Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Rudd.
Hi Jason, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For 27 years, I’ve worked my way up in the production music and sync licensing industry. My journey began as a Mastering Engineer at FirstCom Music in Dallas—a company that evolved through ownership by Zomba and BMG before becoming a flagship half of Universal Production Music. Mentorship from industry pioneers shaped my early years, paving the way for my transition to Producer.
In that role, I co-managed the MasterSource catalog alongside Marc Ferrari, introducing creative strategies still in use today. I also spearheaded the revival of the Chronicles of Hip Hop library, collaborating with exceptional talent like Kyle Devine and Kenny “Kikbak” Moron. While vocal song production and curation is my primary passion, I’ve had strong commercial success across advertising campaign tracks and movie trailer scores. Acting as backup Music Director deepened my operational understanding of client needs, and I also had the privilege of producing custom album projects for FOX Sports and ESPN.
After my tenure at Universal, I joined a music licensing startup as Executive Producer—an intense, educational chapter. Following its closure, I took the leap to build the venture I had always envisioned: Renegade Music Collective. Based in Austin, Texas, RMC is an artist-first, national-level sync licensing catalog powered by top-tier local composers and musicians. We are dedicated to promoting Texas musicians statewide, nationally, and worldwide.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Throughout my career, witnessing specific industry flaws firsthand shaped the foundation of Renegade Music Collective. I always felt an uneasy tension watching label managers claim portions of writers’ shares on songs they had no hand in co-writing—a practice I saw far too often. Equally frustrating was watching composers permanently surrender their publishing rights under outdated work-for-hire contracts. Renegade Music Collective was built to reverse that status quo. Under our artist-first model, creators retain full ownership of their publishing, monetize their work immediately, and build a lasting catalog asset for their long-term future.
Beyond publishing ethics, I grew tired of seeing Texas-based film and commercial productions outsource their music to massive corporate conglomerates in California and New York. Texas is home to world-class songwriters, producers, and composers who frequently struggle to get the work and recognition they deserve. Austin is celebrated as the Live Music Capital of the World, yet the local infrastructure for music publishing has lagged behind. We have the talent in spades—it’s time Austin became a music business hub, too.
To bridge this gap, I also founded SyncATX—a monthly sync networking group and Facebook community dedicated to bringing our local sync licensing industry together. It’s been a huge success, providing a space where we share knowledge, discuss trends, and build real connections to empower Texas music creators. Our meetings are now part of the Austin Texas Musicians Foundation “Night Shift” meetings the first Tuesday of every month. It’s a massive and diverse meeting with live music and great networking.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My approach as a music producer is grounded in a deep, multidisciplinary foundation: the precise ear of a mastering engineer, decades of private guitar study informing my compositional vision, and an obsession with musicology that can anticipate shifting genre trends. As an Executive Producer, I take this artistic foundation a step further using decades of project management expertise. Last year alone, I produced two dozen albums while overseeing a relentless production release schedule of over 120 titles—managing everything from metadata origination and file conversions to contracts, payables, and final delivery.
Above all, I am known for real music. In an era dominated by virtual instruments and generative AI, I firmly believe in the irreplaceable value of humans playing real instruments. This commitment to authenticity has consistently yielded success—whether coaching the best performance out of a vocalist, recording a blistering live drummer for high-energy sports rock cues, traveling to Tremé to record authentic New Orleans jazz masters, or tracking traditional Chinese musicians performing on 300-year-old instruments. The nuance, soul, and sound of human hands cannot be synthesized—and my work has earned numerous Mark Awards and Production Music Awards as well as endless placements on film/tv, advertising, gaming, sports, and more that justify this approach.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
At my core, a few guiding principles drive everything I do: delivering exceptional work, having fun along the way, and surrounding myself with collaborators I truly love, admire, and enjoy creating with. I strive to elevate the people around me, helping them step into the best versions of themselves.
Equally important is keeping perspective. In the words of the legendary producer Snuff Garrett, “We don’t build stuff that saves your life or anything.” My former colleague, the brilliant sales executive Kathy Witmer, echoed that sentiment with her favorite reminder: “There are no music emergencies.” Both hit the nail on the head. I also cherish Quincy Jones’ rule of thumb that for every hour spent recording in the studio, you should spend two hours laughing. Making music for a living is a rare blessing—a joy, a privilege, and an honor—and for that, I have endless gratitude.
Pricing:
- Varies on usage, media, and geography
- We keep you clear of legal exposure.
- Help searching our catalog is free
- Custom & score w/CHIMES Audioworks
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Renegades.Music
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renegademusiccollective/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-rudd-15155536/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0IDldATFdiTTwsnk9sM6GT?si=41e39500fb0e437a
