There are many things to consider to fully understanding royalty free music.

Posted by SharonEvans on October 21st, 2012

The name royalty free music can be quite confusing for some people. In the simplest sense, stock music implies that the music or sound effect does not require any royalty payment no matter how it is used. Some people think that royalty free music is free music in which they do not have to shoulder any cost at all. The fact is that royalty free music does not require royalty payment but you still have to know which uses it will require payment. It is possible that you can enjoy royalty free music for all your radio broadcast productions but when used on television, there are costs that you have to pay. Different companies will have different licensing rules when it comes to royalty free music.

In the past, before the popularity of the royalty free music, music libraries would get fees as well as term and single production licenses. During the time when vinyl records are very popular, you have to pay needle drop fees every time you use the music for any production or event. In terms of licenses, old licenses allow producers either to pay fees for a set of songs or music to be used on a specific production at a set duration of time. There are also single production licenses to pay for a piece of music for one production at one time. Nowadays, such licensing rules are still very much popular in the US. In the last few years, the popularity of royalty free music has proliferated in which it is known as a “buyout music collection.”

What royalty free music offers is a more attractive and cost effective solution for music producers. Instead of paying per song and per utility, the producer can use a disc and enjoy freedom in using such music as long as they are fit for purpose. This minimizes and problems when it comes to using music especially with regards to the cost. Different companies will have different rules and systems in sharing their music libraries and the licensing requirements, rules, and costs are also different from one company to the other. Some companies are even willing to include up to 10 discs full of music in any single buyout at very affordable prices. To keep the costs down in recording such music of sound effects, they use digital synthesizers to create unique sounds which definitely reduces overall recording costs. They still use live musicians but with digital technology, it is a lot easier now to create natural sounding music that can be used for most professional grade productions.

When it comes to using royalty free music, you need to know the rules and restrictions of the company where you are getting the music. If it is for personal use or academic use, what rules and licenses do they offer? When it comes to local productions, do they offer cost effective rates? Do they restrict the use of stock music for national events? Understand these details when looking for royalty free music so you can enjoy incredible music for all your productions.

A trusted provider of stock music from the most notable names in the production business, The Music Case offers thousands ofroyalty free music to fit your needs. Visit our website to know more about our selections.