Full License Agreement
1. Ownership
- You retain full copyright to the lyrics.
- The buyer receives a non‑exclusive license to set the lyrics to music, record them, and distribute the resulting song.
2. What the Buyer Is Allowed to Do
- Create original music for the licensed lyrics.
- Record, perform, and distribute the resulting song in any format (digital, streaming, physical, live performance).
- Monetize the resulting song through sales, streaming, performances, or sync placements.
3. What the Buyer Is Not Allowed to Do
- Alter the lyrics without your written permission.
- Resell or sublicense the lyrics as standalone text.
- Claim authorship of the lyrics.
4. Required Credit
- The buyer must credit you as the lyricist in all public uses of the song, including digital releases, liner notes, websites, and streaming platforms.
- Suggested credit line: Lyrics by Dawn Isbell Wilson.
5. Payment for the License
- Buyer pays a one‑time licensing fee at the time of purchase.
- License becomes valid only after payment is received.
6. Royalties for Commercial Success
Here’s the part you’re unsure about, so I’m giving you a flexible clause that’s fair, simple, and enforceable:
- If the resulting song earns more than $10,000 USD in gross revenue (from streaming, sales, sync, or other commercial uses), the buyer agrees to pay you 10% of all revenue above that threshold.
- Payments must be made quarterly once the threshold is crossed.
- Buyer must provide reasonable documentation of earnings upon request.
This mirrors the logic of Premium Lyrics’ “windfall clause,” but unlike theirs, the royalties go to you, not the platform.
7. Termination
- If the buyer violates the agreement (e.g., fails to credit you, alters lyrics without permission), the license automatically terminates.
- Upon termination, the buyer must stop distributing any new copies of the song but may keep existing recordings available until they can be replaced.
8. Governing Law
- This agreement is governed by the laws of Washington State.