Taking a break: No new music for now.
I'm fed up! I'm tired of people stealing my music, passing it off as their own, and then I get messages from YouTubers asking why they're getting Content ID claims – on MY music! This system is broken. And again... and again... and again... New case: A person named Ranaso has illicitly used my original music and passed it off as his own. Special thanks to "Deejay" from India who pointed this out to me via my guestbook. Furthermore, Ranaso is actively taking action against other YouTubers by filing Content ID claims against videos that rightfully use my royalty-free music.
Song 1
His Release (January 24, 2025): YouTube: Ranaso – AH (Official Music Video) Also on Spotify He also violated the Videvo Attribution License: Video footage from Videvo
My Original (November 21, 2024): Stalker Heart of Chornobyl – Atmosphere 20
Song 2
His Release (April 08, 2025): YouTube: Ranaso – Feel the Sound of Africa (Soundtrack 1) Also on Spotify
My Original (September 03, 2024): Lion Queen Soundtrack – Intro
Song 3
His Release (May 09, 2025): YouTube: Ranaso performs ‘Feel the Sound of Africa' (Soundtrack No. 2)
My Original (September 03, 2024): Lion Queen Soundtrack – The big meeting
Song 4
His Release (April 04, 2025): YouTube: Ranaso performs Soundtrack 06 (Audio) from the album ‘Feel the Sound of Africa’
My Original (September 03, 2024): Lion Queen Soundtrack – Battle for the crown
Conclusion
From his YouTube profile:
"Ranaso is a talented singer, songwriter, and model from Kenya. With a diverse background and captivating presence, Ranaso has made a name for himself in the music industry."
So, according to his profile, he's a "talented artist" - funny considering the songs he's known for were written and produced by me.
Fighting Music Theft is Extremely Time-Consuming
This behavior is not only unethical but also harms the honest creatives who use my music in good faith. I have contacted YouTube, Spotify, and Apple regarding three confirmed cases of copyright infringement - this costs me HOURS of my time.
I sincerely hope that his YouTube channel is deleted and that there are consequences for his behavior. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of his content is also stolen.
I intentionally do not register my music in the YouTube Content ID system or similar services so that anyone can use it freely - without restrictions. Such actions cause unnecessary work and stress for me and others - driven by selfishness and disrespect towards the creative community.
For this reason, I currently have no desire to release new music. I no longer want to make free music just so others can adorn themselves with it and make money from it. Maybe the inspiration will come back someday.
