Music Licensing for Skaters

Music licensing doesn’t have to be complicated

If you skate to music in competition, somebody owns the rights to that music.

That does not mean you cannot use it.

It simply means you need permission covering the way you are going to use it.

With many commercial songs, several different people or companies may control different rights. That is why skating music licensing can sometimes feel complicated.

With ADEPIC Music, where a track is available for direct skating licence, the licence clearly states what rights the licensor is granting you.

You receive formal evidence of that permission.

Your federation or competition may still require you to submit that evidence in a particular way, so it is important to understand both the licence and the competition process.

Why do skaters need permission to use music?

Music is protected by copyright.

Buying a song from a download store, buying a CD or paying for Spotify, Apple Music or another streaming service does not normally give you all the rights needed to use that recording in a competitive skating routine.

You have bought access to listen to the music.

You have not automatically bought permission to:

• edit it
• shorten it
• rearrange it
• create competition copies
• choreograph a performance to it
• use it in a public sporting routine
• submit it to an event
• use it as part of a recorded or streamed competition

British Ice Skating currently tells skaters that securing the correct rights is the skater’s responsibility.

The UK Government also explains that buying a copy of copyright material does not automatically give you the right to make other uses of it; a licence from the rights owner may be required.

A song usually has two different sets of rights

To fully clear a commercial recording for skating, both sides may need to be covered. This is one reason licensing a normal commercial song can involve several rights holders.

What rights does a skater actually need?

Current ISU championship documentation explains that music used for skating can require several specific rights.

Competing in Great Britain

British Ice Skating has publicly stated that:

• securing the correct music rights is the skater’s responsibility
• extra permission is needed where music is edited or adapted
• BIS has partnered with ClicknClear to make licensing easier

ClicknClear is not the only route described by BIS.

BIS published Performance Pathway guidance stating that if the music you wish to use is not available on Click’n’Clear, you can choose to secure the licences required independently, and then submit proof to the Performance Team.

For the BIS Performance Pathway guidance published for the 2025/26 season, Advanced Novice and above skaters aiming to compete internationally were required to provide advance evidence of appropriate licences.

That was season-specific guidance. Always check current BIS requirements for your own level and season.

What is ClicknClear?

ClicknClear is a specialist music licensing service used in performance sports. It provides a catalogue of music where certain rights can be purchased together rather than the athlete having to contact multiple rights holders individually.

British Ice Skating has partnered with ClicknClear. The ISU also recommends ClicknClear as one route for easier compliance where suitable music is available.

ClicknClear is not the only lawful way to obtain music rights.

The ISU’s 2026 World Figure Skating Championships documentation lists several routes, including:

1. licensing through ClicknClear
2. using fully original / specially commissioned music with the relevant rights contractually granted
3. using genuine public-domain music where legally appropriate
4. securing a licence directly from the owners of the music

That direct-owner route is the relevant route for ADEPIC Music.

Why ADEPIC Music can issue a direct licence

Many famous commercial recordings can involve several writers, a publisher, one or more performers, a record label and a master owner. That can make obtaining every required permission difficult.

ADEPIC Music only offers a direct skating licence where the rights record confirms that the licensor has authority to grant the rights stated in that licence.

Where applicable, the ADEPIC Music licence may grant:

• choreography/routine use
• competition use
• training/rehearsal use
• editing/adaptation
• shortening
• section rearrangement
• fades
• timing adjustments
• reasonable tempo adjustment
• necessary copies
• submission to skating federations
• submission to event organisers
• national/international competition use within the licence territory
• authorised event recording/broadcast/streaming use within the licence terms

Not every track always has identical rights. Check the rights shown for the specific track and the terms of the licence you receive.

Can music really be licensed directly from the owner?

Yes. The ISU’s published 2026 World Figure Skating Championships guidance expressly lists “Secure a license directly from the owners of the music” as one of the ways skaters can obtain music rights.

It also says commissioned/original music may be used where the relevant rights have been contractually obtained.

Therefore ADEPIC Music does not need to be a third-party music marketplace in order to issue a valid direct licence. It needs to clearly identify who the licensor is, what music is covered, what rights are granted, who may use it, where, and for how long.

Can I edit an ADEPIC Music track for my routine?

If your ADEPIC skating licence states that editing/adaptation rights are granted, yes.

Typical permitted skating edits may include:

• shortening
• removing sections
• moving sections
• fades
• timing adjustment
• reasonable tempo adjustment
• joining it with other separately licensed music

This permission is for preparing your skating routine. It does not mean you can sell the edited track, release it commercially, upload it as your own song, sublicense it to another skater, use it in an unrelated commercial project, train an AI model with it, or claim authorship.

