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other names: music licensing agreement music license contract
music license agreement document preview

what is a music license agreement?

once you've found the perfect song or musician for your production, and you've gotten the go-ahead from the artist or copyright owner, you'll need to create a music license agreement. if you're a musician with the chance to sell the rights to your tune - whether you're being courted by a music company, television producer or advertiser - a well-written music license agreement ensures you'll get your fair cut. 
 
skimping on a music license agreement can get you in trouble. most music is copyrighted, and if you want to use a tune in a multimedia production, you have to play by the rules. every musician has heard about artists who have lost control of their rights while their songs play on. a music license agreement protects both parties when you settle in advance on whether to pay royalties as a percentage of revenue, for a set amount for each use, or under some other arrangement. where will the song be used, and for how long? can it only be used in a specific geographical area? can the buyer transfer the rights without the composer's consent? can the song be duplicated? you can lay it all out in a music license agreement. whether your pick is a top 40 hit, golden oldie or obscure indie, this simple and flexible document can help protect your interests.

when to use a music license agreement:

  • you own rights to property, such as music, songs, video, which another party will be allowed to use in its multimedia production.
  • wish to acquire the right to use certain property, such as music, songs, video, owned by one person or organization.

sample music license agreement

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music license agreement

 

 

this music license agreement (this "agreement") is made effective as of between , of , , and , of , , .

 

in the agreement, the party who is granting the right to use the licensed property will be referred to as "copyright owner", and the party who is receiving the right to use the licensed property will be referred to as "licensee".

 

whereas, the copyright owner owns the copyright, publishing rights and all other related rights in and to certain music, and

 

whereas, the licensee desires to obtain certain rights to the music for using it

 

grant of license. owns (""). in accordance with this agreement, the copyright owner hereby grants to the licensee, its successors and assigns, subject to the payments set forth below, the right, license and privilege to use the music retains title and ownership of the .

 

the licensee shall have the right to record and rerecord in the above described geographical area, the music only in synchronism or time relation with the visual materials prepared by licensee, and to reproduce, distribute, import and sell said product on cd-rom or cd-i, or electronically, throughout the geographical area.

 

 

now, therefore, in consideration of the promises, conditions, covenants and warranties herein contained, the parties agree as follows:

 

the parties agree as follows:

 

payment of royalty. will pay to a royalty which shall be calculated as follows: . at the time of the signing of this agreement. for which the royalty is applicable.

 

rights and obligations. copyright owner reserves unto itself all rights of every kind and nature except those specifically granted to licensee herein. the licensee shall be solely responsible for providing all funding and technical expertise for the recording and synchronization of the music and shall be the sole owner of the product in which the music is used and all proprietary rights in and to it; except, such ownership shall not include ownership of the copyrights and/or publishing rights in and to the music or any other rights to the music not specifically granted. the licensee shall identify the copyright owner as the owner of the music on the packaging and in all promotional literature and advertisements for its product.

 

modifications. may not modify or change the in any manner.

 

defaults. if fails to abide by the obligations of this agreement, including the obligation to make a royalty payment when due, shall have the option to cancel this agreement by providing days written notice to .

 

in no event will be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages, that are in any way related to the .

indemnification. the copyright owner shall indemnify and hold harmless the licensee, its successors, assigns and licensees, and the respective officers, directors, agents and employees, from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of or in any way connected with any breach of any representation made by the copyright owner herein. the licensee shall indemnify and hold harmless the musical company, its successors and assigns from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of or in any way connected with any claim that the product infringes any intellectual property rights or other rights of any third party.

 

transfer of rights. this agreement shall be binding on any successors of the parties.

 

termination. either party this agreement shall terminate automatically on .

 

either party may terminate this agreement by written notice to the other party where there has been a default in the due observance or performance of any material covenant, condition or agreement herein by the other party and such default has continued for a period of thirty days after written notice specifying the same.

 

effect of termination. after termination of this agreement, all rights granted to licensee shall revert to copyright owner, and licensee will cease from any and all further use of the music, except that licensee may continue to distribute only those approved products in inventory at the time of expiration or termination.termination or expiration of this agreement shall not extinguish any of the parties obligations under this agreement including, but not limited to, licensees obligation to pay royalties which by their terms continue after the date of termination or expiration.

 

notice. the address of each party hereto as set forth in the beginning shall be the appropriate address for the mailing of notices, checks and statements, if any. all notices shall be sent certified or registered mail and shall not be deemed received or effective unless and until actually received. either party may change their mailing address by written notice to the other.

 

entire agreement. this agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and there are no other promises or conditions in any other agreement whether oral or written. this agreement supersedes any prior written or oral agreements between the parties.

 

amendment. this agreement may be modified or amended, if the amendment is made in writing and is signed by both parties.

 

severability. if any provision of this agreement shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions shall continue to be valid and enforceable. if a court finds that any provision of this agreement is invalid or unenforceable, but that by limiting such provision it would become valid or enforceable, then such provision shall be deemed to be written, construed, and enforced as so limited.

 

confidentiality. each party shall keep the specific terms of this agreement confidential, including the financial terms

 

section headings. the section headings contained herein are for convenience in reference and are not intended to define or limit the scope of any provision of this agreement.

 

waiver of contractual right. the failure of either party to enforce any provision of this agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or limitation of that party's right to subsequently enforce and compel strict compliance with every provision of this agreement.

 

applicable law. this agreement shall be governed by the laws of the state of .

 

signatories. this agreement shall be signed on behalf of by and on behalf of by and effective as of the date first above written.

 

 

copyright owner:

 

 

by: date:

 

 

 

licensee:

 

 

by: date:

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