What does the Expanded license cover?
Beyond digital, into the real world
What you'll learn here
- What the Expanded license allows
- Which distribution channels are covered
- What the Expanded license does not cover
What is the Expanded license?
The Expanded license extends commercial licensing rights beyond digital-only channels into physical spaces, out-of-home environments, film festivals, and gaming platforms. It gives you perpetual rights with unlimited versions and edits for one designated project.
Physical spaces include locations like retail stores, trade show booths, corporate lobbies, and event venue screens where video content is displayed to an audience. Because Soundstripe provides sync licenses (music synced to video), it covers video content displayed in those spaces, not live event performances or background music played in a venue.
Where can I use an Expanded license?
- In-store and retail display screens: Music accompanying video content on screens in retail environments. This includes digital signage in storefronts, point-of-sale monitors, in-aisle product screens, shopping mall displays, showroom presentation screens, and lobby or waiting-room video loops.
- Event and industrial venue displays: Music in video content displayed at live events and professional venues, such as conference keynotes, trade show booth videos, corporate summits, product launch events, exhibition hall installations, and award ceremony montages. This covers the video content shown on screens at these events, not live performances.
- Out-of-home (OOH) advertising: Music in advertising on digital billboards, transit placements (bus wraps, subway screens, airport displays, in-flight entertainment), gas station pump screens, elevator screens, and digital place-based media networks. Covers any ad placement viewed by the public in physical spaces outside the home.
- Film festival submissions and screenings: Music in independent films, short films, or documentaries submitted to and screened at film festivals. Covers the festival submission copy, official screening prints, and promotional clips tied to the festival run. Does not cover theatrical distribution, streaming platform release, or broadcast rights for the film.
- Gaming: Music in video games distributed through gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), PC platforms (Steam, Epic Games Store), mobile app stores (Apple App Store, Google Play), or browser-based games. Covers music in gameplay, cutscenes, menus, and trailers.
What's not covered by an Expanded license?
- Broadcast television or radio
- OTT, CTV, or VOD streaming platforms (Netflix, Hulu, etc.)
- Theatrical distribution of films
- Live event performances or background music in a venue
If your content will air on TV, radio, or a streaming platform, you'll need the All Media license.
Tips & tricks
- If your project needs both digital online distribution and physical venue display, the Expanded license covers both.
- Film festival rights cover the festival run only. If you plan to distribute the film on a streaming platform or in theaters after the festival, you'll need to come back for a license with proper coverage.
Not sure whether your use case fits Expanded or All Media? Our team's here to help. Reach out and we'll walk you through it.