Kevin MacLeod

Kevin MacLeod is an American composer and music producer known for releasing royalty-free music through Incompetech. His work is widely used in online videos, games, and other media.

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Incompetech: Incompetech is Kevin MacLeod’s website for distributing music and other creative resources. The site made MacLeod’s catalog directly accessible to creators.
Music licensing: Music licensing is the legal permission to use music under defined conditions. Licensing determines which uses of MacLeod’s compositions are permitted.
Creative Commons: Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that provides public copyright licenses and related tools. Its licensing framework supports the reuse model associated with MacLeod’s catalog.
Production music: Production music is music created or selected for licensing in audiovisual productions. MacLeod’s catalog serves many of the same production needs through a distinct online licensing approach.
Creative Commons licenses: Creative Commons licenses are standardized terms that let creators grant advance permissions for using copyrighted works. MacLeod’s releases commonly use these licenses, subject to attribution and other terms.
Attribution (copyright): Attribution is the identification of a work’s creator or source when the work is reused. Many uses of MacLeod’s tracks require credit under their license terms.
YouTube creators: YouTube creators are people or organizations that produce and publish videos on YouTube. Their widespread use of his tracks helped make his music recognizable.
Stock music: Stock music is pre-existing music offered for licensing and reuse in media productions. Stock libraries often rely on commercial licensing workflows unlike Incompetech’s direct distribution.
YouTube: YouTube is an online video-sharing platform where users upload, view, and share videos. MacLeod’s tracks became especially familiar through their use in YouTube videos.
Copyright: Copyright is a legal framework granting creators exclusive rights over certain uses of original works. His distribution model offers permissions while leaving copyright with the creator.