Free music websites are a treasure trove for music lovers. They offer a vast collection of songs, albums, and playlists without any cost.
From the article, we know that SoundCloud is a popular free music website with over 200 million tracks. It's a great platform for discovering new artists and genres.
You can also explore Noisetrade, a website that offers free music downloads in exchange for your email address. This way, artists can promote their music while you get to enjoy new tunes.
Jamendo is another fantastic option, featuring over 500,000 free music tracks from various genres, including electronic, rock, and hip-hop.
Free Music Websites
YouTube Audio Library offers a collection of over 1,400 songs, with basic search features for genre and mood. You can use any track for free in your video content, as long as you attribute the owner of the track.
SoundCloud is a great platform for listening to and enjoying music for free online, but it's not ideal for using music in your videos without permission. You'll need to reach out to the creators directly to work out a compensation and agreement on royalties.
In addition to YouTube and SoundCloud, there are several other free music websites worth exploring, including ccMixter, which has a collaborative community of artists creating original music for free, and Netlabels, which offers a collection of music at the Internet Archive with over 65,000 pieces available for download.
YouTube Library
YouTube Library is a treasure trove of royalty-free music for creators. You can access it directly from the YouTube Studio, where you can search for music or sounds based on mood or genre.
The library contains over 1,400 songs, which is a decent collection, but not the largest. You can use any track for free in your video content, as long as you attribute the owner of the track.
To get the most out of the library, make use of its search functions, which allow you to search by mood, duration, and even genre. This makes it easier to find the perfect track for your video.
The music in the library is a mix of public domain works and Creative Commons music, which means you can use it freely. However, be sure to check the Music Policies section to see if a particular track is allowed to be used in YouTube videos.
One of the best features of the YouTube Audio Library is the ability to "star" your favorite sounds, making it easy to save them for later use. This is especially helpful if you're creating a branded intro for your videos.
The library also has a sound effect library, which is worth checking out. You can filter the music by genre, instruments, vocal, and duration, making your search process as short and precise as possible.
Overall, the YouTube Audio Library is a great resource for creators who want to add music to their videos without breaking the bank.
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a vibrant hub that provides a platform for independent musicians to showcase their talent and offers access to a diverse pool of artistic expression.
You can explore and discover unique tracks on SoundCloud that may not be readily available through mainstream channels. A significant number of artists choose to release their tracks under Creative Commons licenses.
The platform's search engine is a perfect destination for uncovering music suitable for both commercial and non-commercial use. You can refine results based on albums, individuals, playlists, and specific tracks.
SoundCloud's collaborative features create avenues for you to connect directly with musicians. This focus on collaboration fosters an environment where innovative projects can emerge, driven by the fusion of different creative elements.
You can filter your search to show tracks that are licensed for reuse on SoundCloud. Type in "background music" or try something like "uplifting background music", "ambient beat", etc.
SoundCloud has a social element, so you can see when a particular track already has a lot of "likes." This can give you an idea of whether people will enjoy your video if you use it.
Websites to Find
YouTube Audio Library is a treasure trove of royalty-free music, offering a vast collection of tracks from various genres, including Dance & Electronic to Country & Folk. You can use any track for free in your video content, but be sure to attribute the owner of the track.
SoundCloud is another popular platform where you can find free music, but be aware that the music still belongs to the creators and using it would require you to reach out directly and work out some sort of compensation and agreement on the royalties.
ccMixter is a collaborative community of artists who upload original samples, acapella recordings, and mixed tracks for free, with over 120 original tracks for film & video, commercial projects, and video games. You can browse the editor's picks or highest rated tracks to discover new music.
Bensound offers a nice collection of royalty-free music from different collections, including cinematic, acoustic/folk, and electronica, all operating under the Creative Commons license. You can use the music on YouTube, Facebook, and other purposes, but you'll need to credit Bensound.
Incompetech has a large selection of royalty-free music, with around 2,000 tracks created by musician Kevin MacLeod, all available for free download as long as you credit the musician and site. You can download tracks from various collections, including Disco and Lounge, Rock Classic, and Film Scoring Moods.
Jamendo offers a wide selection of music, with over 500,000 songs from over 40,000 artists in over 150 countries, and helps artists create commercial licenses to gain monetary recognition for their work. Standard licenses cost $19, large licenses cost $49, and enterprise licenses require a quote.
Netlabels is a collection of music at the Internet Archive, where you can download tracks for free and use them under a Creative Commons license. You can search through the tracks using filters such as year, artist, or genre.