A simple example

An ADEPIC Music track is 3 minutes 54 seconds long.

Your skating programme requires approximately 4 minutes and the applicable competition rule allows a ±10-second tolerance.

A 3:54 recording falls within a 3:50 to 4:10 range, so it may be suitable as supplied.

If another programme requires 3:30 and the licence permits editing, the track can be cut down to 3:30.

Always check the exact rule for the actual event.

How do I prove I have permission?

After licensing an ADEPIC Music track for skating, the adult licensee should receive:

• ADEPIC Music Licence Certificate
• full Music Licence Agreement
• unique licence reference number
• track title
• version
• exact running time
• composer/writer
• recording artist/credit
• ISRC where available
• ISWC where available
• territory
• validity period
• clear list of rights granted
• cue sheet / music-rights information
• QR verification link

If a federation or event official wants to check the licence, the QR code should open the online verification record.

This provides evidence of the direct licence issued by the rights owner/licensor. The relevant federation or competition organiser remains responsible for deciding what evidence it requires and how it must be submitted.

What is LVS?

LVS stands for Licence Verification System. It is ClicknClear’s system for helping event organisers check music licences.

If music was licensed through ClicknClear, their system can access that licence directly. But LVS also supports external licence evidence.

Current ClicknClear technical documentation contains an external licence type where licence source can be “Other”, the external source can be named, and licence files/PDF proof can be uploaded.

ClicknClear’s verification data also checks things such as licensee name match, title match, artist match, master and publishing choreography/adaptation/duplication rights, validity date, ownership/coverage and territory. That is why the ADEPIC Music certificate should clearly show these areas.

If your competition instructs you to upload an independently obtained licence through LVS, you can provide your ADEPIC licence as external proof in accordance with the event’s instructions.

Do not assume automatic approval. Always follow the particular event/federation instructions.

Do I need to buy the same track again through ClicknClear?

Not normally if you already hold a direct ADEPIC Music licence that covers the use you need.

ClicknClear is one licensing route. A direct licence from the rights owner is another.

However, a competition may still tell you to submit your ADEPIC licence through its own verification system. That is submission of evidence. It does not mean you are buying the same rights twice.

Doesn’t the rink already have a music licence?

A rink or venue may already have licences that cover playing music publicly. That is not automatically the same as your rights to edit the track, choreograph a routine, make copies, submit it to a competition, livestream it or broadcast it.

What happens if my competition is filmed?

There are different layers of music rights.

Your ADEPIC skating licence is designed so that you should not need to return to the licensor for another individual permission every time an authorised competition records, broadcasts or livestreams your licensed routine, provided that use is inside the scope of your licence.

That does not mean the broadcaster, venue or streaming platform has no music licensing obligations. They may separately need licences or arrangements through organisations such as PRS for Music, PPL, MCPS, BMI, local collecting societies, or equivalent organisations outside the UK.

ADEPIC Music does not waive separate third-party royalty or collecting-society obligations.

Does a direct skating licence stop royalties?

No.

A direct licence to the skater and collecting-society royalties are separate things. Where royalties are payable through organisations such as PRS, PPL, BMI or reciprocal international societies, the existence of the skating licence does not automatically cancel those payments.

Accurate metadata helps music use to be identified correctly. ADEPIC should provide useful metadata such as track title, composer, recording artist, ISRC, ISWC, exact duration and rights/licensing contact.

What are ISRC and ISWC?

Where available, ADEPIC Music includes these identifiers in the licence and cue-sheet information.

Using a medley or multiple tracks

Every track in the routine needs to be considered separately.

Example:

• Track A, ADEPIC Music
• Track B, another artist
• Track C, soundtrack recording

The ADEPIC licence covers Track A only. It does not automatically give you rights to Tracks B or C. Each separate recording/composition needs the relevant permissions.

What if the skater is under 18?

A junior skater does not create an ADEPIC Music account or provide personal contact information.

For an under-18 performer, the licence is taken out by a parent, legal guardian, authorised responsible adult, or authorised club/team representative where appropriate.

ADEPIC Pictures / ADEPIC Music will never collect a junior skater’s personal contact or identity data beyond the minimum competition name needed to identify who the licence covers.

ADEPIC will never request a junior skater’s:

• home address
• personal email
• phone number
• date of birth
• photograph
• school
• social media information
• payment details

For pairs/ice dance, competition names may be recorded where needed. For synchronized teams, the team name plus responsible adult/representative is used, and ADEPIC will never collect every child’s personal details.

No child account. No child marketing profile. Never.

What do I actually need to do?

