Exclusive License
This license agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of _______,
2021 (the “Effective Date”) by and between JDAlon (“Licensor”) with an address of
__________, on the one hand, and ____________ (“Licensee”) with an address of
___________, on the other hand.
WHEREAS, Licensor owns one hundred percent (100%) of the master recording and underlying
musical composition entitled “So Saxy” (collectively, the “Beat”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Licensee desires to license the Beat from
Licensor for use in and in connection with the creation of one (1) original sound recording
(“New Recording”) and musical composition embodied in the New Recording (“New
Composition”; the New Recording and New Composition are collectively referred to herein as
the “New Work”).
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Rights to Use the Beat.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Licensor
grants to Licensee the exclusive, non-transferable right and license, but not obligation, to:
- use and incorporate the Beat in the creation of the New Work, and to edit, rearrange or modify the Beat for
purposes thereof.
- use, reproduce, distribute, perform, synchronize, manufacture and otherwise
exploit the Beat solely as embodied in the New Work as follows:
- Licensee may: (A) reproduce and sell permanent downloads of the New
Work, and (B) distribute and monetize a maximum of ten million (10,000,000) audio and/or
audiovisual streams of the New Work (e.g., streams on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube,
SoundCloud, Pandora, etc.).
- Licensee may reproduce and distribute free, promotional downloads and
streams of the New Work.
- Licensee may synchronize the New Work with a maximum of one (1)
promotional music video, which may be exploited via any and all media, subject to paragraph
1(b)(i) above.
- Licensee may permit performance of the New Work on an unlimited
number of terrestrial or satellite radio stations.
- Licensee may perform the New Work during an unlimited number of nonprofit, live performances and during
for-profit, live performances.
- Licensee may release the New Work in any format, i.e., as a single, as part
of an album or mixtape or for free, promotional use.
2. Restrictions on Use.
- In no event may Licensee sublicense or otherwise exploit any portion of the New
Work which portion contains solely elements of the Beat, but rather shall refer such licensees to
Licensor and no payment shall be due to Licensee therefor.
- Licensee shall have the right to re-mix or re-edit the New Work, provided,
however, that no such remix shall use the Beat in a manner which is substantially (i) more
prominent, or (ii) longer in duration, or shall utilize any additional portions of the Beat beyond
that contained on the New Work without the express prior written approval of same by Licensor.
Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, all terms of this Agreement shall apply to all
remixes/edits of the New Work, if any.
- Except for the rights granted under paragraph 1(b)(iii) above, Licensee shall not
synchronize or permit a third party to synchronize the New Work with any audiovisual content,
including, without limitation, for use in connection with trailers, television programs, films,
video games, or other content, without the express, written permission of Licensor in each
instance.
- Licensee shall not engage in any unlawful or fraudulent activity in connection
with Licensee’s exploitation of the New Work, including, without limitation, engaging in socalled “fraudulent
streaming” activity.
- Licensee shall not license or permit the use of the New Work, as same embodies
the Beat, for a so-called “sample” use.
3. Payment.
In consideration of the rights granted to Licensee herein by Licensor:
- Licensee shall pay to Licensor a non-recoupable, non-refundable license fee of
($74.98) (“License Fee”) simultaneously with the execution, or other acceptance in accordance
with paragraph 11(g) below, of this Agreement. The rights granted hereunder shall be of no force
and effect until Licensor receives the License Fee hereunder.
- In addition to the License Fee, Licensee shall account to Licensor for a royalty in
the amount of (5.0%) of Licensee’s Gross Receipts (as defined below)
(“Royalties”). As used
herein, “Gross Receipts” shall mean all monies received by, and otherwise payable to, Licensee
arising from any and all use and exploitation of the New Master. Statements as to the Royalties
payable hereunder shall be sent by Licensee to Licensor on a calendar quarterly basis, within
sixty (60) days after the close of each quarterly accounting period, together with payment of
Royalties shown to be due by such statement. Licensor shall have the right at Licensor’s sole
cost and expense to appoint a Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”) who is experienced in U.S.
music industry audits to examine Licensee’s books and records solely to the extent they pertain
to sales and exploitations of the New Master and subject hereto as to which Royalties are payable
hereunder, provided that any such examination shall be for a reasonable duration, shall take place
during normal business hours on no less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice, and shall not
occur more than once in any calendar year. Licensor may examine such books and records with
respect to a particular statement only once and shall deliver a copy of the auditor’s report
promptly after Licensor’s receipt of same. In the event such report shows an underpayment to
Licensor, Licensee shall promptly pay the amount of such underpayment to Licensor.
