Terms of Service

Effective date: April 1, 2026 · Last updated: April 24, 2026

Read these terms carefully. They govern your use of Music I Want and form a binding agreement between you and us. By using the Service you accept them. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Acceptance and binding agreement

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“you,” “your”) and Music I Want, operated by an individual proprietor doing business as “The Hive” (“Music I Want,” “we,” “us,” “our”). By accessing or using musiciwant.com or any feature thereof (collectively, the “Service”), you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and by our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer, which are incorporated by reference. If you do not agree, you must not access or use the Service.

2. Description of Service

Music I Want is an editorial music-analysis platform. We catalog and analyze recorded songs across structured dimensions including but not limited to BPM, dynamic range, sudden changes, texture, predictability, vocal style, mood, and use-case suitability. We publish editorial guides, artist analyses, fan-submitted essays (“Voices”), fan stories, and AI-generated illustrative imagery linked to specific songs.

The Service is provided as a reference and discovery tool. We do not host audio recordings or song lyrics. We link to third-party services (YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music) where you can stream audio under those services' own terms.

3. Eligibility and account terms

3.1 Age

You must be at least 13 years old to use the Service. If you are between 13 and the age of majority in your jurisdiction (typically 18), you may use the Service only with the involvement and consent of a parent or legal guardian. The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. See our Privacy Policy section on Children's privacy for details.

3.2 No formal accounts

The Service does not require account registration for browsing. Optional features that store information against an email address (newsletter subscription, saved playlists, fan-story submissions, Voice essays) operate via lightweight email-token associations rather than passworded accounts. You are responsible for the security of any device or browser session you use to access the Service.

3.3 Jurisdiction

The Service is operated from the United States. By using the Service from outside the United States, you acknowledge that you are doing so on your own initiative and at your own risk, and you are responsible for compliance with the laws of your jurisdiction.

4. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. Specifically, you agree NOT to:

  • Bulk-scrape or systematically copy the Service or its content. Our rate limits are technical guardrails, not a challenge to circumvent.
  • Use automated tools to abuse our AI-backed features (the song analyzer, voice writer, image vote, prompt submission, fan story, or any other generative endpoint), including running scripts, bots, or distributed clients.
  • Submit content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, threatening, hateful, obscene, sexually explicit involving minors, fraudulent, or otherwise objectionable.
  • Submit content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, right of publicity, or other right of any person, including reproducing copyrighted song lyrics, lyrics fragments, or substantial portions of any third party's work.
  • Impersonate any person, organization, or system, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or organization.
  • Reverse-engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Service or attempt to derive any source code, algorithm, or trade secret.
  • Probe, scan, or test the vulnerability of any Service component without prior written permission.
  • Interfere with or disrupt the Service, including by submitting malware, conducting denial-of-service attacks, or generating excessive load.
  • Bypass or attempt to bypass any access control, including the cookie consent banner, the moderation queue, or any rate limit.
  • Attempt to access data not intended for you, including content marked unpublished or moderation-pending.
  • Submit content on behalf of a third party without proper authorization.

We reserve the right to investigate suspected violations, suspend or terminate access, remove content, and report to law enforcement where appropriate.

5. User-generated content

5.1 What counts as user-generated content

“User-Generated Content” means any content you submit through the Service, including but not limited to: Voice essays, fan stories, song descriptions, prompt submissions, image votes, ratings feedback, contact-form messages, and any other text or input you provide.

5.2 License you grant us

By submitting User-Generated Content, you grant Music I Want a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, perform, and display such content on the Service and in associated marketing or editorial materials. This license does not transfer ownership; you retain whatever rights you have in your contribution.

You also grant other users a non-exclusive license to access and view your content within the Service.

5.3 Your representations and warranties

By submitting User-Generated Content, you represent and warrant that:

  • You own or have the necessary rights and permissions to grant the licenses above.
  • The content does not infringe the intellectual-property rights, publicity rights, privacy rights, or any other rights of any third party.
  • The content does not contain copyrighted song lyrics, sheet music, or substantial portions of third-party copyrighted works.
  • The content is accurate to the best of your knowledge and not misleading.
  • The content does not violate any applicable law or these Terms.

5.4 Moderation

All User-Generated Content is reviewed by Music I Want before publication. We may, at our sole discretion and without notice, edit, refuse to publish, remove, or de-list any content that we believe violates these Terms, our community standards, applicable law, or third-party rights. Approval and publication of content are not endorsements; we make no representation about the accuracy or quality of any User-Generated Content.

