Did you know that there are hundreds of websites out there where you can find free music for your projects? It’s true, and the great news is that most of these sites are reputable. So, if you’re looking to spice up your video with some epic tunes but don’t have a handful of money to spend on licensing or royalties, then this blog post is just what you need! Let’s get started.
- Use YouTube’s Audio Library:
If you need some background music for your video, then YouTube has a “Creative Commons” library where you can find royalty-free tunes. To access this library, simply type “(song title) by (artist name)” into the search bar of the YouTube homepage and choose from one of the suggested videos that pop up on the screen. This works best if you select a song that has already been produced.
If the YouTube library doesn’t have what you need, simply type “royalty-free music” into Google and click on one of the first results to find an entire directory of websites where you can download royalty-free tunes!
- Take Advantage Of Public Domain:
Many songs are now in the public domain, which means they’re no longer under copyright protection. This is great news for creatives as it gives us access to hundreds (if not thousands) of beautiful pieces of music without having to pay royalties or license fees – sweet!! Here’s how…simply head over to iTunes and do a search for “(song title)” + “public”, e.g., “Moonlight Sonata” public. You’ll find that many of these songs are available at no extra cost!
- Torrents:
If you have a lot of data to move, then it’s definitely worth checking out torrents. While there certainly are some copyright issues with downloading music this way, if your project is indie or underground, then chances are the artist won’t mind that much. Also, when using torrent sites for free downloads, make sure you’re always choosing ‘free’ content so as not to accidentally download malware onto your computer! If you are looking for a reputable torrent site, then click here to find tons of free music!
- Be Careful With Cover Songs:
If you’re thinking about recording your own cover version, make sure to do it legally, so you don’t get into any trouble later on…simply record yourself playing the song and then purchase a license for each track from an online library such as SongFreedom or buy individual licenses directly from iTunes (note: if you use YouTube videos in your projects then there’s also now a nifty service called Audiam which can handle all of this for you). Also, be aware that most popular songs cannot be used without permission due to copyright issues – not even as part of a video project or anything.
- Free Music Archive:
This is a great place to find free music that you can use in your projects under the Creative Commons license. The songs are sorted into different genres and cover all kinds of styles – from classical, rock, electronic/dance, folk & blues right through to world music! They also have guides on how to add these tracks correctly into your video editing program if this is a bit beyond what you’re used to.
- Soundcloud:
This is where you can find new and up-and-coming artists as well as established musicians who are willing to let their fans use their music for free. You do have the option of paying them via an ad revenue system if you like what they’re doing, but it’s not necessary at all!
One of the best things about this website is that you can listen to all kinds of music, not just one or two genres like on some other sites. So if there’s something specific you’re looking for, then it’ll be worth checking out what they’ve got available first!
- Aupeo! Streams & Personal Radio:
This site has a ton of different ways to find the music you’re looking for. You can browse their directory by genre, see what’s popular at the moment, or even go off on a tangent and search for something random – whatever floats your boat!
You’ll be glad to hear that this company doesn’t have any hidden fees attached to it either, so if you want to use one of their tracks in one of your videos, then all you need is a valid email address, which they don’t verify.
- NoiseTrade Downloads & Streaming:
This site has a great selection of music available for free download and streaming. They’ve got some really unique tunes on there, which you can enjoy in your videos without worrying about breaking any copyright laws or making the artist feel like they’re not getting paid what their work is worth!
They also have a great blog section on their site where you can discover some awesome new tunes and artists. Noisetrade is partnered with HarperCollins Publishers, so if you’re looking for ways to incorporate free music into your writing projects, then this is the place for you!
Conclusion:
So there you have it! There are all kinds of ways that you can find free music for your projects. From unique indie artists to popular tunes, these sites will give you access to some amazing new sounds and help make your videos stand out in the crowd.
