Royalty Free Music, Royalty Free Music Sample Downloads, and Public Domain Music

If you are looking to add music to your own video productions for educational, commercial or personal use, the following information should be of use:

PD Info: This site contains a directory of public domain songs, music and sheet music, and royalty free music recordings that can be licensed. Music can be used for your business, orgnaization or personal use. Site also features information on public domain music copyright law and other reference books.

If you are looking for 'public domain music' then see PD Info's page on public domain music. They point out that there is currently no such thing as public domain sound recordings in the United States and discuss the history of why this is so. According to their legal analysis, the earliest any sound recordings will be in the public domain in the U.S. is the year 2067. However, there are a couple of sites that claim their mp3s are in the public domain. If worried, try to contact the song owners and/or seek out legal advice.

If you are looking for music to incorporate directly into music and video projects:

1. No Cost Royalty Free Music Downloads

SoundSnap - 5 free music sample downloads a month. Paid monthly subscription if you need more.

SeaBreezeComputers has a list of sites with no charge royalty free music under creative commons attribution license.

Each site and artist has different licenses (e.g. some let you use their works in commercial productions and some do not.). Also, all use of such music requires attribution that recognizes the artist. They suggest donating to artists if you do benefit from the use of their music.

Some of the sites include Musopen.com, Incompetech, SoundClick(register for more access), Free Production Tracks, and OpSound.

Open Source Music lists songs created with open source music software whose creators have licensed their songs for public use or through creative commons attribution. Also features links to publicdomain2ten.com and music2ten.com

PublicDomain4U (according to PDInfo, use at your own risk). Features blues, folk, jazz and country, and roots American music.

Wikimedia Commons Sound Category. Tough interface to navigate. Can see lists of files by category, some sounds are lumped into general audio category. Various creative commons licenses. Files in midi (.mid) and .ogg format. Still have to check if the song itself is in the public domain before using a recording in a commercial project.

Wikipedia has a list of full length copyleft/public domain musical works spread throughout Wikipedia and on Wikimedia commons (see above site). There is even a volunteer project to catalog free music.


2. Royalty Free Music Downloads

Royalty Free Music Library - $39.99 for individual songs. The more songs you guy the lower the price per song.

PDInfo Royalty Free Music Downloads and CDs - Professional Musicians - Live Instruments - High End Studios - Superbly Mastered. Individual songs for $19, CDs for $55. Varied pricing for different products and product combinations.

Music Bakery - 14.97 and up per song, $59 for CDs, $1.98 for sound effects (can buy whole CDs)

For educators, many sites make no cost royalty free music available for use.

See RoyaltyFreeMusic.com's site for educational users.

3. Resources for creating music in a home studio:

MakeTunes.com

Audacity open source music editor.