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Audio Recording License
Permission to capture the music in an audio recording of your performance — even if the recording is only for your own archive.
What You Can Do
- Record audio of the licensed performance(s)
- Keep the recording for archival, educational, or internal review purposes
- Share the recording internally with your ensemble and staff
What You Cannot Do
- Sell, stream, post, or broadcast the recording (each requires its own license)
- Duplicate copies for distribution beyond your organization
- Edit the music into other audio productions
Example: A university wind ensemble makes a board recording of its spring concert for the music library and for students to review. An audio recording license covers this; posting that recording to the school's website would additionally require a streaming license.
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Video Recording License
Permission to capture the performance on video. Like audio recording, this covers the act of recording and archival use — not distribution.
What You Can Do
- Video-record the licensed performance(s)
- Retain the video for archives, documentation, grant reporting, or internal review
- Screen the video privately for your ensemble, students, or board
What You Cannot Do
- Post the video to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or any public platform
- Broadcast, sell, or publicly screen the video
- Extract the audio for separate use
Example: A youth orchestra videotapes its concert to include excerpts in a grant application and to archive the season. If it later wants the concert on its public YouTube channel, it adds a YouTube/social media license.
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Livestreaming License
Permission to transmit the performance over the internet in real time, so an audience can watch live from home. A livestream license covers the live transmission itself — not an archived copy that stays online.
What You Can Do
- Stream the licensed performance live on the agreed platform(s) and date(s)
- Reach a remote audience in the licensed territory
- Briefly retain the stream for technical purposes if agreed
What You Cannot Do
- Leave the video available on demand after the event (that is streaming/posting, licensed separately)
- Charge for access or run advertising unless the license says so
- Rebroadcast the stream on radio or television
Example: A community orchestra livestreams its concert on its website for family members who cannot attend, then takes the stream down afterward. Leaving the concert video up permanently would require a YouTube/social media posting license.
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Broadcast License
Permission for a radio or television station to transmit a recorded performance of the work. The station's blanket license with BMI covers the public performance royalty, but permission from the composer is required to use a recording of the work in broadcast programming.
What You Can Do
- Air the licensed recording on the named station(s) or network(s)
- Air repeats within the licensed term if agreed
- Promote the broadcast with short excerpts if agreed
What You Cannot Do
- Distribute the recording outside broadcast (no downloads, sales, or podcasting)
- License the recording onward to other stations
- Use the music under unrelated programming (that is synchronization)
Example: A public radio station wants to air a symphony's concert performance of the work as part of a regional concerts series. The station's BMI license pays the performance royalty; the broadcast license grants permission to use the recording.
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YouTube / Social Media License (Non-Sync Streaming)
Permission to post video of your live performance of the work to YouTube or social media. Because the video simply documents the performance (rather than setting the music to other footage), this is offered as a simplified non-sync streaming license.
What You Can Do
- Post the licensed performance video to the named channel(s) or account(s)
- Keep it available for the licensed term
- Credit requirement in the video description: title of the Work, “Composed by J. Kimo Williams — Captain, U.S. Army (Retired). Published by One Omik Music (BMI)”, and ensemble name
What You Cannot Do
- Monetize the video with ads unless the license permits it
- Use the audio under other footage, montages, or promotional videos (that is synchronization)
- Authorize re-uploads by third parties
- Dispute or override the composer's content claims on the platform
Example: A high school honor band posts its festival performance to the school district's YouTube channel with proper credit. Using two minutes of that audio under a highlight reel of campus footage would instead require a synchronization license.
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Commercial Release License
Permission to manufacture and sell recordings of the work — CDs, vinyl, or paid downloads. This involves a mechanical license, administered through the Harry Fox Agency (HFA), with royalties paid at the U.S. statutory rate based on the work's playing time and the number of copies distributed.
What You Can Do
- Record and release the work on the licensed album or single
- Manufacture and sell the licensed number of physical copies and downloads
- List the recording in your catalog with proper credits
What You Cannot Do
- Place the recording on streaming platforms without a digital distribution license
- License the recording for film, TV, or advertising (synchronization is separate)
- Alter or arrange the work without permission
Example: A professional orchestra includes the work on its commercial album. It obtains a mechanical license through HFA, pays statutory mechanical royalties per copy sold, and credits the composer and publisher in the liner notes.
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Digital Distribution License
Permission to distribute a recording of the work through digital service providers — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and similar platforms. Streaming mechanical royalties are administered through HFA and the platforms' licensing systems.
What You Can Do
- Deliver the licensed recording to the named platforms via your distributor
- Make the recording available for interactive streaming and licensed downloads
- Include accurate metadata crediting the composer (required for royalty tracking)
What You Cannot Do
- Register the composition (as opposed to your recording) as your own in any rights database
- Sub-license the recording for sync, ads, or compilations
- Strip or alter composer credits in metadata
Example: A chamber ensemble releases its recording of the work as a single through a digital distributor to Spotify and Apple Music. Correct songwriter/composer metadata ensures streaming mechanical and performance royalties flow to the composer through HFA and BMI.
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Synchronization License (Film / TV / Podcast / Media)
Permission to pair the music with visual or produced media — films, television programs, documentaries, podcasts, advertisements, video games, or any production where the music underscores other content. Sync fees are negotiated directly with the composer based on the scope of use.
What You Can Do
- Use the licensed excerpt(s) in the named production, for the licensed media, term, and territory
- Include the production in festivals, broadcast, or streaming as specified in the license
- Credit the work and composer as specified
What You Cannot Do
- Use the music in trailers, sequels, or other productions not named in the license
- Release the music separately on a soundtrack (requires a mechanical license)
- Re-edit or loop the music beyond what the license permits
Example: A documentary filmmaker licenses two minutes of the work under narration in a film about Reconstruction, for festival and streaming release in North America for five years. Using the same cue in the film's trailer would be a separate negotiated use.
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This page provides general descriptions for convenience and does not itself grant any rights. All licenses are granted only in a written agreement signed by the composer, and the terms of that agreement control. All works published by One Omik Music (BMI). Public performance rights administered by BMI; mechanical rights administered through the Harry Fox Agency (HFA). For questions, contact kimo@omik.com.