This is a guide to sourcing and using stock music in your film projects.
Finding the perfect music to accompany your video content creation can be challenging.
I’ve used a variety of sources for acquiring high-quality stock music for content creation to use on YouTube videos.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to discover royalty-free stock music to include in the editing process and give your videos an emotional impact.
What Is Stock Music?
Stock music, sometimes referred to as royalty-free music, is a library of music specifically produced for licensed use in creative mediums and social platforms.
Specifically created for unlimited use and offering a low-budget source for content creators, stock music libraries save time on all project types.
While the quality of music can vary from one platform to another, they cover all genres of music, as well as full songs and short clips.
This guide will break down the pros and cons of the various types of stock music, and where you can find great music to use in your upcoming content creation.
What Is a Stock Music Library?
A stock music library, sometimes referred to as a production library, is an extensive catalog of music that’s available to purchase for commercial use.
Stock music libraries cover a broad range of musical genres and styles produced by various composers catering to a broad audience.
Unlike traditional music publishers and record labels, the music available in a stock music library can be licensed without the original composer’s permission.
This ranges from short music clips used in advertising to background music popular among YouTubers and other video creator requirements.
It can also cover genre music such as pop, hip-hop, and electronic music created by producers who upload their work for use as stock music.
Who Uses Stock Music?
Stock music is a viable and affordable source of soundtracks for everyone from filmmakers and producers to video game developers and social media influencers.
It’s often used by film editors to help determine the pace and style of editing before a dedicated original track is added to the edit.
Television shows and commercials also use stock music for their content since it’s an affordable alternative for lower-budget productions.
YouTube and TikTok content creators also frequently use stock music library services for their content creation requirements.
There’s no restriction on who can use stock music, so if you’re starting a videography project and don’t know a composer, it’s an option well worth considering.
How Much Does Stock Music Cost?
There are many companies online that offer access to stock music songs for use in a broad selection of media projects.
As such, the price to access royalty-free stock music can vary depending on the volume of music needed and the length and quality of the songs.
Pricing and license options can begin as low as $14 per month for limited access, rising to upwards of $65 per month for additional access.
In contrast to many royalty-free stock music companies, acquiring fully licensed tracks can cost considerably more money.
Such music is typically licensed for a specific project, with potential additional costs through extra royalty payments.
As such, most content creators opt for royalty-free stock music sources, since they pose fewer limitations and generally lower costs.
What are the Different Types of Stock Music?
There are two main types of stock music available to content creators: licensed stock music and royalty-free stock music.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages, ranging from the selection of music tracks to the costs associated with using it in a project.
Both, however, offer a viable alternative to anyone who lacks the skills to produce original music and needs a soundtrack for their videos.
For people on a tight budget, royalty-free stock music can be acquired for a few dollars per track, with many platforms offering extended access via a subscription.
Licensed music, on the other hand, involves contacting the copyright holder directly. This is the more common approach for movies and television shows.
Are There Licensing Options Other Than Stock Music?
While stock music often meets the requirements of videographers and content creators, there are alternatives worth considering.
Professional filmmakers and television producers will turn to licensing companies such as Cloud Cover Music to acquire specific tracks for their content.
These services offer music from A-list stars such as Beyoncé, curating content to check for mature lyrics and other red flags.
While this is more costly, the variety and overall quality of the production for tracks are higher than found with more affordable royalty-free platforms.
Sync-licensed music is another alternative some professionals use, with the library using content from composers invited into their catalog.
These libraries are comparable to general licensed music, with a greater degree of quality control and a higher price to match.
Where to Get Free Stock Music
With thousands of content creators and videographers in constant need of fresh music tracks for their projects, there’s no shortage of high-quality stock music websites.
To help get you started on your creative journey, here are a few websites dedicated to free stock music downloads.
Free Music Archive
Content creators working with little to no budget frequently turn to the Free Music Archive website to meet their soundtrack requirements.
It comes with an extensive selection of music that’s free to listen to, download, and share across a rich variety of musical styles.
Aimed primarily toward discovery and personal use situations, the platform features independent artists and plenty of royalty-free songs to apply to creative projects.
Freeplay Music
Credit: freeplaymusic.com
Another popular website for budget-conscious videographers and influencers is Freeplay Music, which features over 50,000 songs on the platform.
Designed for use on YouTube and other social media channels, Freeplay Music showcases its selections through genre, mood, and scene categories.
There are genre-themed and topic-themed playlists you can explore, with a complete list of top tracks to browse and preview on their home page.
Other Places to Download Stock Music (Not Free)
Free stock music sites are a great way to get hold of tracks to use in your project, but the quality can sometimes be lacking.
If you’re prepared to invest money in your project, here are some recommended stock music sites that require one-off payments or subscription fees.
Soundstripe
Boasting an extensive music library for all types of projects, Soundstripe also includes sound effects and videos in its archives.
They offer several pricing options, from $9.99 monthly for personal creators and organic social use to individual and freelancer options starting at $19.99 monthly.
Soundstripe uploads new music every week to keep its inventory fresh and offers a mobile app for subscribers to speed up the process.
Companies looking for commercial songs to use can contact their sales team to find out more about enterprise-level packages.
Universal Production Music
Universal Music is one of the big players in terms of commercial music, with artists from pop, rock, hip-hop, and many more genres signed to their label.
Their production music service is heavily populated with recognizable works from big names and comes with a higher price tag.
They offer custom music licenses for specific productions, pay-per-use music licenses, and an unlimited subscription model.
Smaller content creators may want to look for a more affordable option, but TV and movie producers can work with edit points and underscores when using content from the platform.
Adobe Stock
Adobe has come a long way since the company was founded in the early 1980s. It now includes royalty-free music in its long list of services.
The website has archives covering popular genres and mood collections to help you find the right track for a specific scene.
Sign up for the basic package and users gain access to ten standard assets per month, and there’s a 30-day free trial to test it out before you invest.
FAQs About Stock Music
What is the meaning of stock music?
Stock music, also known as library music or production music, covers music that has been specifically produced for licensing to customers.
This includes use in television, movies, radio, and other media such as online content creation by influencers and video game developers.
Is stock music the same as production music?
Production music, stock music, and royalty-free music are frequently interchangeable terms that reflect music owned by a company rather than a composer.
While the distinct terms may be confusing, the essential business model for stock music and production music is the same.
Is stock music free to use?
While some stock music is completely free to use, most will require some form of payment or license to be used commercially.
Is stock music copyright-free?
Most stock music is copyrighted, which means you still have to pay a fee to use it commercially in your video projects.
While copyright-free music exists, it’s exceptionally rare, with most available music held under license by either a company or individual.
Can I get stock music off of YouTube?
There are plenty of apps and plugins you can use with your browser to rip music from YouTube, but this can lead to problems down the line.
If you’ve ripped music from YouTube and used it in your content for the platform, copyright-infringed music will be flagged during the upload process.
Content creators using YouTube Studio can access royalty-free production music and sound effects via the platform’s Audio Library.
Is Adobe stock music any good?
Adobe’s stock music library features many tracks covering a broad selection of genres, although many users find the content to be generic.
This is typical of most stock music libraries, which commonly feature music that has been quickly produced and lacks emotional depth.
Can I use Adobe Stock music for commercial use?
Adobe’s stock music is fully compatible with all commercial use scenarios, with full licensing covering global use.
Whether you’re using the music for social media, online advertising, or corporate presentations, Adobe’s stock music is good to go.
What is the cheapest stock music site?
There are several affordable stock music websites where you can access music for your content without breaking the bank.
Websites such as AudioJungle, PremiumBeat, and Artiist.io offer access to stock music at highly competitive prices for all situations.
Can you make money selling stock music?
As with selling stock photography, selling stock music is a highly competitive pursuit but with plenty of scope for sales.
While it can take time to gain traction and earn consistent revenue, it’s easy to get started without the usual overheads of promotion associated with selling tracks.
