Do Less, Sync More: Gift Inside 🎁
Reflecting on an Extraordinary 2024 in the Sync Beast Accelerator
FROM THE DESK OF GRAHAM BARTON
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1, 2025
There's something powerful about taking a moment to pause and reflect in the final days of the year. As we turn the page on 2024, I’m filled with immense gratitude for what Sync Beast has achieved in the last 12 months. Not just in numbers (though they are impressive), but in the profound ways my strategy and philosophy for making relevant, visible, and useful music for sync licensing has impacted so many producers and songwriters.
As you may be aware, I’ve taken a hiatus from the podcast to pursue a more in-depth project. And as a thank you for subscribing and listening to the podcast in 2024, the project is finally complete and I want to give you access to it. I’ve taken a ton of time and worked very hard to create something for you that has the power to influence and change your creative process on a deep, lasting level. I hope that it brings you massive amounts of light bulb moments, clarity, certainty, and that you use it for good in 2025+.
Breaking Records, Breaking Patterns
In 2024, the SBA saw the completion of 81 tracks across 23 different SBA projects from 30 producers and songwriters – the most significant growth since its inception. These tracks generated over $65,000 in revenue. This milestone reflects the quality and strategic value of each asset that comes out of the SBA.
Money is cool, but it doesn’t reflect the true performance of the music itself. Here's what really gets me fired up: Sync Beast tracks get pitched to brands that many producers consider "holy grails" in the industry: Apple, Netflix, Meta, Nike, Google, Disney, Marvel, and dozens more. And these aren't just occasional pitches – Sync Beast tracks get in front of these brands within days of going live in Marmoset.
What makes this possible? It's not about doing more – It's about doing less, with absolute intention.
Real Struggles Behind Real Success
The real power of the SBA methodology reveals itself in the transformations I witness daily. When I recently asked everyone in the community about their experiences, their responses highlighted the challenges they, and many, creators in sync licensing face – And more importantly, how they're overcoming them with the right support and strategy.
Breaking Free from Isolation
"As a producer, I've often been in the situation of alone with my DAW working and trying to find all the answers by myself – Something that isn't necessary or beneficial in a collaborative situation. I’m grateful and thankful to have a team that is exceptional and reliable. Outside of SBA you never know what you’ll get in a collaborative situation, but here you know you’ll be met with excellence by your collaborators."
- Dan
This hits home for so many of us. The solitary producer, stuck in their own head, wrestling with creative decisions alone. Dan's story shows how access to the right collaborators can transform this isolation into strength.
Overcoming the Perfectionism Trap
"With Graham's help, I recognized that my ego was still triggering the Perfection Trap throughout my process. Accepting this allowed me to move forward, complete toplines for my 2nd and 3rd SBA tracks, and feel more confident in the results than ever before."
- Ryan
The Perfection Trap is real, and it's a creativity killer. Ryan found freedom by identifying, shaping, branding, and stepping into a clear character during the process. It gave him permission to make music without overthinking or self-criticism. Huge.
Learning to Slow Down
"In the last month I’ve gained clarity by slowing down. It actually pains me to write that because it's the opposite of PUSH PUSH PUSH, which is my constant state of being, JUST GET IT ALL DONE, MORE MORE MORE."
- Dana
Dana's experience speaks to that constant pressure we put on ourselves to produce more, faster. Without the discipline to pause and think before acting, we spray and pray, hoping to land our music somewhere worthwhile. Hope ain’t a sync strategy.
Shifting from Artist to Strategic Creator
"I've learned that the passion and motivation for why we create is always there, but the wins come from trusting the process. I feel much gratitude being a part of this community and do not feel like the same producer I was before this… I shed that skin. Thank you SBA, cheers to 2025, much love!"
- Veronica
This mindset shift is crucial. Veronica's journey shows how letting go of conventional thinking opens new possibilities. And how there is no one way of doing things – The only constant is change, and being flexible enough to live up to it is your edge.
The Power of Clear Framework
"After completing my first project in the SBA, I took away a ton of lessons: Things like intentionality, using my time more wisely, really focusing on what I want / need to do to add value to my music, and clear communication with collaborators."
- Neil
Neil's experience highlights how structure and intentionality can transform chaos into clarity. It's not about limiting creativity – it's about channeling it effectively. This is the epitome of doing less to experience so much more.
From Isolation to Community
"The SBA gave me a completely different perspective on what I was creating. The masterclass alone reshaped how I think about and approach my work. I love that I now have a system and framework to guide my projects."
- Aaron
Aaron's journey from struggling alone to finding success through structure and community echoes what I've seen time and time again: transformation happens when we combine clear strategy with supportive collaboration.
These aren't just isolated success stories – They're evidence of a fundamental shift in how we approach music creation inside the SBA. It’s not about churning out more tracks or chasing trends. It's about developing a deeper understanding of what makes music truly valuable in the sync space, while addressing the real challenges that hold creators back.
🎁 My Gift To You: “Do Less, Sync More”
Since the start of Q4, I've been working on something special – A video that encapsulates years of learning in under an hour. It's all about my philosophy for doing less to get more results in sync licensing to help you get the clarity you need to make big moves in 2025.
It isn't just another "how-to" guide or “mini-course”. It's a complete reimagining of how you need to approach music creation for sync licensing if you hope to stay ahead of the game in the coming years. The video breaks down:
Why most producers hit a ceiling (and how to break through it)
The counterintuitive power of strategic restraint
How to make each element in your tracks truly matter
The psychology behind what makes music valuable to brands
I created this for two reasons: 1.) I believe everyone deserves access to transformative insights that took me years to discover, and that have afforded me an incredible living doing what I love. 2.) I asked many of you if this sounds like something you’d want, and you said Yes. I’m delivering.
“Do Less, Sync More” is your guide to making strategic music that big brands can’t ignore.
It’s for you if you’re tired of feeling like you can’t get a pulse on what influences the market to buy music in 2025+. It’s for you if it seems like the effort you’ve put in lately far exceeds the returns. It’s for you if you’ve realized that making “more music” is a strategy that will never beat making the “right music”.
It’s my first YouTube video, and it offers a new way of thinking about your creative process, technical workflow, and everything in between. I don’t know when or if I’ll make the next one – It’ll come down to if you enjoy this and actually find it helpful. The link is below, so give it a serious watch and let me know.
Looking Forward
As we begin 2025, I'm more convinced than ever that success in sync licensing, finding your sound, and being a key player in the game isn't about doing more – It's about doing less, better. It's about bringing precision, intention, and strategic thinking to every aspect of your creative process.
The growth that Sync Beast has seen in 2024 isn't just about numbers. It's about proving that when you focus on bringing the right asset to market – when you make music with deep intentionality, extensive planning, detailed implementation, and precise positioning – you give your music a fighting chance in an increasingly crowded market.
Here's to a new year of growing, learning, and creating music that matters – together.
Stay hungry,
Graham Barton
Executive Producer @ Sync Beast Accelerator