The short answer: Pre-cleared music is music where the rights holder has already confirmed ownership of both the composition and the master recording, cleared any samples, and agreed to license it on known terms. Because one party controls everything, it can be licensed in a single agreement, often in minutes instead of weeks. This is called one-stop licensing.

Every music supervisor has a story about the perfect song that could not be cleared in time. Pre-cleared music exists to remove that risk, so the track you choose for the edit is the track that ends up in the final cut.

Why Clearing a Song Takes So Long

A typical commercial song can have several owners. The composition may be split between multiple songwriters and publishers, each controlling a percentage. The master recording is usually owned by a record label. To clear it, you need written approval from every one of them, and any one party can say no, ask for more money, or simply not respond before your deadline.

Samples add another layer. If the song samples another recording, that sample needs its own clearance from its own owners.

Traditional Clearance vs. Pre-Cleared

Traditional Clearance Pre-Cleared, One-Stop
Parties to contact Every publisher and label with a share One rights holder
Time to clear Days to months Minutes to a few days
Pricing Negotiated per use, often unpredictable Published rates or quick quotes
Risk of a late "no" High Very low
Best for Scenes that need a specific famous song Tight deadlines, fixed budgets, and high volume

What Makes a Track Truly Pre-Cleared

Not every library that uses the term means the same thing. Before you rely on a track, confirm these points:

  • 100% control of the master and publishing. The licensor owns or administers every share of both rights, not just part of them.
  • No uncleared samples. Any samples are either original or fully licensed.
  • No covers. A cover version still requires permission from the original song's publisher.
  • Accurate writer and PRO information. This is needed for cue sheets so the writers are paid their performance royalties.
  • Stems and alternate mixes available. Instrumentals and stems make it easier to edit the track to picture.

A practical rule: Ask any provider one question: "Can you sign for 100% of the master and the publishing on this track?" If the answer is anything other than a clear yes, it is not one-stop.

Pre-Cleared Does Not Mean Free

Pre-cleared describes how easy a track is to license, not what it costs. You still need a license that covers your use, and for broadcast you still file a cue sheet. What changes is that the terms are known up front and there is a single person or company to sign.

How This Works on OnChain Music

OnChain Music is built by the team behind Epitome Music, a sync library of more than 30,000 exclusive pre-cleared tracks. Every licensable track on OnChain Music comes from an artist or rights holder who controls 100% of the master and publishing, so every license is one-stop. Music supervisors can search the catalog by genre, mood, tempo, and similar artists, license digital uses directly, or request a custom license for broadcast, film, and advertising.

Quick Answers

What does pre-cleared music mean?

Pre-cleared music is music where the rights holder has already confirmed ownership of the composition and the master recording and agreed to license it, so it can be cleared quickly in a single agreement.

What is one-stop licensing?

One-stop licensing means one party controls both the composition and the master recording, so a single agreement covers everything needed to use the track.

Do I still need a cue sheet for pre-cleared music?

Yes. For broadcast uses, a cue sheet is still filed so the songwriters receive their performance royalties through their PRO.