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For the record
Notes from the Clear Music studio - clearance, licensing and the business of music supervision.
Featured · Nov 4, 2026
Making the business case for better trailer music
A practical case for investing in trailer music, with CONTROL Resonant, research on attention and memory, and five questions for your budget meeting.
Read full storyAll articles · 26
Oct 15, 2026
The Music Strategy Behind GTA 6
From Tom Petty and The Pointer Sisters to Justice, Steven Verrips looks at how Rockstar puts music at the centre of the GTA VI campaign.
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Oct 7, 2026
Making public domain music work in game trailers
How Clear Music reworked Wagner and Grieg for two game trailers, and licensed a Rossini recording for The Escapists 3.
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Oct 5, 2026
Trailer Music Licensing: Portfolio and Archive Use After a Campaign
Can a trailer stay online after the campaign ends? A practical guide to portfolio and archive music rights, expired licences and cease-and-desist letters.
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Sep 29, 2026
Game trailer music licensing: why iconic songs cut through
Game trailer music licensing starts with a creative question: which song will make someone stop, feel something and remember the game?
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Sep 23, 2026
Magicians: The Devil’s Deal trailer shortlisted for a Music+Sound Award
Our music work on the Magicians: The Devil’s Deal reveal trailer is a finalist at the 2026 Music+Sound Awards.
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Sep 22, 2026
Music Licensing Costs: Cost Drivers and Cost Savers Explained
Why similar music licences can attract very different quotes, and how song choice, campaign scope, rights ownership and timing affect the cost.
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Sep 22, 2026
The Complete Guide to Licensing Trailer Music
A practical guide to trailer music licensing, from master and publishing rights to costs, covers, re-recordings, custom music, stems and final delivery.
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Sep 8, 2026
Trailer Music Licensing: Sync, Mechanical and Performance Rights
How sync, mechanical and performance rights fit into music licensing for film, game and streaming-series trailers.
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Aug 21, 2026
Whitelisting in Music Licensing: How to Avoid Copyright Claims on Trailers and Ads
A music licence gives you permission to use a song. Music whitelisting, increasingly called allowlisting, helps platforms recognise that permission.
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Aug 20, 2026
Music Licensing Explained: Rights, Costs, MFN and Clearance
A practical guide to master and publishing rights, MFN, licensing fees, artist approval and the full music clearance process for campaigns.
Keep readingAug 10, 2026
The Reference Track Trap
Reference tracks are useful, but they can quickly narrow a music search. A stronger brief looks underneath the reference and identifies the feeling, musical role and creative qualities the film actually needs.
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Jul 23, 2026
Why Every Streaming Trailer Needs a Music Supervisor
A strong streaming trailer needs more than a good song. A music supervisor turns the creative direction into a clear strategy that works for the story, the edit, the budget and the wider campaign.
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Jul 17, 2026
Covers and Re-Recordings for Global Streaming Trailer Campaigns
How to create and clear covers and re-recordings for international trailer campaigns, from song choice and publishing approval to production and final delivery.
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Jul 17, 2026
Why Mother’s New KFC Campaign Is Unmissable
The ads I still remember from twenty years ago were carried by unforgettable songs and real artists. Mother’s new KFC campaign shows why that still matters, especially now.
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Jul 3, 2026
The Power of Trailerized Recordings
A trailerized recording keeps the recognition of a familiar song while rebuilding its structure, performance and production around the story, edit and emotional arc of a campaign.
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Dec 3, 2025
Music Clearance for Advertising, Trailers and Games
A practical guide to music clearance for advertising, trailers and games, including rights research, budgets, artist approval and final licences.
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Sep 12, 2023
The Music of Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023
A closer look at the music choices behind selected Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023 game trailers.
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Music Copyright Infringement: Similarity, Samples and Clearances
A practical introduction to music copyright infringement, from similarity and samples to plagiarism claims and the role of proper rights clearance.
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Mar 6, 2023
Famous Song Re-Recordings for Film and Game Trailers
How to choose, clear and produce a re-recording of a famous song for a film or game trailer.
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Feb 21, 2023
What Is a Sample Interpolation in Music Licensing?
What sample interpolations are, how they differ from recorded samples, and what brands, publishers and music supervisors need to clear.
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Dec 19, 2022
Music Licensing 101: Sync Rights for Film, Ads and Games
A clear introduction to music licensing and sync rights for film, advertising, trailers and games, including the terminology used by rights holders.
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Apr 11, 2022
How to Write a Music Brief for Film, Advertising and Trailers
A practical five-point guide to writing a music brief that gives composers, music supervisors and licensing teams the information they need.
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Why Brands Still Use Familiar Songs in Advertising
Why familiar songs still dominate advertising, what catalogue music offers brands, and how new artists can create cultural impact in a crowded market.
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Dec 22, 2021
Trailer Music: How Covers and Re-Recordings Build Impact
A practical guide to using covers and trailerized re-recordings in film and game trailers, including master rights, publishing and creative control.
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Jul 28, 2021
Trailer Music for Film and Game Trailers
How to choose trailer music for film and game trailers, from epic orchestral cues to tense, dramatic and emotional tracks built for the edit.
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