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Happy Birthday To You – royalty free music? Actually, no…1 min read

We got a call from a customer who was looking to buy the classic “Happy Birthday To You” song as royalty-free music. We didn’t have the track and at first both the customer and myself found it a bit odd. But I found out that in fact this track is still under copyright to two old ladies in Florida and therefore, that track cannot be purchased as royalty-free music / stock music. We would be breaking copyright if we were to offer it — even if we made our own arrangement and recording of it, because the actual composition itself is in copyright.

We have this “alternative Happy Birthday Song” instead:
http://www.shockwave-sound.com/track/10367

Okay, it may be a bit cheesy, but if you’re making something like an electronic greeting card or just an office fun project, I think it really hits the spot. Happy Birthday!

Bjorn Lynne

Bjørn Lynne is a Norwegian sound engineer and music composer, now living and working in Stavern, Norway. He was also known as a tracker music composer under the name "Dr. Awesome" in the demoscene in the 1980s and 1990s when he released tunes in MOD format and made music for Amiga games.