Scrolling again? Go to sleep. You have an early morning. Sometimes, you just can’t put the phone down. The content is so good. It’s like one thing after another—the algorithm is pumping out some quality stuff. But what is it? What keeps us scrolling? One thing that always stands out, almost above all else, is the use of music. Similarly to a pivotal scene in a movie or a TV show, the use of music in content is crucial to help carry the video in the right direction. But what is that music? I can’t be the only one who’s had to find a way to Shazam a song from a video with multiple devices that doesn’t sound familiar, only to turn up with no results. Likely, but not always, it could be a royalty-free song.

But what exactly is royalty-free music? Royalty-free music allows creators to use music without having to pay ongoing royalties or licensing fees. However, don’t let the “free” in royalty-free fool you. To use this music, an initial license or fee is purchased or paid to acquire the track. This is not to be mistaken with copyright-free music, which is free to use as the music is no longer under copyright due to the creator relinquishing their rights to the song or it having entered the public domain.

Content creators should consider royalty-free music because:

• Cost-Effectiveness: Affordable fees for each use.

• Legal Compliance: Allows your content to avoid issues with copyright infringement.

• Diverse Selection: Access to thousands of tracks across all genres, moods, and styles.

When it comes to posting your content on social media, Instagram allows creators to access a vast library of popular music as a normal user or if the account has been changed to a “Creator Account.” “Instagram Business” accounts are severely limited in the music they are allowed to use, only having access to a royalty-free music library. Instagram has a blanket license for the music hosted on the platform—both popular and royalty-free music. One may not use unlicensed music to promote or drive their business; yet, creator accounts are allowed to use a nearly unlimited library of music to enhance their content. It’s funny in a way because one could consider many of these Creator Accounts as businesses in themselves.

Considering social media platforms focus primarily on short-form content, what about long-form video content platforms like YouTube? Sure, YouTube Studio offers creators a free platform to manage their channels, access their analytics, edit their content, and provides access to a royalty-free music library, but there are certain limitations. Many external libraries that focus primarily on royalty-free music offer a wider range of options and are user-friendly, allowing easy access to thousands of royalty-free tracks for an affordable price.

In this guide, we’ll explore how creators and buyers can benefit from royalty-free music libraries.

For Creators (Musicians)

Why Submit to Royalty-Free Music Libraries?

Submitting your original music to royalty-free music libraries can offer a range of benefits to boost your career as a musician. Some of the benefits include:

• Exposure: Your music is showcased on a platform that is potentially accessed by millions of buyers, from the likes of YouTubers, game developers, indie filmmakers, small-time content creators, or even brands who may rely less on a costly music budget.

• Passive Income: Every time your song is purchased or licensed from a royalty-free music library, you earn royalties.

• Portfolio Building: Having a vast catalog of music available online for purchase or licensing can help gain credibility, expand your audience, and boost your resume.

Choosing the Right Libraries

Selecting the right library that fits best for you and your music can be a challenge. Some things to focus on when choosing the right one include:

• Genre: Think strongly about what genre of music you are creating. Sometimes, it is difficult to classify, but having a broad understanding of what your sound is—whether it is electronic, indie, alternative, or more cinematic and bolder—can help tremendously.

• Quality: Seek out platforms that align with the quality of your output. Some may have higher standards than others, so if your recordings aren’t necessarily of studio quality, make sure you try to land on a platform that is best suitable for that sound.

• Commission: Pay attention to the platform’s commission structure. Some offer more payout than others for the exclusivity of the tracks on their platforms. Further, be realistic with yourself in that regard.

Preparing Your Music

Much stress is placed on the quality of your recordings. Investing in high-quality equipment makes a huge difference. Also, choosing the right platform that aligns with the quality of your output may help your chances of having your tracks chosen by buyers. Before submitting, ensure that your music meets the technical and creative standards required by the platforms:

• Audio Quality: Your tracks should be as high quality as possible. Getting them professionally mixed and mastered helps.
• Metadata: Metadata is how your music is classified. Ensure that you are tagging every track as accurately as possible with appropriate keywords, descriptions, and genres to increase and improve discoverability for buyers.
• Licensing Options: Some royalty-free music libraries focus on exclusivity, meaning each track is exclusive to that platform, while others are more lenient and non-exclusive, which allows you to host your song across multiple platforms. Read the terms and conditions carefully in this regard.

Promoting Your Music

Submitting your music to royalty-free libraries is only the first step. Promoting your music is crucial for attracting more buyers. If you are actively promoting yourself and your music, it is more likely that people will seek out your work specifically on these platforms to use for their projects.

