Tracklib

Tracklib
Type of businessMusic licensing, music sampling
Available inEnglish
Founded2014
Country of originStockholm, Sweden
Area servedWorldwide
IndustryMusic
URLtracklib.com
Launched2018
Current statusActive
Written inC#, JavaScript

Tracklib is a music service that allows producers to sample original music and clear the samples for official use. The platform was founded with the aim to solve legal and ethical issues surrounding sampling and music clearances. The platform has been previously used to sample and clear tracks for commercial releases by J. Cole, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Mary J Blige, Brockhampton, A-Reece among others.[1][2][3]

History

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Tracklib is based in Stockholm, Sweden and was originally founded in 2014. After an invite-only beta version in 2017, the music service officially launched to the public in April 2018. In May 2020, Tracklib changed their service to a subscription model.[4][5][6]

Services

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The catalog of Tracklib consists of original master recordings and stems. Each track is part of one out of three tiers (Category A, B, or C) which each its purchase and clearance costs. Users can browse and hear all music before downloading it in WAV-format to use in a digital audio workstation (DAW) such as Ableton, Reason, or FL Studio. In 2019, Tracklib developed and launched a technology for users to select and preview loops.[7][8] Tracklib functions as an intermediary between record labels, publishers, copyright owners, and artists. This allows users to clear all music and purchase a license for official usage of the selected recording(s). The difference with other music services such as Splice and Loopmasters, is that Tracklib only includes original master recordings and stems. All music is previously released and no royalty-free sounds or sample packs are available on Tracklib.[9][10][11]

Catalog

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Original master recordings on Tracklib include music from artists such as Bob James, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Sly and Robbie, Ray Charles, across genres such as jazz, R&B/soul, reggae, classical music, rock music, and hip hop. The catalog also includes previously unreleased recordings by Isaac Hayes.[12][13][14][15]

Releases

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Other notable artists with songs containing Tracklib samples are Firebeatz, A-Trak, Young M.A, $NOT & Statik Selektah.[18][19]

Advisory board

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Tracklib's advisory board consists of producers Prince Paul, Erick Sermon, and Drumma Boy, later joined by producer Zaytoven in 2018 and Scott Storch in 2020. Former Spotify executives Petra Hansson and Niklas Ivarsson joined the advisory board in 2019.[20][21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ McIntyre, Hugh. "Music Startup Roundup: Tracklib, Gimme Radio And Twickets". Forbes. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  2. ^ GmbH, finanzen net. "Tracklib Launches Today, Forever Changing the Way Music is Made | Markets Insider". markets.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  3. ^ "BMG Signs Deal With Sample-Library Platform Tracklib". Billboard. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  4. ^ Browne, Ryan (6 November 2019). "Sony's venture arm is 'optimistic' about Europe's tech sector and thinks it can rival the US". CNBC. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Lil Nas X bought 'Old Town Road' beat for $30: The story and the movement behind the record-breaking hit's making". ABC News. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Sample library Tracklib switches to subscription model - Music Ally". 20 May 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Tracklib gets a major overhaul and 1,000s of new songs to sample". MusicTech. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Sony invests $4.5m in sample clearance site Tracklib - Music Ally". 16 June 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Tracklib: A Valuable Tool For Producers". Hypebot. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Searching For Samples Made Easier With AI". Sonicstate. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Tracklib launches its 'State of Sampling 2019' report - Music Ally". 18 December 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  12. ^ May 2020, Ben Rogerson21 (21 May 2020). "Music sampling service Tracklib switches to a subscription model and adds more songs and features". MusicRadar. Retrieved 4 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Tracklib gets a major overhaul and 1,000s of new songs to sample". MusicTech. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  14. ^ "After raising $1.7m last year, sampling startup Tracklib inks deal with BMG". Music Business Worldwide. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  15. ^ "Tracklib unveils new revamp, moves to subscription model". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Knowledge Drop: Most Samples On Kanye West's 'The College Dropout' Came From One Crate Of Records". Genius. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Tracklib Presents The State of Sampling | Performer Mag". Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Firebeatz - Let's Get Down (Official Audio)". Dubster. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Firebeatz Breaks Down the Samples & Production of their New Single (Video) | Tracklib Blog". Tracklib. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Tracklib launches to help make sampling simple and legal". mixdownmag. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Tracklib - The Liberation of Sampling? - Gearslutz". www.gearslutz.com. Retrieved 4 February 2021.