So you've found a great sample and have the beginnings or maybe a whole beat or track finished - now you need to clear the sample. Don't worry - the process is super simple!
Jump to a section:
- Start a new registration
- Payment step
- Completing your registration
- Licensee information
- Song Information
- Writer and publisher splits
- Distribution
- Payment
- Activating your license
Start a new registration
- Go to Your licenses and press "License new sample"
- Enter a name for the song (doesn't have to be the final title)
- Choose the sampled song you want to license in the drop down list
- Select if you have licensed up to 2, 15 or 60 seconds
- Save the information
If you're not the person/entity that should license the song, you can now send it to someone else in order for them to acquire the license and be responsible for releasing the song and accounting for it. The receiver would need to have a Tracklib account, you can read more about this here.
At this point, you can download a draft of the sample license agreement.
Payment step
One you've registered your song, you can complete just the payment step in order to have secured your right to use the sample in your new work. This is where you either pay for the sample, or acquire your license without paying a fee if you're on the Premium or Max subscription plans. Once you have completed this step, you have secured your right to use the sample.
Completing your registration
To complete your sample clearance, we need some basic information about your new song. The different steps are further outline below, and you can do them in what order you prefer.
All of the information here can be changed up until the point your license is activated.
Licensee information
This should always be you, or your own company. The licensee is legally responsible for the sample license, so it should be the person/entity who will be responsible for releasing the song and can properly account for any revenue that it makes.
Your name
This should be your name, or the name of your company.
Your email address
This will be pre-filled with the primary email address for your account and cannot be changed. You can how ever add more email address and change which one is your primary address from your settings.
Your phone number
This will be pre-filled with the phone number from your settings if you've added it there, otherwise you need to provide it.
Song Information
Here you will see the sampled song and duration of the sample that you selected when you started the registration. You also need to provide the following information.
Artist name(s)
Enter all artists performing or featured on this song, starting with the main artist. Example: "Prince", "Prince, The Revolution" or "Prince, The NPG".
Song title
This is the final released song title of your new song. You can't use the same (or similar) song title as the song you have sampled. Do not include the names of any artists in the titles, primary or featuring. So "Purple Rain" is valid, "Purple Rain (feat. The Revolution)" is not. You also can't use the name(s) of the artist(s), songwriter(s) or performer(s) of the song you have sampled.
Audio file
An MP3 version of your new song, maximum 10MB in size. We need it so we can help you in case there is an issue with your license. Your song is stored securely on our server and will not be shared with anyone.
Writer and publisher splits
This is where you provide the derivative (new) rightsholders for your song, and you can also see the information about the original righthsolders of the sample so that you can include them in your works registration with your PRO if you have one.
Songwriter(s) and/or publisher(s)
We need to know the combined total of all publishers and writers in your new song. This total includes the original writer(s) and publisher(s) which are listed here already, with their correct shares. Add writers and publishers here until the total reaches 100% to continue.
It's not possible to add publishers (including the publishers of the original song) that add up to more than 50%.
NOTE: If you use ASCAP you need the split between writers and publishers to be exactly 50%/50%.
Name of writer or publisher
This is the full name of the writer or publisher (as registered with their PRO, if they have one).
IPI number
An IPI (Interested Parties Information) number is an international identification number assigned to songwriters and publishers to uniquely identify them. If you don't have one and don't want to sign up with a PRO, that's up to you
Share %
The total share percentage that this specific writer or publisher should receive.
Connected publisher
You can connected each publisher to the relevant writer. You add these by selecting which publisher to connect each writer to. Several writers can be connected to one publisher.
Society/PRO affiliation
This is the PRO that the writer or publisher are registered/affiliated with.
You need to at least add yourself with name only and a share that leaves the total at 100%.
Distribution
We need to know how you released your new song, and also have the ISRC.
Distribution service
Just select the distribution service you used. We recommend Tracklib's preferred distributors who we've partnered with and support automatic revenue payments for, which means that once it's set up, any revenue from digital streaming can be accounted and paid to us automatically.
ISRC
The ISRC is a mandatory dedicated code which is issued to each commercially released sound recording. Your distributor or record label should give it to you or assist you in how to get it.
Payment
Payment
If you haven't done this already ahead of time, this is where you either pay for the sample, or acquire your license without paying a fee if you're on the Premium or Max subscription plans.
Activating your license
Confirm that all the details in all steps are correct. Note that you cannot change anything on your own after you’ve activated your license, as the legal agreement has been finalized.