We've been made aware of scammers impersonating Songtradr, MassiveMusic and even individual team members, to target artists. These often follow recognisable patterns:

• Fake or altered email domains (including free email services)

• Unsolicited outreach claiming sync placements with major productions

• Requests for upfront “affiliation” or processing fees

• Contracts using real branding and employee names without authorisation

• Outreach via Instagram DMs or other informal channels

• Outdated or incorrect company information (used to appear legitimate)

Here’s how to spot these scams and protect yourself.

Tactics increasingly blur the line between legitimate outreach and fraud. Music licensing scams can now include:

• AI-generated emails that are individualised to bypass spam filters (Polymorphic Phishing)

• Fake A&R or supervisor profiles that use AI headshots and copied content (AIGC Impersonation)

• Voice cloning used in phone calls to impersonate industry professionals (Deepfake Outreach)

• Convincing fake websites designed to mimic legitimate licensing platforms in order to capture sensitive data or payments (Fake Sync Portals)

Q: Does a legitimate sync deal require an upfront fee?

A: Never. Legitimate partners earn through commission or revenue share. Any request for a “review,” “registration” or “processing” fee, especially via PayPal, Venmo or crypto, is a scam.

Q: How can I verify a legitimate representative?

A: Check the full sender email, not just the display name. Be weary of emails from free email service accounts (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook) or extended domains instead of verified company domains like @massivemusic.com, @bandcamp.com or @songtradr.com.

• Legitimate: name@company.com

• Scam: free email services (licensing.massivemusic@gmail.com) or altered domains (name@syncmassivemusic.com)

When in doubt, contact the company directly via its official website.

Q: What are the most common scam signals?

A: Look for:

• Upfront payment requests tied to a sync or placement

• Emails from personal or unverified domains

• Contracts using real branding with no verifiable connection

• Vague project details (client, usage, timeline)

• Urgent or pressure-driven language

Q: Is the offer “too good to be true”?

A: Usually. Scammers use inflated deal values and urgency to override skepticism, with lines like:

• “We want to license your track immediately – just send a small fee first.”

• “This deal is exclusive and time-sensitive.”

• “We need payment to release your funds.”

• “I represent [real company], but I’m contacting you from a personal email.”