Before a record is released, everything on it must be owned by you or properly licensed. Releasing uncleared material risks takedowns, lost income, and legal claims. This chapter is a practical pre-release check; the Music Business module covers copyright in depth.
General guidance, not legal advice.
The two copyrights
- The composition - owned by the songwriters and their publishers.
- The master recording - owned by whoever made or paid for it.
You need the rights to both.
Your own songs
- Confirm every co-writer and their split, in writing.
- Make sure everyone agrees the song can be released.
- Register the song with your PRO.
The recording
- If others paid for or contributed to the recording - producers, musicians, studios - make sure you have agreements confirming who owns the master and any royalties or fees owed.
- Session musicians and vocalists should have agreed to their performance being released.
Samples and interpolations
- Samples need clearance of the master (from the label) and the composition (from the publishers). No sample is too short to need clearing.
- Interpolations - re-recording part of an existing song - need clearance from the composition's publishers.
- Royalty-free samples and loops - check the licence allows commercial release. Most do; some have restrictions.
Beats
If you are releasing over a beat you did not make:
- Leased beats often have limits on streams, sales or uses. Know them.
- Exclusive beats give more rights, but check what the contract actually grants.
- Credit the producer and agree their publishing share.
Cover versions
To release a cover, you need a mechanical licence for the composition. In the US, compulsory mechanical licences are available; in the UK, licences are available through the collecting societies. Many distributors offer cover licensing as a service. You may not change the melody or lyrics substantially without the publisher's permission.
Artwork and photos
Artwork is copyright too. Make sure you own or have licensed:
- Photographs - including the photographer's permission.
- Illustrations and designs.
- Fonts used commercially.
- Any images of other people, brands or logos.
Clearance checklist
- Composition: all writers and splits confirmed in writing.
- Master: ownership confirmed, contributors agreed.
- Samples: master and publishing cleared, in writing.
- Interpolations: publishing cleared.
- Loops and sounds: licence permits commercial release.
- Beats: lease or exclusive terms allow this release.
- Covers: mechanical licence in place.
- Artwork: images, fonts and designs licensed.
- Features: featured artists (and their labels, if signed) have approved.
Do this now
- Run your next release through the clearance checklist.
- Create a folder for each release holding every agreement, licence and split sheet.
- If anything is uncleared, decide: clear it, replace it, or remove it.