In an era of hyper-fragmentation and AI-driven growth, the dilemma of whether to build your own software or invest in specialized solutions has never been more critical.
For music rights holders, the decision isn’t just about cost, it’s about opportunity.
The Big Picture
In the early days of the digital transformation, the DIY model was often a badge of honor (or a necessity born from a lack of solutions).
Today, the landscape has shifted. As the volume of data explodes and the complexity of global licensing intensifies, music companies face a fundamental question: Are you a music company, or are you a software development company?
Back in 2012, we often saw smaller teams attempting to “lay the bricks” of their own infrastructure.
In 2026, that approach doesn’t just drain resources, it creates technical debt that can stifle growth in the future.
The Fantasy of a “Simple” Solution
It often starts with a sophisticated spreadsheet or a custom-coded backend designed to solve a specific pain point… usually around the lack of catalog management organisation or royalty reporting. On the surface, these internal tools seem cost-effective.
However, software development is rarely a one and done project. What can look like a simple interface at first is actually supported by an immense amount of engineering in the back-end, security protocols, and constant updates.
When a music company builds its own platform, they aren’t just building a tool, they are committing to a never-ending cycle of maintenance, bug fixes, and integrations that distract from their primary mission: maximizing asset value.
The Reality of Technical Debt
We’ve encountered it several times, a rights holder who spent years of their personal time and significant capital developing an internal system, only to realize that the market had already produced a solution that was more robust, more secure, and ready to deploy at a fraction of the cost.
And while the emotional attachment to the “personal project” is understandable, in the current marketplace, it’s dangerous. Every hour your team spends troubleshooting a custom database is an hour they aren’t spending on creative sync placements or strategic catalog acquisition.
Why SaaS is the Strategic Choice for 2026
The shift toward Software as a Service (SaaS) isn’t just about outsourcing, it’s about leveraging collective intelligence.
- Scalability: Modern SaaS platforms are built to handle the fragmented nature of today’s sync and licensing world.
- Future-Proofing: While an internal tool begins to age the moment it’s written, a specialized provider is constantly innovating to meet global standards.
- Focus: By utilizing fit-for-purpose solutions, companies can focus on their core expertise: music, rather than the upkeep of technology.
The Bottom Line
The math is clear. Is it worth investing to build a solution that meets 80% of your needs, when a specialized platform offers 99% of that functionality instantly for a much smaller fixed monthly investment? Success in the modern music industry sphere requires agility. Leave the bricklaying to the experts so you can focus on the architecture of your business.
Keen to learn more about how Synchtank can work with you and your business? Get in touch! We’d love to talk about how we can make your transition seamless.
