Music License FAQ

Q: What are your basic terms?

Use the music for free if you credit me. Download CreditLicense.pdf

With no credit donate at least $10 per track. Donating is an easy way to use one of my tracks by giving you more freedom when sharing your project. Donating also directly contributes to the amount of time I can spend making music for the community. If you have your paypal receipt you can download the donation license here: DonationLicense.pdf.

With no credit you can also buy the package. The package offers the most publishing flexibility and quick access to 77+ mp3s on your hard drive. 

Q: How can I get an update when you release a new royalty free song?

For email updates click here, like my facebook page or follow me on twitter. 

Q: How do I download one of your MP3 files?

A: It's easy. Go to my home page and scroll down to the song you want. Right click on the MP3 link, choose 'Save Target As...'. Also read How to Download a File.

Q: How do I provide credit?

Make this text visible in the credits, materials or description of your media. For videos: in the description box or in the video is ok. In both places is nice but not required.

Use this exact text because this is what is in the license:

Music by Dan-O at DanoSongs.com

Q: Are you on IMDB (Internet Movie Database) and can I see your film credits?

I am officially Dan O'Connor (XI) on IMDB. Here is the page: www.imdb.me/dano

Film and video makers, you can see my acting reel, headshot and resume at danobuzz.com and I am available to be cast in your project. I have been acting in theater, video, films and commercials for many years. 

Q: How can I prove to YouTube and other sites that I have permission to use your music?

Commercial use of the music for YouTube monetization and partnership is allowed. You will need to give YouTube very specific information.

No matter what music you are using YouTube and other sites will often give an automatic copyright related message. You can reply with the following as verification of the license:

1. The name of the artist: Dan O'Connor (DanoSongs.com)

2. The name of the track: Example: The Owl Named Orion

3. Direct link to the song: Example: 

http://www.danosongs.com/music/danosongs.com-theowlnamedorion.mp3

4. Direct link to the license terms: This is the link to the license If you are using the music free with credit: 

http://danosongs.com/danosongs.com-license.pdf 

If you paid for use without credit the link to license is on the thank you page. If you have your paypal receipt you can download the donation license here: DonationLicense.pdf

I am not affiliated with YouTube. If you have more questions please check the YouTube Help Forum.

Contact me if you need any additional information for a specific song or license.

Q: Can you give me more details about the license and terms for using your music?

A: You have my permission to use the music for free if you credit me and or link to my site. If your film gets into IMDB you can credit me as composer here.

• If you donate at least $10 US per song or buy the package you have my permission to use the music without credit.
• If you want to reuse the song without credit in your own projects, that is ok if you donated or bought the package.
• If you are reselling your work to clients then that would be a donation for each client for each song. Clients can also reuse the work without credit if this donation has been made. If you buy the package, you can reuse the tracks for your clients.

You are free to share the music by copying, distributing and transmitting the work. You are free to remix and adapt the music. You can edit and loop the tracks.

Per the "attribution only" creative commons license, you have unlimited use of the music for any commercial, non-profit or personal use. These rights are granted world-wide.

Exceptions: You can not claim yourself as the composer. You can not sub-license the music. You can not claim my music using the YouTube content id system or release it with a digital distributor that does.You can not re-license or distribute the music as royalty-free music. If you are reselling your work to clients then that would be at minimum donation of $10 for each client for each song. 

Q: Can I see the license I get when I pay for use without credit?

A: When you pay for use without credit you will be directed to a thank you page that provides you with the creative commons license and a note waiving my "right of attribution". You can print or save these for your records. Of if you have your paypal receipt you can download the donation license here:

Download: DonationLicense.pdf

Q: What are your donation payment options?

Donating at least $10 per track is the easiest way to use my music by giving you more flexibility when sharing your project. Donating also directly contributes to the amount of time I can spend making music for the community.

1. Send checks and money orders: 

I can accept US and international checks and money orders in any currency:

Dan O'Connor

PO Box 29

Fishkill, NY 12524 

2. Donate by paypal or credit card:

3. Invoices and Receipts:

If you work for a business or organization that needs an invoice and standard payment, just contact me and I can work that out with you. If you donate or buy the package you will automatically get a receipt.

5. Package

Click here to view the package of 77+ MP3s. The most publishing freedom and easy access to over 100 tracks on your computer—for more creative control over your work. 

Q: Can I put your music on a CD by itself or with vocals and then sell it.

