How a rejected sync track saved me in a big brief

What does it take to stay creative for decades in an industry that rewards speed, sameness, and ego? In this episode, Roy Matz sits down with Tom Gire, a veteran composer and library owner, for a conversation that goes far beyond sync tips. Tom talks about rebelling against his father’s push for classical music, why he chose to be “decent at a whole bunch of things” over perfect at one, and how a dinner theater job at 13 launched his career. He tells the story of his son Trenton, who earned his place in the company the hard way and now gives Tom notes on his drums. They dig into jealousy and pettiness among composers, why you shouldn’t aim to be “Hans Zimmer on sale,” and why a viral hit can’t be engineered. Roy shares how chasing briefs left him burned out, how Bali, gardening, and fitness became the foundation for his creativity, and why he now prefers a “framework” over rigid goals. Together they explore the art-versus-commerce tension, the “busy trap,” and Kurt Vonnegut’s idea that life is a garden, not a road.   In this episode we explore Why curiosity beats specialization, and why trying to be “the next Timbaland” robs the world of the next you Learning by doing: the story of Tom’s son Trenton Ego, jealousy, and respecting other people’s work Signal vs. noise: staying true to yourself while still satisfying the brief Why there’s no master plan, and why that’s okay Framework vs. rigidity: being “the person who loses five kilos” Redefining success as contentment The busy trap, and why five focused hours can beat sixteen exhausting ones How your environment and the people around you shape who you become

Want to get on a free call with me? https://www.roymatz.com/coaching   In this episode, Lister Rossel—music producer and A&R at West One Music—takes us on his journey from funk band performer in Chile to producing international music in London. Lister opens up about the emotional intensity of being a solo artist and why he transitioned from performer to producer, finding relief in creating music for others rather than constantly "squeezing his soul" for his own songwriting. We explore what A&R really means in the sync world, how he connects artists across Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and why genuine human connection matters more than transactional relationships in music production. Lister shares the incredible story of how a chance meeting in Granada five years ago led to his dream flamenco album project, proving that staying open to life's moments—combined with love for the craft—brings opportunities full circle. Whether you're a producer, composer, or artist navigating the music industry, this conversation reveals the power of being present, honest about your path, and surrounding yourself with people who inspire you to level up.

In this episode, music supervisor Trygge Toven (Loki, Guardians of the Galaxy, Westworld) shares his unconventional path from interning at a hip-hop studio to supervising Marvel's biggest projects. We explore the realities of music supervision, how it differs from composition, and why building relationships through sync companies is more effective than cold-emailing supervisors directly. Trygge offers invaluable advice for composers looking to break into sync, explains how to identify the right supervisors for your music style, and discusses the collaborative nature of working with composers on major productions. Whether you're a composer, producer, or music creator trying to understand the sync landscape, this conversation provides practical insights into building a sustainable career in music for film and TV.   Go to Trygge's Course: https://course.vidsyn.com/

In this episode I'm pulling back the curtain on the biggest moves I've made in order to maximize my royalties. I'll walk you through how my international royalties started flowing faster and more predictably, how I simultaneously quadrupled my BMI royalties, and why consistency became the real secret to my success. If you're trying to build sustainable sync licensing income and wondering what actually works, I'm sharing exactly what I did, the mistakes I made along the way, and the strategies that finally got me on track toward full-time royalty income.   want a free coaching call with me? https://www.roymatz.com/coaching   Michael Maas Courses:  Sync Music Business Course https://roymatz.krtra.com/t/7R1Cl8hft4oQ   Trailer Music Production https://roymatz.krtra.com/t/uYdZ26NTCfa4

Ehren Ebbage shares his remarkable journey through the music industry. From his early days touring with bands and getting discovered by an A&R rep in Idaho to becoming a sought-after producer working with breakout artists like Lizzie McAlpine, Ebbage offers a masterclass in career longevity and creative evolution. Ehren's story begins like many musicians - falling in love with Aerosmith and Guns N' Roses as a teenager - but takes unexpected turns through record deals, touring life, and eventually finding his true calling in production and composition.   Want my free 11 gems PDF??  https://www.roymatz.com/gemspdf  

In this interview Jesse Josefsson opens up about his journey in sync licensing, from his early days as a musician to becoming an educator who is actually qualified to teach (nearly 10,000 placements). Jesse shares how he transitioned from band life to sync licensing after seeing consistent financial returns. He emphasizes transparency in an industry often filled with misleading promises and discusses how the sync landscape continues to evolve with technology. Both Jesse and Roy highlight the importance of "persistency" (persistence and consistency combined) and taking full responsibility for one's career path. Jesse also reflects on how parenthood has taught him valuable lessons about responsibility that apply to the music business.   11 Gems Pdf (free): https://www.roymatz.com/gemspdf

Download my free 11 gems pdf: https://www.roymatz.com/gemspdf

Katy Mac, founder of Dawn Patrol, shares invaluable insights from her extensive career spanning multiple facets of the music licensing world. As someone who has transitioned from musician to music supervisor to catalog owner, Katy provides a unique 360-degree perspective on how artists can successfully navigate the complex ecosystem of sync licensing.   Katy’s community: https://www.58facets.net/about   Katy’s agency: https://www.dawnpatrolmusic.com    Get your free 11 gems PDF: https://www.roymatz.com/gemspdf

Today we sit down with Scott Reinwand, the VP of production at Warner Chappell Production Music. He opens up about his journey from recording on a 4-track Portastudio to overseeing 60-80 albums a year. Scott shares some real gems about ego in the music industry, the power of genuine collaboration, and why success often comes from unexpected directions. Beyond his Warner Chappell role, we dive into his experience teaching film scoring at BYU, his approach to working with composers, and how letting go of ego has shaped his success in sync licensing and production music. Download my FREE 11 gems pdf: https://www.roymatz.com/gemspdf

Get the free 11 gems pdf here: https://www.roymatz.com/gemspdf