How to Pitch Your South Asian Track for Global Licensing After the Kobalt-Madverse Deal

Hook: Your South Asian track can break into global sync — if you stop guessing and start packaging

Landing a placement in an international ad, film, or streaming series feels like a lottery for many Indian and South Asian artists. You hear about publishing deals, global catalogs and months-long royalty statements — but you still don’t know how to get your track in front of the right music supervisors. The January 2026 Kobalt–Madverse partnership changed that equation: it gives Madverse’s community access to Kobalt’s publishing administration network and global publisher distribution. That means more routes into international sync — but only if you present your music in a sync-ready, rights-clear, metadata-perfect way.

Quick summary — what this article gives you

Below is a step-by-step, actionable pitching checklist tailored for South Asian songwriters, composers, and producers in 2026. Use it to:

• Prepare a sync pack that moves fast past gatekeepers
• Get publisher-level visibility via Madverse + Kobalt
• Pitch music supervisors, brands and music editors with confidence

The 2026 context: why now matters

In late 2025 and early 2026 the sync market kept two clear trends: demand for authentic regional sounds rose across global media, and publishers consolidated catalog access through curated partnerships and admin platforms. Variety reported the Kobalt–Madverse agreement in January 2026 as a strategic move to pull South Asian independent creators into Kobalt’s global administration. That means more direct collection of publishing royalties from international broadcasts and streaming — and more catalog exposure to music supervisors who rely on publisher catalogs for clean, license-ready tracks.

At the same time, AI indexing, automated metadata enrichment, and micro-licensing tech matured in 2026. Music supervisors increasingly expect fully-tagged assets (stems, instrumentals, cues), English-transliterated lyrics, and cultural context notes. If your package lacks those, your music will routinely be skipped.

What the Kobalt–Madverse route actually changes for you

Think of Kobalt as the global payment and admin rail, and Madverse as the local curator and advocate. Through this partnership, creators who work with Madverse can:

• Access Kobalt’s publishing administration for faster global royalty collection
• Get catalog exposure to international supervisors via Kobalt portals and curated lists
• Receive professional cue-sheet and rights support that buyers expect

But administration alone won’t land placements. It increases the odds — if you deliver the right assets and outreach.

12-step pitching checklist for South Asian artists (the core)

1. Confirm rights & ownership

   Before you pitch, make sure you control or have licensed every element in the master and composition. That includes samples, featured vocalists, and any third-party sounds. Create a simple rights file listing writers, publishers, and sample clearances. If you don’t have full rights, flag the issue in your pitch — transparency beats surprises later.

2. Register metadata and PRO details

   Register the song with your performance rights organisation (e.g., IPRS or your local PRO) and with your admin (Madverse). Provide ISRC for the master and ISWC for the composition if available. Incomplete registration delays royalty collection and can kill a sync deal.

3. Create a sync-ready folder

   Each track should have a dedicated folder with:

   • 24-bit WAV full mix (stems if possible)
   • 320 kbps MP3 preview file
   • Instrumental and vocal-only versions
   • 30- and 60-second edited cuts (common supervisor requests)
   • Tempo (BPM), key, duration, explicitness flag

4. Provide English transliteration & translation of lyrics

   For tracks in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi or other South Asian languages, always include a line-by-line transliteration and an idiomatic English translation. Supervisors often don’t read non-Latin scripts; translations matter for scene matching and clearance decisions.

5. Write cultural context notes

   Short notes (1–3 sentences) about the song’s cultural references, traditional instruments used, or regional significance help supervisors use the music correctly and respectfully. Flag any cultural permissions or sensitivities up front.

6. Standardize file naming & metadata

   Use a clear naming convention: artist_track_version_BPM_key.wav. Embed metadata (title, writers, publisher, ISRC, contact email) in the file’s ID3/tags. Supervisors and publishers ingest catalogs automatically; clean metadata reduces friction.

7. Prepare split sheets and publishing info

   Upload signed split sheets or co-writer agreements showing composition percentages. If you’re submitting through Madverse, indicate what portion you’re assigning for admin and what remains for sync licensing. Kobalt’s admin will need accurate splits to claim publishing income.

8. Make a 3–4 track ‘sync pack’

   Supervisors hate clicking through entire catalogs. Build a short, themed pack (mood or scene), each with full mixes, instrumentals and 30/60s edits. Label the pack: mood, tempos, and suggested use cases (e.g., ‘urban romance – montage – 80–90 BPM’).

9. Price your licensing tiers

   Set tiered pricing for web/streaming, TV, and ads. Don’t undervalue your work — but be pragmatic. For new placements, consider flexibility to gain exposure, but keep minimum fee thresholds and clearly state exclusivity terms. Note: publishers often negotiate fees, so publish a starting price, not an absolute.

10. Craft two email pitch templates

    Write both a short (one-liner + link) and long (two-paragraph contextual + link) pitch. Personalize the subject line and first sentence for each supervisor or music editor. See templates below.

11. Follow the outreach cadence

    Send the initial pitch, follow up once after 7 days, then again after 21 days if no response. Use different hooks in follow-ups (new cut, recent press, or a related placement). Keep language concise and professional.

12. Track placements and collect cue sheets

    If a placement happens, ensure the production sends you a cue sheet detailing usage, duration, and territory. With Kobalt admin in place, this documentation will help trigger international performance royalties — one of the real long-term earnings benefits of publisher access.

