Music Clearance

Music and film are like peas and carrots.

You’ve created an entire project with specific music in mind - now you need to license it.

Music clearance involves several layers. Contracts, negotiations, invoices, crediting... It can be overwhelming, which is why major filmmakers and production companies work with a music clearance team.

It is best to start this process as early as possible. If a specific song is written into the script or treatment, you’ll need to know if you’re going to need a backup.

The use of any song must be approved by the copyright holders. The songwriter and/or artist will want to know about the project and how the song is being used in order to approve the use. They’ll also want to know who the producers or production company are and how much money is budgeted for music.

Fees vary depending on the use and scope of the project. Fees fluctuate depending on the artist, how the song is being used, and planned distribution. While there are precedents and industry standards, each song will have a unique quote.

The cost of not licensing music can be devastating. Copyright infringement penalties can be up to $150,000 per instance. It is always advised to properly license all intellectual property, especially music.

Why don’t songs clear? Sometimes songs have exclusive licenses to another party and they legally cannot be used. Sometimes the artist wants to limit placements. Sometimes the artist just doesn’t want it used in that context.

Administrative fees will be added in addition to the licensing fee and also vary depending on the scope of the project.

If you’d like to get in touch about music clearance for an upcoming project, please send a quick message with a brief overview. I’ll be in touch as soon as possible!