Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can you remove your copyright claim on my Youtube video?
This is possible, you then need a license, and the license is not free. See the license question below for details how to secure a license.
It is not possible to remove the copyright claims for free. But you can still use the music! Depending the geographic location of the viewer, they might experience ads.
2. Can we book Ugress for a live event concert?
Yes absolutely.
I tend to shift between hermit studio periods and social touring periods. In touring periods it’s usually easy to book us. In compositional periods it is difficult (read: expensive). Also please be aware my calendar is usually fully booked 6-18 months in advance do please get in touch as soon as possible.
Details we need to know to respond with a quote: Event/situation/festival/context. Location. Venue. Length. Host. Promoter. Budget. Marketing plans. Contact person. (Of course most concert situations does not have all this but there more we know the quicker we can say yes/no/price.)
3. Can I use your music in my student project / portfolio / personal video for free?
Yes, personal use is fine and no specific license is needed. Please credit, either during use or clearly in description and credits.
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. But using it is fine. We have set usage to the most liberal setting on all platforms.
4. Can we use your music in our commercial project? (LICENSE)
Yes, with a license. Commercial productions (including non-profit and no-budget) have to contact us and secure a sync license, and adhere as usual to synchronization laws in the country/countries of production/distribution.
Our sync rates are friendly, we adapt to your situation, but it’s unfortunately not possible to license for free. We do not license music to religious or political content.
If wish to license the music, the more you can tell us the quicker we can give you an optimal license cost estimate: Who makes what, 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 but the more you know the quicker this goes. It’s always very different depending on production and target media (film, tv, game, web, theatre, radio?) but the more we know the faster we can say yes/no/terms/price.
5. I got a message “this content is owned by Uncanny Planet / Orchard / Merlin / Phonofile” when using your music in a private, personal video? Is it not yours?
Uncanny Planet is my own label. The Orchard (previously named Phonofile) is our aggregator, that means the company distributing the music to digital services like iTunes, Youtube and, Spotify. Merlin is a network representing indie labels where our very own label Uncanny Planet is member. They are both acting as representatives for us, and negotiang 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.
6. Where does sample X come from in track Y?
I don’t know.
7. Can you compose music for a project?
When possible! Get in touch with your plans early. The most common reason for having to say no is that requests come in 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. Please do get in touch as early as possible.
8. I messaged you on social media but you never replied?
Unfortunately I’m not using social media for regular messaging, sorry. It can take months before I see any messages, if I see them at all. Email is the best way to reach me.
9. Can you listen to my music or check out my project?
No.
10. Can we collaborate?
No.
11. Can we…
NO. I’m a lone wolf.
12. Vinyl?
Yes, every few years I print vinyl. They usually sell out quickly, right now everything is out of print.
13. When are you coming HERE?
Throughout the pandemic I’m now regularly live online at ugress.tv.
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. See ugress.com/live for current calendar (if any), or follow us on social media for updates.
My question is not in the FAQ?
Oh dear! How can we help?