SAMPLE CLEARANCE services are available for those who are duplicating from pre-recorded material or "sampling", which requires obtaining a Master Recording License directly from the record company that owns the master to the recording, as well as a Mechanical License from the Harry Fox Agency. If any song lyrics were used, and not necessarily from the master recordings, a Sample License will also need to be obtained from the Publisher(s). The reason for this is because the U.S. copyright law states that protected material can be used only after permission is obtained from the copyright owner.

Understanding that obtaining such licenses are very difficult and time consuming, MusiK1 has developed a solid Sample Clearance service broken down in three stages. For more information on how MusiK1 can help clearing samples, feel free to contact us.

In order to get through a speedy review process, MusiK1 first requests an MP3 of the new song and the original works (the sampled material) that need to be cleared. MusiK1 will also request label, publisher, artist and project information by sending out a form to the client via email, as well as requesting the new song's lyrics in a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF file.

Upon approval of rendering Sample Clearance services from MusiK1 project management, an invoice will be issued out for the Evaluation stage.

In order to evaluate the sample(s) that need clearance , MusiK1 project management first conducts thorough research into its current copyright owners, on both the Musical Composition side (usually publishers) and the Recording of the Musical Work side (usually record labels). This necessary step must be established to confirm licensing availability with copyright owners. Once communication has been met, an initial request letter will be sent out to copyright owners, starting with the Musical Composition side, then the Musical Work side, which may take anywhere from 1-3 months.

In some cases when the Master Recording License is not available or has been rejected, MusiK1 recommends to take up the option of re-making the sampled master recording with a legal representative

Upon licensing availability from the Musical Work and/or Musical Composition side, a second invoice will be issued out for the License Approval stage.

Once the first quote has been obtained from the Musical Work and/or Musical Composition side, it will be up to you as the artist/label relations 'client' to choose to proceed. If the quote is negotiable, the client at this point may bring in their legal counsel or ask MusiK1 to negotiate for a lower administration fee, advance and/or percentage of shares. Negotiations of further quotes and terms of agreement will be written on a confirmation letter whenever necessary.

Again, clients may look into re-making the samples musical work(s), this time to get around dealing with the Master Recording License fees and shares.

Upon accepting the quote, licenses will be issued. After agreements have been executed, MusiK1 directs client to request mechanical license(s) either from the Harry Fox Agency (for US territory) or from CMRRA (for Canada territory).

- - MusiK1 Sample Clearance services is not a legal service and MusiK1 recommends that client reviews over all legal documents with their attorney or legal counsel.

- - Clearing any sample may take up to 2-6 months in order to finalize sample clearance with copyright owners.

- - Copyright owners are not entitled to issue out licenses for available use.

- - Though sample clearance fees are negotiable, there are no standard rates associated with obtaining sample clearance.

- - Copyright owners may request an up-front payment, as well as a rollover or a portion of future record royalties.