10 Music Libraries Every Composer Should Know
One of the questions I’m asked more than almost any other is, “Where should I send my music?” It’s a fair question, but it’s also one of the most difficult to answer. There are hundreds of legitimate music libraries around the world, and each one has its own business model, preferred genres, submission process, and quality standards. Finding the right home for your music often takes just as much research as writing the music itself.
It’s also important to understand that there isn’t a single “best” music library. A library that’s perfect for an orchestral composer might not be the right fit for an indie rock band, and a company specializing in trailer music may have very different needs than one focused on reality television or advertising. The key is to research each company carefully, listen to the music they already represent, and honestly evaluate whether your music fits their catalog.
The ten companies below have all established strong reputations within the sync licensing industry. They represent different styles of music, work with a wide variety of clients, and are all worth becoming familiar with if you’re serious about licensing your music.
1. AudioSparx
Website: https://www.audiosparx.com
AudioSparx has been licensing music for nearly three decades and has grown into one of the largest independent music libraries in the world. Their catalog includes well over a million tracks covering virtually every genre imaginable, and they license music for television, film, advertising, corporate productions, websites, games, retail environments, and many other commercial uses.
One reason I often recommend researching AudioSparx is that they offer independent musicians multiple ways to monetize their catalogs beyond traditional sync licensing, including publishing administration, background music services, YouTube Content ID, digital distribution, and commercial licensing opportunities. It’s a company that’s been around for a long time and continues to evolve with the industry.
2. Audiosocket
Website: https://www.audiosocket.com
Audiosocket has built an outstanding reputation for representing high-quality independent artists and supplying music to major film studios, television networks, advertising agencies, brands, and content creators. Companies including Netflix, Disney, HBO, ESPN, Amazon, and many others have licensed music through the platform.
If your music is professionally produced and commercially competitive, Audiosocket is definitely worth researching. Spend some time listening to the artists they represent and pay close attention to the overall production quality before submitting your own work.
3. Crucial Music
Website: https://www.crucialmusic.com
Crucial Music has been connecting independent artists with television, film, and advertising opportunities for many years. They have a long-standing reputation within the sync community and continue to be a company many composers aspire to work with.
I particularly like that they focus heavily on commercially viable music rather than simply building the largest catalog possible. If your music is polished, emotionally authentic, and production-ready, they’re well worth exploring.
4. West One Music
Website: https://www.westonemusic.com
West One Music is one of the world’s leading independent production music companies. Their catalog is used by broadcasters, production companies, advertisers, and filmmakers around the globe, and they represent thousands of artists across an enormous range of musical styles.
Even if you’re not ready to submit your music today, spend some time exploring their catalog. Listening to successful production music is one of the best ways to better understand current industry standards and the level of quality professional clients expect.
5. Audio Network
Website: https://www.audionetwork.com
Audio Network has earned an excellent reputation for producing premium production music used extensively in television, advertising, documentaries, sports programming, and branded content. Many editors and producers consistently recommend Audio Network because of both the quality of the catalog and the ease of finding great music.
If you’re writing broadcast-quality production music, Audio Network is absolutely a company worth studying. Their catalog offers excellent examples of how commercially successful production music is arranged, produced, and presented.
6. Universal Production Music
Website: https://www.universalproductionmusic.com
Universal Production Music is one of the largest production music companies in the world, with an enormous catalog serving television networks, film studios, advertisers, and content creators across countless genres. It’s a major player that every composer interested in sync licensing should become familiar with.
Spend time exploring the different labels within their catalog. You’ll quickly discover just how diverse production music has become and how important specialization can be when building your own catalog.
7. APM Music
Website: https://www.apmmusic.com
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APM Music represents one of the largest production music catalogs available and has long been trusted by major television networks, film studios, and production companies. Their library includes music from numerous respected labels covering virtually every imaginable style and mood.
Many television editors rely on APM every day, making it an important company to understand if your goal is writing production music for broadcast television and film.
8. Marmoset Music
Website: https://www.marmosetmusic.com
Marmoset has built a reputation for beautifully curated independent music with an emphasis on authenticity, emotion, and high production value. Their catalog is frequently used in advertising, branded content, documentaries, and film projects.
One of the reasons I recommend studying Marmoset is because it demonstrates how powerful unique artistic identity can be. Rather than trying to sound like everyone else, many of the artists they represent have distinctive voices that immediately stand out.
9. Musicbed
Website: https://www.musicbed.com
Musicbed has become one of the most respected licensing companies serving filmmakers, agencies, and brands looking for cinematic, emotionally compelling music. Their catalog is highly curated and known for exceptional songwriting and production quality.
Even if your music isn’t ready for Musicbed today, don’t overlook the educational value of listening to their catalog. It provides an excellent benchmark for the level of artistry and production many premium music libraries expect.
10. Music Vine
Website: https://musicvine.com
Music Vine focuses on carefully curated independent music created specifically for filmmakers, agencies, and creative professionals. Their catalog emphasizes quality over quantity, making it another excellent company to study when learning what successful sync music sounds like.
Whenever I’m researching music libraries, I always encourage composers to spend as much time listening as submitting. Every library tells a story through the music it represents, and understanding that story can dramatically improve your future pitching decisions.
Finding The Right Music Library Is Just As Important As Writing Great Music
One mistake I see musicians make over and over again is assuming that every music library is looking for the same type of music. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every company has its own identity, preferred genres, quality standards, clients, and business model. The more time you spend researching a library before submitting your music, the greater your chances of finding companies that are genuinely interested in what you create.
Whenever I’m researching a new music library, I don’t immediately look for the submission page. Instead, I spend time exploring the company’s website, listening to the music they already represent, learning about the clients they work with, and trying to understand where my music might fit.
That extra research often tells me far more than any submission guidelines ever could. If your music sounds like it already belongs in a library’s catalog, you’ve dramatically increased your chances of building a meaningful relationship.
It’s also important to remember that successful composers rarely rely on a single music library. Most build relationships with multiple companies over many years, continually expanding their network while writing new music and improving their catalog. Sync licensing is a long-term business, and every relationship you develop has the potential to create new opportunities in the future.
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