These are the standard terms that apply to every synchronisation licence purchased on cadential. Your individual licence PDF is the definitive record: if it states different terms (e.g. an exclusive or time-limited licence), the PDF prevails.
1. What you get
A synchronisation licence: the right to combine the licensed track with your visual or audio content for the use type you purchased, and to publish and monetise the resulting work. Unless your licence states otherwise, it is:
- Non-exclusive: the artist keeps full ownership and can license the track to others.
- Perpetual: no expiry or renewal fee. The licence itself doesn't run out.
- Worldwide: publish anywhere.
- Single project, single use type: one licence covers one project in the use type purchased (e.g. one YouTube video, one podcast episode or season, one ad campaign as described at checkout).
- Non-transferable: the licence belongs to the licensee named on the PDF (the person, and the channel or company entered at checkout). If you are making the content for a client, enter the client's business as the licensee entity at checkout, because the licence cannot be handed over afterwards.
- Agencies buying for a client: an agency or producer can sign for a named client. The client is stated as the licensee and holds the licence, and the person who confirms it does so on the client's behalf and confirms they are authorised to. The invoice can still be sent to the agency.
2. Use types
Each use type below is a distinct licence with its own terms, not one generic licence with a label swapped. Your licence PDF states exactly which of these applies to your purchase, in full.
- Social media: organic posts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X.
- This licence covers organic (non-paid) posts on social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X. It does not cover paid promotion or advertising. A Brand / ad licence is required for that.
- This licence covers ongoing use of the specific post(s) described at purchase. A new licence is required for a distinct new campaign or creative direction.
- YouTube & online video: videos on YouTube and equivalent platforms, including monetised channels.
- This licence permits the Licensee to enable monetisation (advertising, channel memberships) on the video(s) using the Licensed Work.
- This licence covers one video, or one described video series, on one channel. A separate licence is required for a different channel or an unrelated video.
- Broadcast television and theatrical exhibition are not included.
- Podcast & audio: audio-only shows on any platform.
- This licence covers audio use only. A static waveform, cover art, or episode-title video accompanying the audio is permitted; a fully produced music video is not.
- This licence covers the specific episode(s), or the one season, of one show described at purchase. A separate licence is required for another show or another season.
- This licence covers the show whether or not it is sponsored or monetised, including episodes that carry ads or sponsor messages. It does not cover using the Licensed Work inside an advertisement or sponsor read itself, or in any standalone advertising placement. A Brand / ad licence is required for that.
- Film & documentary: independent film, documentary, and student works, including festival exhibition.
- This licence covers one film, documentary, or video project as described at purchase, including festival submission, streaming, and non-broadcast exhibition of that project.
- Broadcast television exhibition is not included and requires a separate licence. Email hello@usecadential.com before the broadcast air date.
- The Licensee agrees to credit the Licensed Work and Licensor in the project's credits (e.g. "Music: [Track] by [Artist], licensed via cadential.") unless the Licensor has waived this in writing.
- Brand / commercial ad: paid advertising and brand content. Theatrical release and large-scale campaigns may need a custom licence, so contact us first.
- This licence covers one advertising campaign as described at purchase, across digital and paid social placement, and is perpetual for that project and use type.
- Broadcast television placement is not included and requires a separate licence. Email hello@usecadential.com before the broadcast air date.
- A new licence is required to use the Licensed Work in a subsequent, unrelated advertising campaign.
3. Content categories and artist approval
At checkout you tell us the content category of your project (for example educational content, travel content, or alcohol brand content), along with the project name and where it will be published. These are recorded on your licence, and your licence covers that category only.
- Your licence does not extend to any content category the artist has not approved. We don't issue a licence for a category the artist has marked as not approved, and using a licensed track in such a category is outside your licence.
- Some categories are reviewed case by case. For those, we confirm with the artist before the licence takes effect. Your licence takes effect only once you have paid and the artist has approved that use. The artist has up to 5 business days to respond. If the artist declines, or does not approve it in that time, the licence does not take effect and any payment you have made is refunded.
- Some uses can't be licensed at checkout. We never license music for AI training. Linear radio or TV broadcast is by custom quote only, with the artist's approval. In-store or venue background music needs public performance rights, which a sync licence doesn't include.
4. Content ID
If your properly licensed use of a track is flagged by Content ID or an equivalent copyright-detection system, email your licence number to hello@usecadential.com and we'll provide proof of licence to the platform to help resolve it. Your licence PDF and its verification page are your proof.
5. Editing & Derivative Use Rights
By default, a licence lets you edit the track to fit your project: trim it, fade it in or out, loop it, or cut between sections of the recording, and layer non-musical sound effects and spoken voiceover, narration or dialogue over it. It does not let you otherwise alter the composition or arrangement: no remixing, chopping, sampling, reordering, pitch or tempo shifting, or layering other music or vocals over it.
If you need to do that, Derivative Use Rights are available as a paid add-on at checkout for tracks whose artist has opted in (not every artist allows this). It's priced as a markup on the base licence fee and, once purchased, your licence PDF states exactly which changes it covers for that specific purchase. It doesn't carry over to other licences.
6. What you can't do
- Resell, sublicense, or redistribute the track itself (including in template/asset packs).
- Release the track, or a derivative of it, as a standalone music product, even with Derivative Use Rights.
- Register the track (or your content containing it) in any content-identification system as your own.
- Use the track in content that's unlawful or that implies the artist's endorsement without separate consent.
- Use the track, or any part of it, to train, fine-tune or test any artificial-intelligence or machine-learning model.
7. Verification
Every licence has a unique licence number and a verification code, both printed on the PDF. Anyone can check a licence at usecadential.com/license/<licence-number>, which shows the track, use type, term and status. Adding the verification code also shows the project name, the channel or company name entered at checkout (if any) and the licensee's first name and last initial, so share the code with the platform, client or broadcaster that needs to see who holds the licence. If a licence number doesn't verify there, it is not a genuine cadential. licence.
8. Credit
Credit is appreciated but not required, except where your licence PDF states a credit condition (some film licences do). A simple "Music: [Track] by [Artist], licensed via cadential." works.
9. Performing rights
This licence grants synchronisation rights only. Public performance and communication rights administered by a performing rights organisation such as APRA AMCOS (or ASCAP, BMI, PRS for Music or an equivalent) are not granted by this licence. Platforms and broadcasters license those rights separately, for example under their own agreements with those organisations.
10. Liability
To the extent the law allows, the total liability of the Licensor and cadential. under or in connection with this licence is limited to the licence fee paid for it. Nothing in this licence excludes rights under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded.
11. Cancellation and refunds
The Licensee may cancel this licence before it takes effect by emailing hello@usecadential.com, and anything paid is refunded in full, as it is if the Licensor declines the declared Content Category or does not approve it within 5 business days. Once this licence is in effect and the master recording has been released to the Licensee, there is no change-of-mind refund. Nothing in this licence excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy the Licensee has under the Australian Consumer Law.
Licences already issued keep the wording they were sold under, which is printed on the licence PDF with its terms version.
Contact
Licensing questions: hello@usecadential.com