Imagine a music venue in the heart of London, Ontario, back in the mid-1980s. This venue, known as “Lionel’s,” was more than just a place for music—it was an ideal for entrepreneurial spirit. As a young man in his early twenties, Lionel Lodge founded and managed this live music hub. It was his first step into the business side of the world of entertainment, a world he would come to love.
Fast forward to the ‘90s and you’d find Lionel on the other side of the music industry spectrum, managing a live music booking agency in the UK, where he led a team of ten agents booking hundreds of artists all across the country. This was just the beginning of his journey, for in the following years, he would delve into publishing, becoming the Senior Editor and Co-Publisher of a UK-based entertainment magazine with a circulation of 40,000 per month and a team of over 50 people.
Lionel’s path eventually led him to Vienna, Austria, where he founded and managed a sync licensing agency, the Vienna Calling Music Network, until his realization that something groundbreaking was needed. Enter SyncLodge, an award-winning project that sought to revolutionize the music industry.
Lionel, now the CEO of SyncLodge, brings over 40 years of rich and diverse experience in the entertainment field. From live music to publishing, from London to Vienna, his journey is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit, creative passion and unwavering commitment to innovation.
Today, he leads SyncLodge in its mission to amplify the creative joys of music supervisors and bring ease and transparency to the sync licensing industry—a mission fueled by his passion for music and his belief in equal opportunities for all creators, regardless of their location, connections, or fame.
Let’s delve into the journey of a leader and a lifelong champion of the music industry’s creative spirit!
Hidden Melodies of Music Synchronization
In the mid-2000s, Lionel was a musician navigating the changing landscape of the music industry. He recalls, “I was living off my music, enjoying my life, but CD sales were dying.” Faced with declining income, Lionel embarked on a quest to find a new source of revenue. That’s when the idea of sync licensing, or using music in TV shows and films, was suggested to him.
Lionel delved into this unfamiliar world, attending industry conferences and networking tirelessly. “I started licensing my recordings,” he says, and soon, other independent artists and small record labels sought his expertise. Before he knew it, he had founded a sync licensing agency.
Through this journey, Lionel noticed a common struggle among industry professionals. “Many were drowning in paperwork, email ping-pongs and phone calls,” he explains. They needed a “digital salvation.” Recognizing the potential for innovation, Lionel decided to take action.
He began searching for a solution but couldn’t find one that met all their workflow needs. With determination, Lionel and his co-founders decided to create their own solution. SyncLodge was born and it has since become a beacon of empowerment for creatives, earning recognition and awards for its innovative approach.
Today, SyncLodge is a global service transforming the music industry, proving that sometimes, to find the solution, you have to build it yourself.
Hitting All the Right Notes
“SyncLodge has been designed and built with input from hundreds of industry stakeholders,” Lionel emphasizes. Their approach is clear—listen to what the industry needs and make it happen.
Lionel proudly points out that they’ve streamlined administrative work through automation, saving up to 60% of precious time. “We don’t curate music or store data, we access it,” he explains. SyncLodge opens doors for music supervisors, offering access to the world’s music and its essential metadata while facilitating communication with copyright administrators.
But SyncLodge isn’t just a tool—it’s a bridge for teams. It enables direct negotiations within a secure system, bringing clarity to project management, simplifying communication and helping users expand their professional networks. SyncLodge, as Lionel puts it, is the industry’s solution for efficiency and collaboration.
Strumming a New Tune
“Music supervisors are creative people but the work of a music supervisor is, on average, 80% administrative work,” Lionel observes. This administrative burden can stifle creativity, but SyncLodge offers a solution.
With SyncLodge, music supervisors no longer spend hours or days on tedious data entry for cue sheets and payment ledgers. “Both are built automatically,” Lionel explains. And when a project wraps up, the system seamlessly sends all necessary documents to the relevant parties, saving time and reducing headaches.
Many music supervisors juggle multiple projects simultaneously, which can be overwhelming. SyncLodge steps in with tools to simplify multi-project management and provide clarity. “It makes it easy for them to see the stages of each project, assign tasks and keep all details in one, easy-to-search location,” Lionel says. They call it “The Power of Clarity,” and it’s a game-changer for those in the industry, allowing them to focus on what they do best: being creative.
The Chord of Equality
“The history of the music industry is a story of gatekeepers deciding what gets pushed forward, who takes a step up the golden stairs?” Lionel reflects on the traditional role of gatekeepers in the industry, acknowledging their importance as the first level of screening. However, he points out the limitations of this system in practice.
Lionel notes that despite the countless talented music creators worldwide, many remain undiscovered due to limited contacts, geographical constraints and the challenge of self-promotion. Sync Licensing, unlike the mainstream, doesn’t follow music trends; it seeks music that fits the visual narrative.
