What is Royalty-free Music? – A guide for Content Creators

If you are a content creator or aspire to be one, “royalty-free music” is not a new concept. Music transforms great content into exceptional one, and that’s precisely why content creators are always looking for suitable royalty-free music to get noticed for their content on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, and so on.

But, trust us, high-quality royalty-free music is valuable, and accessing it is often challenging. And even if you do, the associated costs are heavy on the pocket, especially for budding creators.

This comprehensive guide explains everything about royalty-free music – what it is, how to identify it, its benefits, and, most importantly, how you can access it without emptying your pocket.

What is Royalty-free Music?

Royalty-free music is the type of music that content creators can use in their content without paying the musician or artists every time it is played. Content creators can play this music in their videos, reels, video games, and other digital content without worrying about getting into legal trouble.

Royalty-free music is not necessarily available free of cost or copyright-free. You might have to pay a one-time fee for it. But with a royalty-free music license, you can play it multiple times and use it in multiple projects (as mentioned in the term license) without paying a recurrent cost to the copyright owner of the music.

Still confused between Royalty-free and copyright-free music? Read more

Why does Royalty-free Music matter for Content Creators?

If you are a FRIENDS fan, you must have heard the famous “I’ll Be There for You” theme song by Phil Solem and Danny Wilde from The Rembrandt.

But did you know that this duo received (and still does) a significant percentage of royalty each time this theme song was played over the years? The exploding popularity of this theme song helped them reach a combined net worth of close to $6 million.

This example sums up how expensive royalty music can be and why creators must look for a royalty-free music license that cuts down their content production costs by a significant percentage.

But affordability is not the only reason creators should look out for royalty-free music. There’s more to the story:

You don’t have to limit your creativity – With limited royalty-free music, content creators are often forced to pick the same old trending music. This means compromising on your creativity at times, because, let’s face it, not all of those same old tracks match the vibe of your content.

Royalty-free, AI-music generators give you access to music suitable for your content. With access to a diverse and high-quality music library, your content is going places.

Don’t worry about the music licensing process – Traditional royalty licensing is complicated. Creators had to pay different royalty amounts to other persons for different platforms. Thanks to AI royalty-free music generators like Beatoven.ai, you don’t have to worry about royalty fees or getting a music license again. It is like the ChatGPT for royalty-free music, where you post prompts, set your genre, and compose music of your choice. If that’s not all, you can download the music and get a music license to monetize your content easily without legal complications.

Support independent musicians – By using royalty music, you are making the already rich artists richer. On the other hand, royalty-free music available on Beatoven.ai, allows you to support budding musicians and explore the new tracks they are creating. And creators should support each other, right?

Do you Need Permission to Use Royalty-free Music?

Yes, the term license is the permission to use royalty-free music. The cost of this license can be a one-time fee or a monthly subscription.

But if you use AI-based royalty-free music generators like Beatoven.ai, you can generate and download royalty-free music based on your desired prompts and get a music license for each piece of music.

Royalty-free Music vs. Direct Licensing – What are the Differences?

A direct licensing company is responsible for offering all music licenses to publish and monetize your content. This includes – sync license, public performance rights, and mechanical rights. And without any hidden charges, you just need to pay a one-time licensing fee.

Alternatively, if a company offers only royalty-free music, it includes only sync rights in the package. The creators must pay for the performance and mechanical rights in this case.

Is Royalty-free Music the Same as Stock Music?

No, you cannot use the terms “stock music” and “royalty-free music” interchangeably. It is one of those myths about royalty-free music that you must ignore.

Stock music is any music available for license but may or may not be royalty-free. Stock music is pre-recorded in television, movies, commercials, podcasts, and other digital media.

Royalty-free music is a type of stock music with the license to play it multiple times without any costs. So, let’s just say that all royalty-free music is stock music, not vice versa.

How do you Identify Royalty-free Music?

Confused about whether you are using royalty-free music? Here is how you can be sure:

Check the authenticity of your royalty-free music source. Is the website reliable? Are they providing music licenses for all the tracks? Make sure to find the answers to these questions before jumping in.

Read the license agreement thoroughly. Is it just a royalty-free license? Is it a direct license? Are there any limitations on the usage of the music? Again, find the answers.

Finally, if you are still having second thoughts, reach out to the platform’s support team and ask them to connect you with the royalty holder directly.

How does Beatoven.ai Help you Find Royalty-free Music?

Beatoven.ai is a one-stop solution to generate royalty-free, original music for your next video. It is an AI music generator that allows you to create music of your choice within five simple steps.

Here’s how it works:

1. Type the scene, situation, or emotion you need music for. Be as descriptive as possible.
2. Click compose and let AI do its magic.
3. Once the track is composed, you get 4 track options to choose from.
4. You can also edit the tracks to get what you want, once they are composed.
5. Hit download, and you will get a royalty-free license to use the music as background music in your content.

Beatoven.ai works with some of the most talented and celebrated artists and musicians to grow its royalty-free music library. With each track, you’ll get a direct license that empowers content creators to monetize their videos without worrying about copyright claims.

Create your first royalty-free music for free

FYI: If you are a budding musician trying to get heard through your music and make some extra money, our doors are open!

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Other FAQs

Which Platforms Allow Royalty-Free Music?

All popular social platforms like – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch allow royalty-free music.

Is Royalty-free Music Allowed on YouTube?

Yes, YouTube allows creators to use royalty-free music as the background score of their content. YouTube also has a built-in audio library studio where you will find royalty-free sound effects and music for your shorts and videos.

Is royalty-free music available for free?

The easiest answer to this question is – it depends.

Royalty-free music can be free, as many platforms offer such pieces of music without any licensing fee. But, the quality of such pieces of music often becomes a matter of concern. In worst cases, creators become victims of spammy platforms that claim to offer royalty-free music but charge hidden charges.

On the other hand, you can download royalty-free music with a one-time or monthly licensing subscription fee to access a diverse library of royalty-free music.

On Beatoven.ai, you can generate royalty-free music of your choice using an AI-music generator for a nominal cost, along with the music license.