Sonoton Music
Sonoton Music is a 60-year-old Munich-headquartered production music library licensing 208,694+ pre-cleared tracks from 9,811 composers to broadcasters, film/AV producers, advertisers, and brands globally, with bundled synchronization and usage rights via a self-serve platform and consultant-assisted sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersMünchen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Sonoton Music does
Sonoton Music is a Munich-headquartered production music library founded in 1965 by Rotheide and Gerhard Narholz. The company licenses pre-cleared music to broadcasters, film and AV producers, advertising agencies, and corporate media buyers under a single-source model that bundles synchronization and usage rights (composition and recording) from one supplier. Its catalogue spans 208,694+ tracks contributed by 9,811 composers across more than 100 partner labels, covering genres from classical and orchestral to hip-hop, jazz, and trailer music.
The company operates a hybrid product-led and consultant-assisted go-to-market model. Customers can self-serve search and license through sonoton.com/search and the dedicated licensing portal at licence.sonoton.com, with automated price estimates and online payment. The platform includes a Trackster tool that uses audio similarity analysis to match uploaded files or YouTube/Soundcloud/Vimeo URLs to catalogue equivalents. For complex needs, music consultants and a sync & licensing team handle curation, multi-territory licensing, and GEMA/collection society reporting. Sonoton is part of the GEMA World Repertoire and integrates with BMAT and Soundmouse for automated music usage reporting to collection societies.
Sonoton generates revenue through one-time licensing fees per track and production, priced by media type (TV, radio, internet/cinema, advertising, AV, audio) and geographic scope (single city to worldwide), with multi-year all-media flat-rate options for advertisers (€4,500/year to €9,500/3 years per brand). Licenses are perpetual with no re-licensing required unless the production changes. The company maintains a global agent network across Europe, the Americas, Africa/Australia, and Asia, and operates its own Munich studio complex for in-house production, mixing, and mastering, including Dolby Atmos capability. Leadership transitioned from founder Gerhard Narholz to Alex Black in 2021, alongside a corporate rebrand, new studio, and redesigned website and search platform.
Sonoton Music firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sonoton Music
- Legal name
- Sonoton Music GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://sonoton.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sonoton Music is a 60-year-old Munich-headquartered production music library licensing 208,694+ pre-cleared tracks from 9,811 composers to broadcasters, film/AV producers, advertisers, and brands globally, with bundled synchronization and usage rights via a self-serve platform and consultant-assisted sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sonoton Music industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Production Music Licensing
- NAICS
- Music Publishers (51223), Record Production and Distribution (51225)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sync Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms (MPAIALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Performance/Neighboring Rights for AV Uses (Cue Sheet & Reporting Services) (MPAIALAK), Music & Audio Rights for Broadcast (Sync/Master/Library) (MPABANAF), Music Supervision Services (MPAIALAB), Music Rights Administration & Royalty Processing (Admin, Accounting, Statements) (MPAIAKAD)
Keywords
Where Sonoton Music is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- München
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sonoton Music business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Music Licensing Fees: Sonoton Music generates revenue by licensing synchronization and usage rights for its production music catalogue. Customers pay one-time fees per track and production based on media type (TV, radio, internet/cinema, advertising, AV productions, audio) and geographic scope (single city, federal state, G-S-A, Europe, worldwide, or all-media flat rate). Fees are standardized and published on a price list; no recurring subscription is required. Additional revenue comes from follow-up spots (text or motif changes) at 50% discount, and product flat rates for commercials valid 365 days per brand.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Radio & TV — Free tier for qualifying broadcaster productions |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Corporate Media — Single track license |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Advertising — Internet, Cinema, Radio |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TV — Per track and production, all media |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Advertising — All Media flat rates |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Audio Productions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Sonoton Music product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sonoton Music licenses production music and royalty-free tracks from a catalogue of over 208,694 tracks and 9,811 composers for use in TV, film, advertising, audio productions, and digital media. Customers search and license tracks through an online platform and dedicated licensing portal, receiving synchronization and usage rights (composition and recording) from a single source, with standardized global pricing by media type and territory.
