Frequently Asked Questions:
0. Can I use your stuff for free?
For private use, yes. For commercial use, no. Find your situation below:
0. Can I use your music in my online video?
Yes. You can use this track in your personal, non-commercial videos on online video platforms like Youtube and TikTok. You do not need to ask for permission. No, we can not remove the copyright.
The song will be automatically recognised by automatic, sonic fingerprinting systems. These are made by the platforms. You get for example a notification from Content ID (on Youtube). That notification is NOT a copyright strike, it is just a notification. Please just read the text and try to understand it, it is not a problem, it is just information. Do not email or message us asking to remove it. It is the system doing this automatically. It is not something that can be removed.
Depending on your country and the content of your video, Youtube will probably show ads connected to your video, and in most countries you can’t monetise the video directly. But none of this will STOP the video or affect your channel in any way!
These rules are made by and enforced by Youtube, not by me. You can use the track as much as you want. The only consequence is ads.
0. Can you remove the copyright claim on my video?
No, I can not. I do not have access to the technical tools for doing this. The copyright setting is controlled by my distributor (The Orchard / Sony Music). They can allowlist certain videos, but only in special circumstances for commercial projects.
They can allow use for a large commercial projects, where you (as a client) write a contract for a synchronisation license from us. Licenses are typically only done for large projects like advertising campaigns, brands, TV shows etc. My publisher will not engage in licensing for small sums and small projects. As an example, they say channels needs at least 100 000 subscribers or more before they will consider it.
We get a lot of questions from small channels and private individuals asking “for free”, please understand I can’t even technically do it, and we can’t answer everyone the same answer that is already written here and also pinned as a comment on the popular songs.
If you ARE a big channel or media company and you WOULD like to license a track, please have your music supervisor or similar contact us with the details below in question 4 and someone will get back to you.
1. We are a Chinese company, can we publish your track “x” in China?
No. The music is already distributed in China via The Orchard (Sony Music).
If you do want to license a track for a specific situation for the Chinese market, see question 4, and message us with specific details for a license.
2. Can we book Ugress for a live event concert?
Maybe? If you’d like to book Ugress for a live performance, PLEASE get in touch as early as possible. Most common reason to decline is because the requests almost always comes at way too short notice.
Details we need to know to respond with a quote: Event/situation/festival/context. Location. Venue. Length. Host. Promoter. Technical supplier. Budget. Marketing plans. Contact details for the technical production if that is not yourself / your own venue. (So my tech crew can figure out the tech details and costs.)
3. Can I use your music in my short video / student project / portfolio / personal / family / etc video or free?
Yes! Personal use is fine and no specific license is needed. See the first question. Private use is fine.
Note that on most platforms the music will probably be automatically recognised by content ID systems, there will be ads, and you will not be able to monetise the video. If you want to monetise it, you need a license, see next question.
4. Can we use your music in our commercial project? (LICENSE)
Yes, with a synch license. Commercial productions (including non-profit and no-budget) have to contact us and secure a sync license. The price of the license depends on your production.
We need to know: Who are you, all company/channel info, who makes it, what kind of production is it, a one-sentence synopsis, what track(s) do you want to use, which part(s), for how long, for how many episodes, how big and what kind is the distribution, is it digital/physical, what is the marketing budget, for how long do you need the license (months/years), what geographical area, what kinds of media, etc. etc.
Obviously we don’t need to know all of this in all cases, but the more we know the quicker this goes. It’s always very different depending on production and target media (streaming, film, tv, game, web, theatre, radio?) but the more we know, the faster we can say yes/no/terms/price.
If you request a “free license please?”, for a multitude of reasons (which often make sense!) please be aware we typically won’t follow up, even if the project is cool and we would like to. We do not reply because: You still need a license. Considering, communicating and writing the actual license contract is time-consuming administration work, a tedious time drain on both me and my distributor. They won’t do it for free, and I’d rather focus on art. Very sorry for not following up, there are so many cool projects, but I’m sure you understand.
(Note: We never license rights to religious or political videos.)
5. I got a message “this content is owned by Uncanny Planet / The Orchard / Sony Music / Merlin / Phonofile” when using your music in a private, personal video? Is it not yours?
Uncanny Planet is my own company. The Orchard (previously named Phonofile) is our aggregator, that means the company distributing the music to digital services like iTunes, Youtube and, Spotify. The Orchard is owned by Sony Music Entertainment so that might appear as well. Merlin is a network representing indie labels where our very own label Uncanny Planet is member. They are all acting as representatives for us, and negotiating the terms of use on the various platforms.
When you get this message, it should mostly just mean that the system has identified the owner of the music, and those companies are correct, they work “for us”, it is nothing to worry about.
7. Can you compose music for a project?
Maybe. Get in touch with your plans early. The most common reason for having to say no is that requests always comes in way too late.
My schedule are typically fully booked 12-18 months ahead. If your project happens in the next few weeks/months, that time is often already taken. So even if I like your project I simply can’t do it because of scheduling. PLEASE do get in touch as early as possible.
8. I messaged you on social media but you never replied?
Sorry! I don’t have the capacity to be on social media for messaging.
Email is the best way to reach me. (But if your question is in this FAQ, I won’t reply because you could have found the answer yourself, sorry.)
If you want to chat about my work, consider joining my Patreon. There are monthly behind-the-scenes posts with comments and follow-ups on both current and historical work, and there is a Discord server for regular chats with me and other supporters.
You could also just show up and comment in a livestream in realtime. This is free.
Sorry for being so aloof and disconnected, but from long experience it is much better for everyone that I focus on making music.
Writing messages on social media does not make good art.
9. Can you listen to my music, check out my project?
No.
10. Can we collaborate?
No.
11. Can we…
No. I work alone, sorry.
12. Vinyl?
Yes, here. Reprints are usually done whenever a new major album is coming out, every 2-3 years.
13. When are you coming HERE?
See ugress.com/live for current calendar (if any), or follow us on social media for updates.
Touring is great fun but super exhausting. I’m only touring every few years. But I’m regularly live on Youtube every month or so.
As a performing artist, I am live frequently with various projects not necessarily promoted as Ugress, but very often Ugress material is part of those performances. In addition to Ugress you can also follow my composer profile on social media to be informed of new performances.
As a traditional “band” performing classic Ugress tracks, we tour maybe every second year or so? Depending on album release schedules and global pandemics.
My question is actually not in the FAQ?
Oh dear! How can we help?