On a recent episode of the Profitable Musician Show, host Bree Noble sat down with multi-talented artist and SYNC agent Elaine Ryan to unpack her fascinating journey, practical tips for musicians, and her empowering new book, Living a Music Centered Life: A Guide to Balance, Fulfillment and Paying the Bills.
Watch the episode here
Listen to the episode here
From the start, Elaine’s story is one of courage, reinvention, and resilience. Originally born in Ireland and then raised in Canada, she recalls, “I was born in Ireland, and we immigrated. My family immigrated to Canada when I was five. Grew up in Vancouver, B.C. you know, wasn’t actually like, always loved singing. Kind of grew up constantly singing, did choir, all that. Learned guitar as a teenager, and then just kind of went down the university path.”
Despite pursuing studies in international relations and a stint at a legal nonprofit, Elaine found herself at a crossroads. The stress of legal work, coupled with a growing desire to write and perform music, inspired her to make a life-changing leap. As she describes with humility, “I think it was probably being 20 years old and having no idea how the world worked, that was the main thing. And also just kind of being a, you know, go for it type of person.”
Going “all in” was not without its challenges, but Elaine’s willingness to hustle paid off, especially during her years as a working musician in Hawaii. There, she learned how to adapt to her environment, switching from original songs to covers to connect with resort crowds. “You need like two to three hours worth of material. And so I started that and it was really good money. Like, you know, people assume that if you’re a musician, like you’re not getting paid, but it’s not true. If you’re doing something that is providing a service that people, that the market is demanding and the market there was demanding live musicians.”
Elaine’s career evolved further with her move to California, where she would deepen her involvement in the world of sync licensing. “I had for a long time known about sync licensing…it seemed really obscure, like how you actually get connected and get your songs into sync. It seemed really like there’s a lot of gatekeepers and I have no idea how to approach this.” But a sync licensing course connected her with other music makers and industry professionals, leading to her own placements and eventually, a passion for helping fellow musicians break into the field.
One of Elaine’s biggest contributions is Sync Music for a Change, an innovative nonprofit initiative combining charitable giving with networking for sync placements: “I started a non profit initiative called Sync Music for a Change. And that’s basically a listening session every couple months where we raise money for a different cause each time. It depends on what the music supervisor is interested in fundraising for.” Not only does this offer musicians exposure and feedback from actual music supervisors, but it also builds community and supports causes that matter.
Through her company Unicorn Sync, Elaine continues to support artists who want to break into sync licensing and get their music heard. She explains, “Music supervisors…want to be able to go to one person, a sync agent or a label or a publishing company and say, hey, like, this is the specific need I have. Send me all the songs…And so they want to be able to clear it all…through one person.”
Her book, Living a Music Centered Life, encapsulates the wisdom gleaned from years in the trenches. As Elaine puts it: “It’s differentiating living a music centered life from making it in the music business like becoming famous…a lot of people can live a music centered life without moving to Nashville or Los Angeles or New York and…becoming famous or even without touring. There’s just a lot of different paths.” She emphasizes the practical side as much as the inspirational, giving strategies for booking local shows, breaking into sync licensing, and crafting a career that is both sustainable and deeply fulfilling.
Elaine’s journey serves as a beacon for musicians everywhere. “I’m trying to help people find that middle way between oh, I’ve become a super famous person, that means I’ve succeeded and oh, I need to quit music because I can’t or I’m unlikely to become super famous…there’s multiple roads to, to like making music this central part of your identity in your life.”
Elaine Ryan’s insights remind us: whether you dream of taking the main stage or simply need music to feel whole, it’s possible to find balance, fulfillment, and profit in your own unique way.
To find Elaine and her book, visit ElaineRyan.ca or search for Living a Music Centered Life on Amazon.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Elaine Ryan’s Official Website
https://ElaineRyan.ca
Find more about Elaine, her music, projects, and direct contact info here.
Elaine Ryan Music on Instagram
@ElaineRyanMusic
Connect with Elaine, get updates, and find relevant links in her bio—including direct access to her book.
Elaine Ryan’s Book: “Living a Music Centered Life”
Available on Amazon—search for “Living a Music Centered Life” or “Elaine Ryan” to find it.
This practical guide covers sync licensing, well-paid gigging, and finding balance in a music-driven life.
Unicorn Sync
Elaine’s sync agency, supporting musicians looking to get their work placed in media.
Find out more through her main website or socials.
Sync Music for a Change
Elaine’s initiative connecting musicians and music supervisors through charity listening sessions.
To participate or learn more, check Elaine’s website or Instagram for the latest updates and events.
Women of Substance Podcast & Music
Referenced as a platform supporting music with a conscience and featuring Elaine’s work over the years.
Visit their website for more info: https://www.wosRadio.com
