Master License

A master license is a legal agreement granting permission to use a specific recorded version of a song, allowing one to employ the original sound recording—often called the master recording—in projects such as films, television shows, advertisements, or online videos; the master recording is typically owned by a record label or occasionally by the artist or producer who financed it, so anyone wishing to use that exact recording must secure permission from the owner of the master rights through a master license, which is frequently required alongside synchronization licenses when music appears in visual media (the sync license covering the underlying musical composition and the master license covering the performed recording), with terms usually detailing permissible uses, duration, exclusivity, and ensuring proper compensation for the recording owners when their music is utilized commercially.