Music & Licensing Policy

MUSIC & LICENSING POLICY

Hatiwave Studios Ltd

Registered in England and Wales
Company Number: 17088199
Registered Office: Hatiwave Studios, 61 Bridge Street, Kington, HR5 3DJ, United Kingdom
Contact Email: ben@hatiwave.com
Website: www.hatiwave.com

Last updated: 23 September 2026

This Music & Licensing Policy applies to music used, supplied, sourced, edited, integrated or composed in connection with services provided by Hatiwave Studios Ltd (“Hatiwave”, “we”, “us”).

This Policy should be read alongside our Terms & Conditions, Refund & Cancellation Policy and any project-specific service agreement.

The purpose of this Policy is to make clear who is responsible for obtaining music rights, what is included when Hatiwave sources or creates music and how commissioned original music may be used.

1. MUSIC IN HATIWAVE PROJECTS

Music used within a Hatiwave project may fall into one or more of the following categories:

Music supplied by the Client;

Commercially released music supplied or requested by the Client;

Production or library music already licensed by the Client;

Music sourced or licensed by Hatiwave on behalf of the Client;

Original music commissioned from Hatiwave;

Music commissioned from a third-party composer or musician;

Existing Client-owned music;

Temporary or reference music used during the creative process.

The rights and responsibilities applying to each category may be different.

The project agreement or written scope should identify the intended music approach wherever reasonably possible.

2. MUSIC INTEGRATION DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDE MUSIC LICENSING

Where Hatiwave provides Music Integration & Editorial, this normally refers to the creative and technical integration of music into the soundtrack.

This may include:

Editing music to picture;

Adjusting cue length and structure;

Creating transitions;

Integrating supplied stems;

Balancing music against dialogue and effects;

Creating appropriate fades and musical transitions;

Processing diegetic or source music;

Preparing music for the re-recording mix;

Incorporating music into the final soundtrack.

Music Integration does not automatically include obtaining copyright permissions, negotiating licences or clearing music rights unless this has specifically been included in the agreed scope.

3. MUSIC SUPPLIED BY THE CLIENT

Where the Client supplies music, the Client confirms that they have obtained, or are authorised to obtain, all licences, permissions and rights necessary for the intended use of that music.

The Client is responsible for ensuring that the licence covers all relevant rights required for the production.

Depending on the music and intended use, this may include rights relating to:

The musical composition;

Lyrics;

The sound recording or master;

Synchronisation with moving images;

Reproduction;

Distribution;

Public exhibition;

Broadcasting;

Streaming;

Online video platforms;

Social media;

Festivals;

Cinema or theatrical exhibition;

Physical media;

Promotional material;

Trailers and teasers;

Advertising;

Geographic territories;

The duration or term of the licence.

Where worldwide distribution is intended, the Client is responsible for ensuring that the relevant licence permits worldwide use.

Where a production may remain available indefinitely, the Client should ensure that the relevant licence duration is appropriate for that intended use.

4. COMMERCIALLY RELEASED MUSIC

The fact that a Client has purchased, downloaded, streamed or otherwise obtained access to a commercially released recording does not by itself mean that the music is licensed for use within a film or other production.

Where a Client supplies or requests commercially released music, the Client is responsible for ensuring that all necessary permissions have been obtained unless music clearance has specifically been included within Hatiwave’s agreed scope.

Hatiwave may proceed on the basis that Client-supplied music has been appropriately cleared where the Client confirms or represents that the necessary rights have been obtained.

Hatiwave may request evidence of licensing where reasonably necessary.

5. SYNCHRONISATION & MASTER RIGHTS

Using an existing recording within a film may require permission relating to both:

The underlying musical composition; and

The particular recorded performance or master recording.

Obtaining permission for one does not necessarily provide permission for the other.

Where the Client supplies existing third-party music, the Client is responsible for ensuring that all rights necessary for both the composition and recording have been obtained where applicable.

6. LICENCE TERRITORIES

Music licences may be limited to particular countries or geographic regions.

The Client is responsible for checking that the licence covers every territory in which the production is intended to be distributed, exhibited, broadcast or otherwise made available.

