We’ll cover the following topics:

• What's the definition of royalty-free music?

• What's the difference between royalty-free and copyright-free?

• Is royalty-free music truly free?

• Is royalty-free music a genre?

• Why choose royalty-free music?

• Which types of royalty-free music to choose?

• What's the difference between royalty-free music and direct licensing?

• