What does royalty free really mean?
We get daily questions about the term royalty-free on our YouTube channel, like:
“How is this royalty free if you are asking people to buy a license?”
“wait but when you click the link its not free.. ? im so confused :(((“
“Free?? it’s not even free!!”
So, let’s have a look at what royalty-free music really means:
Whether you’re a musician, artist, blogger or business owner, you’ve probably come across the term “royalty free” before. If you’re like most people, you probably assumed that the material was free to use. Confusing as the term may be, royalty free does not mean that the material is free. SO what is royalty free?
A Historical Context
Music has always been an integral part of human culture, and its commercial use has evolved significantly over the years. The concept of music licensing emerged as a way to protect the rights of composers, musicians, and publishers. However, the traditional licensing model often proved to be complex and expensive, leading to the birth of royalty-free music.
The Early Days
In the early 20th century, as radio and television became popular mediums, there was a growing need for background music in broadcasts. Traditional licensing methods required broadcasters to pay royalties every time a piece of music was played. This model was not only costly but also administratively burdensome.
The Birth of Royalty-Free Music
To address these challenges, the concept of royalty-free music was introduced. Instead of paying royalties for every play, users could purchase a license for a one-time fee and use the music as many times as they wanted. This model provided an affordable and straightforward solution for broadcasters, filmmakers, and other content creators.
The Digital Revolution
With the advent of the internet and digital platforms, the demand for royalty-free music skyrocketed. Websites offering vast libraries of royalty-free tracks began to emerge, catering to a global audience. The digital age also democratized music production, allowing independent artists to create and sell their compositions without the need for traditional record labels.
Today’s Landscape
Today, royalty-free music is a go-to choice for many content creators, from YouTubers to indie filmmakers. Platforms like PremiumBeat, among others, offer a diverse range of tracks catering to various genres and moods. The ease of access, affordability, and legal peace of mind make royalty-free music an attractive option in the modern content creation landscape.
What is Royalty Free?
Ok, first thing’s first, let’s talk about what royalties are. A royalty is a way to earn income from copyrighted work. This may be an image, music or any other type of intellectual property. Recording artists, for example, earn royalties from CD sales. Each time a CD is sold, they earn income.
These are Rights Managed Royalties, and they tend to be very specific regarding:
- Where the material is used
- How often the material is used
- The type of usage
When images are rights managed, they have a specific, detailed history as to who the image was licensed to, what the purpose of the image was, where it was used, how often and for how long.
When material is royalty free, however, the content is free to use once a license is secured. Typically, there’s a fee to secure the license, but once it’s obtained, the material is generally free to use in perpetuity without having to pay any additional royalty fees.
Royalty-Free Music Usage Across Different Professions
In the evolving digital landscape, the use of royalty-free music has become increasingly widespread across various professions. From content creators on YouTube to meditation instructors, the demand for high-quality, production music has surged. The table below provides an overview of the estimated percentage of royalty-free music usage by different customer types. It’s important to note that these figures are based on industry trends and data gathered from our own website’s usage statistics. While the percentages offer a glimpse into the current landscape, they are by no means definitive and should be interpreted as indicative values.
| Customer Type | Use of Royalty-Free Music | Estimated % Use |
|---|---|---|
| Vloggers/Youtubers | Background music for videos, intros, and outros. | 23% |
| Podcasters | Intro music, background scores, and segment transitions. | 14% |
| Filmmakers | Soundtracks for short films, documentaries, and indie movies. | 9% |
| Advertisers | Background scores for commercials and promotional videos. | 9% |
| Video Game Developers | In-game music and sound effects. | 7% |
| Fitness Instructors | Music for workout videos and classes. | 6% |
| Event Organizers | Background music for events, presentations, and seminars. | 6% |
| Restaurants/Bars | Ambient music for dining or bar atmosphere. | 5% |
| Educators | Music for educational videos and presentations. | 5% |
| Social Media Influencers | Background music for content on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, etc. | 5% |
| Photographers | Background music for photo slideshows and portfolios. | 3% |
| Yoga/Meditation Instructors | Music for relaxation, meditation sessions, and yoga classes. | 8% |
Debunking Myths About Royalty-Free Music
In the world of music licensing, misconceptions abound—especially when it comes to ‘royalty-free’ music. Let’s set the record straight by debunking some of the most widespread myths.
Myth 1: Royalty-Free Music is Free of Cost
- Truth: The term “royalty-free” refers to the licensing model, not the price. While you don’t have to pay royalties every time you use the track, there is often an initial licensing fee. For instance, many platforms charge a one-time fee to download and use a piece of royalty-free music.
Myth 2: Royalty-Free Music is of Low Quality
- Truth: Just like any other music, the quality of royalty-free tracks varies. Many talented composers and musicians produce high-quality royalty-free music. Platforms like ours or PremiumBeat offer professionally produced tracks that can rival traditionally licensed music.
Myth 3: Using Royalty-Free Music Means I Can Use it However I Want
- Truth: While royalty-free music offers more flexibility, there are still licensing terms you must adhere to. For example, some licenses may restrict usage in commercial projects or require attribution. Always read the licensing agreement to understand the do’s and don’ts.
Myth 4: Royalty-Free Music is Generic and Lacks Originality
- Truth: With the vast array of genres, moods, and styles available, royalty-free music is as diverse as traditionally licensed music. From classical compositions to modern pop hits, the royalty-free music world is rich and varied.
Myth 5: All Royalty-Free Music Sounds the Same
- Truth: This myth likely stems from the overuse of certain popular tracks in multiple projects. However, with the vast libraries available, there’s a wide variety of unique and fresh tracks waiting to be discovered.
Myth 6: If It’s Royalty-Free, It’s Copyright-Free
- Truth: Royalty-free doesn’t mean copyright-free. The composer or platform retains the copyright, but they grant users the right to use the music without paying ongoing royalties. Always ensure you have the appropriate license to use the track in your project. Scroll down to read more about this subject.
Royalty Free in Photography and Illustration
The term royalty free is often associated with images. Stock photo sites, in particular, offer these types of images. Most offer a subscription-based service that allows users to pay for an image and use it in multiple projects without having to pay additional royalties.
Usage of Royalty Free Material
Although there are no royalties charged, royalty free agreements tend to be very specific as far as usage is concerned. For instance, there may be certain stipulations, such as:
- The material can’t be used to create another commercial work that will be sold.
- The material can’t be transformed in any way. In other words, you can only use the material “as is”.
- The material can only be used in certain places.
Oftentimes, the copyright holder will supply a list of how and where the material can be used. In most cases, royalty free material can be used on websites and in multimedia presentations, but they may also allow usage on commercial material, such as business cards, packing labels, billboards, restaurant decorations, trade show displays and more.
Royalty Free vs. Copyright Free
It’s easy to assume that once you obtain the license to royalty free material that you can do whatever you please with it. This is not always the case. Even if you’re allowed to modify or change the material, you still do not own copyright of it. Let’s say, for example, you manipulate a royalty free image. The original copyright holder still retains full copyright of that image even though you’ve manipulated it.
Material is only copyright free if the copyright has expired, or the copyright holder has transferred or given up their rights to the property. And when a copyright holder decides to license their material, they do not give up their copyright when doing so.
Works that are in the public domain are also considered copyright free. These include images created by the United States government. There are also many credible websites that offer public domain images.
It’s important to remember that royalty free is not the same thing as copyright free. It’s also important to remember that just because material is in the public view, it is not necessarily in public domain. Royalty free material simply means that you pay for the initial license, and are then free from paying any additional royalties in the future.
… As explored in various resources, royalty-free music has become an essential tool for creators across different platforms. According to an article titled “16 Sites to Download Royalty Free Music for Commercial Use” by Filmora, there are numerous platforms available for sourcing such music. Additionally, our platform, DL Sounds, offers a diverse range of royalty-free tracks catering to various needs of content creators…
Pascal Tatipata
Pascal is an talented musician, composer, entrepreneur, and the visionary behind dl-sounds.com. With a unique journey that began in the IT world as a system administrator, Pascal's love for creativity and music eventually led him to carve a niche for himself in the world of composition and audio production.