A licence permitting use within the United Kingdom should not be assumed to permit worldwide distribution.

If worldwide exploitation is expected, the Client should obtain a licence specifically permitting worldwide use.

7. LICENCE TERM & DURATION

Some licences apply indefinitely, while others are limited to a specific number of months or years.

The Client is responsible for ensuring that the licence term is suitable for the expected life of the production.

Where a film may remain available permanently through streaming services, video platforms, distribution catalogues or other channels, a short-term music licence may not be suitable.

Hatiwave is not responsible for renewing or extending Client-supplied licences unless this has specifically been agreed.

8. PLATFORMS & TYPES OF RELEASE

A music licence may permit use on some platforms while restricting others.

The Client should check whether the licence covers all intended forms of exploitation, which may include:

Film festivals;

Cinema exhibition;

Television;

Subscription streaming services;

Advertising-supported streaming services;

Video-on-demand;

Transactional video-on-demand;

YouTube and similar video platforms;

Social media;

Educational distribution;

Physical media;

Promotional screenings;

Commercial advertising;

Trailers and promotional content.

A licence obtained for one type of use should not automatically be assumed to cover every other form of release.

9. CHANGES TO DISTRIBUTION AFTER LICENSING

The intended release of a project may change after music has already been selected or licensed.

For example, a project originally intended only for festivals may later receive:

Television distribution;

Worldwide streaming;

Cinema distribution;

Commercial advertising;

International sales;

Physical-media release;

Additional promotional campaigns.

Where the intended use expands, the Client is responsible for confirming that existing music licences continue to cover the new exploitation.

Additional permissions or licence fees may be required.

Hatiwave is not responsible for future changes to a Client's distribution arrangements unless music-clearance services have specifically been agreed.

10. MUSIC SOURCED BY HATIWAVE

Where Hatiwave is specifically commissioned to source licensed music, we will select or recommend music based upon the project requirements and the information supplied by the Client.

The Client must provide accurate information regarding the intended:

Type of production;

Distribution;

Platforms;

Territories;

Advertising use;

Broadcast use;

Commercial use;

Expected release model.

Hatiwave will use this information when identifying appropriate licensing options.

Where a licence is purchased through a third-party provider, the licence remains subject to that provider's own terms and conditions.

11. THIRD-PARTY MUSIC LICENCES

Music sourced through production-music libraries, stock-music services or other licensing providers remains subject to the terms imposed by the relevant provider.

Those terms may contain restrictions relating to matters including:

Broadcast;

Theatrical use;

Paid advertising;

Social advertising;

Subscription streaming;

Client work;

Content identification systems;

Number of productions;

Number of channels or accounts;

Geographic territories;

Licence duration;

Transfer to distributors;

Standalone music use.

Hatiwave cannot alter or override third-party licence conditions.

Where Hatiwave supplies licence information or documentation, the Client is responsible for reviewing and complying with those conditions.

12. LICENSING DOCUMENTATION

Where Hatiwave purchases or sources a music licence as part of the agreed project, any relevant licence documentation available to us will be supplied to the Client.

Once supplied, the Client is responsible for permanently retaining its own copy of the licence and associated documentation.

Hatiwave may retain copies during the project and normal archive period but does not provide an indefinite licence-document storage service.

The Client should therefore maintain its own permanent records of all music permissions.

13. ORIGINAL MUSIC COMMISSIONED FROM HATIWAVE

Where Hatiwave is commissioned to compose original music, the composition will be created specifically for the agreed production and creative brief.

Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, copyright in the original composition and any Hatiwave-created master recording remains with Hatiwave Studios Ltd and/or the relevant composer or creator.

Commissioning original music does not automatically transfer copyright ownership to the Client.

Instead, the Client receives the rights described in the project agreement and this Policy.

14. STANDARD LICENCE FOR HATIWAVE ORIGINAL MUSIC

Unless a different arrangement is expressly agreed in writing, once the agreed project fees have been paid in full, the Client receives a:

Perpetual, worldwide licence to synchronise and use the commissioned music as part of the agreed production.

