FAQs about Licensing Our Music

These are frequently asked questions about licensing Tatsuya Oe’s music. Hopefully, you will refer to our tutorial and guide pages as well. If you have any further questions after reading those guides, feel free to ask us via the contact page (as long as they are related to our music and licensing service).

How to Obtain a License to Use Our Music
Music Licensing Guide (Knowledge Base)
How to Deal with PRO

For what kind of media projects can we use music from your catalog?

While we focus on so-called “Sync Licensing,” we handle a wide range of licenses for including, but not limited to these uses. We strongly recommend you take a look at Licensing Guide page as well to understand the basics of music licensing.

– Synchronization Uses –

Films
TV Programming (Shows, Documentaries, Dramas, News, etc.)
TV Advertising Campaigns (Commercials)
Film Trailers & TV Promos
Corporate Productions (Theater, Competition Video/Slide, etc)
Video Games and Software
Internet Websites, Webisodes, Flash
Products and Toys
Video Packages (Music for Video, DVD or CD-ROM)

– Non-synchronization Uses –

Radio Programming and Advertising Campaigns (Commercials)
Audio Projects
Music Compilation (CD, PC Audio)
Public Space (Live Events, Restaurants, Trade Shows, Retail Spaces)
Ringtones (Master/Pre-Recorded Ringtones)

Which releases and songs are 100% pre-cleared for sync licenses?

All the releases and tracks from Model Electronic Records (Tatsuya’s own label) have been registered to PRO/MRO in terms of performing and mechanical rights. We Model Electronic own their master rights as well. We provide a one-stop resource so that we could serve your musical needs quickly and bring you a hassle-free license deal.

If your request involves a performance license such as a broadcasting use, you will need to submit a report/cue sheet and pay (or have someone pay) appropriate performing royalties. But don’t worry, we understand nuts and bolts of music licensing and could address the specific needs of your project.

As for some of Tatsuya’s (old) songs that were NOT released from Model Electronic Records, you may need to ask their labels (copyright owners) and publishers for sync. These references will be useful to check who are in charge of the songs.

Discography
JASRAC J-WID (Works Information Database, Japanese only)
Music Forest (Japanese only)

I’d like to use your music for my monetized video on Youtube. Do I have to get permission from you?

Yes. Regardless of whether you advertise something in your video or not, monetizing through your video on video sharing websites such as Youtube and Twitch TV is supposed to be regarded as a profit-earning use, i.e. commercial use/license. You are required to contact us via License Form to obtain a license to use our music and pay the license fee. Please note that we don’t grant any license to use our pre-released tracks for a project whose music budget is very low (such as less than $100). Thanks for your understanding.

Do you license your music for personal use such as background music of my (sports, motivational, wedding, etc.) videos?

Unfortunately, our music license is not available for non-commercial, non-profit videos, and personal/private or student productions on any media. We handle only commercial licenses with a certain amount of budget. Please note that we don’t provide anyone formal authorization to use our music for free. When it comes to using our music for your “monetized (ad-driven)” Youtube videos, please refer to the Q3.

Any inquiries for these non-commercial uses will not be answered since we don’t have the resources to reply to all of them. Thanks for your understanding.

Do you do additional/custom edits for these pre-existing tracks?

Yes. We can meet your needs by providing additional production and custom edits of our pre-existing tracks, but it would charge you extra fees in addition to the basic license fees. As we already have a lot of alternative mixes and edits/stems of our music, we will try to find out how we could do with them lest it should exceed the capacity of your budget.

Do you have a rate card?

As license fees vary according to how you use our music, we concluded that generalizing license rates and automating licensing process too much could work against our goal. We do not aim at being a “music delivery service” nor a “supermarket of music licensing” just to achieve as many placements as possible. Our priority is to offer a quality music licensing service with which we can discuss your needs, provide appropriate music at appropriate rates, and build a long-term relationship with our clients.

How can I use your music for a sample/beat of my new song legally?

To avoid the complexity and possible troubles of sampling clearance and agreements, we basically do NOT permit other artists to sample our master recordings for their new works (unless they work with experienced A&Rs and attorneys that can address the legal process and payment responsibly). This includes derivative works/acts such as singing or rapping a new song on any part of our masters, of course.

Please understand it and look for other easy-to-clear sampling sources. There are many royalty-free music services available for you. Thanks for your interest!

Reference: “When You Need Permission to Sample Others’ Music” (Nolo)

As a professional licensing agent, how can I have a non-exclusive sync representation deal with you?

Feel free to ask us via the contact page. We would appreciate your interest. Please note that we are not seeking (sub-)publishing deal and an exclusive representation.