensing, trailer music, television, and video games. Several years ago, Greg became a client of Aaron's while building his career in sync licensing and composing. Over the years, he continued developing his craft, building relationships, growing his catalog, and creating opportunities for himself. Today, his music has been featured in projects including Fast & Furious 9, Sing 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Star Wars: Andor, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, Jurassic World: Dominion, Netflix's Our Great National Parks, and many other major productions. During this conversation, Greg shares his journey from aspiring composer to working professional, discussing the realities of building a long-term career in sync licensing and trailer music. Topics covered include: • How Greg got started in sync licensing • Building relationships with publishers and industry professionals • Why LinkedIn has become such a powerful networking tool • Growing a catalog and creating long-term royalty income • The transition from traditional sync licensing into trailer music • Why trailer music requires such a high level of production quality • The realities of rejection, patience, and persistence • The changing landscape of sync licensing • AI and the future of music • Practical advice for composers looking to build a sustainable career in sync licensing Greg's story is a powerful reminder that success in sync licensing rarely happens overnight. It is often the result of years of consistent effort, continuous learning, relationship-building, and a willingness to stay committed long enough for those efforts to compound. Connect with Gregory Tan: Website: https://www.gregtanmusic.net/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregtanmusic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregtanmusic/ Inspired by Greg's story? Several years ago, Greg was building his career in sync licensing, learning the industry, developing his skills, and creating opportunities for himself. Today, his music and sound design have been featured in projects including Fast & Furious 9, Star Wars: Andor, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, and many other major productions. If you'd like to learn more about sync licensing, download my free Music Licensing Directory and get instant access to my free four-hour video course, The Ultimate Music Licensing Guide. Inside, you'll learn how the sync licensing industry works, where to find opportunities, how to connect with publishers, music libraries, and music supervisors, and the steps you can take to start building your own licensing career. Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your career to the next level, these free resources will help you navigate the sync licensing industry with confidence. 👉 Get instant access here: https://www.thesynclab.com

This week on The Sync Lab, I sat down with Ryan Dickinson, founder of the bespoke music agency Made By Ikigai, for a focused conversation on custom music and the advertising world. Ryan has had a deep and varied path through the industry. He started as a drummer, moved into DJing and production, then into composing for film and television, worked full time as a sound designer, and later became a creative director in advertising. That experience ultimately led him to launch Made By Ikigai. Made By Ikigai has worked with major global brands including Amazon, Coca Cola, Nike, Visa, Adidas, Lexus, Samsung and more, creating custom music and sound for advertising campaigns. In this episode, we cover: • What “bespoke” music actually means in the context of advertising• How music is created specifically to support narrative and storytelling• Why multiple composers are sometimes hired for the same brief• How creative directors evaluate submissions and choose the right direction• The difference between referencing a vibe and copying a track• Ryan’s thoughts on AI generated music and where it currently fits within commercial and sync workflows• How composers can break into the world of bespoke composing• The role of human taste, collaboration, and interpretation in high level brand campaigns If you’ve ever wondered how custom music for major advertising campaigns is developed behind the scenes, this episode gives you a clear look into that world. Learn more: made by ikigai Visit the Sync Lab for a free directory of music libraries and a free course on how to make money licensing your music: THE SYNC LAB - Home

In the latest episode of The Sync Lab Podcast, I sit down with veteran music supervisor Gary Calamar, whose work spans some of the most influential television series of the last few decades, including Six Feet Under, True Blood, Dexter, Entourage, Weeds, House, The Man in the High Castle, Titans, and Netflix’s 3 Body Problem. We have a candid conversation about how music supervision actually works behind the scenes. Gary breaks down how music ends up in shows, how decisions are made between music supervisors, editors, showrunners, and producers, and how those creative dynamics play out in real productions. We also discuss how licensing fees work, what different types of projects tend to pay, and why budgets and context matter more than most artists realize. Gary shares insight into how he discovers music, the importance of relationships and trusted sources, and how independent artists should think about positioning themselves for sync opportunities in a realistic, professional way. Rather than shortcuts or tactics, the focus is on understanding how the system really operates. We also talk about AI in music and why Gary continues to prefer music that is written and created by humans. He explains what he listens for emotionally and why authenticity and intention still play a central role in his decision making. This episode offers a clear, grounded look at the financial, creative, and human realities of music supervision from someone who has been doing it at the highest level for decades. If you want to better understand how sync licensing works from the inside, this conversation provides rare and practical insight. Learn more about Gary's radio show: https://www.thesocalsound.org/ Learn more about Gary here: https://garycalamar.com/