A: Yes but there is one exception to this. You can not use an online distributor like CDbaby, Tunecore or many others that will claim YouTube content ID on my music. If you don't know what that means then please contact me.

Q: Do you require royalty payments to a Performing Rights Organization like ASCAP or BMI?

The creative commons license waives my right to collect PRO (Performing Rights Organization) royalties. If you are using my music in a situation that requires reporting to ASCAP or BMI, then you will not need to add my tracks to the paperwork.

Q: I am getting a "Matched Third Party Content" notice on my YouTube video when I use your music. What should I do?

I am committed to keeping my music free of YouTube content id - which is what causes the "Matched Third Party Content" message. I have no association with YouTube or their copyright system.

However, YouTube has many problems with fraudulent and mis-identified claims as documented here. So I can not guarantee or waranty that this will not happen with my music. 

If you donated or bought the package and a "Matched Third Party Content" claim on YouTube is disputed by you and rejected, contact me and I will happily refund you.

If not listed below, please contact me right away with complete information and I will dispute it. This may mean a company has claimed my music as their own using YouTube Content ID. It may also be a mistake in the system. Both things have happened.

I need the link to your video, name of the entity claiming the music, name of the piece of music from this site that you used, name of the piece of music they believe you used, dates that you posted, contested, and were informed of the rejection.

Latest update on claims. You don't need to remove the video. In the worse case you *might* have an ad show on your video because of this. 

Stashuk-Digital Illusion administered by INgrooves - Silk was the one song on my site I did with a co-producer. I had permission to license it with my vocal, but he decided to claim YouTube content ID on the instrumental version (called Digital Illusion) to make money with YouTube ads. To avoid any confusion due to YouTube Content ID I removed "Silk" from DanoSongs. It's OK leave "Silk" in your video, and in the worse case ads might appear.

IODA "Piano Lullabies Nation" and "Superbowl Party Music" - Fraudulent claims. Request for removal acknowledged by company and removal is complete. 

AdRev / Music Publishing Rights Collection Society - I heard back from the company and removal is complete. This was only appearing for "Today then Tomorrow". 

Q: Are you interested in seeing a video, film, game or other project that uses your music?

Yes, definitely and allot of other people will be interested too. Please share films, videos, games and other projects with the community, on my facebook or twitter page. I will be happy to see work that uses my music there.

Q: I can't find the music I need on your site, can you recommend any other royalty free music?

Check out these low-cost and high quality royalty free music options:

$0.99 Music - JewelBeat.com with 35,000 royalty free tracks

Incompetech.com - Creative commons licensed royalty free music

TheTunePeddler.com - Only $5 per month subscription

Q: Do you do interviews or can you speak at my school, business, organization or conference?

A: For interview and presentation requests check out my speaking page. 

Q: Can I submit music to your site for people to use?

Sorry, I only release my own music for now. I suggest MusicSubmit.com.

Q: Can you do a custom song for my video, game or other project?

A: I'm not doing custom music since I am totally booked up composing stock music for this site.

Q: If my project makes money, gets sold, wins a cash prize or gets further distribution do I need to pay anything?

A: No you do not. As long as the credit stays intact, or you donated then that is all you need to do. Of course I accept and appreciate further donations if you would like to support my work.

Q: Can I download and "try" your MP3 files out in my project first, then credit or donate later?

A: Definitely yes. Credit or donation is only needed at the time of publishing.

Q: Can I download your MP3 files just for personal listening for free?

A: Yes and that is great. I compose all the songs at about 3 minutes long so that they can be listened to as well. Of course I accept and appreciate donations if you would like to support my work.

Q: Is your music copyright free or public domain?

A: No, the songs are copyrighted. My simple terms are based on the creative commons license but that does not make the music copyright free or public domain.

Q: Why is this so easy?

A: Because I want it to be as simple as possible for you to use my music. Offering music this way makes it practical, easy and affordable for anyone, anywhere in the world. Individuals, creative professionals, non-profits, schools, small businesses and corporations in any country can all use the songs under the same terms.

You can also read more about me and why I started the site on my profile.

Q: Why did you start this site and what is your background?

A: I started this site several years ago as a place to post a few tracks I recorded as a singer/songwriter. Then one day I added some instrumentals I created for fun. Since then the requests from visitors for music for videos, games, indie films, and slideshows has been non-stop. 

I was a Music Business major in college so I knew just what to do to set up a very user friendly license. You can also read press quotes, see pictures and find other information at my profile.