The step-by-step guide to email etiquette, proof-of-ownership and sample clearance—so your demo never gets rejected on legal grounds.
Landing a deal with a respected D&B label still opens doors: curated playlists, pro mastering, and a fast track onto club and festival line-ups. But one thing will kill your chances instantly: uncleared samples. Follow the workflow below to craft a pitch that sounds professional, reads professionally, and proves every sound in the project is 100 % royalty-free.
1 — Subject lines & follow-up timing
-
Lead with genre & vibe. Example:
[DEMO] Liquid / 174 BPM / “Solstice” - Add a personal touch. Reference a recent release you loved: “Loved Alchemy—here’s something in the same pocket.”
- Keep it short. Aim for <60 characters so it displays fully on mobile.
- Follow-up window: wait three weeks, reply to your original email with a polite one-liner: “Hi <A&R Name>, just checking you received the demo below—any feedback appreciated.”
- Stop at two follow-ups. No answer usually means “not a fit right now.”
2 — Proof-of-ownership: why labels ask for track sheets
Labels need to know exactly what’s inside your stems before they can sign anything. A track sheet (also called a “sample declaration”) lists every loop, one-shot and vocal you used, plus their licence status. It protects both you and the label from takedown claims.
| Stem name | Source | Licence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drums_Break_ModernAmen.wav | Samplesound D&B Essentials | Royalty-free | Layered at –8 dB |
| Bass_Reese01.wav | Samplesound D&B Essentials | Royalty-free | Low-pass 140 Hz |
| Vox_OneShot_Female_Cmin.wav | Recorded in-house | Original | Artist owns master + publishing |
Pro tip: Export this table as a PDF and attach it to the demo email; A&Rs will thank you.
3 — Swapping uncleared samples for royalty-free ones
- Audit your project. Solo each channel and ask: “Do I know where this came from?” If the answer is “not exactly,” replace it.
- Use like-for-like replacements. Match BPM, key and timbre so the vibe stays intact.
- Commit to royalty-free libraries. Every loop in our Drum & Bass collection is cleared for commercial release—no extra fees, ever.
⚡ Quick fix: Swap any risky breakbeat with royalty-free breaks from our D&B Essentials packs and stay safe.
Royalty-Free Pitch Checklist (copy-paste)
- ✅ Killer subject line & personalised intro
- ✅ 1–3 private SoundCloud links (downloads enabled)
- ✅ 24-bit WAV premaster at –3 dB headroom
- ✅ PDF track sheet proving sample clearance
- ✅ Social links & press photo (single ZIP under 10 MB)
- ✅ Follow-up email in 3 weeks (then politely exit)
Ready to hit send?
Double-check your stems, attach that track sheet, and click Send. With 100 % royalty-free audio under the hood, the only thing the A&R has to worry about is whether they can sign you fast enough.
Good luck—and see you on the playlists!
