1. Basics
Usage Guidelines:
Attribution Requirement: Include the following credit within your project description:
Music: [Track Title] by Scott Holmes Music – https://scottholmesmusic.com
❌ Non-Commercial Use Only: This license does not permit the use of our music for commercial purposes. Commercial use involves seeking financial gain or commercial advantage. For specific examples, refer to our FAQ/Help section.
❌ No Claim of Ownership: You are prohibited from claiming our work as your own.
❌ No Derivative Copies: Modifying our music by adding lyrics, musical components, or altering song titles and distributing it on music platforms (iTunes, Spotify, Deezer, etc.) is strictly prohibited. Legal consequences will ensue if this guideline is violated.
Please Note: If crediting scottholmesmusic.com is not possible or desired for your project or client, a commercial license (Standard, Broadcast, or Full-Scale) must be obtained.
For a comprehensive understanding of our Creative Commons licence, kindly refer to link below.
These licenses are designed to endorse Royalty-Free Music for commercial applications.
For an in-depth understanding of these licenses and their permitted uses, explore our comprehensive Ultimate Music License Guide, offering detailed examples.
For a quick overview, you can also refer to the simplified version available in the License tables on our licensing page.
Purchasing an Access Pass grants you immediate entry into our extensive library featuring 200+ music tracks & audio idents—all Royalty-Free and licensed for commercial use.
Enjoy the perks of UNLIMITED downloads without any subscriptions or extra fees. Once purchased, your license is perpetual—buy once, use forever!
Post-Purchase Process:
Upon completing your purchase, your Access Pass is instantly activated. Your selected tracks will display a pink “Download Now” button instead of the usual “Checkout” after adding them to your cart.
Future Access:
Absolutely! The All Access Pass ensures access to both the current library and all future tracks.
Download Limits:
There are no restrictions on downloads. Whether it’s 10 tracks today, 30 tomorrow, or all at once – your choice! While downloads are individual, a post-purchase option enables a zip file of the entire updated music library to be delivered to your email.
Subscription Model & Upgrades:
All Access isn’t a subscription; it’s a one-time purchase. If you wish to upgrade to a different Access Pass, contact us with your current license number for a discount equivalent to your previous purchase.
Experience immediate access to our diverse music collection, unlocking endless possibilities for your creative projects without monthly commitments or limitations on exploration.
Commercial Use: This designation is primarily directed towards activities aimed at gaining commercial benefits or monetary compensation.
Examples of Commercial Advantages:
Promoting businesses, brands, products, services, or events on social media platforms (e.g., YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) with the potential to attract clients or customers.
Examples of Monetary Compensation:
Receiving payment from companies, organizations, sponsors, entities, or individuals for involvement or participation in a project. This includes fundraising, YouTube monetization, selling products, earning Ad revenue, and similar activities.
Under the CC BY-NC License, engaging in activities that offer commercial advantages or monetary compensation is restricted. If your project falls within these categories, securing a commercial license (Standard, Broadcast, or Full-Scale) is mandatory. This ensures compliance with the licensing terms and permits the use of our music for such purposes.
Royalty-Free Music, in essence, allows you to make a one-time purchase for commercial use and utilize the music indefinitely. Unlike many other licensing models that entail payment per use or view, this offers a perpetual solution.
Understanding three key copyright areas—Synchronization, Mechanical, and Performance rights—before delving into Royalty-Free music is crucial. These areas determine how the music can be used alongside your project, produced in quantity, or performed in public spaces. Having clarity on these facets helps in selecting music that aligns with your intended usage.
However, it’s essential to clarify what Royalty-Free Music is not:
Free of Charge: Despite the term “Royalty Free,” you’ll typically need to pay to license the music. While some Royalty-Free music might be available for free, it’s not a guaranteed norm. Creators still aim to earn from their work.
Copyright-Free: When purchasing Royalty-Free music, you’re essentially acquiring the right to use it, but the music remains copyrighted. The creator retains ownership, and adherence to the specified terms of use is essential.
Limited to a Single Type: Royalty-Free music spans various genres, tones, moods, qualities, and price ranges. When selecting, it’s advisable to find music that resonates with the emotional tone of your video, boasts quality production, and features authentic instruments for a more organic sound.
Royalty-free music offers a secure avenue for enhancing your videos. Pay for it once and utilize it endlessly without repercussions.
Using music incorrectly can lead to penalties from streaming platforms like YouTube. Incorrect usage might result in muted audio or removal of your video from the platform. Compared to paying royalties per use, opting for royalty-free music is cost-effective and typically offers a wider selection than free stock music.
Originally designed for TV producers to streamline the process of adding music to shows, royalty-free music has evolved. Today, it’s crafted and sold by a diverse range of creators worldwide. When you invest in this music, you’re supporting independent composers and artists across the globe.
