Sync Licensing Secrets: Tucker Scott on Writing Songs That Land in TV & Film

By Clay Mills, SongTown Co-Founder

This past month, our SongTown crew had a special guest: Tucker Scott, Creative Manager at The Bus Music Publishing. If you’re dreaming of hearing your song in a TV show, commercial, or movie trailer, Tucker dropped a goldmine of advice on how to craft sync-friendly music that actually gets placed.

Here are some highlights and actionable takeaways from his session:

Montages Matter More Than You Think

Tucker focused on one of the most emotional and syncable moments in film and TV: the montage. These scenes—often filled with multiple storylines, rising emotions, and cinematic tension—rely heavily on the right song to tie it all together.

“The montage song is the one thing that stays consistent through all the scene cuts. It carries the emotion.”

*Why It Matters:
Songs placed in montages are often featured more prominently, given higher volume in the mix, and can even shift the entire meaning of a scene. They’re not just background noise—they’re the emotional thread that connects everything. A well-placed montage song can elevate your track from filler to feature.

Montages also give editors room to use different parts of the same song—verse, chorus, bridge—to match the changing visuals, making dynamic, emotional range all the more valuable.

Diversified Emotion Wins

Rather than sticking to one emotional tone, Tucker recommends songs that reflect multiple angles of the same theme.

“If a song’s about grief, don’t just show sadness. Show confusion, anger, regret—whatever makes it more human.”

*Pro Tip: Emotional range gives music supervisors flexibility. It makes your song useful for more than one kind of scene.

Juxtaposition Is Powerful

Songs that create contrast between the lyric and the music can have major impact. A sad lyric over a hopeful track (or vice versa) can catch a music supervisor’s ear.

“One of our songs had a lyric that said ‘I’ve never seen anything so beautiful’—but the music was dark and unsettling. That tension made it pop.”

Don’t Forget the Release

Whether it’s a big instrumental drop, a soaring chorus, or a revealing lyric, a great sync song has a “release” moment that pays off.

“The most memorable montage placements build up tension, then break it open. Supervisors love when they can match that release to something on screen.”

These release moments give music supervisors a cinematic tool—they’re often synced with pivotal visual moments like an embrace, a realization, or a turning point in the plot. It’s that sense of payoff that helps make a song unforgettable and emotionally resonant. The release can be lyrical, instrumental, or emotional—but the key is contrast: build the tension, then let it go.

Keep It Authentic (But Not Overcomplicated)

Tucker stressed the importance of authenticity in songwriting—even for sync. But he also warned against making songs overly complex.

“Stay real. Don’t overthink the metaphor. If it’s too clever, it won’t land emotionally.”

Vocals Don’t Have to Be Crystal Clear

While you want a strong vocal performance, perfect enunciation isn’t required. In fact, a little obscurity can work in your favor.

“You don’t always have to hear every word clearly. A vibe and emotional delivery can go further than flawless diction.”

Song Length Sweet Spot: 2-4 Minutes

Ideal montage songs land in the 2 to 4-minute range. It gives editors enough material to work with while maintaining emotional momentum.

Don’t Aim to Be a Radio Hit

Sync songs don’t have to be catchy in a traditional way. In fact, if a song is too catchy, it might distract from the scene.

“The goal isn’t to make the listener sing along. It’s to make them feel something deeply in sync with the visual.”

Final Thoughts from Tucker

– Write from an honest place. Editors can feel when it’s forced.
– Think of sync songs as emotional storytelling tools.
– And most importantly: keep writing. The more music you have in your catalog, the better your chances of landing a placement.