What rights you need to distribute
Master and composition: what you must have cleared before publishing.
To distribute a song you need two rights cleared for it.
The master
It's the specific recording. You have it if you recorded it or paid for its production, or if its owner assigned it to you in writing. In the Codes & Legal step you declare it as the copyright holder.
The composition
It's the music and lyrics, regardless of who records them. You have it if you wrote the song. If you cover or use someone else's material, you need their permission. In the Codes & Legal step you declare it as the publishing rights holder.
Cases that require additional permission
- Covers (see Covers: what you need).
- Samples and interpolations (see Samples, interpolations and remixes).
- Remixes of third-party tracks.
- Licensed instrumentals — beat leases (see Beat leases and collaborations).
- Another artist's material.
If you distribute without the rights
Review can reject the release, and a platform can remove or claim it later.
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Two different rights over the same song.
Permissions to publish your version of a song composed by someone else.
The request flow, payment and resulting document.
What authorizations you need in each case.