Composer Agreement
(License)

Summary

This template agreement is for use by a producer who is licensing original music from a composer for an independent motion picture. The music will be written and recorded for the film and the composer will remain the copyright owner of all rights in and to the work. This template includes practical guidance, drafting notes, and optional clauses. This license arrangement is common when a production does not have the financial resources to acquire the music on a work for hire basis. The agreement grants the producer a worldwide, perpetual, and non-exclusive license to use, modify, and distribute the score in various ways as part of a film—including to fixing the score in the film, using it in promotion and advertising, and creating derivative works. For a collection of content related to motion picture production, see Motion Picture Production Resource Kit. For a work for hire composer agreement, see Composer Agreement (Work for Hire). For related content, see Music Contracts and Music Licensing Chart.