More Licensing Options?

Hello agian,

Just wondering about a few things I’ve noticed here at AudioJungle. It seems that most of the licensing rules here are created mainly for audio pieces that will not be resold with vocals on them, i.e. and artist buys an original track from an AJ author and in return get a certain number of uses to distribute the track and make money with their own unique vocals on it, basically the producers here at AJ would act as a producer for an artist who would then use the music on an album or mix-tape etc.

I don’t want to post a competitors site link but the is a site which is all about selling instrumentals without vocals online to artists. The artists then buy the track and do what they wish with it but depending on the license type they are limited to using the track either in a live performance, or a certain # of albums/singles that can be sold.

Here’s a quote taken right off their website, this would be an example of the cheapest licensing option available at that site for an artist who wishing to use an instrumental to make money with an album by selling it online or in real form or performing it live/using it in a movie or commercial etc.

Blanket License – $39.99 per beat Buying a non-exclusive blanket license (”lease”) entitles you to the following: Right to use a song recorded over the licensed beat (the final recorded song shall be known as the “Master Recording”) for the manufacture of 2,000 commercial or for-profit albums, or the sale/exploitation of 2,000 internet downloads, in either combination. Right to use a Master Recording for unlimited non-commercial, non-profit use. Right to use a Master Recording for radio broadcasts on three (3) radio stations. Right to use a Master Recording for two (2) commercial, for-profit medium (ie movies, video games, websites) for soundtrack purposes. Right to use a Master Recording for up to $1,000 earnings in performances, live shows, or concerts. Right to use a Master Recording for unlimited non-profit performances or concerts.

There are other tiers in the licensing options as well that go up to $150.00 USD , after that you can buy exclusive rights but that is solely negotiated between the author and buyer so that price could be $300 dollars or $20,000 dollars etc. At the same time of course because a producer would use AudioJungle to sell the track the same percentage split would be used at whatever the current rate you have now is so 50/50 split, or 70/30 etc.

So to get back to the point of the thread, I am just wondering what everyone elses thoughts would be if AudioJungle were to create possibly a new section in the future that is solely for instrumental music that has the intention of being used by a vocal artist? Or possibly creating a new license type that would allow a buyer to actually use the audio bought in a profitable way? Basically the buyer would lease the rights for a certain amount of time or profit, once that time or profit amount is reached the track then becomes available again to be leased? The original buyer can then either renew his/her lease on the track or decide to buy a lease that gives them usage rights on the track for a longer period of time? Or we there might also be the option of creating a way to buy the track completely, (transfer the ownership and usage rights) solely to the buyer? However this would exclude the buyer from being able to resell your track alone and would also insure that the producer of the track would always get the credit he deserves for the creation of the track. However, all profits would stay in the hands of the buyer so everything would still be kept royalty free?

I know I probably didn’t make the most sense just now, but my only concern right now is that the licensing options available on the marketplace don’t really say much about re-usage for a certain amount of times/copies etc. So it makes it extremely hard to sell original music on audiojungle that has the intention of being used by an outside vocalist/artist in performances or for profit?

Just wondering everyone’s thoughts on this. I’m not suggesting we turn audiojungle into a beat site but maybe a new license type that can be bought in addition to extended that would cover things like performance rights, radio play, distribution, and resell rights with added vocals or something of that nature. I’m not a lawyer so I don’t know the legal terms but I think a new license that covers that sort of thing would help protect AJ Authors and buyers from ever being caught up in any legal trouble/issues? Also certain licenses might be more attractive to possible buyers who intend to use the audio in a certain way?

Just some thoughts I had, I know it probably has tons of loopholes but just want to see what everyone else here thinks.

If something doesn’t make sense I’ll try my best to answer any questions, just a thought I had after looking around at other licensing options available online at other audio sites.

This could be a big can of worms. I think that we would first need to prove that this kind of traffic is using or will use AJ. And there is still talk about how we market what we do have available, and how to improve on that. I believe this takes priority over anything new like this because that market is small compared to the media/entertainment markets we cater to now, those prices are too low for authors here to take part and there are still too many licensing options to be explored in regards to what we do sell already.

Sorry if this dampens the excitement of this thread, but I’m not seeing it happen here any time soon.

I for one would love to see more licensing options, more aggressive marketing across a broader demographic spectrum and an affiliate referral program that will really allow us to grow into the future. More traffic from more places means we can begin offering new options like the one you have brought up here.

Good response and I actually agree with you because your argument definitely makes sense.

Perhaps though instead of new licensing options we just need an update in the terms of the licenses to make everything clearer to would-be buyers. I don’t want to speak on behalf of others but I know that I myself have been confused at times as to what someone can and can’t do with the current licenses that exist as they do leave a lot of people stuck with questions about certain things they can or can’t do. This could possibly be a reason for buyers to not buy an item because they just don’t want to get into any legal trouble for doing something that violates the license agreements.

Again, not trying to speak for everyone but maybe just an update of the terms of the license agreements to make it easier to understand for would-be buyers, and possibly cover some things that are intended but not mentioned in the writing of the agreements? Just a simple update to clear up uncertainty?

But yes, I actually do agree that adding more licenses would be a bad idea right now after reading what you wrote above, also because of uncertainty of the current license terms simply “adding more” licenses would probably make it even more confusing.

Here is a thread I started a while back. The link in it will probably help to clear things up for you and give you something to share with those would-be buyers.

Wow JStephens,

I have a band from Texas that wants to use one of my audiojungle tracks in the exact way you mentioned. I have had others request this before too, but not from this site. I have a number of rock and metal songs posted to places like reverbnation and myspace. I often get requests from other artists to use those songs. I have a knack for writing good Metal. I just haven’t found a place for selling that kind of music. I wish audiojungle would take that kind of thing on, because I really trust them with running a royalty free site. I haven’t found anyone that treats you quite as well as this site, as far as being an author.

Anyway, here is a thread to a relevant discussion on this. http://audiojungle.net/forums/thread/extended-license-question/47822

I do think this could be a money maker for envato if they can draw the correct artists and authors. And they seem to have a proven ability to draw authors.

- guitarjock