A fair, transparent, and enforceable open-source license for music production assets.
The Open Music License (OML) is a dual-tier licensing framework designed specifically for music producers, beatmakers, and audio creators who want to share their work openly while maintaining fair compensation for commercial use.
- Samples and one-shots
- Loops and beats
- Stems and multitracks
- MIDI files and sequences
- Production templates
- Sound design assets
Traditional open-source licenses (MIT, GPL, Apache) weren't designed for music. Creative Commons licenses lack specific provisions for royalties, sampling rights, and revenue thresholds. OML bridges this gap with:
✅ Clear Attribution Requirements - Specific formats for metadata, credits, and promotional materials
✅ Fair Revenue Threshold - Free for personal and small projects under $1,000 annual gross revenue
✅ Transparent Commercial Terms - Reasonable royalty structures for professional use
✅ Music-Specific Provisions - Addresses sampling, stems, derivatives, and sync licensing
✅ Legally Enforceable - Professional language with clear dispute resolution
✅ Creator-Friendly - Protects your work while encouraging collaboration
For hobbyists, students, emerging creators, and small-scale projects:
- Use, modify, and distribute freely
- Monetize up to $1,000 gross revenue per year
- Attribution required in all uses
- No exclusive rights granted
For professional releases, sync licensing, and commercial projects:
- Unlimited commercial usage rights
- Fair royalty structures (percentage or flat-fee options)
- Quarterly reporting and payment terms
- Enhanced attribution requirements
- Sublicensing provisions for derivatives
For film, television, advertising, video games, and audiovisual content:
- Master use and synchronization rights
- Project-specific licensing terms
- Professional delivery requirements
- Detailed territory and media specifications
- Flat fee payment structure
- Download the appropriate license file(s)
- Include LICENSE.txt with your music files
- Add license information to file metadata
- Specify your attribution preferences and payment details
- Distribute your work!
- Check which license type applies to your project:
- OML-P: Personal projects under $1,000/year revenue
- OML-C: Commercial projects over $1,000/year revenue
- OML-S: Film, TV, video, or sync uses
- Ensure proper attribution in all required contexts
- For commercial use, contact the creator for licensing terms
- Include license information when redistributing derivatives
Attribution Templates - Copy-paste examples for every context (streaming, video, liner notes, etc.)
Revenue Threshold Clarity - Explicit definition of what counts toward the $1,000 limit
Derivative Works Protection - Clear rules for sampling, remixing, and stem usage
Audit Rights - Balanced oversight without excessive burden
Upgrade Path - Smooth transition from Personal to Commercial licensing
Sync Licensing - Specialized OML-S license for film, TV, and video projects
Dispute Resolution - Fair mediation and arbitration framework
- 📄 Full License Text - Personal Use (OML-P)
- 📄 Full License Text - Commercial Use (OML-C)
- 📄 Full License Text - Sync License (OML-S)
- 📖 Plain English Summaries
- 🛠️ Implementation Guide
- 📝 Attribution Examples
- ❓ FAQ
- Website: openmusiclicense.org
- Discussions: GitHub Discussions
- Issues: Report problems or suggest improvements
- Contributing: Help improve the license framework
Current Version: OML 1.0 (October 2025)
This license framework itself is released under CC0 (public domain) - use and adapt freely. However, music licensed under OML must comply with the specific OML terms.
Developed through collaborative research incorporating principles from Creative Commons, OSI-approved licenses, and music industry best practices.
⭐ Star this repo if you support fair, open music licensing!