The OwnYourStream Project
A simple, hand-selected feed of quality, legal music. We are guided by 4 foundational ideas:
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Discovery drives joy (so does a little friction). Physical record stores rewarded seeking with serendipity. We strive to replicate that experience.
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Ownership increases investment. Endless buffets drive consumption without discernment. Adding an album to your library is a conscious decision that encourages thought and learning.
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Digital subscription services are fleeting. Plan for the future and keep-safe what's valuable to you. Don't bank on fickle media deals.
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Innovative funding models empower artist creativity. Embracing name-your-price and open/libre music increases accessibility and elevates artists beyond black-box recommendation engines. Many labels and distributors like Bandcamp err on the side of openness.
Is this for listeners or creators?
OYS is designed for listeners, audiophiles, and those who care about open access to quality music. Although we do actively seek albums with permissive licenses, not all music listed here is suitable for creative ventures (videos, livestreams, advertisements, etc.). There are many other great websites dedicated to freely-licensed stock music.
To search within our collection for open/libre music, use the »Open« tag. These releases often have broader licensing—but confirm before using!
Technical Details
OYS is hosted in Finland and built on open-source and privacy-respecting technologies like Pelican and Plausible.
This site is typeset in Overpass, also open-source.