Musopen specializes in curating a rich collection of public-domain classical music, featuring timeless compositions that can infuse a touch of sophistication into your projects, and offers permission for free commercial use. You can explore music by delving into keywords, genres, and moods, refining your choices further through filters like composers, instruments, and form.
Paid Music Websites
If you're willing to pay for music, there are some great options out there.
Paid music websites like Spotify Premium and Apple Music offer ad-free listening, offline playback, and improved sound quality.
For $9.99 a month, Spotify Premium gives you access to millions of songs and playlists.
Apple Music costs $9.99 a month too, but it also includes exclusive content from top artists.
Paid music websites are a good choice if you want high-quality music without ads or limitations.
Spotify Premium's Discover Weekly playlist is a great feature that's curated just for you.
With Apple Music, you can also stream music videos and live radio stations.
Background Music and Videos
Choosing the right background music for your video can be a challenge, but it's essential to get it right. The mood of your video is the first thing to consider, so find the common mood and choose a track that matches it.
If you have a voice or voiceover in your video, avoid using music with words over another voice or important sounds. This can create a clash and make your video hard to watch.
Syncing an action in your video with the music change or the "first" or "last" beat is an easy way to make a great sound transition. This technique can add depth and interest to your video.
To ensure you're making the best choice, try out 3-5 different music tracks that seem to be great for your video footage. Share the versions with friends or sound designers and ask for their opinion.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when selecting background music for your video:
- Find the common mood of your video.
- Avoid using music with words over another voice or important sounds.
- Synch an action in your video with the music change or the "first" or "last" beat.
- Try out 3-5 different music tracks and ask for opinions.
Licensing and Royalty
Royalty-free music is a type of music licensing that grants the buyer the right to use the music in different applications upon a one-time purchase, without having to pay royalties to the owner for recurrent use.
You can find royalty-free music on websites like Jamendo Licensing, which offers a vast library of music for creative ventures. Jamendo Licensing has two plans: a Standard plan starting at $19 a track for small-scale projects and a Large plan starting at $49 a track for large-scale projects.
Some artists and audio providers do allow you to use their music for free without paying the upfront fee, but they retain the copyright to the song.
Jamendo Licensing has a straightforward search engine that allows you to filter music based on keywords, genres, themes, instruments, speed, duration, and more. You can also fine-tune your search by distinguishing between instrumentals and vocals.
The Creative Commons License is a system created for classifying different kinds of music licenses, with four distinct conditions of usage, attribution, and distribution.
Definition of Royalty
Royalty is a payment made to the owner of a creative work, like music, for its use. Royalty payments are typically required for recurrent use of the work, but not for a one-time purchase.
Royalty-free music, which grants the buyer the right to use the music in different applications, is a type of licensing that doesn't require recurrent royalty payments. This type of music is purchased with a one-time licensing fee.
The owner of the music retains the copyright, even if the music is used for free without an upfront fee. The artist decides the type of license the music has, including whether it's free or requires a payment.
What Is a Creative Commons License?
A Creative Commons license is a system created for classifying different kinds of music licenses. It was designed to allow artists to share their music while still maintaining control over its use.
The license has four distinct conditions of usage, attribution, and distribution: attribution, non-commercial, no derivative works, and share alike. These conditions can be combined in different ways to obtain six types of Creative Commons licenses.
Here are the six types of Creative Commons licenses:
In essence, a Creative Commons license gives you permission to use the music, but with certain restrictions. If you don't follow the conditions, you might face consequences like having your video taken down or even a lawsuit.
Jamendo Licensing
Jamendo Licensing is a great option for creators on a budget. It offers a vast library of royalty-free music with a straightforward search engine that lets you filter by keywords, genres, themes, and more. You can even fine-tune your search by distinguishing between instrumentals and vocals.
Jamendo Licensing has two plans, a Standard plan starting at $19 a track for small-scale projects and a Large plan starting at $49 a track for large-scale projects. Enterprise plans are available separately.
Pricing is a flat fee for pay-per-download, making it easy to budget for your project. Here are the prices:
- $19 a track for Standard License
- $49 a track for Large License
- Enterprise plans are available separately
Jamendo is dedicated to fair compensation for artists, so by using their service, you're not only getting great music, but also supporting a community of artists.
AI for Royalty
Jamendo Licensing is a great resource for finding royalty-free music. It offers a vast library of music that can be used for various projects, including films, advertisements, and presentations.
You can search for music based on keywords, genres, themes, instruments, speed, duration, and the acoustic/electrical nature of the tracks. This helps you find the perfect soundtrack for your project.
