Clearance planning

How much does it cost to license
'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen?

A realistic starting point is roughly $21,000 – $35,400 for a film/TV in-program use in Poland, $1M production budget, perpetuity — but the real work is knowing who you actually clear it with. Here's how a supervisor would approach it.

Master + publishing split•Complexity: moderate•Typical timeline: 2–4 weeks

Where an experienced supervisor would start

$21,000 – $35,400

For a film/TV in-program use in Poland, $1M production budget, perpetuity.

Combined opening ask (master + publishing together). Fees are negotiated separately with each rights holder; this is not a per-side quote doubled.

Film/TV · in_program · Cinema + Streaming/VOD · perpetuity · $1M movie budget

Ultra-controlled catalog (Queen Productions approval). Real quotes for perpetuity + streaming often open above this range, or the request is declined. PL-only streaming is increasingly hard to secure — theatrical + limited VOD is the more realistic framing.

Based on 300+ real clearances — an independent estimate, not a quote.

Different market or use? Run your exact scenario →
Who controls it

The two sides you have to clear

Rights holders below are the controlling parties for this work. Composition identity is anchored to the international works registry (ISWC) where available; publisher names reflect US registration on the mechanical licensing database (MLC) and other public registries — confirm the local sub-publisher for your territory before signing.

Master recording

EMIMAJOR · Universal Music Group

Spotify shows EMI — sync requests route through Universal Music Group.

Recording ID (ISRC)

GBUM71029604

International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) — pins the exact master you are clearing. Spotify lists this as “Bohemian Rhapsody - Remastered 2011”.

Composition (publishing)

Work ID (ISWC)

T0101545054

International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC) — the composition’s identifier in the global works registry (CISAC standard).

  • EMI BLACKWOOD MUSIC INC (100%)Sony Music Publishing

    US registration (MLC) — confirm the local sub-publisher for your territory before signing.

  • QUEEN MUSIC LTD

    US registration (MLC) — confirm the local sub-publisher for your territory before signing.

Writers

FREDDIE MERCURY

Sources: international works registry (ISWC) · release credits cross-check · US mechanical licensing database (MLC) · Spotify label metadata. Match confidence: 85%.

Who you'd actually approach

For a Poland clearance

Poland

Master: approach EMI via Universal Music Group's sync/licensing department for Poland — majors route through the parent company, not the imprint name on Spotify.

Publishing: Start with the controlling publisher listed above (identified via ISWC and registry cross-checks) (EMI BLACKWOOD MUSIC INC). For Poland, the US-registered administrator shown may not be who you contact locally — confirm the territorial sub-publisher before signing.

The responsible party changes by territory. For a different market, the local sub-publisher or sub-label may differ — run your territory in the tool.

The plan

How a supervisor would clear it, step by step

  1. 1Confirm the exact recording (ISRC GBUM71029604). A remaster, live, or re-record has different owners and different pricing.
  2. 2Master side — contact EMI (Universal Music Group)'s sync department for Poland.
  3. 3Composition side — go to the publishing administrator (EMI BLACKWOOD MUSIC INC) who licenses on behalf of the writers.
  4. 4Confirm licensability for your use (film/tv). Some uses or brands get declined.
  5. 5Request quotes in parallel. Expect an MFN clause — the two sides will match each other.
  6. 6Negotiate scope — term, territory, media, exclusivity. Each moves the fee.
  7. 7Paper it. Signed licences from both before use. Budget 2–4 weeks at this complexity.
A note on the data. Composition rights are anchored to the international works registry (ISWC). Publisher names and US administrator details come from the US mechanical licensing database (MLC) and other public registries — useful for identifying controlling publishers, but not a complete territory-by-territory sync map. For a clearance in Poland, confirm the local sub-publisher or administrator before signing. We surface the controlling publisher, not every territorial sub-publisher (no database reliably maps that). Treat the fee range above as a starting point for negotiation, not a quote.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to license 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?
There's no fixed price. For a film/TV in-program use in Poland, $1M production budget, perpetuity, a realistic combined opening ask (master + publishing together) is roughly $21,000 – $35,400 — driven by the song's profile, the use, territory, and term. Each rights holder negotiates separately; this is not "per side" doubled. Other uses cost far less or more.
Who do I actually pay to clear 'Bohemian Rhapsody'?
Two parties: the master owner (EMI) and the publishing side (EMI BLACKWOOD MUSIC INC, QUEEN MUSIC LTD). You don't pay the artist directly.
Can I clear 'Bohemian Rhapsody' on a small budget?
Fees depend heavily on the use. For tight budgets, consider a narrower territory, shorter term, or limited media — or run your exact scenario in the tool to see what's realistic.
Independent estimate, not a quote. Music Oracle is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artist, the label, or the publishers named above. Rights-holder data is drawn from the international works registry (ISWC), US mechanical licensing records (MLC), release credits, and other public registries — and may be incomplete. Actual fees are set by the rights holders and negotiated case by case. Figures are illustrative starting points based on market experience.

Related: How to clear a song for film or commercial · Master vs publishing: who you actually pay · Music supervision service