Caleb Swift is a film and television composer and producerwhose work has appeared across major studio projects and global advertising campaigns. His music has been featured in high-profile titles including The Last of Us, Avatar, Black Widow, Sonic The Hedgehog, Thunderbolts, and The Thursday Night Murder Club, with placements spanning trailers, promos, and large-scale cinematic marketing. Known for blending emotional storytelling with modernproduction, Caleb works closely with publishers, editors, and studios to create music that supports narrative while cutting through in competitive sync environments. His career reflects a steady evolution toward deeper creative collaborations and higher-impact projects, with a focus on long-term relationships and consistently delivering at a high level. Learn more about Caleb: https://calebswiftmusic.com/ Get a free four hour audio/video course about how to make money licensing your music in tv and films and a free online sync licensing directory here: https://www.thesynclab.com/

In this episode of The Sync Lab Podcast, Aaron Davison and producer Gary Gray dive deep into the world of AI-generated music and the rise of Suno. Together, they share personal experiences using the platform for real songwriting and production projects, exploring how AI is reshaping the creative process from demo to master. Aaron and Gary discuss the quality and workflow of AI-generated music, how it fits into professional production, and what it means for the sync licensing industry. They also tackle the growing debate around copyright, ownership, and the role of human creativity in an increasingly automated landscape. Whether you’re curious about using AI tools like Suno in your own workflow or wondering how this technology will affect music licensing opportunities, this conversation offers an honest and forward-looking take on one of the most important topics in today’s music business. For a free directory of music libraries and music supervisors, visit The Sync Lab: https://www.thesynclab.com/

Brit Fox is an award-winning producer, songwriter, vocalist, and audio engineer. Rooted heavily in alternative urban music, her sounds also draw influence from pop, Latin, and R&B. She is the owner and founder of Cleveland-based Brit Fox Studios. Her work has been featured in a wide range of high-profile placements, including ABC, MTV, BET, VH1, Netflix, Hulu, Sony Pictures, Paramount, Univision, The CW, CBS, Vice TV, the MTV Music Video Awards, A24, the Cannes Film Festival, PlayStation, Beatstars, and Universal Music Group. Learn more about Brit Fox here: https://www.britfoxstudios.com/ For a free four hour video course all about how to make money licensing your music in tv and films, visit https://www.htlympremium.com/

In the latest episode of The Sync Lab, Aaron speaks with Australian based TV/Film composer, Bryn Evans. Bryn Evans is a songwriter and composer from Ngunnawal country in Australia.  His music has found a home on over 100 television shows, including hit reality series MTV’s Catfish, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Real Housewives franchise, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians. His compositions have also been featured in major dramas like All American, as well as NBA, NFL, and MLB broadcasts. Beyond television, his work has appeared in short films and podcasts, demonstrating his ability to adapt and thrive in different storytelling mediums. As a dedicated collaborator, Bryn regularly works with songwriters and composers worldwide. Most recently, he co-wrote a song for the Academy Award, and Palme d’Or, winning film Anora (2025). In this episode, Aaron and Bryn discuss: -How to make a full-time living licensing music -How long it takes to get to a full time income -How many tracks you need to generate a full time income from music licensing -Licensing instrumental tracks vs vocal tracks -Three things you need in order to get started -Exclusive vs Non-Exclusive contracts -How to license music in the USA if you live abroad -Networking Online VS Networking in person -How to land music in feature films -Why artists should collaborate with other artists -The value of seeking out feedback for your tracks For a free four hour video course about how to license music in TV and Films, visit: https://www.htlympremium.com/

In the latest episode of The Sync Lab, Award winning producer Gary Gray discusses what he calls "The Mental Game Of Mixing". To attend the free webinar with Gary Gray called "The Mental Game Of Mixing" on Saturday, 12.14 at 10 AM Pacific, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1417337065654/WN_LDaN3h8hTwaI4QuLAiuMIg Visit The Sync Lab.com for a free sync licensing directory and other resources that will help you get your music licensed.

In the latest episode of The Sync Lab, Aaron Davison and Gary Gray pay homage to the late Quincy Jones. Gary was friends with Quincy and in this episode, Gary shares several personal stories about Quincy as they discuss Quincy's legacy and the mark he made on the music industry. Don't miss this special tribute to a true music industry icon.

