Monetization with songs using EZDrummer

[MW1]

This seems to be a murky topic.

Can we monetize or not? In the Distrokid social media monetization pack, it asks questions.

How can we lawfully answer them?
Social Monetisation Eligibility Requirements (checkboxes)

I created ALL the sounds myself

My single does not contain beats, loops, sound effects, or other audio that were downloaded from sample libraries or other public sources (Garage Band, Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, etc).

I will not permit another artist to remix or use part of my music, as it may cause a claim conflict.

My single has not been uploaded by another collaborator or manager using DistroKid or any other distributor, and no one else will try and upload it later, either. That makes a mess.

I did not use songs or audio from public domain recordings, video games, TV, or movies.

I did not use audio from other social media videos.

Social platforms are really serious about these things. If any of the previous statements are found to be untrue, I understand that my DistroKid account may be suspended. Worst case scenario, I’ll be liable for any fees, legal or otherwise, that may accrue.

Have I purchased something that I cannot use to make commercially viable recordings?

Thank you.

Topic

[John]

Hi,

simliar questions have been asked numerous times and short replies never do, so I refer you to the EULA:
https://www.toontrack.com/end-user-license-agreement/

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

2

Thanked by: Scott Eshleman and MW1

[MW1]

Hi John,

Thank you for your response.

That’s the thing though. I have read old posts on this forum that comes up and seems pretty extensive. I have read the EULA. I don’t think either of them answer that question clearly (unless I am missing parts of the EULA), nor have any responses I have seen.

There is the response from yourself in 2024 (on this Topic: Copyright question about use of EZDrummer | Toontrack):

“Hi,

to reiterate:
You are free to use any Toontrack sound and/or MIDI in a musical context (most of the time called a “song”) you create.
I.e. it doesn’t matter how much of a Toontrack MIDI file or how many MIDI files you use to construct a “song”.
It does not matter which sounds you use when you create your “music”.
It does not matter if you give your created work/song/piece away or charge an enormous amount of money for it.
All of the above, you can do.

What you cannot do, is to sell (or give) the Toontrack MIDI or sounds intended for use in a musical context in its raw form.
I.e. you cannot take one, many or parts of a Toontrack MIDI file and sell or give away.
You cannot sample a sound from a Toontrack library, e.g. a Snare or a piano and sell or give away on its own.

You can and should make as much music as you possibly want with your Toontrack MIDI and sound libraries.

BR,
John”

That sounds great. All good.

But the EULA saying we have the rights to do so, doesn’t preclude distributors like Distrokid to ask very specific questions like these two mandatory questions that you must say yes to in order to monetize:

• I created ALL the sounds myself
• My single does not contain beats, loops, sound effects, or other audio that were downloaded from sample libraries or other public sources (Garage Band, Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, etc).

Are you saying that we are allowed to legally say “yes” to these questions?

This seems like a situation where although Toontrack says we have the rights, Distrokid (to name one) doesn’t seem to care.

• The post has been modified 2 times, last modified 5 days, 4 hours ago by MW1.

[John]

The Toontrack EULA is very clear with what Toontrack allows and encourages you to do with Toontrack products.
Toontrack cannot be held responsible for other companies policies and rules nor give you answers to why someone asks those particular questions regarding how you have produced your music.
I suggest you contact the company in question, explain your situation and ask them for advice.

Personally, I think it seems pretty ludicrous – who doesn’t use Presets for example, even on hardware synths?
I’m a TV-series composer, would I need to record every single instrument in an orchestra myself and not be able to use orchestral libraries when I publish the Scores?

BR,
John

John Rammelt - Toontrack
Technical Advisor

1

Thanked by: Scott Eshleman

[Author]

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