For when someone wants to use your song in a production and you grant the licence: what they can use, how, where, for how long and for how much. The licensor fills in the song, the share they control and the terms, and the production signs online. In English or Spanish. Starting from a template uses no credits.
TONTRIA Law guides you and drafts your documents. For a lawsuit or a big negotiation, consult a lawyer.
You choose what is licensed: the musical composition, the master recording or both, with the song title and the ISRC of the recording. The licence covers only the share the licensor controls (100% by default); the production clears the other co-writers, publishers or labels on its own.
The film, series, ad or video by its title, including shorter cut-downs, and the type of use with a maximum duration (one background vocal use of 30 seconds by default). Trailers, teasers and ads for the production need a separate licence, except scenes shown as they are to promote the production itself.
Where the production is shown (by default the internet, social media and video-on-demand platforms), in which countries (the world by default), for how long (one year by default) and whether the licence is exclusive or not (non-exclusive by default).
Change the lyrics, melody or harmony or remix the song beyond edits to fit the duration, use the song title as the production’s title, use the music outside the production (soundtrack album, audio services, ringtone), use it in political, religious, sexually explicit or defamatory contexts, or use it to train or generate output from AI.
A one-off fee plus taxes, paid within 30 days of signing and before the first exhibition. The licence only takes effect once the fee is paid in full, any earlier use is unauthorised, and the fee is not refunded if the production doesn’t use the song.
The licence doesn’t include the performance rights handled by collecting societies, which broadcasters and platforms pay separately, so writers and publishers still collect them. The production files the cue sheet with title, writers, publishers, use and duration within 30 days of the first exhibition.
The credit you write in, in the titles or in the description where there are none, fixed within 15 days if it is left out by mistake, and a copy or link to the finished production within 15 days of release. Your name, image and voice are not licensed beyond that credit.
The licensor warrants that they control the share they license; the production, that the rest of the production is cleared. Each indemnifies the other for breaching their warranties, and the licensor’s liability is capped at the fee received.
If the fee isn’t paid on time, the licensor can terminate and the licence counts as never granted. Other breaches can be fixed within 15 days of notice. When the term ends, the production stops using it and removes it from its own channels within 10 days.
How sync works, who places music and how to get your catalog ready: sync licensing for musicians. Before licensing a song with co-writers, settle the shares in a split sheet.
Upload your next contract or start a split sheet today, and get your deals on paper.