Jamendo Licensing has two plans: a Standard plan starting at $19 a track for small-scale projects and a Large plan starting at $49 a track for large-scale projects. Both plans are designed to be budget-friendly.
The Standard plan is ideal for small-scale projects, while the Large plan is better suited for bigger projects. Enterprise plans are also available separately.
The best part about Jamendo Licensing is that it ensures fair compensation for the artists. By licensing music through them, you're supporting a community of artists.
Here are the pricing details for Jamendo Licensing:
You can also search for music by mood, genres, and artists on Jamendo Licensing.
Using Music in Videos
Choosing the right music for your video can be a challenge, but it's essential to get it right. To start, find the common mood of your video, whether it's romantic, rock'n'rollish, dark, or mysterious, and choose a track that highlights that mood.
If you have a voice or voiceover in your video, avoid using music with words that might clash with the voice or other important sounds. The volume and dynamics of the music should work well throughout the video, and the voice and other sound effects should play along well together.
To make a great sound transition between parts of your video, sync an action with the music change or the "first" or "last" beat. This can be a simple yet effective way to keep your video engaging.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when selecting music for your video:
- Try out 3-5 different music tracks that seem to be great for your video footage.
- Send the version to a friend or two (especially if they're sound designers) and ask for their opinion.
How to Use in Videos
To make your video stand out, consider the mood you want to convey. This can be a romantic, rock’n’rollish, dark, or mysterious tone, and choose a music track that matches it.
If you have voiceover or important sounds in your video, pick a music track without words to avoid clashing. Make sure the volume and dynamics of the music work well throughout the video, so the voice and other sound effects play along smoothly.
Syncing music changes or beats with actions in your video can create a seamless sound transition. This can be done by matching an action to the first or last beat of a music track.
Try out 3-5 different music tracks that seem fitting for your video footage. Send the versions to friends or sound designers and ask for their opinions to get a fresh perspective.
Shutter
Shutterstock Music is a game-changer for content creators. Its expansive library of royalty-free music is a testament to its reliability.
You can search for music with keywords, and then fine-tune your selection with genres, moods, length, BPM, artists, and instruments. This makes it easy to find the perfect track for your project.
Shutterstock Music has a user-friendly search engine that's designed for precision. You can even explore tracks with editing capabilities like stems and vocals.
The partnership with PremiumBeat is a great bonus, seamlessly integrated into your results. This means you can access an even wider range of music options.
Sorting options include popular to most recent, alphabetical, artist, BPM, and duration. This makes it easy to find the most relevant tracks for your project.
The pricing is reasonable, with a monthly pack at $69 unlocking unlimited track and SFX downloads. Alternatively, you can choose from prepaid packs, starting at $49 a month for a generous allotment of 10 tracks.
Here's a breakdown of the pricing options:
- Subscription at $69 a month
- Prepaid packs start at $49 for 10 credits (2 tracks)
Choosing the Best Website
The key to finding the best royalty-free music website is to research and test the options.
I've researched and tested several websites, including Free Websites To Find Royalty-Free Music, which provides a list of great websites with royalty-free music.
To make the most of your search, consider the tips provided in Free Websites To Find Royalty-Free Music on how to search and use music in your videos.
How to Find the Best
To find the best website for royalty-free music, you need to match your video and audio perfectly. This means considering various dimensions such as tempo, mood, theme, style, and more.
Describing your videos with adjectives like inspiring, relaxing, romantic, and groovy can help you find the right track. For example, if you're making a video about a relaxing beach scene, you might search for music with a relaxing mood.
If you're unsure about the tempo, you can search for music with a specific beats per minute (bpm) range, such as 45-70bpm for a slow pace or 120-200bpm for a fast pace.
If you're still unsure, try finding a professional video piece on YouTube with a similar style and topic, and describe the music they use. This can give you an idea of the instruments, genres, and tempo you're looking for.
Choosing the Best Video
Choosing the right video for your website can be a daunting task, but it's crucial for capturing your audience's attention and conveying your message effectively.
A great video can make or break your website's user experience, so it's essential to choose one that complements your content and tone.
Here are some tips to find the perfect video for your website:
- If you have a voice or voiceover in your video, avoid using music with words over another voice or important sounds.
- Sync an action in your video with the music change or the “first” or the “last” beat.
- It’s always great to try out 3-5 different music tracks that seem to be great for your video footage.
Consider the mood of your website and choose a video that matches it. For example, a romantic website might require a soothing and gentle video, while an energetic website might require a more upbeat and dynamic video.
Here are some common moods and their corresponding video styles:
By following these tips and considering the mood of your website, you can choose a video that complements your content and tone, and effectively captures your audience's attention.
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