Online music catalogue for film, TV and ads
Build a catalogue of tracks you control and license them to video makers, producers and advertisers.
- £1k-5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
19,836 UK companies in this field, 26% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 59200 “Sound recording and music publishing activities”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
An online publishing catalogue of tracks you have the rights to, tagged and searchable, licensed for use in videos, TV, podcasts, games and adverts.
Your first three steps
- Gather or commission 20 to 50 tracks where you hold clear written rights, with instrumental and short edits
- Set up a simple website with searchable, well-tagged tracks and standard licence terms
- Contact small production companies and agencies, and offer them a free trial of your catalogue
Who pays
Video producers, agencies, broadcasters, games studios and content creators who need cleared music.
How it makes money
You charge licence fees per use, or sell simple licence packages through your site. You may also earn royalties when productions are broadcast.
Skills that help
- Knowing what makes music useful for picture
- Careful with metadata and rights admin
- Outreach to music supervisors and producers
Watch out for
- Keep written proof of ownership for every track, including contributors and samples
- Have licence terms checked by a solicitor who knows music rights
- Check how PRS for Music and MCPS registration affects the way you license tracks
- Competition from large libraries is strong, so a clear niche helps
- Income can take many months to arrive
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: online music catalogue for film, TV and ads
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a sync music catalogue?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on your tracks, website and how you tag and present them. Keep written proof of ownership for every track you include.
What rights do I need to license music for film and TV?
Keep written proof of ownership for every track, including contributors and samples. Have your licence terms checked by a solicitor who knows music rights, and check how PRS for Music and MCPS registration affects the way you license tracks.
How much can a music sync catalogue earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £1,000, depending on your catalogue and niche. Income can take many months to arrive, and competition from large libraries is strong, so a clear niche helps.
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Photo: neelam279 on Pixabay