5.5 Removal requests

If you wish to remove content you previously submitted, contact us via the contact page with details identifying the content. We will remove it within 14 days, except where retention is required by law or to resolve a dispute.

6. AI-generated content disclosure

Music I Want uses artificial-intelligence systems for several purposes. We disclose these uses in the spirit of transparency:

  • Editorial content: certain artist guides and supplementary editorial passages are drafted by large language models (Claude, by Anthropic, PBC) operating under our editorial supervision. AI-drafted content is reviewed by a structured QA pipeline (a second AI critique pass) and then by a human before publication. We do not pass off AI text as human-written without disclosure; AI-drafted long-form pages carry an indication in the page footer.
  • Song analysis: when you use the “Analyze a Song” feature for a song not in our library, we send the song title and artist to an AI provider (currently OpenAI) which returns a sensory-profile estimate. The result is labeled “AI-analyzed” on the resulting page and is generally less reliable than our human-reviewed library entries.
  • Imagery: the abstract illustrations attached to song pages and guides are generated by AI image models (Flux Schnell, by Black Forest Labs, on Replicate). They are abstract editorial illustrations, not reproductions of any existing artwork. Image prompts explicitly forbid faces, text, logos, and band imagery.
  • Moderation: we may use AI to flag user-submitted content for human review. Final decisions are made by a human.

AI systems can produce inaccurate, biased, or outdated information. Use AI-derived content as guidance, not authoritative truth. If you spot an error, contact us via the contact page.

7. Intellectual property

7.1 Music I Want's intellectual property

The Service, including its design, code, editorial framework, methodology, written content, branding, layout, and the selection and arrangement of data, is owned by Music I Want or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual-property laws. The five-dimension sensory framework, the use-case verdict matrix, the rating rubric, and the editorial guides are original works of authorship.

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Service for personal, non-commercial use. You may quote our editorial writing with attribution and a link back to the source page. You may share links to specific Service URLs freely.

7.2 Third-party intellectual property

Song titles, artist names, album names, and similar factual identifiers are presented under the doctrine of nominative fair use to identify the works being analyzed. Album cover artwork displayed on song pages is sourced via the Cover Art Archive (operated by the MetaBrainz Foundation) and remains the property of the respective copyright holders.

We do not host song audio. We do not reproduce song lyrics. Embedded YouTube and Spotify players load content from those services under their respective terms.

7.3 Reservation of rights

All rights not expressly granted in these Terms are reserved by Music I Want and its licensors. Nothing in these Terms grants you any right to use our trademarks, service marks, or trade names without our prior written consent.

8. DMCA copyright policy

Music I Want respects the intellectual-property rights of others and expects users to do the same. We respond to clear notices of alleged copyright infringement that comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and similar laws.

8.1 Notice of claimed infringement

If you believe content on the Service infringes your copyright, send a notice to our designated agent containing the following:

  1. A physical or electronic signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.
  2. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed (or, if multiple works at a single online site are covered, a representative list of such works).
  3. Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity, with information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate the material on the Service (a URL is best).
  4. Information reasonably sufficient to permit us to contact the complaining party, such as an address, telephone number, and email address.
  5. A statement that the complaining party has a good-faith belief that use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
  6. A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

Send the notice via the contact page with subject line “DMCA Notice.” Knowingly submitting a false claim is itself a violation of law.

8.2 Counter-notification

If you believe your content was removed in error, you may submit a counter-notification containing the elements described in 17 U.S.C. § 512(g)(3). Send via the contact page with subject “DMCA Counter-Notification.”

8.3 Repeat infringers

We will, in appropriate circumstances and at our discretion, terminate access for repeat infringers.

9. Affiliate links and advertising

Music I Want participates in the eBay Partner Network, an affiliate program that pays us a commission when a visitor clicks a link from our Service to eBay and completes a qualifying purchase. Affiliate links are visually marked with an “affiliate” tag near the block of links and use the rel="nofollow noopener" HTML attributes. Affiliate revenue does not influence editorial ratings or analytical content; sensory ratings are produced before any affiliate consideration.

The Service displays third-party advertising via Google AdSense. Ads are selected by Google's automated systems. Our acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of any advertiser. See our Privacy Policy section on AdSense for the full disclosure on advertising cookies and your opt-out rights.