Product overview
Sonoton Music is a production music library company offering a comprehensive portfolio of services centered around its core music library platform. The main offering consists of hundreds of thousands of production music tracks searchable through their online Music Search Platform, enhanced by the AI-powered Trackster tool for audio-based similarity search. The company operates an Online Licensing System for synchronization rights, maintains in-house Sonoton Music Studios in Munich, and distributes an extensive network of Partner Labels. The platform serves TV, film, advertising, and digital media productions worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sonoton: Primary label for production music tracks
- Afro Dizzy
- Afro Musique
- Intersound
- Pro Viva
- Rockshop
- Sonia Classic
- Commercial Length Cuts
- Commercials Non Stop
- Intersound Spots
- Intersound Vinyl
Products and services
- Sonoton Music Production Music Library Licensed catalogue of 208,694+ production music tracks spanning genres, moods, and eras, available to broadcasters, film producers, advertising agencies, brands, and corporate clients for synchronization and usage rights licensing.
- Online Licensing System (licence.sonoton.com) Streamlined online licensing portal for submitting license applications, receiving automated price estimates, completing online payments, and managing synchronization and usage rights licenses.
- Music Search Platform Web-based search platform with advanced filters (genre, mood, tempo, formation, instruments, era, duration), curated playlists, new releases, artist profiles, and personalized dashboard for searching and previewing production music.
- Trackster Audio-Based Similarity Search Proprietary audio-similarity search tool that accepts audio files (MP3, WAV) or YouTube, Soundcloud, or Vimeo URLs as input and surfaces acoustically similar tracks from the Sonoton catalogue.
- Sonoton Music Studios (Munich) In-house music production studio in Munich where productions from around the world are mixed and mastered, with Dolby Atmos immersive audio capability including the Holst: The Planets album performed by the Vienna Synchron Stage Orchestra.
- Partner Labels Network Distribution network of 100+ partner production music labels (including 101 Music, Brand X Music, Cavendish Music, Epic Score, Serj Tankian Library, Trailer Trash, 1st Choice Music, Vienna Synchron Stage Orchestra recordings) accessible through the Sonoton search and licensing platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 208,694 tracks available, enabling production teams to find suitable music for any creative brief from a single library
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sonoton Music
Customer profileNamed customers68 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sonoton Music technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Sonoton Music partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GEMA (Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte)coreGEMA is Germany's primary copyright collection society administering performing rights and mechanical reproduction rights for musical works. Sonoton Music is part of the GEMA World Repertoire, enabling global rights clearance and automated royalty reporting through GEMA contracts. This partnership is fundamental to Sonoton's legal licensing model.
- GVL (Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten)coreGVL administers neighbouring rights (performers' and producers' rights) in Germany. Sonoton Music's licensing includes GVL-covered rights, and Sonoton holds direct contracts with public broadcasters that also cover GVL obligations. Integral to the bundled rights model.
- 101 Music (OOPM)minorPartner label under the Sonoton Music umbrella offering production music through the Sonoton platform. Customers can search and license 101 Music tracks alongside the core Sonoton catalogue.
- 1st Choice Music (FCH)minorCo-original guitar-based label featuring iconic guitarists, founded by Emmy Award-winning artist Brian Tarquin. Distributed through Sonoton's catalogue and licensing platform.
- Brand X Music (BXM)minorPartner label available through Sonoton's catalogue, featuring various sub-series including Architect's Series (BXMA), Editor's Essentials (BXME), and Trailer (BXML).
- Cavendish MusicminorUK-based production music library offering classical, cinematic, and trailer music. Distributed through Sonoton's catalogue under multiple series: Cavendish Archival (CAVA), Cavendish Classical (CACL), Cavendish Music (CAVCD), and Cavendish Trailers (CAVT).
- Epic ScoreminorPartner production music label distributed through Sonoton's catalogue, known for epic orchestral and cinematic scores.
- Serj Tankian Library (SRJ)minorProduction music library created by Serj Tankian (System of a Down). Distributed through Sonoton's catalogue and licensing platform.
- Trailer Trash (TT)minorPartner label known for trailer music and high-impact production tracks. Distributed through Sonoton's catalogue.