2. Licensing
Absolutely! You’re welcome to utilize our music for free in non-commercial projects, like personal home videos or non-monetized content on YouTube. This usage falls under our CC BY-NC License, provided you credit us in the video description:
Music: [Track Title] by Scott Holmes Music – https://scottholmesmusic.com
Certainly! Depending on the platform’s requirements, you might need to present the license agreement. For non-commercial use, you’ll receive a CC BY-NC License alongside your music files. For commercial use, a distinct numbered license will be sent directly to your email address.
Yes, you can view our license agreement for licensing examples.
Under CC BY-NC License: Artist credit is a requirement. Include the following credit within your project description:
Music: [Track Title] by Scott Holmes Music – https://scottholmesmusic.com
Under Standard, Broadcast & Full-Scale Licenses: You’re granted permission within the license to opt out of providing artist credit. While not obligatory, it’s optional if you choose to include it.
Our licenses offer perpetual validity. This ensures that the licensee can use the licensed music indefinitely across both current and future projects.
Absolutely! However, to proceed, acquiring a standard, broadcast, or full-scale license is necessary. Please note: The CC BY-NC License does not support monetization.
No. Claiming rights to the music will be considered a copyright violation.
Visit our copyright claims page for more information.
Absolutely not. All music available at Scott Holmes Music is copyrighted material. Adding lyrics over the music track or remixing it for distribution as your own work is strictly prohibited.
Typically, video producers purchase a license and bill the client for the music’s use. This allows the producer to repeatedly use the music in future projects while billing clients an additional fee atop existing charges for its inclusion.
However, if the client opts to secure the license and becomes the licensee, this permits the video producer to use the music solely for the client’s specific production. The producer is then restricted from utilizing the music in other client projects without obtaining separate licenses.
License agreements are non-transferable. If the video producer acquires the license, they cannot modify the document, changing the licensee’s details, and then transfer it to the client. For the client to use the music in additional projects, they must procure their own license.
While we don’t endorse this approach, if your client encounters a copyright problem, we suggest requesting them to share your email address with the entity issuing the copyright notice. This enables you to intervene on their behalf by presenting evidence of the licensed music (license PDF) and confirming consent of use.
3. Buying and Item Support
Simply hover your cursor over your desired track image:
Click “ADD TO CART”, then select your desired license type.
You can also purchase tracks by clicking “DETAILS”
Once you’ve completed a purchase, your licensed track(s) can be downloaded from within the purchase confirmation page.
NOTE: If using Safari, hold down the option key whilst clicking your items to download.
Shortly after, you’ll receive separate emails containing your receipt with download links to your licensed tracks, a unique license document and invoice.
Once you’ve registered an account, all your music files are stored within your account. You can login at any time to re-download your files.
Everything included with your order:
- Receipt with download links
- Lifetime License
- Invoice
- Included Audio Files: WAV & MP3
High resolution WAV & MP3 audio files:
Bit Rate – 320 kbps
Sample Rate – 24/16-Bit, 44.1 kHz
The discount applies automatically at checkout.
Tracks listed under “premium” are for commercial use only. They are not available for download under the CC BY-NC License.
4. Account Management
Getting started is a breeze! Just head to the registration page, pick your username, and provide your email address along with a password. Once done, you’re all set to dive in!
Sure, on the Login page you have a “Lost Password” link.
Enter your Username or Email address and You will receive a link to create a new password via email.
All purchased tracks, licenses and invoices are stored within your account.
Simply log in at anytime to re-download them.
Account > Purchase History > View Details & Downloads.
(Alternatively, contact us and we will re-activate your receipt links).
Contact us with your order number or receipt and we’ll arrange a new one for you.
In most cases, depending on your email settings, licenses and invoices can end up in junk/spam folders so we advise to check there.
If they’re not there, contact us with your order number and/or receipt and we’ll send them over to you.
- Login
- My Account
- Purchase History
- Generate Invoice
- Fill out the invoice fields
- Print/Save as PDF or Word Document.
- Login
- My Account
- Account Details
- Scroll to bottom and click “Delete Account”.
5. Payment
All payments are handled by PayPal & Stripe
PayPal is the safer, easier way to pay and get paid online. The service allows anyone to pay in any way they prefer, including through credit cards, bank accounts, PayPal Smart Connect or account balances, without sharing financial information.
Stripe is a market leader in online transactions trusted by thousands of online companies and used to handle billions of dollars transactions around the world securely and easily.
All transactions are handled directly through Stripe’s secure platform and your credit card details are never stored on the Scott Holmes Music website.
There are three possible reasons as to why card payments might fail:
- Your bank may have declined the payment as fraudulent activity
- Your card has insufficient funds
- Card details were entered incorrectly at checkout
In most cases, we’ve learned that failed payments typically stem from card details being entered incorrectly at checkout (especially the CVC security code).
We advise entering them in carefully, double checking and trying again.
No. Scott Holmes Music is currently not a VAT registered company.