This normally includes use of the music as incorporated into:

The finished film, programme or production;

Festival screenings;

Cinema exhibition;

Television broadcasts;

Streaming releases;

Video-on-demand services;

Physical releases;

Online distribution;

Trailers;

Teasers;

Promotional clips;

Social-media promotion of the production;

Press and promotional material directly relating to the production.

The licence is attached to the agreed production and its normal exploitation.

15. OWNERSHIP OF COMMISSIONED MUSIC

Unless specifically assigned in writing, ownership of Hatiwave-created music does not transfer to the Client.

Hatiwave and/or the relevant composer may retain:

Composer or songwriter rights;

Publisher rights where applicable;

Rights to register the work with appropriate rights organisations;

Rights to receive applicable writer, composer, publishing, neighbouring or performance royalties.

The Client's licence to use the music within the agreed production remains valid in accordance with the agreed terms.

16. PERFORMANCE & BROADCAST ROYALTIES

The licence fee paid to Hatiwave for commissioned music does not necessarily replace royalties that may separately arise through public performance, broadcast or other collective-rights systems.

Where applicable, Hatiwave or the relevant composer may register commissioned music with an appropriate collecting society or rights organisation.

Broadcasters, distributors, venues and other parties may have their own reporting or licensing obligations.

The Client will provide reasonable information required for music reporting where necessary.

17. CUE SHEETS

Certain broadcasters, distributors, platforms or other organisations may require music cue sheets.

Unless cue-sheet preparation is expressly included within the agreed scope, responsibility for preparing, submitting and maintaining final cue sheets remains with the Client or the relevant production/distribution party.

Where reasonably possible, Hatiwave can provide information about Hatiwave-created cues required for completion of a cue sheet.

This may include information such as:

Track or cue title;

Composer;

Duration;

Usage type;

Publisher or rights information where applicable.

Hatiwave is not responsible for a broadcaster, distributor or Client failing to submit required cue-sheet information.

18. STANDALONE SOUNDTRACK RELEASE

The standard licence for commissioned Hatiwave music covers use of the music as part of the agreed audiovisual production.

It does not automatically include the right to release the music as a standalone soundtrack album, single or other independent music release.

Examples include:

Spotify;

Apple Music;

Amazon Music;

Bandcamp;

Vinyl;

CD;

Digital soundtrack downloads;

Standalone music videos;

Other music-only commercial releases.

Standalone soundtrack exploitation requires separate written agreement unless it has already been included within the original project agreement.

19. REUSE IN ANOTHER PRODUCTION

Commissioned Hatiwave music may not be reused in a different film, episode, commercial, game, production or unrelated project unless Hatiwave has provided written permission.

The standard music licence applies to the production for which the music was commissioned.

Sequels, spin-offs, remakes or related productions are not automatically included unless expressly agreed.

Additional use can be discussed and licensed separately where required.

20. RESALE, RELICENSING & MUSIC LIBRARIES

The Client may not:

Resell Hatiwave-created music as standalone audio;

Place it into a production-music library;

Offer it as stock music;

Relicense it to unrelated third parties;

Sell individual stems or masters;

Claim authorship of the composition;

Use the music to create unrelated commercial music products;

unless this has been expressly agreed in writing.

21. MUSIC STEMS & SOURCE FILES

Where music stems form part of the agreed deliverables, they are supplied for legitimate use in connection with the agreed production.

Supplying music stems does not transfer ownership of the underlying composition or recording.

Unless specifically included within the project agreement, Hatiwave is not required to supply:

DAW sessions;

MIDI files;

Virtual instrument presets;

Sample libraries;

Unused compositions;

Alternative cues that were not selected;

Internal templates;

Processing chains;

Project source files.

22. UNUSED OR REJECTED ORIGINAL MUSIC

During the scoring process, Hatiwave may create sketches, demos, alternative versions or unused musical ideas.

Unless otherwise agreed, music that is not incorporated into or specifically delivered for the final production remains the property of Hatiwave and is not automatically included within the Client's licence.

Hatiwave may retain, modify or reuse unused musical ideas where doing so does not disclose confidential Client material or reproduce a commissioned final cue in a way that conflicts with rights already granted to the Client.

23. CREATIVE REVISIONS TO ORIGINAL MUSIC

Original scoring will include the number of revision rounds stated in the relevant project agreement or service package.

