What Differentiates Royalty Free Music From Other Types Of Music Licenses?

If you’ve been looking for music to use in your online videos, it can be helpful to know the differences between different music licensing options. This article will discuss what makes royalty free music special and how it differs from other types of licensing arrangements.

What is Royalty-Free Music?

You don’t have to worry about additional fees each time your track is used. It’s a one-time payment that gives you lifetime use of the music.

With royalty-free music, you can use the track in any project worldwide without paying additional fees.

What Differentiates Music from Other Types of Music Licenses?

The main differenceis that the purchaser has the right to use the music in perpetuity without having to pay royalties.

Once you purchase a license for a piece of music, you can use it as many times as you want, wherever you want (within the guidelines specified).

The term is often confused with the term copyright free. However, this is a misnomer. All music has copyright; royalty-free simply means that you don’t have to pay royalties for its use.

How to Know If the Music is Without Royalty?

First, you can look at the copyright information at the bottom of the page. It will often have copyright text like this:

“Some rights reserved by Author Name.”

This means that the music is not royalty-free, and you should contact the author for permission to use it. If it says “all rights reserved, ” you should find another piece of music.

If it doesn’t say anything about copyright, there’s still a good chance it’s not public domain or royalty-free. For example, most major labels don’t allow people to post their music on websites, and it will still be copyrighted even if there’s no mention of it on the website where you found it.

As a general rule of thumb, finding something online means there’s a good chance it isn’t available unless the website explicitly states that all content is public domain or has some other license that permits its use without contacting the author.

What Are the Uses?

A great way to add background music to a business video, video slideshow, or project. But there are so many places you can use it!

  • In presentations and slideshows
  • In on-hold messages for phone systems
  • As background music for your business website
  • As background music for YouTube videos, podcasts, online radio stations, or other online media
  • As background music for live performances
  • As background music for a movie or film!

What Are The Restrictions?

This music is licensed to you, the buyer, in exchange for a one-time payment. The purchased license allows you to use the music within a certain term as many times as you’d like, so you can use it repeatedly without having to pay further royalties or fees.

Vs. Licensed Music Explained

The term describes a type of music licensing that allows you to use copyrighted music for as long as you’d like without paying royalties (fees) for each use or each year the music is used. But it doesn’t mean that you can use it free of cost. 

Instead, it means that after the initial payment, you don’t have to worry about paying royalties when your video, slideshow, or other project goes viral — or even after you’ve made back your expenses tenfold!

When we talk about licensed music, we’re talking about purchasing the rights to use a song or piece of music in exchange for a fee. This is the type of licensing you’ve probably heard of before. In this case, your usage rights are limited and typically cost more than standard licenses.

Can I Edit The Music?

Yes, you can. The license that comes with the download from most sites allows you to make the following changes to any track:

  • Edit the track length
  • Add fade-ins and fade-outs
  • Add reverb or other effects

A Great Way to Use Licensed Music for a Lower Price

Whether you’re a business owner or an amateur filmmaker, there are many reasons to consider royalty-free music for your next project. It can be used in many settings and scenarios, from commercials to movie soundtracks to corporate videos.

If you’ve never considered royalty-free music before, it’s time to think again. It is a great way to get the sound and feel of licensed music for a lower price.

Author Profile

Adam Regan
Adam Regan
Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 3 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com

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