The partnership grants athletes across gymnastics, figure skating, dance and other routine-based sports access to UMG’s vast music catalog for competition use
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Universal Music Group (UMG) and rights-tech platform ClicknClear have struck a global licensing agreement to make it easier for athletes to use UMG’s music catalog in choreographed sports routines, the companies said on Thursday. The partnership gives competitors across disciplines such as gymnastics, figure skating, artistic swimming, dance, dressage and jump rope access to songs from one of the world’s largest music libraries for use in competitions.
The deal comes in the wake of music rights disputes at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, where Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate was initially blocked from performing a Minions-themed routine due to licensing issues before Universal Studios and composer Pharrell Williams reversed their objection following widespread social media support. U.S. national champion Amber Glenn also faced a rights snag with a Canadian artist over unauthorised music use.
ClicknClear, which already works with bodies such as World Gymnastics and the International Skating Union , will offer a pre-cleared catalog along with licensing and verification tools to help athletes and federations ensure compliance with music copyright rules.
“We have seen first-hand the demand from athletes for access to UMG’s catalogue, which contains some of the world’s most iconic music,” said ClicknClear’s founder and CEO, Chantal Epp, adding that the deal would help bridge the gap between the music industry and choreographed sports and create new monetisation avenues for UMG’s artists.
James Healy, UMG’s senior vice president of digital strategy and business development, said the growing convergence of sport and music offered meaningful opportunities for artists to reach new audiences and generate revenue.
With more than 150 million athletes worldwide participating in routines that rely on music, the agreement aims to address what both companies describe as a multi-billion-dollar demand for clear and compliant licensing in sport.