A revision may include reasonable alterations to an existing cue based on the agreed brief.

Requests involving substantial new composition, entirely different musical direction, newly added scenes, picture changes or extensive replacement of previously approved cues may constitute additional work.

Where additional fees are required, they will be discussed and agreed before that work is undertaken.

24. TEMPORARY & REFERENCE MUSIC

Clients may supply temporary music or references to communicate intended tone, pacing or style.

Temporary music is treated as a creative reference unless the Client has separately obtained the rights required for its final use.

The presence of temporary music in an edit, rough cut or review version does not mean that Hatiwave considers that music cleared for release.

Where temporary copyrighted music is used in an internal review copy, the Client remains responsible for ensuring that the review copy is not distributed publicly in a way that would require additional permissions.

25. DIEGETIC & SOURCE MUSIC

Music heard within the world of the film, including music played through radios, televisions, phones, venues, vehicles or other on-screen sources, may still require appropriate music rights.

Processing the music so that it sounds distant, muffled, filtered or as though it is playing within a physical environment does not remove the underlying licensing requirement.

Where the Client supplies source music, the normal Client-supplied music provisions in this Policy apply.

26. TRAILERS, TEASERS & PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL

Hatiwave-created original music licensed under the standard project licence may normally be used within trailers, teasers and promotional audiovisual material directly advertising the agreed production.

For third-party or Client-supplied music, trailer and promotional use must be permitted by the relevant licence.

A licence allowing music within the main film should not automatically be assumed to include separate advertising or promotional use.

27. ADVERTISING & BRANDED CONTENT

Music licensing for commercials and branded content may differ from licensing for narrative film or other entertainment productions.

Advertising use can involve additional restrictions relating to:

Paid advertising;

Media spend;

Campaign duration;

Territories;

Platforms;

Brands or products;

Broadcast;

Social-media advertising.

Where third-party music is used in advertising or branded work, the Client is responsible for ensuring that the licence specifically permits the intended commercial usage.

28. DISTRIBUTOR & BROADCASTER REQUIREMENTS

A distributor, broadcaster, sales agent, streaming service or financier may request evidence that music used within a production has been appropriately licensed.

The Client is responsible for retaining the necessary licence documentation and providing it to relevant parties where required.

If a distributor requests additional rights beyond those originally obtained, those additional rights must be addressed separately.

Hatiwave cannot guarantee that a third-party licence will satisfy requirements that were not disclosed at the time the licence was selected.

29. RIGHTS INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT

The Client is responsible for providing accurate information concerning music rights and permissions.

Where the Client states that music is owned, licensed, royalty-free, public domain or otherwise cleared for use, Hatiwave may reasonably rely upon that information unless there is a clear reason to believe otherwise.

If Hatiwave becomes aware of a potential rights issue, we may ask the Client for further information or decline to include the music until the position has been clarified.

30. ROYALTY-FREE MUSIC

The description “royalty-free” does not necessarily mean that music is free of copyright or can be used without restrictions.

Royalty-free music may still be subject to licence terms governing:

Commercial use;

Distribution;

Broadcast;

Advertising;

Platforms;

Territories;

Number of productions;

Attribution;

Content-identification systems.

The relevant licence must therefore still be reviewed and retained.

31. PUBLIC-DOMAIN MATERIAL

Where the Client intends to use music believed to be in the public domain, responsibility remains with the Client for confirming that the relevant composition and recording may lawfully be used in the intended territories.

A composition and a particular recording of that composition may have separate copyright status.

The fact that an underlying composition is no longer protected does not automatically mean that a modern recording of it can be freely used.

32. THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS RELATING TO CLIENT-SUPPLIED MUSIC

Where a copyright complaint, licence dispute, platform claim or other rights issue arises solely because the Client supplied music without the required rights, the Client remains responsible for resolving that issue.

This may include claims or restrictions imposed by:

Rights holders;

Music publishers;

Record labels;

Distributors;

Broadcasters;

Streaming platforms;

Content-identification systems;

Other licensing bodies.

