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Over the past several years, royalty free music soundtracks have found their way into every form of media, from TV commercials, radio advertisements and online video promotions. With that comes the need to define how to find, use and license music that help content creators promote a brand. This article will answer common questions submitted by our visitors.
Where can I find royalty free music for videos?
Royalty free music tracks are purchased from online music libraries. Commonly known as stock music, these libraries offer licensed music for a fee. Conversely, there are websites that offer background music for free or under the Creative Commons License. It should be noted that licensed music offers an additional layer of protection as publishing agreements have been taken care of so you don't have to. Furthermore, small businesses would rather pay a nominal fee and carry on with more substantial matters like running a business as opposed to disputing copyright violations.
Why is royalty free music not free?
To the chagrin of content creators, there's been much confusion as to why royalty free music just isn't available for free. Seemingly, to the uninformed, the word "free" in the widely used wording royalty free music is a misnomer that is often met with dismay when payment is required to license a track. After the initial license fee is taken care of, "free" implies there are no royalties, hidden fees or subsequent charges to be paid.
What is the definition of royalty free music?
Royalties are collected and disbursed to publishers when soundtracks, also known as cues, are played on broadcast mediums such as television, movies, radio programming and in-theatre advertisements. Royalties are collected as cues find their way onto the aforementioned broadcast mediums. Typically, broadcasters are responsible for filing a cue sheet, a document which logs the artist's name, track title and publisher. In practice, performance rights organizations collect and disburse royalties on the behalf of publishers. Royalty free music however, implies that no royalties are to be collected in the event a soundtrack is used.
Where can I get copyright music for free?
Copyright music are available on stock music libraries, however, free copyright music is another story. Under the creative commons attribute license, licensors can use music in a project for free. Nonetheless, a quick review of the publishers licensing agreement is always a good idea as certain conditions must be met before using a track. For instance, it isn't uncommon for publishers to request a credit or an acknowledgement if a work is to be used in a project. Additionally, written consent is highly recommended in the event you choose to license under the creative commons attribution method.
Can I use a copyrighted song in a YouTube video?
Most music tracks that are featured in YouTube videos are copyrighted however, those soundtracks are licensed in some way, shape or form. This means, you must obtain a license to use copyrighted music in a YouTube video. As discussed in this article How To Avoid YouTube Copyright Infringement Claims, the pitfalls of copyright violations could lead to a host of unwanted consequences.
Can I use royalty free music for commercial use?
Commercial use of royalty free music soundtracks is outlined in a publishers music license. At its core, a music license grants permission to make use of music in any given project. Additionally, music licenses will typically shed some light on permissible usages as well as restrictions. Moreover, specific licenses will cover different projects so when in doubt, consult the music licensing policy.
Can I use one royalty free music song in multiple videos?
Although you've legally purchased music for a single video, care should be taken when deciding to use the same track in multiple videos. When in doubt, review the publishers licensing agreement. There, you will find information detailing what you can and cannot do with a soundtrack.
My original YouTube video was well received. I now want to publish the same content to TV. Do I need to purchase another music license?
Typically, music libraries offer tiered music licenses. Specifially, the end product will determine which license is required for a given project. That said, TV broacast will requires a license upgrade from the initial lower tiered license. When in doubt, consult with publishers.
Best Music Source for YouTube Videos
Music is sourced from any number of websites. Music libraries, soundcould, bandcamp and a slew of other notable sources are all available. The caveat is to seek written permission for usage. Furthermore, you'll need to put your faith in the hands of a producers and hope the track isn't signed by a record label at a later date. This can complicate who becomes the rightful copyright holder while exposing the track to third party content ID registration, a trend beset by labels. Lastly, YouTube and Facebook are social media networks that also offer a variety of free background music.
How to purchase royalty free music for use in monetized YouTube videos?
Most soundtracks are purchased and licensed from reputable stock music websites. Some however, have stipulations as to whether or not a composition can be used in a monetized YouTube video. Don't assume all music licenses are equal. A quick review of the publisher's music agreement documentation will clarity track usage.
Can I use royalty free music as a bed track for my vocals?
We all want to be creative and churn out artistic renditions that showcase a talent. Unfortunately, most music royalty free music libraries don't allow their works to be sung along with. These "karaoke" inspired works are not allowed to be distributed, published or sold. However, traditional narration, monologue and dialogue are permissible.
Can I use royalty free music for free?
In some instances publishers will grant content creators the opportunity of using tracks for free. For instance, publishers could require a link, credit or mention against tracks that find their way into a given project. Keep in mind, that this is no different than licensing music under the creative commons attribution license.
I run a non profit. Can I use royalty free music for free in a project that is not for profit?
The same rules apply whether you operate a non profit or charity organization. Same applies to podcasts and content creators whose published works don't earn revenue. Nonetheless, this doesn't mean you can't work out a deal with a supplier. If you've got something worth bartering, then submit your queries to the publisher.
Conclusion
By now you should have a better understanding on how to find, implement and license royalty free music for your projects. Always remember to keep copies of your invoice and read through any pertinent music agreement documentation. You'll rest easy knowing you've dotted your i's and crossed your t's.