4. Term.
The “Term” of this Agreement shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall
continue for a period of (three years) thereafter.
5. Delivery.
Following receipt of the License Fee, Licensor shall deliver the Beat to
Licensee in the form of a WAV file.
6. Ownership.
- As between Licensee and Licensor, the Beat and all copyrights and rights in and
to such Beat (including all copyrights in and to the sound recording and the underlying
composition comprising such Beat) shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Licensor. All
rights not expressly granted to Licensee herein in the Beat are hereby reserved to Licensor.
- Licensee acknowledges that the New Recording shall be deemed a “derivative
work” (as such term is defined under the U.S. Copyright Act) of the Beat, and that while, as
between Licensee and Licensor, the New Recording shall be the property of Licensee, Licensee’s
use of the New Recording shall at all times be subject to the terms of this Agreement.
- The New Composition shall be co-owned by Licensee and Licensor as follows:
fifty percent (50%) of the New Composition shall be owned and controlled by Licensor and fifty
percent (50%) of the New Composition shall be owned and control by Licensee. Licensee shall
be responsible for any third party co-writer who co-wrote the New Composition with Licensee, if
any, and shall indemnify and hold Licensor harmless from any claims by any such third party’s
interest in the New Composition. Each party shall have the right to administer its share of the
New Composition. Licensee shall register Licensor’s interest in the New Composition, on
Licensor’s behalf, with Licensor’s designated collection society, and otherwise, to ensure that
mechanical and performance royalties are collected throughout the world. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, all limitations and restrictions on use applicable to the
New Master shall equally apply to the New Composition.
7. Mechanical License.
With respect to phonorecords (as such term is defined in the U.S.
Copyright Act) embodying the New Work, Licensee shall pay Licensor mechanical royalties with
respect to Licensor’s percentage interest in the New Composition at a mechanical royalty rate for
the US and Canada equal to the full minimum fixed statutory rate as of the date hereof in the
U.S. and Canada, respectively. For licenses outside of the U.S. and Canada, the mechanical
royalty rate shall be the prevailing rate, on an industry-wide basis, in the country concerned as of
the date hereof.
8. Representations and Warranties; Indemnification; Disclaimer.
- Licensee represents and warrants that: (i) Licensee has the right to enter into this
Agreement and to make the commitments it makes herein, and (ii) the New Work (except for the
the Beat) shall not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party. Licensee shall indemnify
and hold Licensor harmless of and from any and all third party costs and expenses (including but
not limited to reasonable outside attorneys' fees), losses, claims, liabilities or obligations arising
out of any breach by Licensee of the representations, warranties, obligations and covenants made
by Licensee herein, which has been reduced to a final adverse judgment in a court of competent
jurisdiction or settled with Licensee’s express prior written consent.
- Licensor represents and warrants that: (i) Licensor is either the owner of the Beat
or the authorized agent with the right to license the Beat, (ii) Licensor has the right to enter into
this Agreement and to grant the rights granted herein, (iii) Licensee shall not be required to make
any payment of any nature for, or in connection with the acquisition, exercise or exploitation of
the rights grant hereunder to Licensee, except as specifically provided herein, (iv) neither
Licensor, nor any third party engaged by Licensor, has incorporated any other so-called
“samples” into the Beat, unless Licensee is otherwise notified by Licensor; and (v) the Beat, as
embodied in the New Work, shall not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party,
provided that Licensor shall not be responsible for other material incorporated into the New
Work by Licensee (i.e., material contributed to the New Work by Licensee or another third party,
other than the Beat). Licensor shall indemnify and hold Licensee harmless from and against any
and all costs and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable outside attorney's fees),
losses, claims, liabilities or obligations arising out of any breach by Licensor of the
representations and warranties made by Licensor herein, which has been reduced to a final
adverse judgment in a court of competent jurisdiction or settled with Licensor’s express prior
written consent.
- EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED HEREIN, IN NO EVENT SHALL
EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS OR
PUNITIVE DAMAGES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY. NO WARRANTY OR
TERM, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUORY OR OTHERWISE, AS TO THE CONDITION,
QUALITY, DURABILITY, PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE BEAT OR ANY ELEMENTS THEREOF IS GIVEN TO,
OR SHOULD BE ASSUMED BY LICENSOR, AND ANY SUCH WARRANTIES AND
TERMS ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED.
9. Credit.
Licensee shall accord Licensor credit on the New Work as “producer”, including,
without limitation, on liner notes of records derived from the New Work and in all metadata for
the New Work, including on all DSPs. Such credit shall be in the form of “produced by
JDAlon”. Licensee’s inadvertent, non-repetitive failure to comply with the foregoing shall
not be deemed a material breach hereof. Upon written notice from Licensor that Licensor has not
been accorded appropriate credit as set forth herein, Licensee shall use all reasonable efforts to
have such failure promptly corrected on a prospective basis.
10. Termination.
- In the event either party fails to perform its obligations or otherwise breaches the
terms of this Agreement, such party shall have ten (10) days from its receipt of written notice
from the non-breaching party to cure such alleged breach. In the event the breaching party fails
to cure such alleged breach within the allotted ten (10) day period, the non-breaching party shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement.
- Licensee expressly acknowledges that in the event of a breach or threatened
breach by Licensee of any term, condition or covenant hereof, Licensor will be caused
immediate irreparable injury. Licensee expressly agrees that Licensor shall be entitled to seek
injunctive and other equitable relief, as permitted by law, to prevent a breach or threatened
breach of this Agreement, or any portion thereof, by Licensee which relief shall be in addition to
any other rights or remedies, for damages or otherwise, available to Licensor.
11. Miscellaneous.
- This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, proposals or
representations, written, oral or otherwise, concerning its subject matter. No change or
termination of this Agreement shall be binding unless it is made by an instrument signed by an
authorized officer of both parties hereto. A waiver by either party of any provision of this
Agreement in any instance shall not be deemed a waiver of such provision, or any other
provision hereof, as to any future instance or occurrence. The parties’ rights specified hereunder
are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights that may otherwise be provided hereunder,
by law, equity, statute or otherwise.
- This Agreement shall be deemed to have been made in the State of New York and
its validity, construction, breach, performance and operation shall be governed by the laws of the
State of New York applicable to agreements made in and to be performed in New York. All
claims, disputes or disagreements which may arise hereunder shall be submitted exclusively to
the state and federal courts located in New York County, New York.
- Licensee shall not have the right to assign or otherwise transfer this Agreement to
any other party or entity without the prior written consent of Licensor. Any attempted
assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be null and void ab initio.
- All notices hereunder shall be sent to the respective address set for above and
shall be sent either by hand or by certified mail, overnight courier or by certified mail, return
receipt requested.
- The relationship between the parties hereunder will at all times be that of
independent contractors, and nothing herein will be construed to create any partnership, joint
venture, agency, employment or other similar relationship.
- All headings contained in this Agreement are provided for ease of reference only
and shall not be deemed to effect or otherwise limit the contents of this Agreement in any way
whatsoever.
- This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts
and/or with electronic, PDF, or other facsimile signatures, and each such counterpart shall be
deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one
Agreement. In the event this Agreement is executed through a so-called “click through”,
Licensee’s payment of the License Fee shall serve as Licensee’s signature and acceptance of the
terms hereof.