We may add additional affiliate or advertising programs in the future. We will update this Terms section and our Privacy Policy when we do.

10. Third-party content and links

The Service contains links to third-party websites and services, embeds third-party players (YouTube, Spotify), and displays third-party-supplied data (album art via the Cover Art Archive, song metadata referenced via MusicBrainz). Music I Want does not control these third-party services and is not responsible for their content, availability, accuracy, or practices. Inclusion of a link or embed does not constitute endorsement.

Your use of any third-party service is governed by that service's own terms and privacy policy.

11. Disclaimer of warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING OUT OF COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT (a) THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, (b) THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, (c) ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE SERVICE WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE, OR (d) ANY DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED.

Our sensory ratings, song analyses, and editorial recommendations are subjective guidance, not medical, clinical, audiological, or psychological advice. If you have sensory processing disorder, misophonia, hyperacusis, autism, ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder, an anxiety disorder, or any condition that affects your auditory or emotional response to music, consult a qualified healthcare professional. A song we rate “low-intensity” may still unsettle a specific listener; a song we rate “intense” may be perfectly tolerable for another. Trust your own response over our ratings.

12. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL MUSIC I WANT, ITS OPERATORS, AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, SUPPLIERS, OR LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, COST OF SUBSTITUTE PROCUREMENT, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR PERSONAL INJURY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE, EVEN IF MUSIC I WANT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE OR THESE TERMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (a) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (USD $100), OR (b) THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU HAVE PAID US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES; IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

13. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Music I Want, its operators, affiliates, officers, employees, agents, suppliers, and licensors from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to (a) your use of the Service in violation of these Terms, (b) any User-Generated Content you submit, (c) your violation of any rights of another person or entity, or (d) your violation of any applicable law.

14. Term and termination

These Terms remain in effect while you use the Service. We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including suspected violation of these Terms. You may terminate your relationship with us at any time by ceasing to use the Service and requesting deletion of any data we hold about you.

Upon termination, the following provisions will survive: User-Generated Content licenses you have granted us, intellectual-property provisions, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, governing law, dispute resolution, and any other provision that by its nature should survive termination.

15. Changes to these Terms

We may revise these Terms at any time by posting an updated version on this page. The “Last updated” date at the top of the page indicates when revisions take effect. For material changes, we will (a) update the dates at the top of the page, (b) post a banner notice on the homepage for at least 30 days, and (c) where we hold your email and the change materially affects your rights, send a direct email notice. Continued use of the Service after a change becomes effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

16. Governing law and disputes

16.1 Governing law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to them or the Service are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply.

16.2 Informal resolution first

Before filing any formal claim, you agree to contact us via the contact page with the words “Dispute” in the subject line. We commit to attempt good-faith resolution for at least 60 days before either party initiates a formal proceeding.

16.3 Forum

Any unresolved dispute will be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Delaware, and you and Music I Want submit to the personal jurisdiction of those courts. You waive any objection based on inconvenient forum.

16.4 Class action waiver

You agree to bring any claim against Music I Want only in your individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any class, consolidated, or representative action. If a court finds this waiver unenforceable as to a particular claim, that claim shall be severed from any other claim and the remaining provisions of this section shall be enforceable.

16.5 Statute of limitations

Any claim arising out of or relating to the Service or these Terms must be filed within one (1) year after the cause of action arose, regardless of any longer statute provided by law, except where prohibited by applicable law.

17. General provisions

17.1 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

17.2 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms is not a waiver of that right or provision.

17.3 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign or transfer these Terms without restriction. Any attempted assignment in violation of this section is void.

17.4 Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and the Disclaimer, constitute the entire agreement between you and Music I Want concerning the Service and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

17.5 No partnership

Nothing in these Terms creates any agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship.

17.6 Force majeure

We are not liable for any failure or delay in performance that is caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, civil unrest, labor disputes, internet outages, infrastructure failures, government action, or natural disasters.

17.7 Notices

Notices to Music I Want must be sent via the contact page. Notices to you may be posted on the Service or sent to the email address associated with your subscription, where applicable.

18. Contact

For any questions about these Terms:

  • General contact: Contact page
  • Subject line: “Terms Question”
  • Response time: Within 7 days for general questions; longer for legal or compliance matters that require considered response.

Related documents: Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · About Music I Want · Methodology