In today’s industry, making music is easier than ever, with beat marketplaces and sound libraries giving artists endless creative tools. ROC Nation distribution intends to facilitate and expand on that access, while ensuring it’s used responsibly.
Beat Marketplaces & Sound Libraries
Beat marketplaces let producers license beats to artists either exclusively or non-exclusively, with some non-exclusive licenses also having limitations including how long it can be used, where it can be used, and how it can be used.
Sound libraries work in a similar way. Subscription based sound libraries as well as some DAWs give artists access to countless sounds and loops to create with, meaning you are allowed to use them in your music, but other creators may be using the exact same sounds.
What This Means For You
When uploading a song on your distribution dashboard, every upload is scanned against an endless music database for matching audio.
If a match is found, you may see one or more copyright flags appear. This does not mean you copied someone else’s song. Often, it simply means another artist purchased the same beat, or used the same loop. This overlap is what causes copyright matches across streaming platforms.
If you leased or purchased an instrumental, you will be asked to upload the PDF license the platform you used automatically generated for you upon purchase.
If you used loops or samples, the sound library or DAW you used provides a license/ terms-of-use document that can be uploaded to confirm clearance for commercial release.
If you believe a copyright flag is an error, and no one else has access to your sounds, you may dispute it by selecting “This is an original work and this copyright flag was in error.”
If you are transferring your music from another distributor, dispute it by selecting “I have the rights to this recording and I want to move this track to ROC Nation distribution.”
Once reviewed and rights are confirmed, your release will be accepted and delivered to DSP’s as soon as possible!
A clear understanding of these rules helps protect your rights, protect your collaborators, and avoid any unnecessary delays on your release date.
See this article to learn more about ROC Nation distribution’s’ guidelines for Submitting Third-Party Instruments and delivery policies.