Ringo Launches Charlie, the first AI Assistant for Sync Licensing that Lives on WhatsApp

Nov. 12, 2026

Ringo today launches Charlie, the first AI assistant for sync licensing that lives on WhatsApp. Producers at advertising agencies and production houses send Charlie a track and ask what it costs to license and whether it makes the first on-air date. They get the answer before they promise the track to the client.

Brands publish content daily and need answers in minutes. Sync still runs on email chains that take weeks, if not months. Content moves at social media speed, while sync still moves at traditional campaign speed.

The producer tells Charlie where the ad will run: media, territory, duration and first on-air date. Charlie works out the cost from Ringo's own rights data and pricing model; a general AI chatbot can only guess at a sync price. She also knows who owns the rights, and so how long clearance takes. If the first on-air date is too close, she suggests another recording of the song, a track that clears in time, or a bespoke track.

When the producer says "go", Ringo's licensing team takes over. They negotiate with the rights holders and clear the track, for a fee agreed upfront. Charlie's figures are estimates; the rights holders set the final price.

Marcel Alexander Wiebenga, co-founder of Ringo said:

“Every producer knows the moment: the client loves the track, and nobody in the room knows what it costs or whether it can be cleared in time. Charlie answers that before the promise is made, on the app you already have open.”