mu•sic clear•ance

/myoozik klirens/
noun

1. the process of getting permission and/or a license to use music from the copyright holders.

Think of music clearance as needing to ask for permission and paying a fee to use a song or music that you do not own.

There are two main sides to music rights that you typically need to clear: the master/sound recording (the actual music as it’s heard when you play it) and the composition (the lyrics and melody written by the songwriter). You may only have to clear one side of the music depending on your specific use.

Without clearance, you could get hit with legal issues, so it’s all about making sure everyone who owns the rights gets paid and agrees to let you use their work. It can be a bit of a process, but it’s worth it to avoid headaches later.