In the latest episode of The Sync Lab, Aaron and Gary discuss: 1. The importance of conveying emotion and exaggerating when recording vocals 2. Technical aspects like avoiding latency issues 3. Setting proper input levels to avoid distortion 4. Focusing on timing, tuning, and volume consistency in vocal takes 5. Using the LCR (Left-Center-Right) method for layering vocals 6. Tips on recording lead and background vocals Visit https://www.thesynclab.com/ for more about The Sync Lab.

In the first official Sync Lab podcast, Aaron and Gary speak with a panel of guests, including supervisor Pamela Liptak, filmmaker Matt Deskiewicz and composer David Fogel, about a wide range of topics, with an emphasis on AI and the impact AI is having on the sync licensing industry and music business in general.

In my latest podcast, I chat with award-winning producer Gary Gray. Gary and I have collaborated extensively in the past on various music projects for sync licensing and created multiple courses together related to sync licensing and music production.   Gary and I are excited to announce our new podcast and website, The Sync Lab. In this episode, we discuss our partnership and dive into Gary's journey in music production and licensing, covering: A recent project Gary co-produced that hit #1 on Billboard The Amazon Super Bowl commercial for which he produced the music His evolution from drummer to award-winning producer The impact of mentorship from legends like Quincy Jones and Chick Corea Tips for knowing when your tracks are "done" and ready to pitch How he secured a 12-year gig with Disney/20th Century Fox And much more! For more about The Sync Lab visit: https://www.thesynclab.com/ Check out the Amazon Super Bowl Commercial Gary produced the music for here: https://youtu.be/aVs-PNs1pXU?si=UlkUI33kVQ-duyWC

In the latest episode of Music, Money & Life, Aaron speaks with the Emmy award winning music supervisor, Susan Jacobs. Susan Jacobs is a powerhouse in the world of music supervision, with a remarkable career that includes work on acclaimed projects such as "Silver Linings Playbook," “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Capote”, “Unbreakable”, “The Visit”, “Old”, "American Hustle," the award-winning HBO series "Big Little Lies” and many more. In this 45-minute episode, Susan shares her wealth of knowledge and experience, covering a wide range of topics, including: -How to pitch music directly to music supervisors-The process of clearing music in music supervision-How supervisors are selected for feature films-The importance of registering your tracks prior to pitching them to music supervisors-The role of “sound-alike” songs in films and series-How the current economic landscape has affected sync licensing and how artists can adapt -How the negotiation process works when licensing tracks -Why less is often more when it comes to music used in sync -And much more! Learn more about Susan here:https://www.supervzn.com/ Get a free four-hour audio/video course about music licensing here:https://www.htlympremium.com/

In the latest episode of Music, Money & Life, Aaron speaks with NY based composer Pete Calandra about his career as a performer on Broadway and his vast experience licensing his music in TV and Films. Pete Calandra is a prolific composer and keyboard player who has been immersed in the New York City music scene for most of his life. He has scored over 100  films and written over 2500 compositions for television, films and his own albums. He's composed music for every major television network including the FIFA World Cup Theme for FOX Sports, the Special Olympics World Games and Invictus Games Theme for ESPN as well as writing music for the Kennedy Center Honors on CBS in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Calandra garnered acclaim for composing the music to Jellysmoke, a film which won the Los Angeles Film Festival and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, and Unknown Soldier, a film which won the Los Angeles and Philadelphia Film Festivals and also was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. His solo albums are wonderfully diverse, spanning world music, Christmas music, jazz, contemporary jazz, new age, pop, and neo classical. As a keyboard player he performed in the Broadway productions of Miss Saigon (for 10 years), The Lion King, Les Miserables, The Phantom Of The Opera, and Little Shop Of Horrors. In addition to his Broadway resume -- which includes first chair keyboard player positions for many of those productions -- he has also performed with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, NY Pops Orchestra, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Don Cherry, Aretha Franklin, Allen Ginsberg, Annie Golden, Donna McKechnie, Lillianne Montevecchi, and he spent 16 years as the keyboard player in the NYC-based Climax Band, the creative vehicle for artist and musician Larry Rivers. Learn more about Pete: HOME | petecalandramusic

In the latest episode of Music, Money and Life, Aaron from https://www.htlympremium.com/ speaks with LA based composer Kyle Wittlin. Kyle has had his music placed in over 100 tv shows, including shows like American Pickers, Hell's Kitchen, Ink Master, SNL, The Voice and many more. Learn more about Kyle: http://www.kylewittlin.com/ https://soundcloud.com/kwittlin For a free, four-hour video course all about how to make money licensing your music in tv, films and more, visit: https://www.htlympremium.com/