What is Royalty Free Music?

The term “Royalty Free Music” can be very confusing and essentially means that the music is free from paying additional royalties per usage. It does not mean that the music is totally free.

The user purchases a song for a single fee which then allows them to use the music within the conditions of the particular license. It is important to read through the licensing conditions of each royalty free Music Company as each company license is different.

Many people search the Internet for royalty free versions of famous chart songs or TV/ Film themes but they just don’t exist. You certainly can license famous music tracks but it can be costly and time consuming. In the past, stock music libraries have suffered from a reputation of sounding somewhat cheap but that’s not true anymore. Some libraries now contain stunning music.

You should be able to hear the sound quality of the tracks that you will download. Make sure that the recording quality is crystal clear and that MP3s are not compressed too much as this will reduce the clarity and punch of your track. Also watch out for dated midi sounds and “tinny” synthesizers.

Some libraries allow you to do this and others don’t. Usually an audio watermark will be used, which is a voice recorded over the top of the track. Other libraries allow members to download high quality MP3 versions, without watermarks, if they email a request for a particular track.

A cue sheet is a list of the music used in a television program or motion picture which includes information regarding the title, composer, publisher, timing and type of usage.

You only need a cue sheet if your production is to be broadcast and this incurs no cost to the producer.

Some royalty free music libraries allow you to download completely free material. https://www.freemusicpublicdomain.com/  has a free royalty free music section where you may download tracks and loops completely free of charge.

Royalty free music or “Stock music” is a very convenient way to access good quality music quickly and legally.

Time spent investigating royalty free music libraries is sure to provide you with some musical gems and at prices that can’t be beat.

If you’re in need of royalty free music, or just want to sample some great songs, visit https://www.freemusicpublicdomain.com/