Licensing & Clearance
Step-by-step guidance on using the WAVS Sample Clearance Tool, clearing songs, and understanding stream or label thresholds.
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How royalty-based sample licensing works
Our royalty-free samples give you full ownership—no publishing, credit, or royalty obligations, and no clearance requ... -
What do I do after registering my track on WAVS?
Download your license PDF and share it with the person or team releasing the song (artist, manager, or label).They’ll... -
Can I release music independently using WAVS samples?
Yes. You can release music independently using WAVS samples, as long as the sample is only used as part of a finished... -
How do I use the WAVS Sample Licensing Tool?
Visit our Sample Licensing page. The tool lets you clear a sample, request custom terms, or certify a royalty‑free sa... -
Do sample creators get a cut of my beat sales if I use their samples?
No.You can use both Royalty-Free and Royalty samples in your beats without sharing your beat-licensing income with th... -
Do I need to credit the sample creator on my release?
If your song passes 1 million streams or is being released through a major label, you must credit the sample creator ... -
If my song surpassed 1M streams, are royalties backtracked or is clearance required from 1M streams onwards?
Clearance is required starting the moment your song reaches 1,000,000 cumulative streams. No royalties are owed for s... -
What happens if my song hits 1M streams or gets a major release?
Formal clearance is required immediately.For major-label releases, clearance must be completed before the song is rel... -
When do I need to clear a WAVS sample?
Clearance is required when: Your song is released by a major label or its successors/subsidiaries Your song exceeds... -
How are royalty splits calculated?
The percentages shown in the chart below represent what the sample creator earns. They vary depending on the license ... -
A seller changed their royalty category after I downloaded their sample. Does this affect my license?
Your sample downloads are recorded and timestamped, which means that the terms of use for your samples will remain th... -
How do I contact a sample creator?
To get in touch with the sample's creator, head over to the Downloads page within your Account section. Find the spec... -
Can I download a sample that's already been used by someone else?
Yes, our samples are non-exclusive.