You can release a mashup through DistroVibe only if you hold valid legal clearance and written documentation from the copyright holders of every original song included in the mix.
Understanding Mashups as Derivative Works
A mashup blends two or more pre-existing commercial recordings—typically by layering the acapella vocals of one song over the instrumental foundation of another. Under international copyright law, combining sound recordings in this manner creates a derivative work.
Because mashups use direct audio elements from existing master recordings:
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All Masters Must Be Cleared: You must obtain explicit master-use and sync/publishing permission from the master owners (labels/artists) and publishers of each included track.
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Cover Licenses Are Not Valid for Mashups: A standard mechanical cover license only covers re-recording an underlying composition using your own instruments and voice. It does not permit sampling, manipulating, or combining original audio masters.
Submitting Mashups for Quality Control (QC)
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Attach Clearances: Upload signed licensing agreements or derivative work permissions from all involved rights holders directly within the release uploader.
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QC Verification: If flagged by our review system, submit your executed contracts via a Needs Documentationticket in your dashboard or by contacting support@distrovibe.com.
Content ID Restriction: Mashups cannot be opted into YouTube Content ID, Meta Rights Manager, or automated fingerprinting systems to prevent cross-claim collisions and copyright strikes.