Using the perfect song can transform your film ā adding emotion, tension, or meaning. But what if the track you want isnāt royalty-free or part of a licensing library? Can you just use it anyway? What are your legal options?
Hereās everything you need to know about music clearance ā and how we can help you get the rights legally and affordably.
š§ Why You Canāt Just Use Any Music in Your Film
Music is protected by copyright. That means to use it in your project, you mustĀ get permission from the rightsholdersā even if:
- The track is old
- You only use part of it
- You found it on YouTube
- You credit the artist
- Itās a student or indie film
If you donāt clear the rights, you could face takedowns, legal action, or be blocked from festivals or distribution.
š What Rights Do You Need?
There are two main rights you must clear:
- Publishing rightsĀ ā usually held by the songwriter, represented by a publisher or society likeĀ PRS for Music
- Master rightsĀ ā owned by the artist, label, or recording owner, often represented by organisations likeĀ PPL UK
To use music in your video or film, you need aĀ sync licenceĀ from both parties.
š¤Æ But How Do You Find the Rights Holders?
Thatās where it gets tricky.
Some songs have multiple publishers and contributors. Some artists are unresponsive. Some songs are owned by major labels and publishers who are notoriously slow and expensive.
There are tools likeĀ BMIās Repertoire SearchĀ orĀ Songfile by the Harry Fox AgencyĀ , but theyāre mostly US-based and not always reliable.
If youāve hit a dead end, this is where working with aĀ music clearance expertĀ can save you time, money, and legal risk.
š„ Let Resonant Help You Clear It
AtĀ Resonant, we offer aĀ music clearance serviceĀ to track down the rights holders, negotiate the sync licence, and help you use the track legally in your film, video, or commercial project.
āļø We identify and contact rights holders
āļø We negotiate sync fees on your behalf
āļø We provide proper documentation and licensing agreements
Our standard clearance fee?Ā JustĀ 10%Ā of the final sync cost.
For example, if a track costs Ā£2,000, our admin fee is Ā£200.
šĀ Need help clearing a track right now?Ā Contact us here
šĀ NEW: Free Music Clearance Support for Subscribers
We now includeĀ sync clearance supportĀ as part of ourĀ Subscription PlansĀ ā ideal for content creators, freelancers, and production companies:
š¹Ā Creator Pro Plan ā Ā£59/month
Perfect for freelancers, editors, and small teams.
Includes:
- Full access to our curated music library
- Sync usage for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, client work, and more
- Free clearance support for up to 2 tracks/month
- Priority licensing assistance
š¹Ā Production Company Plan ā Ā£99/month
Designed for agencies and in-house teams producing frequent video content.
Includes:
- Unlimited music use for commercial projects
- Priority support from our team
- Full clearance support for unlimited projects
- Discounted custom licensing services
š±Ā Still in BETAĀ ā get early access for justĀ Ā£10/monthĀ using codeĀ YOUTUBE10Ā at checkout.
šĀ View Plans & Try For Free Here
Final Thoughts
Whether youāre working on a student film, an indie feature, or commercial branded project,Ā music clearance doesnāt have to be a legal nightmare.
With the right team and process, you can:
- Use the music you love
- Get it cleared legally
- Support real artists
- Keep your film protected
š¬ Got a track in mind? Letās get it cleared.
š¬ Questions? Weāre happy to help ā just reach out.
Support Real Artists. Use Real Music.
No scraping. No AI clones. No stolen content.
Just real music, from real people, for real stories.