Composer Exclusive Music Usage Rights Guidelines
Last Updated: 29 June 2023
Hello and welcome to the guidelines for how composers creating exclusively-licensed songs should use their works. For the uninitiated, an exclusive license essentially means a transfer of copyright from the composer to us (WizDream Games).
Despite us owning the copyright to the song, there are some things which we allow you (the composers) to do, and somethings we cannot do. As we live in an ever-changing world with emerging technologies, I believe it is best to have a webpage with the latest guidelines.
On a technical basis, although we have the legal means to force you to follow your contract’s contents, we acknowledge that we do not have the same powers in regards to these guidelines. However, it’d be ideal for you to follow these especially as new situations emerge in the future. We will notify you in case there are major updates to the guidelines, but we hope that’s never the case.
What We can Do
We reserve the right to bring your exclusively-licensed song to other medias for collaboration purposes, on the condition that we notify you beforehand. These collaborations usually are with other games (whether our own or with other companies), but may extend to other media such as television, should the need ever arise.
We must credit you appropriately when we use it in public spaces. Most importantly in the game, but this applies to other things like marketing purposes as well.
What You can Do
In most cases, you should be able to publish your song after we have announced it.
For Post-Launch songs, please publish your song after it is also playable in the game.
We would appreciate it if you notify us beforehand so that we can help spread the word! On the other hand, we will also notify you when your song is about to be revealed so that you can prepare your uploads accordingly.
Every media should be okay, including:
- Youtube
- SoundCloud
- Spotify
- Apple Music
For streaming services such as Spotify, we do not take any share of your streaming revenues.
The same also applies to sites where the music is sold such as Apple Music and Bandcamp.
Specifically for Youtube – to prevent scenarios where malicious parties may place their own Content ID with your song, we allow you to apply for Youtube Content ID if you are eligible to do so. Here is what you can do with it:
- You must not block videos and livestreams featuring gameplay of the song, nor give copyright strikes against such videos.
- You are able to monetize videos featuring gameplay of the song on a shared revenue basis at best.
This rule does not apply to videos that are blatant reuploads of the song, including but not limited to videos containing only your song without any original content from the uploader. How such videos are handled is up to you and we will abstain from involvement in such matters.
Here are the things you have to provide when publishing your song:
- Credit us with this or similar: © WizDream Games, All Rights Reserved
- Links to our media such as our Website, Twitter, etc
- Use the artwork provided for your song, and credit the illustrator making the artwork
We may be able to provide exemptions that allows you not to include the artwork on a case-by-case basis if you have a good reason why.
Feel free to make them whether it is by yourself or others. However, do not put them in any other media aside from your own without our explicit permission.
We do not wish to see cases where your song’s remix or extended version is included in another game.
Closing Words
I think most, if not all of the guidelines should be lenient for both sides. We will notify you in case of a breach of the guidelines (especially if legally enforceable as per your signed contract) and give you time to adjust. And likewise, should we be the ones to do so, feel free to notify us.
Personally, I believe the contracts are signs of goodwill, and I hope we don’t have to ever enforce it. The contract is of course not perfect, but mutual understanding is the most important thing.
In regards to streaming services, etc – while it would be a nice force multiplier, we do not wish to take away your revenue. We are game developers, and hence our main income should be from our… games.
Anyways, I hope these guidelines can serve as a useful, update-able point of reference for you composers, or perhaps aspiring game developers who wish their own rhythm games. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me by my own email or contact@wizdreamgames.com.