Hatiwave will reasonably cooperate by providing relevant project information in our possession, but is not responsible for obtaining retrospective rights unless separately commissioned to do so.

Nothing in this section limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

33. CONTENT IDENTIFICATION & AUTOMATED COPYRIGHT CLAIMS

Third-party music may be registered with automated content-identification systems used by platforms such as online video services.

A valid music licence does not always prevent an automated copyright claim from being generated.

Where this occurs, the Client may need to provide the relevant licence documentation to the platform, distributor or rights holder.

Hatiwave cannot guarantee that third-party content-identification systems will recognise or automatically accept a valid licence.

34. MUSIC REMOVAL OR REPLACEMENT

Hatiwave may decline to use, or may recommend replacing, music where:

The required rights cannot reasonably be confirmed;

The licence appears incompatible with the intended release;

A rights holder has objected to its use;

The Client confirms that necessary permissions have not been obtained;

Continued use could reasonably expose the production or Hatiwave to an infringement claim.

Where replacement music requires additional editorial, composition or licensing work beyond the agreed scope, any additional fee will be discussed before work proceeds.

35. LICENCE CHANGES AFTER PROJECT COMPLETION

Hatiwave is not responsible for monitoring third-party music licences indefinitely after a project has been completed.

The Client is responsible for ensuring continued compliance with any licence conditions throughout the life of the production.

If the Client later wishes to:

Expand distribution;

Enter new territories;

Use the film in advertising;

Re-release the project;

Create new promotional material;

Extend an expired licence;

Use the music in another project,

the Client must determine whether additional rights are required.

36. PAYMENT & MUSIC RIGHTS

Any licence granted by Hatiwave for original commissioned music becomes effective once all fees relating to the commissioned work have been paid in full, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Until payment has been completed, review versions of original music may be supplied for evaluation and production purposes but should not be treated as final licensed deliverables.

Third-party licence terms may operate differently and remain subject to the relevant licensing provider's conditions.

37. COPYRIGHT ASSIGNMENT REQUESTS

The standard Hatiwave scoring arrangement is based upon Hatiwave and/or the relevant composer retaining copyright while granting the Client appropriate rights to exploit the commissioned music within the production.

If a Client, broadcaster, distributor, financier or other party requires a full copyright assignment or alternative ownership arrangement, this must be discussed separately.

Any assignment of copyright must be expressly agreed in writing.

Additional fees may apply where broader ownership rights are requested.

38. ATTRIBUTION & MUSIC CREDIT

Where original music is commissioned, appropriate screen-credit wording may be agreed as part of the project.

Depending on the work undertaken, this may include wording such as:

Original Music by Hatiwave

Specific credit requirements may be included within the project agreement.

39. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINAL RIGHTS CHECK

Before public release or distribution, the Client is responsible for confirming that all third-party music used within the final production has been appropriately licensed for the final intended use.

This includes checking that the licence remains appropriate for:

The final version of the production;

Final distribution platforms;

Territories;

Duration;

Promotional use;

Advertising use;

Broadcast use;

Commercial exploitation.

Hatiwave's technical or creative incorporation of a piece of Client-supplied music does not constitute independent confirmation that the Client holds the necessary legal rights.

40. RELATIONSHIP WITH PROJECT AGREEMENTS

This Music & Licensing Policy forms part of Hatiwave's general service terms.

A project-specific agreement may contain additional or different music provisions where necessary.

Where a project requires unusual licensing, copyright ownership, soundtrack exploitation, exclusivity or distribution arrangements, those terms should be confirmed in writing before work begins.

Nothing in this Policy is intended to remove statutory rights or obligations that cannot legally be excluded.

41. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

Hatiwave may update this Music & Licensing Policy as our services, licensing arrangements or legal requirements change.

The version applicable when a project is booked will continue to apply to that project unless both Hatiwave and the Client agree otherwise in writing.

42. CONTACT

For questions about music supplied to Hatiwave, original scoring, music licensing or rights associated with a project, contact:

Hatiwave Studios Ltd
Company Number: 17088199
Registered Office: Hatiwave Studios, 61 Bridge Street, Kington, HR5 3DJ, United Kingdom
Contact Email: ben@hatiwave.com

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