policies on using my releases for internet content

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about whether or not the music I release is safe to use for internet content. The short answer here is yes — you’re more than welcome to use any release for your internet content! However, in order to do so in a fair manner, I came up with a couple of guidelines in place.

What You Can Do:

  1. You may use any release for online streaming with the sole purpose of having them serve as background music, and only on Twitch.

    The reason why I don’t include other streaming services (like YouTube or Kick) is because the DSP I use (the company that handles getting my music onto digital services like Spotify) automatically registers everything into YouTube’s Content ID system. I can, however, clear Content ID flags through my DSP. So please reach out to me if you plan to use it in a YouTube livestream where the VOD is gonna be readily available afterwards.

    (Kick doesn’t have a Content ID system in place, but in all honesty, I probably don’t want to be affiliated or connected with you at all if you stream on that platform anyway.)

  2. You may monetize any content that uses my music through partner programs and/or advertising on Twitch.

    In addition, collecting voluntary contribution (bits and donations) is permitted so long as your content is available and free to the public.

  3. You may only use music that is currently released in its entirety at the time of the stream.

    There are occasional moments where I might post “WIP snippets” (videos I share that showcase a work in progress). I kindly ask that you refrain from making any content that directly uses these.

What You CAN’T Do:

  1. You may not make internet content that just contains a mere copy of any release without any of your creative input.

    A lot of my releases contain covers and arrangements of other songs I don’t own. So in an effort to do right by my agreements with other copyright holders and publishing companies, please refrain from re-uploading any part of my releases anywhere on the internet. I don’t want anyone knocking down my door and asking where their money is upon the discovery of my songs popping up anywhere that wasn’t authorized before!

    The “road to hell” (read: an empty wallet) is paved with “good intentions” (read: exposure.) I won’t get into the ethics behind this kind of thing, but just know that I don’t have the means to account for consequences of piracy and it gets paid for out of someone’s pocket that isn’t yours.

  2. You may not imply or state that your content is officially affiliated with, sponsored/endorsed by, or approved by me.

    Of course, this doesn’t apply if you e-mail me with a content inquiry that I green-light.

  3. You may not treat my releases as if they were your own.

    You cannot sell, license, or paywall your content that includes my music to others for payment of any kind.

  4. You may not use my releases as part of harmful or objectionable content.

    Illegal, racist, sexist, prejudicial to sexual orientation, sexually explicit, disparaging, promotes hate crimes, or is otherwise offensive is not tolerated.

What You MUST DO:

  1. Credit me!

    A lot of project management and creative input gets put into releasing these songs and albums, so I’d appreciate it if you gave me a little bit of credit! This can come in the form of a verbal shoutout or a “now playing” source/chatbot command.

  2. If you want to use music not released by me alongside mine, then you are responsible for obtaining any extra permissions and licenses.

I expressly reserve all of the rights to anything I release, current and future, and the right to revoke these permissions to anyone who commits an infraction of the rule mentioned above. If you want to do anything aside from what I’ve laid out here, you’ll have to get written consent from me. Feel free to send an e-mail!