Open Music is music that is shareable, available in "source code" form, allows derivative works and is free of cost for non-commercial use. It is the concept of "open source" computer software applied to music.

All our 128k mp3s are available under the "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike " license from Creative Commons to promote these goals. Specifically, this means:

• You can listen to our Internet radio stations, download our free music, and share with anyone you like.
• Derivative works (for example: remixes, cover songs, sampling) are explicitly allowed. Some of our artists publish the "source code" to their music so you can rework and improve it. This includes scores, lyrics, MIDI files, samples and track-by-track audio files. If you make a great new version of our music, we'd love to know so that we can promote it!
• Non-commercial use of our music and its "source code" is free. However, if you make money ("commercial use") with our music, you'll have to "share the wealth" and give us and our artists a share.

"This is very exciting news about Magnatune. This is precisely the kind of innovation that will solve the current crisis with music." - Lawrence Lessig Author of The Future of Ideas and founder of Creative Commons.

What is the Creative Commons?

• Musicians should read the Creative Commons' "licenses explained" cartoon explaining what it's about, and why you should support it.
• Everyone should watch Creative Commons' animated Flash presentation to understand how copyright works, and how it's stifling creativity. A 2nd cartoon entitled "a spectrum of rights" is also helpful.
• Intellectual types should read Lawrence Lessig's book The Future of Ideas for a clear understanding of the relationship between creativity, progress and the law. Lessig is the Chairman of the Creative Commons.
• Magnatune heartily endorse the goals of the Creative Commons, and are looking for musicians and their fans to join this worthy cause.