When releasing music through UnitedMasters, ensuring proper licensing and addressing any potential issues with third-party materials is critical for successful distribution. The following sections provide an overview of common challenges, necessary documentation, and resolution processes.

Be proactive by obtaining the necessary licenses and clearances for any leased beats or instrumentals before submission. This approach ensures compliance with legal and licensing requirements and minimizes the risk of rejected releases.

Common Reasons for Flagged Releases - Audio + Copyright

Music releases can be flagged for review or rejection if third-party materials are detected. Here are some common scenarios where issues arise:

• Use of Non-Exclusive Instrumentals: Tracks utilizing non-exclusive instrumentals are often identified by UnitedMasters’ audio fingerprinting software. These instrumentals may inadvertently include third-party material, such as samples or pieces from other popular songs.

• Sampled Material Without Proper Licenses: Generic licenses for beats may not account for pre-existing samples within the instrumental, such as excerpts from other copyrighted songs. Without clearance in the provided license from the original owner of the sampled material, the track cannot be distributed. For instance, a producer’s license agreement might specify that the responsibility for clearing any incorporated samples lies with the purchaser. Without such documentation, tracks utilizing these beats cannot be distributed.

• Using Licensed Instrumentals: Ensure that leased beats or instrumentals do not include unauthorized third-party material. If any third party content is included, additional clearances and licenses must be secured and provided to our team to prevent distribution delays or rejections.

Required Documentation to Resolve Flagged Releases - Audio + Copyright

To address flagged releases and ensure they comply with licensing requirements, the following actions and documents are essential:

• Licenses and Agreements: Submit complete licenses or agreements that explicitly cover the use of third-party materials, including any samples or instrumental tracks. These documents must confirm permission from the rights holders.

• Confirmation of Sample Clearance: If the instrumental contains samples, you must provide sample clearance documentation from the original track's owner. Relying on the beat maker’s license alone may not suffice if they have not obtained sample clearance.

• Submission Timeline: If the release being flagged is already live, the necessary documentation must be submitted within three business days of the release being flagged. Failure to do so may result in removal of the release from distribution platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

• Proactive Licensing: Obtain and verify licenses from all original rights holders prior to distribution submission. This proactive measure ensures smoother approval, especially for instrumentals that may contain embedded audio samples.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Releases that contain third party material that are not submitted with the proper licenses or agreements cannot be distributed through UnitedMasters. Additionally:

• Royalties accumulated from delivered content lacking proper rights may be deducted from your Wallet balance.

• Any release(s) in question will remain inactive until the licensing issue is resolved.

Steps to Resolve Flagged Releases

If your release is flagged:

1. Review the specific reason given by our team for the flag.

2. Gather the required documentation, including necessary licenses and sample clearance agreements.

3. Submit this documentation for additional review within the specified timeline.

UnitedMasters allows additional materials to be submitted to address flagged releases. To avoid these issues altogether, utilize instrumentals without third-party material whenever possible and ensure all required licenses are prepared and confirmed before submitting your track.

By proactively ensuring that all third-party materials are properly licensed and documented, you can minimize disruptions in the release process and ensure compliance with UnitedMasters’ distribution requirements.

Additionally, by selecting instrumentals free of third-party material and preparing all licenses in advance, you can further streamline the release approval process.

If you have any questions relating to these processes, please reach out to our support team for assistance.