Synchronized!

In this final episode of Series Two of Synchronized!, we take stock of what we’ve really learned about AI over the past year. With Johnny Phelan and Kristin Agee back in the room, we cut through the noise on copyright, control, attribution and where human creativity actually stands in 2026.

Art Munson is a veteran of the production music industry. In this episode he talks about his early days as a top session musician, his move into production music, his adventures with AI, and his influential website, Music Library Report.

Gooding is a well-travelled international touring musician, owner of the production music label Kingdom 2, and founder of the charity, Funding The Future. He proves to be a most interesting guest…

In this wide-ranging conversation, Simon Webb and John Clifford sit down with Patrick Avard and Jason Rudd of Level 77 to explore the fast-changing world of production music. From the big issue of today (AI) to broader questions of rights, creativity, and the future of our industry, the discussion covers fresh perspectives, personal stories, and the challenges of building sustainable careers and b...

In this episode, Simon Webb and John Clifford welcome Kristen Agee, CEO and founder of 411 Music, to discuss her journey in the music industry, the evolution of production music, and the impact of AI on the industry. Kristen shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in a saturated market, the importance of diversity and authenticity in music, and her vision for the future of 411 Music. T...

This week we get to the heart of the matter, AI-generated music. Tool? Or usurper? Hold tight, this may be a bumpy ride!

In this episode, Simon Webb and co-host John Clifford discuss the evolving landscape of Production Music with guest Einar Helde, Co-Founder and CCO of AI music search company, AIMS API. They explore the impact of AI on the music industry, particularly in terms of copyright, music search, and the balance between AI-generated and human-composed music. Einar shares insights on how the AI product suit...

Roman Molino Dunn is an accomplished US film and television composer. He is also a respected technical innovatot. In this episode we discuss AI, and Roman's work in AI detection through his company AudioIntell.ai.

In this episode of Synchronized, Simon and John sit down with the brilliant Dr Florian Block — Professor in Digital Creativity at the University of York and R&D Lead in AI and Immersive at dock10, the UK’s premier TV facilities hub. Florian shares his journey into the world of digital creativity and AI, and offers a fascinating, clear-eyed look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping the enter...

In this kickoff episode of the new series, host Simon Webb is joined by new co-host John Clifford for a powerful start — an eye-opening conversation with renowned international music lawyer Johnny Phelan. The focus? AI and its far-reaching impact on the world of Production Music. Johnny shares insights from his high-level discussions with governments across the globe and offers a thoughtful, well-...

In this last episode before their summer break, Ferry van Beek and Simon Webb have a very interesting conversation with Ron Mendelsohn from MegaTrax . With over 30+ years in the production music industry, it’s great to hear Ron’s perspective on how the industry has changed, and where we’re heading. Ron doesn’t mince his words on the disruptors, and has a strong opinion on how we should perceive th...

West One Music Group ’s setup might well be the blueprint of the independent production music publisher of the future. What started as a British label label working traditionally with sub-publishers around the world arguably changed into the first hybrid independent global production music publisher. Besides having their own offices in London, Munich, Paris, Sydney, Dublin, Bangkok, Hong Kong, New...

JP Sing is YouTube’s Music Content Strategist for Europe, Middle East and Africa. With his background as a booking agent, road manager and Digital Strategist at Sony Music Entertainment Africa he has enough experience up his sleeve to help YouTube navigate the world of music copyright. Besides the business side JP is still enjoying music to the fullest when playing the guitar in his band OneDaySky...

Adam Taylor started out producing documentaries, TV Movies and Reality programming. Later he joined APM Music , (a leading US Production Music Library) and he is now President and CEO, a post he has held since 2001. He has also been the chairman of the PMA from 2017 to the present day: More than enough reasons to have a sit down with him, and talk about the state of the production music industry....

Cora Music claims it's providing 'the music your videos always deserved', competing with Epidemic Sound for video producers' synch in the Nordic market. It was founded by Swedish performing rights society STIM , but how is it different from all the other platforms? Ferry van Beek and Simon Webb decided to ask CEO Malte Andreasson what Cora Music is all about. Is this set up going to be an example...

In this episode of Synchronized!, hosts Ferry van Beek and Simon Webb talk to industry veteran Randy Thornton . Randy gives us the benefit of his wide-ranging experience in the library music business. He co-founded Non-Stop Music in 1981, and built it up to the point where it was acquired by the Warner Music Group in 2007, becoming the foundation for the Warner Chappell Production Music operation....

Web3, crypto currency, NFT’s, minting a sync license and a virtual fashion show by Dolce & Gabbana. You might want to grab a notepad before listening to this episode of Synchronized! Ferry van Beek & Simon Webb talk with Keatly Haldeman , CEO at Dequency . Dequency is the world’s first web3 synchronization licensing marketplace. A platform for music and visual creators to connect and colla...

Having worked for almost 20 years at Sesac , where his last job was as SVP Strategic Development / Distribution & Research Operations; for 2 years as Executive Director of the PMA , and already more than 7 years as EVP, IP and Business Development at SourceAudio , it is difficult to find a guest with more diverse and deep-rooted experience. In this episode of Synchronized! Ferry van Beek and S...

Our guest in this episode, Art Munson , is the founder and owner of musiclibraryreport.com . This long-running website is the ‘ Trust Pilot’ of library music: A forum for composers to share views on different libraries, and library practices. Art Munson’s enthusiasm for NFT’s, Crypto currency, Artificial Intelligence, and all things at the cutting edge of production music, is infectious. In a fasc...

This new episode features John Clifford , until 2017 Managing Director of Universal Production Music UK, and, until recently, EVP & Global Managing Director at BMG Production Music .  John is now a self employed at True Road Music, and board member of the PMA . In the past he has been a long-standing member of PMAG (Production Music Advisory Group) at PRS for Music .  John brings a w...

This time, in a bonus episode, we feature Epidemic Sound . Epidemic has been mentioned more times in our podcast than any other library label. And is without doubt, with a market capitalization of $1.4 billion, the major library disruptor of our time. So who are these ‘bad boys’ of library? What are their intentions? The Epidemic business model is certainly different, and Niklas Brantberg , head o...

Want to know what the academic community make of our business? Then you need to hit the play button to start this brand new episode of Synchronized! It’s very revealing! Ferry van Beek & Simon Webb talk with PhD candidates Júlia Durand & Toby Huelin . They approach our industry in an academic way and ask questions we wouldn’t but probably should. Later this year they are organising a study...

In this first episode of 2022, Andy Hill , CEO of I Like Music , is back as our guest on Synchronized! And, of huge importance to those publishers operating in the UK, he talks about the conclusion of I Like Music's contract with the BBC, and what ILM has in store for us next. Andy looks back at how Napster slashed the profitability of the record companies in the 90’s. He predicts the same will ha...

Let’s talk about money! It’s safe to say that everybody would like to know how much their catalogue is worth. You also might wonder how easy it would be to sell your catalogue. Ferry van Beek and Simon Webb talk to Marzio Schena from Anote Music , and try to get the answers to these questions. Anote Music is a marketplace where people can invest in music royalties, and where rights holders can sel...

This episode is a complete hour about the documentary, The Library Music Film , and more. Travel back to the Golden Era of Library music and find out about the music you may know, and the stories you may not. Do you have any idea which famous library track was used in The Muppets? Listen to this episode of Synchronized! and you’ll find out! And you'll also find out why an Epidemic composer will ne...