Music License FAQ

If your question is not answered below then please contact me at dano@danosongs.com. I check my email regularly and I will be happy to hear from you. 

Terms of the license have been updated on 8/26/11. Any past use of the songs based on the previous terms is still valid. I made this update to help further simplify and clarify the license. 

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. You can also check my blog or subscribe using an RSS reader.

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. 

Commercial use and monetization of YouTube videos using my music is allowed.

You can view, save and print the creative commons license when using the music free with credit here: http://danosongs.com/danosongs.com-license.pdf

• If you donate $10 US per song 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 $10.
• If you are reselling your work to clients then that would be $10 for each client for each song. Clients can also reuse the work without credit if this donation has been made.

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.

There is one exception: 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 $10 for each client for each song.

Q: Can I see the license I get when I donate?

A: When you donate 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. This is an example of the license:

DanoSongs.comSampleDonationMusicLicense.pdf

Q: What are your donation payment options?

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:

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. 

4. Special situations:

Contact me and I will be happy to work out any special arrangements. 

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

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: YouTube, Facebook or another site sent me an email asking I have permission to use your music in my video, what do I do?

A: You can reply to their email with this page for staff members at YouTube, Facebook and other sites which explains how DanoSongs.com works: http://community.danosongs.com/page/permission-1. Or you can download and send them this pdf license: DanoSongs.comCreativeCommonsLicense.pdf

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 YouTube partners or other video revenue share producers use your music under these terms?

A: Yes, certainly.

Q: I don't want ads and copyright notices on my YouTube videos, do you use the YouTube content id for your music in order to collect royalties from video producers?

A: No I do not and will not. I have talked with YouTube users who say that using a YouTube content id is not something they want in the creative commons music that they use. 

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

It's easy. Go to my home page and scroll down to the song you want. Right click on the link, choose 'Save Target As...'. Trouble downloading? Read How to Download a File.

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 YouTube videos, games, indie films, and slideshows has been non-stop. Now I record a new instrumental MP3 you can download and use about once a week.

Since I was a Music Business major in college 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.