What music clearance means
Music clearance is the process of getting written permission from every owner of a piece of music before it's used in a production. For an existing song, that almost always means two sets of rights, often with several owners on each side, and a license that defines exactly how the music can be used.
Clearance is a different job from licensing a track whose rights sit in one place. A track from a production music library is usually quick to license because the library controls it. A commercially released song takes research, negotiation and paperwork, which is the work a music clearance company does.
Sync rights and master rights
Every recorded song carries two copyrights:
- The composition (melody and lyrics), controlled by the songwriters' music publishers. Putting it to picture needs a synchronization (sync) license.
- The recording (the specific master), controlled by the record label or, for many independent artists, the artist. Using that recording needs a master use license.
To use the original recording you need both. If you re-record the song as a cover, you need the sync license but not the master. A song can have several publishers, each controlling a share, and every share has to be cleared. Samples inside a recording are cleared separately.
What a license covers: media, territory, term and MFN
A clearance request is never just whether you can use a song. Rights holders quote against a defined use:
- Media: where the work runs, such as broadcast TV, online video, social, cinema, radio or in-store.
- Territory: the US, North America, worldwide, or specific markets.
- Term: how long the license lasts, from a set campaign period to perpetuity for a film.
- Use: the length of the excerpt, whether it's featured or background, and whether it's edited or gets new lyrics.
- Exclusivity and options: whether competitors in your category can use the song, and pre-agreed fees to extend term or territory later.
Many deals include a most favored nations (MFN) clause. If both the publisher and the label license the same song, each gets terms no worse than the other, so the higher fee on one side usually becomes the fee on both. That's why one side's quote often sets the budget for the whole song.
How ITGM handles music clearance
Our music clearance services cover ad campaigns, TV, film, trailers and branded content. For each song, we:
- identify every rights holder for the composition and the recording, including split publishing
- request quotes against your exact media, territory and term, and negotiate
- flag approvals that take time, such as artist or songwriter sign-off on ad use
- line up alternates in case a song is unavailable or over budget
- deliver signed licenses and the cue sheet information broadcast needs
Our supervision and licensing work includes Disney's Ralph Breaks the Internet and The One and Only Ivan, and FBI Season 2 on CBS. As a Producer at Marvel Studios put it: “They made clearance effortless, handling the complexities so we could focus on the edit.”
Start clearance early
Clearance takes as long as the slowest rights holder. Starting when a song first shows up in the temp edit, rather than after the client has fallen for it, leaves time to negotiate and a fallback if the answer is no.
If a song can't be cleared, our music supervision team can find alternates, or our composers can write an original custom track to the same brief. For the bigger picture, see our guide to music licensing.
Frequently asked questions
What is music clearance?
Music clearance is getting written permission from every owner of a song before using it in a production. For a recorded song that usually means a sync license from the publishers and a master use license from the label or artist, each defining media, territory and term.
What's the difference between a sync license and a master license?
A sync license covers the composition, the melody and lyrics, and comes from the music publishers. A master use license covers a specific recording and comes from the label or artist who owns it. Using an original recording in a video or ad requires both.
Do I need clearance if I bought the song or have a PRO license?
Yes. Buying a song or streaming it gives you personal listening rights, and a PRO license from ASCAP or BMI covers public performance, such as music played in a venue. Neither lets you put music in a video or ad; that takes sync and master licenses from the owners.
What does MFN mean in music licensing?
MFN stands for most favored nations. It means a rights holder gets terms no worse than any other rights holder on the same song, so if the label gets a higher fee, the publisher's fee typically rises to match.
How long does music clearance take?
It depends on the song and the people who own it. A library track can be cleared quickly, while a major-label song with several publishers and artist approval takes much longer. Start as early as you can and keep an alternate in mind.