Standard Personal Use License (included with every purchase)
Every Songfinch song comes with a Personal Use License at no extra cost.
What you can do:
- Share your song privately via email, text, or personal social media
- Use your song in personal videos, slideshows, or projects for non-commercial purposes
- Stream or download your song anytime via your song page
What you cannot do:
- Use your song for commercial purposes such as ads, podcasts, or business presentations
- Upload your song to streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube for public broadcasting
One important thing to know is that the artist who created your song retains ownership of the audio recording itself. The words and story you shared are yours and always will be. The final recorded song, as a piece of music, belongs to the artist.
A Note on Streaming Credits
If you purchased the streaming add-on and your song is live on Spotify or other platforms, you may notice that the songwriting credits show a name other than yours. This is not an error. In order for Songfinch to offer streaming at the volume we do, we have a distribution agreement in place that requires credits to be listed under a single profile. This applies to every song we upload and is not specific to your order. We hope to offer more personalized options in the future.
Small Business Upgrade
If you plan to use your song for public or commercial purposes, you'll need to upgrade your license. This covers things like background music for YouTube videos or podcasts, business presentations, and promotional content, including non-profit use.
Note that even with this upgrade, you cannot upload the song to streaming platforms for sale or public distribution, and you cannot sell the song as a standalone track without additional licensing.
To purchase, visit our store and select Small Business: Song Rights Upgrade. Once purchased, watch for an email with a licensing agreement to sign.
Full Rights Buyout
If you want complete ownership of your song, visit our store and select Full Rights Buyout. Once the agreement is signed, the song is yours to use however you'd like, as long as credit to the original artist is maintained.
Quick Recap
- Standard License: Personal enjoyment and sharing. Artist retains ownership of the recording.
- Small Business Upgrade: Expanded commercial and public use with a signed licensing agreement.
- Full Rights Buyout: Complete ownership and freedom to use and monetize your song.
If you have questions not covered here, reach out to our Customer Experience team at support@songfinch.com. We're available 9am to 5pm Central Time, seven days a week.