• Share your links on social media.
• Be active in online music communities and other forums where content creators and other buyers seek out royalty-free music. This helps build a name for yourself and improves your visibility.
• Optimize your track descriptions with relevant keywords and tags (see metadata) to improve searchability.

Kits AI For Creators

Incorporating Kits’s powerful tools into your recording process can expand your ability to create a wide range of high-quality music with ease. Using the vast selection of AI voices and instruments available in the Kits AI library allows songwriters and producers to build a diverse catalog of music for any potential buyers’ needs. Leveraging these tools really makes a difference in your creative process and allows you to create beyond any possible limitations you may have, while still staying true to your artistic integrity.

For Buyers (Content Creators)

Types of Licenses

There are different types of licensing options available when browsing through royalty-free music libraries, and it is important to understand how some of the most commonly used ones differ from each other:

1. Standard License

Standard Licenses are the most commonly offered by royalty-free music libraries, allowing you to use the music for a wide range of projects. Some of these projects include, but are not limited to, podcasts, short and long-form videos, presentations, games, and more. These are typically used for non-commercial and commercial projects like presentations, YouTube videos, and other online content.

A one-time fee is required for the use of tracks under this license. Once you’ve purchased the track, no additional fees or ongoing royalties are required.

2. Extended License

Extended Licenses allow broader use of tracks than the standard license. These licenses are typically used for large-scale projects such as TV and radio advertisements, films, and video games where music is more of a focus and used in ways to generate more revenue.

It is a more expensive option due to the broader usage rights it offers, but with larger projects understandably comes more cost.

3. Broadcast License

Broadcast licenses are specifically designed for use in broadcast media such as TV, radio, and large-scale online streaming platforms. Typically used for commercials, TV shows, radio advertising, and films broadcasted on a larger platform.

Broadcast licenses can be a little trickier. They are not entirely royalty-free due to the commercial scale of projects the track is being used for. Additional payments may be required depending on how often the music is aired. Some libraries may offer to have these fees included as a flat fee arrangement.

Understanding the scope of each license is very important. Some licenses require a “with attribution” stipulation, where the buyer must credit, or give attribution to the composer or the host library in their content.

Finding the Right Music for Your Project

Diagnose your needs for your content. What are you looking for? What is the extent of the project?

• Mood: If you are working on an energetic, upbeat cooking video, or something more motivational, inspiring, and serious, search accordingly. These keywords are usually available to search on the platforms and will lead you in the right direction.

• Genre: Whether you need flowing ambient and cinematic soundscapes or anthemic rock songs, search the libraries by genre and see what you can find.

• Instrumentation: Focus on your needs for tracks that may include synthy electronic sounds, hip-hop beats, mellow acoustic guitar, orchestral arrangements, and more.

Budgeting and Pricing

Pricing models for royalty-free music may vary in many ways. Whether it is a subscription you are seeking for consistent use on new projects, or a pay-per-track situation, you have to decide what best fits your budget. Discounts and bundles may be available for bulk purchasing or discounted rates for long-term subscriptions.

Legal Considerations

Understanding the licensing terms of royalty-free music, or anything music-related, is essential to avoid costly and embarrassing legal issues down the road. Read everything very carefully and double-check to make sure there are no additional copyright restrictions for the tracks you use, or for what you are using them.

Royalty-Free Music Library Recommendations

The following is a short list of royalty-free music libraries that I recommend checking out:

1. Epidemic Sound

• Offerings: Epidemic Sound offers an extensive library of royalty-free music and sound effects for creators such as social media influencers, podcasters, and filmmakers.

• Price: $10-$17/month. Request a quote for further details on their Enterprise subscription.

• Licensing: Covers both personal and commercial projects with global coverage and no additional fees.

2. Soundstripe

• Offerings: Soundstripe offers unlimited access to high-quality, royalty-free music and customizable tracks for freelancers, wedding videos, and social media content.

• Price: $20-$40/month or $300 quarterly for their Business subscription.

• Licensing: Provides a royalty-free license that lasts forever, whether you cancel your subscription or not.

3. AudioJungle

• Offerings: AudioJungle is home to nearly 2 million songs and sounds on the platform for all types of use.

• Price: Pricing may vary but can be as low as $1.

• Licensing: Their Standard Licenses cover the majority of their offerings, allowing you to choose between Regular or Extended licenses, depending on your goals.

Conclusion

Royalty-free music libraries are a great resource for all kinds of creators and buyers, providing access to high-quality music and sounds to fit every need. Copyright issues are no joke, so making sure you are covered and approaching the legal use of royalty-free music is crucial. Sure, popular music is recognizable and can effectively elevate your content, but finding similar and cheaper options to produce the same result is equally as satisfying. You may find a new favorite song along the way.