What is royalty free music?

The first time that you get hit with a copyright strike is a rite of passage, but it’s an experience that all creators learn from. For new creators, a common piece of advice is to use royalty free music to avoid these strikes – but what does it mean when music is royalty free, and why is it important to use?
What is royalty free music?

If you’re new to creating videos or content online, you’re probably also new to the world of licensing and copyright. The first time that you get hit with a copyright strike is a rite of passage, but it’s an experience that all creators learn from. For new creators, a common piece of advice is to use royalty free music to avoid these strikes – but what does it mean when music is royalty free, and why is it important to use?

In this article, we’ll go over the basics of what you need to know about royalty free music, other types of copyright and licensing, and where to find royalty free music.

What does royalty free music mean?

At its core, royalty free music is music that people can use without having to pay the original creator ongoing royalties. Royalties are payments that a music creator receives when their song is used in a video, commercial, or other media platform. Though it has “free” in the name, royalty free music isn’t actually free. It’s just free of royalties

For example, imagine a company wants to use a popular artist’s song in a product advertisement. Traditionally, they would need to negotiate and pay the artist each time the song is played or used. With royalty free music, this complex process is simplified.

Of course, how and where you can use royalty free music will depend on the license that it’s covered by.

Royalty Free licensing explained

Most royalty free music is handled through specific licensing agreements. With platforms like Storyblocks, a single subscription allows you to use music from our entire library without additional fees. Instead, your subscription fee helps compensate the artists who create the music and other stock content in our library, so you can use their work without having to worry about tracking down each individual artist.

With Storyblocks, we offer two different licenses. The first is our Individual license, which allows you to use our music for YouTube videos, websites, games, educational materials, and anywhere online. The second is our Business license, which allows organizations to use our music for all of the above, plus broadcast, TV, streaming, and feature films.

Why Royalty Free music matters

Royalty free music has become a popular choice for online creators, organizations, and businesses because it:

  • Simplifies the licensing and payment process
  • Reduces legal complexities
  • Provides affordable access to quality music
  • Eliminates the need to track individual artist payments

Types of music licensing

Not all music is royalty free. There are several important categories of different music licenses to understand:

  1. Royalty Free Music: Can be used after a one-time payment or subscription, doesn’t require you to pay royalties to the original artist
  2. Copyright Free: Music where the artist who created it has waived their copyright rights, so they don’t collect royalties or need recognition for owning their work
  3. Creative Commons: Music where the artist keeps their copyright for their work, but is released under specific sharing and usage conditions
  4. Public Domain Music: Works where copyright has expired and is free for public use
  5. Synchronization (Sync) Licenses: Specific type of music license that is required for matching music to visual media like television shows, film, etc.
  6. Public Performance License: Done through PROs, this allows you to play or perform songs publicly.

Finding Royalty Free music

You can find royalty free music in lots of different places, but online music libraries and subscriptions like Storyblocks are the most popular options for creators and businesses. That’s because these websites offer comprehensive licensing that covers a wide range of use cases, so you don’t have to worry about copyright strikes or additional fees. (And if you do run into a strike or issue, we can help you solve it fast.)

When you’re selecting music, it’s important to evaluate:

  • License terms – how long will your project be covered by the license?
  • Music quality – does the audio sound clear and high-quality? Can you download it in the format you need?
  • Genre and style – does it match with the specific genre or style that you’re looking for?
  • Intended use of the music – does the license that comes with your royalty free music cover your use case?
  • Potential attribution requirements – do you need to attribute the artist who made the song or the company you’re getting the song from in your work?

Common mistakes to avoid

While royalty free music is usually pretty straightforward once you get the hang of how to find it and use it, it can be tricky to navigate at first. Here are some common mistakes you should be on the lookout for and avoid:

  • Assuming all free music is royalty free – as we covered earlier, there’s a lot of different types of music licenses. Always double check that it’s really royalty free!
  • Not reading license details completely – we know licensing can be complicated, but this is one agreement you need to read and understand before you sign up for a service or buy a track.
  • Failing to check usage restrictions – this comes back to reading your license. Not every license is the same, so always check that it covers your use case for the music.
  • Ignoring attribution requirements – if your license states that you need to include attribution with your royalty free music, you need to do it. Otherwise, you can get hit with a copyright strike or fine.

Final Thoughts

Royalty free music offers creators a flexible, cost-effective solution for adding professional soundtracks to their content. By understanding licensing, choosing the right sources, and following best practices, you can enhance your projects while avoiding potential legal complications.

Ready to start downloading royalty free music for your projects? Explore Storyblocks’ exclusive library of royalty free tracks, created by award-winning artists from around the world. With over 36,000 options that span 20 different genres, you’ll always be able to find the right soundtrack for your video, podcast, or other project.