Practical templates — use these verbatim (and personalize)

Short pitch (email subject and body)

Subject: [Track] – 30s cut – ‘Title’ – vibe: warm urban montage

Body: Hi [Name], I’m [Artist], an independent composer from [City]. Attached is a 30s cut and sync pack for a warm urban montage — full WAV, instrumental and English-translated lyrics. Available via Madverse/Kobalt admin for publishing. Quick link: [private streaming link]. Thanks for your time — happy to provide stems or alt edits.

Long pitch (for supervisors you know or publishers)

Hi [Name], I loved your work on [show/ad] — the way you used regional textures stood out. I’m sending a short sync pack from my forthcoming project: ‘Title’. It blends [regional instrument] with electronic production for a modern South Asian sound. Pack includes full WAV, instrumental, stems, BPM/key, transliterated & translated lyrics, and 30/60s edits. I’m admin’d by Madverse, with Kobalt publishing access, so publishing clearance and international collection are handled. Full link: [private link]. If you need a custom edit or a vocal-free bed for dialog, I can deliver within 48 hours.

What to send specifically to your Madverse or Kobalt contact

• A one-page spreadsheet: track title, writers, splits, ISRC, duration, language, tempo, key
• Sync pack folder with WAVs, instrumentals, edits and stems
• Signed split sheet or proof of co-writer agreement
• Sample clearances or a statement that the track is sample-free
• Cultural notes and translation as described above
• Desired licensing terms and minimum fee bands

Red flags that kill sync deals fast

• Uncleared or undocumented samples — simply avoid or clear before pitching
• Missing split sheets or ambiguous ownership claims
• Poor audio quality — masters must be mix-ready for broadcast
• No transliteration or translation for non-Latin scripts
• Overly long catalogs without curated packs — supervisors want curated, not exhaustive

Advanced strategies for 2026 and beyond

Beyond the basic checklist, these techniques help you stand out in an AI-assisted, data-driven sync market:

• Use AI-assisted tagging: Employ tools that auto-tag mood, BPM, instrumentation and similarity to reference cues. This improves algorithmic discoverability inside publisher portals.
• Produce stems and alternate mixes as standard: Deliver stems for dialogue-friendly edits — many supervisors ask for vocal-free beds or re-arranged cues.
• Build diaspora micro-campaigns: Target diaspora filmmakers, ad agencies, and creators who want authentic regional music; early placements with global indie film festivals can lead to network placements.
• Leverage short-form syncs: Micro-licenses for short-form platforms (social ads, TikTok, reels) can build usage history and performance data that helps justify higher fees for TV/commercial licenses.
• Create a ‘scene bible’: A simple PDF with mood tags, language, suggested scene uses (montage, init. scene, emotional close) helps non-musical buyers immediately see where your music will work.

Example scenario (how a placement can unfold)

Imagine you’re a Kolkata producer. You prepare a three-track sync pack with full WAVs, stems, transliterated lyrics and a one-page spreadsheet for Madverse. Madverse uploads the pack into Kobalt’s admin catalog and flags a music supervisor who’s curating South Asian material for a European streaming series. The supervisor previews the 30s edits, requests a 20-second instrumental cut for a montage, and negotiates a sync fee plus a publishing split. Post-broadcast, Kobalt's admin ensures the performance royalties are collected across Europe, the US and Australia — royalties that would have been difficult to collect without global publishing admin.

Common questions (quick answers)

How long before I see royalties if a placement happens?

Upfront sync fees are paid per contract terms (often 30–60 days). Performance royalties collected through a publisher admin can take several months to appear in statements depending on territories and broadcaster reporting cycles.

Should I give exclusive publishing rights to get a placement?

Not necessarily. Many Madverse–Kobalt arrangements offer admin services without transferring ownership. Maintain negotiation leverage: allow non-exclusive sync licenses or limited exclusivity for a fixed term instead of broad transfers.

What about micro-licenses for creators?

Micro-licenses are valuable for discovery and can create usage data. Offer them with clear price tiers and ensure they’re tracked in your catalog so they feed into your usage history for bigger deals later.

Final checklist — printable actions to take today

1. Confirm all rights and clear samples
2. Register composition with your local PRO and Madverse
3. Create sync pack (WAV, stems, instrumental, 30/60s edits)
4. Include transliteration, translation, and cultural notes
5. Prepare split sheets and pricing tiers
6. Send a personalized pitch to 10 targeted supervisors and follow up twice
7. Upload the same pack to your Madverse contact for Kobalt admin ingestion

"Kobalt’s partnership with Madverse is not just admin; it’s a path for South Asian creators to be discoverable in international catalogs." — Practical takeaway for 2026 sync strategy

Closing — act now, because opportunity favors the prepared

The Kobalt–Madverse deal opened doors in 2026 — but doors only matter if you walk through them with the right kit. Follow the checklist above, prepare a compact, culture-aware sync pack, and use Madverse’s publisher access to Kobalt as leverage — not a crutch. Be proactive: clear rights, perfect your metadata, and pitch like a professional. The global market increasingly wants authentic South Asian sounds; make yours easy to license and impossible to pass up.

Call to action

Ready to convert your catalog into sync-ready assets? Download the free sync-pitch pack and editable templates at audios.top/sync-pack (includes email templates, metadata spreadsheet, and split-sheet template). Need a quick review of one track? Send a sample to our audit team and get a prioritized checklist tailored to your song.

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