How to Clear a Sample: A Step-by-Step Guide for Independent Artists
- 13 Nov 2026
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A sample can make a song. An uncleared sample can also get it taken down, have its royalties held, or lead to a claim years after it becomes popular. Clearing a sample is slower than making the beat, so start before you plan a release date.
Every sample has two owners
- The master recording, usually owned by a record label or the original artist. This covers the actual sound you copied.
- The composition, owned by the songwriters and their publishers. This covers the melody, lyrics and musical idea.
If you use part of the original recording, you need permission from both. If you replay the part yourself (an interpolation), you only need the composition owner's permission, which is often easier and cheaper.
Step 1: Identify the owners
- Check the release credits and the ℗ line on streaming stores for the recording owner.
- Search the repertoire databases of collecting societies for the songwriters and publishers.
- For older or obscure records, the label may have been sold; rights databases and the current reissue label are good leads.
Step 2: Send a clear request
Write to both owners with:
- the original song and exactly which part you used, with timestamps;
- how long the sample is and how often it repeats in your song;
- a private link to your song;
- how you plan to release it: streaming, downloads, video, physical;
- a short note on who you are and your audience size.
Step 3: Understand the offer
Owners may ask for an upfront fee, a share of the master royalties, a share of the publishing, or a combination. A prominent sample can mean a large share of the publishing. Get every agreement in writing, including the territories, the formats and whether it covers future versions such as remixes.
Step 4: Credit it correctly
Add the original songwriters to the composer credits with the agreed shares, and keep the licence with your release files. Your distributor may ask for it during review or if a claim appears later.
When a sample cannot be cleared
- Replay it. Recreate the part with your own musicians and clear only the composition.
- Use a licensed sample library or a sample clearance marketplace. Read the licence: some allow commercial releases but not Content ID, some limit use in certain genres or formats.
- Change the idea. Write your own part with a similar feeling instead of copying the original.
Common myths
- "Under a few seconds is fine." There is no safe length. Even very short samples can require permission.
- "I changed the pitch, so it is mine." Pitched, chopped or filtered samples still come from the original recording.
- "It is only on streaming, not for sale." Streaming is commercial use.
- "I'll clear it if it gets big." By then, owners have all the negotiating power, and the release may be taken down.
Once your sample is cleared, submit the release on SpaceMedia and keep your licence ready. Do not use Content ID for songs with samples unless your licence clearly allows it; see YouTube Content ID for musicians.
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Register on SpaceMedia
Begin your music publishing journey by signing up and creating a free account on SpaceMedia.
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Choose the plan that suits you best
Select from a variety of membership options to find the one that aligns perfectly with your music distribution needs.
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Submit your music for distribution
Create a new release and upload your tracks to have them distributed across various platforms.
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Quick Review
Our team promptly evaluates your uploaded tracks, ensuring they meet our quality standards before distribution.
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Get Paid
Once your music is distributed and gains traction, we ensure timely compensation for your creative work.
SpaceMedia delivers music to a broad and changing network of streaming, download, social, and music-identification platforms. This can include major services such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, SoundCloud, Tidal, Pandora, Boomplay, Anghami, iHeart, JioSaavn, KKBOX, NetEase Cloud Music, Tencent, Qobuz, and other supported partners.
The exact network can change as platforms update territories, rules, and delivery requirements. SpaceMedia gives you access to supported distribution channels, but no distributor can guarantee that every platform will accept every release in every country.
Most major streaming services do not let every artist upload music directly. A distributor like SpaceMedia delivers your audio, artwork, metadata, and rights information to supported platforms so your release can appear on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TikTok, and others.
Create an account, choose the plan that fits your needs, upload the final release files, review the details, and submit. SpaceMedia reviews Free submissions within 5 business days, Premium submissions within 2 business days, and Label submissions within 1 to 2 business days. Store publishing happens afterwards.
You can monetize eligible music on supported video platforms through Content ID when your plan includes it. Content ID is currently included with Premium and Label, and it is not included with the Free plan.
Only submit music you fully control for Content ID. Tracks with uncleared samples, non-exclusive beats, royalty-free loops used by many creators, public-domain recordings, or disputed rights may be rejected or may cause claims that need to be resolved.
Submit your release through SpaceMedia and choose distribution to social music platforms where available. Eligible releases can be delivered to platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and other supported social or short-form music services.
Once delivered, each platform decides how the music appears, how long processing takes, and which features are available in each territory. Use accurate metadata and clean audio to reduce avoidable delivery issues.
Independent music distribution lets artists release music to streaming, download, and social platforms without signing to a traditional record label. You stay in control of your music while using a distributor to deliver it to supported services.
With SpaceMedia, you can manage releases, artist details, earnings, and payout information from your account. All standard plans let users keep 100% of standard store royalties.
The Free plan lets artists release music without an upfront distribution fee and keep 100% of standard store royalties.
This gives new artists a way to start releasing music before paying for a yearly plan. Premium and Label add more primary-artist capacity and tools. All standard plans include 100% of standard store royalties.
Yes. In many cases you can transfer existing releases to SpaceMedia while keeping them live, as long as you submit the same metadata, audio, artwork, UPC, and ISRCs where available.
Keep the old release live until the SpaceMedia delivery is live and matched correctly. Removing the old version too early can interrupt availability or make stores treat the transfer as a new release instead of matching it to the existing one.