Catalog Launches Revolutionary Music Licensing Platform for Artists

A new platform named Catalog has emerged, aiming to transform the music licensing landscape for artists. Officially launched following a successful private beta with renowned fashion houses Hermès and Dior, Catalog positions itself as the first end-to-end curated sync marketplace. This initiative seeks to challenge the conventional $1.3 billion “royalty-free” stock music sector, which has often been criticized for diminishing the artistic and cultural value of music licensing.

Backed by an alliance of respected independent labels, including !K7, Beggars Group, Domino, Ninja Tune, Warp, Mute Song, Kompakt, City Slang, and Partisan Records, Catalog aims to restore control and revenue to artists. The platform features over 30,000 tracks from 1,800 artists, showcasing a diverse range of talent, from Laurent Garnier and Belle and Sebastian to Ólafur Arnalds and Yves Tumor.

Founded by Frederic Schindler, recognized as AIM’s 2025 Music Supervisor of the Year, Catalog was created in response to the frustrations surrounding traditional music licensing. Historically, this process has funneled billions to anonymous stock-music suppliers, known as “ghost artist” libraries, which prioritize convenience over authenticity. Schindler emphasized, “The solution isn’t to abandon artistry for convenience; it’s to fix the friction. We built Catalog to empower storytellers to use music they love, and to redirect that billion-dollar revenue stream back to the artists who are the lifeblood of our culture.”

By integrating expert human curation with advanced technology, Catalog allows users to search and license tracks in hours rather than months. Its proprietary Sync Smart PricingTM tool leverages thousands of data points—from an artist’s history to cultural context—to provide transparent, market-rate estimates for each use. The process culminates in an instantly generated and authenticated license on the blockchain, streamlining what has traditionally been a cumbersome legal procedure.

The platform has already demonstrated its effectiveness with some of the world’s top creative teams. During the Hermès Men’s Ready to Wear 2026 show, Catalog facilitated a last-minute track request in under 24 hours, a task that typically takes weeks. Industry veteran Christof Ellinghaus, CEO of City Slang, praised the platform, stating, “This placement demonstrated Catalog’s ease of process and powerful usability. And trust us, we usually hate platforms!”

For independent musicians, Catalog represents a pivotal shift in the economics of sync licensing. Traditionally, artists outside major label systems have encountered significant barriers, including sluggish negotiations and opaque pricing models that often result in underpayment. Catalog addresses these challenges by streamlining discovery, negotiation, and payment processes, while partnering directly with independent labels that prioritize artistry. This approach levels the playing field, providing a more direct connection between independent musicians and clients in film, television, advertising, and fashion who seek culturally rich, authentic music.

In essence, Catalog replaces the competitive landscape of “royalty-free” libraries with a model that rewards creativity, integrity, and fair compensation. This launch serves as a reminder that even in a tech-driven world, the value of great art endures, and artists deserve to benefit when their work propels culture forward.

For those interested in exploring what Catalog has to offer, further information and membership applications can be found on their official website.