1. Check your competition rulesProgramme type, required duration, any music rules.
2. Choose your ADEPIC Music trackBrowse the catalogue or use the skating finder.
3. Check duration fitDoes the original recording already fit, or do you need an authorised edit?
4. Obtain the skating licenceComplete checkout as the adult licensee.
5. Download your filesWAV/MP3, licence certificate, full licence and cue sheet.
6. Submit as instructedFollow your federation/event process exactly.
7. Keep everything accessibleMusic file and licence ready if you are asked for them.

Licensing is only one part of submitting competition music

International competitions may also have technical submission requirements. The 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships required WAV or MP3, a correctly named file, exact running time of the music, submission by the event deadline, a backup USB, and exact running time communicated to organisers.

The announcement specifically stated that MP3 quality may be poorer and accepted WAV or MP3.

These operational details are event specific. Do not assume every ISU competition always has the same deadline, filename structure, submission email or upload process. Always read the actual competition announcement.

Which audio format should I use?

Use whichever format your actual competition accepts. If both are accepted, WAV is generally the safer high-quality competition master.

Competing in Japan

Figure skating in Japan is governed by the Japan Skating Federation (JSF / 公益財団法人日本スケート連盟). Official site: skatingjapan.or.jp.

Keep three things separate

A skater may hold a valid music licence and still fail an event submission requirement. Correctly formatted MP3 music does not prove that copyright rights have been cleared.

Rights clearance is the skater’s responsibility — direct permission is recognised

Current Japan Skating Federation competition documentation states that the skater is responsible for clearing music rights.

JSF currently recommends ClicknClear as one route, but published competition documentation also provides other routes including obtaining permission directly from the rights holder, using music whose copyright has expired where genuinely applicable, and preparing / originally commissioning music with the appropriate rights.

Current Japan Skating Federation competition guidance recognises obtaining permission directly from the rights holder as one method of clearing competition music.

Some competition documents list a music enquiry contact such as jsf-figure@skatingjapan.or.jp. Confirm details in the current announcement before writing.

Japan — audio submission

There is no single audio submission method that should be assumed for every Japanese competition.

Depending on the event you may be asked to provide:

• MP3
• WAV
• CD
• USB backup
• JSF online music registration

Do not assume “Japan requires MP3”, “Japan requires WAV”, or “Japan requires CD”. Always read the official event announcement. Prepare whatever backup copy that announcement specifies — do not assume USB or CD for every event.

JSF My Page music registration

Many Japanese competitions use the JSF online competition system. Official terminology includes:

• JSFマイページ (JSF My Page)
• 競技会参加申込サイト (competition entry site)
• フィギュアスケート音楽情報登録 (figure skating music information registration)

For some events you open JSF My Page, go to the competition entry site, then register / upload competition music. Methods, deadlines, file formats and backup requirements vary by event.

Ice Dance (Senior / Junior)

For current Senior and Junior Japanese championship-level Ice Dance, major events apply 2026/27 ISU rules plus JSF competition rules. International-style Senior/Junior Rhythm Dance tempo/rhythm rules come from the current ISU seasonal Communication; then layer JSF event instructions and Japanese audio submission requirements. ADEPIC does not invent a separate Japanese BPM table without a verified official current JSF source.

See the Ice Dance Tempo & BPM Guide.

Copyright in Japan and JASRAC

JASRAC manages many composition/song copyright uses in Japan. Its guidance distinguishes the copyright in the song from rights relating to the actual sound recording. When commercially released recordings are used in certain contexts, separate permission relating to neighbouring / master rights may be required.

The direct ADEPIC skating licence grants the rights that the ADEPIC licensor is legally entitled to grant. It does not remove separate obligations that may apply to competition organisers, venues, broadcasters, streaming services or online platforms through JASRAC or other rights organisations.

Under-18 skaters

For performers under 18, a parent, legal guardian or authorised responsible adult completes the licence. We do not collect unnecessary child personal information.

What if I skate outside the UK?

There is no single domestic submission process used by every federation in the world.

International ISU events follow ISU requirements and the relevant competition announcement. Domestic events may also have national federation rules, club/event rules and local copyright procedures.

Do not assume the UK process is identical everywhere.

Your ADEPIC licence may be worldwide in territory, but you still need to follow the submission procedure of the event you are entering.

Find the rules for your country

The ISU directory lists its member skating organisations around the world. Once you find your federation, look for music licensing guidance, competition rules, entry requirements, music upload instructions and official event announcements.

If unsure, contact the federation/event organiser directly.

What does UK copyright law say?

UK Government guidance says copyright owners can give permission to others through a licence. A licence can be limited by purpose, time, territory and type of use.

UK Government guidance also explains that copyright can cover acts such as copying, public performance, adaptation and internet use.

Buying the original recording does not automatically grant all of those rights. This is the basic legal reason a skating licence exists.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources & further reading

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