Modern Musician Podcast #316 - Grayson Sanders: Demystifying Music Rights for the Creator Economy
Sep 9, 2025
Grayson Sanders, founder of Chordal, innovates music licensing with his InstantClear technology, aimed at simplifying the complex world of rights management. He discusses how AI is reshaping music rights, especially for independent artists, enabling them to unlock sync licensing opportunities. Grayson also highlights the challenges artists face regarding generative AI and the need for clear legal frameworks. His insights on using technology to streamline licensing processes could revolutionize how creators access and monetize their work.
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Early Sync Placement Shifted His Career
- Grayson started as a composer and got an early sync placement that changed his career direction.
- That $25k check made him pursue sync licensing and later found an agency and Chordal.
Why Sync Licensing Is Complex
- Sync licensing requires both master recording and composition approvals, which can involve many stakeholders.
- Chordal unifies those stakeholders so buyers can license from all parties in one place.
Fractional Ownership Hides Key Stakeholders
- Song ownership is often fragmented across publishers, labels, and co-writers, making rights discovery hard.
- Chordal maps those connections so rights holders can see who else shares their song.