Sample Clearance Agreement Template

An uncleared sample can sink a record after it is already a hit. This agreement clears the use of an existing master and/or composition up front, so a placement or release cannot be pulled out from under you later.

What is a sample clearance agreement?

A sample clearance agreement documents permission to use a portion of an existing recording and/or composition. It defines the upfront fee, any ownership or royalty split, credit, and the warranties that make the clearance real.

When you need it

• Building a track around a recognizable sample
• Before distributing or pitching a song that contains a sample
• Negotiating splits with the original rights holders

What’s included in the template

• Identification of the sampled work and the new work
• Upfront fee and any royalty/ownership split
• Credit requirements
• Warranties and indemnification
• Fillable PDF plus an editable Word file

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to clear both the master and the composition?

Usually yes. A recorded sample typically implicates two rights: the master (the specific recording) and the composition (the underlying song). Each may have a different owner.

What if I cannot find the rights holder?

Releasing an uncleared sample is risky regardless. The safer path is to clear it, replay/interpolate it under license, or remove it.

Is interpolation different from sampling?

Interpolation re-records a melody rather than using the original master, so it generally needs the composition cleared but not the master. Terms still belong in writing.

Related templates

• Beat License Agreement Template
• Mechanical License Template
• Songwriter Split Sheet Template
• Music Publishing Power Pack — all 10 contracts for $50

These are professionally drafted templates, not legal advice. Have a qualified attorney review any agreement before you sign.