SyncLodge changes the game by giving music licensors direct access to a vast global music library. It levels the playing field, disregarding click counts or company size, focusing solely on the music’s suitability for the project. “It does not take into account the number of clicks or likes,” Lionel emphasizes. With SyncLodge, talent and creativity take center stage, ensuring that deserving music finds its place in visual storytelling, irrespective of industry barriers.
The Key to Sync Licensing Efficiency for All
“For the music industry to function, it is reliant on correct data,” Lionel underscores the critical role of data accuracy. He emphasizes the importance of those who input data, stating, “The correctness of the data is of the most importance.” Clear, complete, consistent, and concise data input is essential.
SyncLodge takes this accurate data and effortlessly distributes it where needed, eliminating the tedious task of manual document completion. As Lionel explains, “This removes the need to manually complete many project-related documents, some documents can take days to compile.”
One prime example is when music creators register their new music with industry organizations like PRO and CMO for royalty management. When a music supervisor considers using this music, SyncLodge steps in. “SyncLodge accesses the databases where the music is registered and delivers the data,” Lionel clarifies, making the process seamless. If the music is chosen, the data is automatically integrated into cue sheets and payment ledgers.
Moreover, SyncLodge simplifies the distribution of cue sheets to all copyright owners involved in a project, potentially hundreds of them. “This saves the time of building documents and sending out hundreds of emails,” Lionel notes, streamlining a once laborious process. With SyncLodge, the music industry finds efficiency through accurate data management, benefiting all stakeholders.
SyncLodge’s Virtuoso Toolkit
“SyncLodge is an ecosystem, a hub where all sectors of music and visual production industries come together efficiently,” says Lionel, highlighting its role as a unifying force. It’s designed for both company and project teams, providing a comprehensive set of tools. Lionel emphasizes, “SyncLodge is the power of clarity on a 360-degree level.”
In contrast to subscription-based industry solutions with barriers to entry, SyncLodge stands out. Lionel points out, “SyncLodge has no membership or signup fees, so no barrier to entry.” It’s an inclusive platform that empowers professionals across the industry, making collaboration and efficiency accessible to all.
Rhythm of Effortlessness
“SyncLodge technology handles the tedious, time-consuming workflow tasks,” says Lionel, emphasizing its role in freeing up creative energy for the project team.
The Encore of Prosperity
“We built the most advanced suite of tools for the music supervisor and production company workflows,” says Lionel, highlighting SyncLodge’s commitment to meeting industry needs. He adds, “We give it to them completely free to use.”
This invaluable resource enables professionals to streamline their work, leading to increased project efficiency. Lionel notes that newcomers often describe the experience with one word—amazing, reflecting the platform’s immediate impact and user satisfaction.
The Magic Behind the Music
“We believe in a collaborative and inclusive leadership style,” says Lionel, emphasizing SyncLodge’s commitment to empowerment and shared vision. He adds, “The SyncLodge environment values everyone’s ideas, where we are a team, we are friends.” Recognizing and respecting individual strengths is a cornerstone, ensuring every voice is heard.
Open communication and transparency are paramount, fostering trust, stronger commitment and a sense of fulfillment at work. This culture of collaboration leads to award-winning innovations in the entertainment industry, driven by SyncLodge’s dedication to its people and their ideas.
A Melodic Future
“We are a global company, expanding at a consistently increasing rate,” notes Lionel. SyncLodge’s commitment to growth is unwavering, driven by a desire to adapt and serve diverse territorial needs.
As they gaze into the future, Lionel envisions multiple chapters of growth for SyncLodge in the ever-evolving IP licensing industry. They aim to provide guidance, understanding and opportunities to both copyright licensees and licensors.
SyncLodge’s mission, as Lionel passionately puts it, is to “empower artistic freedom, offering solutions that educate, while building networks and income opportunities.” By collaborating with fellow innovators in the entertainment industry, they aspire to ensure a vibrant and dynamic creative future for entertainment, one that continues to thrive and make waves.
Staying on Tempo
“We stay involved with many other initiatives, industry round table discussions, etc. And we ask a lot of questions,” Lionel emphasizes. SyncLodge maintains a close relationship with industry leaders, fostering a collaborative environment where innovative ideas are shared.
As Lionel aptly puts it, “Change is the constant,” and witnessing positive hypotheses turn into reality is a source of great satisfaction.
A Song of Clarity
“There are elements of the sync licensing industry that are private to the parties involved,” Lionel acknowledges, highlighting SyncLodge’s commitment to privacy. However, he points out that within this private and protected space, SyncLodge excels at providing clarity in data, workflow and management.
Lionel introduces one of their valuable tools, saying, “One is our contract management tool.” This feature, seamlessly integrated into each project, ensures secure and smooth contract sharing and communication. Lionel sums it up, noting that it “just makes sense” by simplifying the process and eliminating the stress of scattered file and communication storage locations.