A music clearance agency is a service you hire to find the owners of music, negotiate licenses for you and handle the paperwork. Clearhly is a self-service music rights marketplace where you request a license from a verified rights holder yourself, agree the terms, e-sign and pay on the platform.
One hands the work to someone else. The other gives you the tools to do it directly with the rights holder.
How the two processes compare
- With an agency: brief. You describe the music and the use. The agency researches the owners and contacts them on your behalf.
- With an agency: negotiation. The agency negotiates and reports back. You approve the terms and the agency or the owners prepare the contracts.
- With an agency: delivery. You receive the signed licenses and pay the license fees and the agency's own charges as agreed with them.
- On Clearhly: request directly. You request the use from the verified rights holder on the listing. Fixed-price and Instant offers show price and terms up front.
- On Clearhly: sign, pay and prove. Both sides e-sign, you pay through Stripe and the license gets a clearance number anyone can check.
Side by side
| Step | Agency | Clearhly |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | The agency, on your behalf | You, directly with the rights holder |
| Who you deal with | Your agency contact | The verified rights holder |
| Terms | Negotiated by the agency | Negotiated by you, or fixed by the holder |
| Contract | Prepared by the agency or owners | E-signed on the platform |
| What you pay | License fees plus the agency's charges | The license price only. Licensees pay no Clearhly fee |
| Proof | The documents you receive | A clearance number checkable on the Verify page |
When the other way can still make sense
- Your project needs many tracks cleared at once, or music whose owners are not on Clearhly.
- You want someone to search for music, research ownership and negotiate for you.
- Your project has complex legal or international requirements and you want specialist support alongside your lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
How is Clearhly different from a clearance agency?
Clearhly is a self-service marketplace. You deal directly with the verified rights holder, agree terms yourself or take a fixed price, and keep full control over every deal.
Can I use an agency and Clearhly together?
Yes. Clear listed music directly on Clearhly and keep any other route for the rest of your project.
How do I know the rights holder controls the music?
Every rights holder on Clearhly goes through business verification and confirms, for each listing and each share, that they own or control the rights they license. Every license states exactly which rights are granted, and its clearance number lets anyone check it.
What does Clearhly cost licensees?
Licensing is free on Clearhly: you pay only the license price agreed with the rights holder. The rights holder pays a success fee when a deal closes.