- Vienna Synchron Stage OrchestracorePremium orchestral recording ensemble performing Sonoton Music productions. Key recording for Holst: The Planets — Sonoton's first Dolby Atmos album, arranged by Gregor F. Narholz and performed by the Synchron Stage Orchestra.
- Getty ImagesminorImage licensing partner providing stock photography for Sonoton's marketing and promotional materials. Listed as an image credit source on the Sonoton website.
- Adobe StockminorStock image provider used for Sonoton's website and marketing assets. Listed as an image credit source on the Sonoton website.
- ShutterstockminorStock image provider used for Sonoton's website and marketing assets. Listed as an image credit source on the Sonoton website.
- UnsplashminorStock image provider used for Sonoton's website and marketing assets. Listed as an image credit source on the Sonoton website.
- PantherMediaminorStock image provider used for Sonoton's website and marketing assets. Listed as an image credit source on the Sonoton website.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sonoton Music competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Warner Chappell Production Music: Warner Music Group's production music division offering sync licensing across a large catalogue. Directly comparable to Sonoton in business model, customer segments (broadcast, advertising, film), and bundled sync + master rights structure.
- Audio Network: UK-based production music library with a comparable 200K+ track catalogue and similar focus on sync licensing for broadcasters, brands, and filmmakers. Closest pure-play peer in catalogue depth and bundled-rights model.
- Epidemic Sound: Swedish subscription-based music licensing platform targeting YouTubers, content creators, and brands. Competes with Sonoton for the SMB/UGC segment via a different (subscription) commercial model.
- BMG Production Music: BMG's production music catalogue (including X-Ray Dog, Reinhard Besser, and other library brands) competing in the same sync licensing space as Sonoton for film, TV, and advertising clients.
- APM Music (Associated Production Music): Long-established production music library (now part of Sony) with a major catalogue serving Hollywood, broadcast, and advertising. Directly comparable to Sonoton in catalogue scale and enterprise-buyer focus.
- Pond5: Stock media marketplace offering royalty-free music alongside video, footage, and SFX. Competes with Sonoton for SMB and enterprise buyers seeking one-stop creative asset marketplaces with music licensing included.
- Universal Production Music: Universal Music Group's production music arm, one of the world's largest production music libraries. Directly competes with Sonoton in sync licensing for film, TV, and advertising; serves a similar enterprise buyer base with similar rights-bundling models.
- Musicbed: Sync licensing platform focused on premium film, TV, and brand advertising use cases. Overlaps with Sonoton's premium advertising and film segments, with a more curated/composer-led catalogue approach.
- Sony Production Music: Sony's production music catalogues (including APM, Extreme, and associated libraries) competing head-to-head with Sonoton in sync licensing for TV, film, and advertising globally.
- Artlist: Subscription-based royalty-free music licensing platform for video creators and brands. Directly competes with Sonoton in the SMB/UGC market segment with a flat-fee subscription model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sonoton Music social profiles
Digital presenceSonoton Music financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sonoton Music leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Sonoton Music funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sonoton Music M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sonoton Music
What does Sonoton Music do?
Sonoton Music licenses production music and royalty-free tracks from a catalogue of over 208,694 tracks and 9,811 composers for use in TV, film, advertising, audio productions, and digital media. Customers search and license tracks through an online platform and dedicated licensing portal, receiving synchronization and usage rights (composition and recording) from a single source, with standardized global pricing by media type and territory.
Is Sonoton Music a public or private company?
Sonoton Music is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Sonoton Music founded?
Sonoton Music was founded in 1965. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sonoton Music based?
Sonoton Music is headquartered in München, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Sonoton Music make money?
One revenue line is on record: music Licensing Fees.
Who are Sonoton Music's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Warner Chappell Production Music, Audio Network, Epidemic Sound, BMG Production Music, APM Music (Associated Production Music), Pond5, Universal Production Music, Musicbed, Sony Production Music and Artlist.
Does Sonoton Music have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sonoton Music.
What industry is Sonoton Music in?
Sonoton Music's product category is Production Music Licensing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIALAG, Sync Marketplaces & Licensing Platforms, with a secondary code of MPAIALAK, Public Performance/Neighboring Rights for AV Uses (Cue Sheet & Reporting Services). Its NAICS code is 51223 and its SIC code is 7812.