Essential copyright tips for independent artists
Following copyright and other intellectual property rules is essential when you distribute music. But we know these rules can be complicated and even intimidating for independent artists. So, here are some simple copyright-related tips for making your distribution experience as smooth as possible:
Tip #1: Don't use someone else’s work without permission.
Copyright gives the creator or owner of an “original work of authorship” the exclusive right to copyright, distribute, publicly display or perform the work, or to make derivative works (such as remixes).
TL; DR: If you didn’t create an artistic work, you shouldn’t use it (even just a TINY BIT) without permission from whoever created or owns it. This is especially true for anything you plan to distribute to music services, a commercial use that can generate royalties.
Here are some common examples of work you shouldn’t include in your release without permission:
Samples
Instrumentals
Vocals of other artists
Film, TV or videogame clips
Snippets from Instagram or TikTok posts
Photographs or drawings on your cover artwork
Even if you’ve modified the work - such as speeding it up, slowing it down, filtering it or adding to it - you still need permission. Submitting music you don’t have permission to distribute can lead to your releases being rejected and your account restricted or terminated. It can also lead to a lawsuit.
Don’t do it.
Tip #2: Be careful with third-party beats, even if they’re “free” or “royalty-free.”
The Internet is filled with producers and companies offering independent artists “free” beats or “royalty-free” music that can be licensed for a small fee. Unfortunately, it usually isn’t that simple:
“Free” beats are typically restricted to non-commercial use, meaning you can’t use them in the music you distribute.
“Royalty-free” music offered by companies like Epidemic Sound can typically only be used in the background of videos uploaded to UGC platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
And beats you find online might include someone else’s work that the producer hasn’t gotten permission for (see Tip #1). Even if you purchased a beat, the license agreement might say that you, not the producer, are responsible for clearing any samples.
So, before you use someone else’s beat in music you plan to distribute, make sure that you carefully:
Listen for potential samples or other third-party material
Review the video description, terms of service, or license agreement to understand any restrictions
Reach out to the producer or company making the beat available if you’re unsure about anything
Tip #3: Give your contributors credit.
If someone else has contributed to your music - whether as an artist, producer, or songwriter - make sure you give them proper credit when submitting your release. This isn’t just a matter of pride. Music services use credits to ensure that publishing royalties are paid correctly, and producers may use credits to verify that an artist has purchased their beat. So, failure to do this correctly can result in copyright claims or worse.
If you have purchased a beat or feature, you might also have an obligation to pay master royalties to the producer or featured artist, which you can set up using our Split Pay feature.
We hope these tips are helpful as you take the exciting step of distributing your music as an independent artist!
For more detailed information about copyright and related topics, please see the Legal section of our help center. And, as always, we are here to help. If you have questions about these tips, please submit a support request using our form or by emailing support@unitedmasters.com.
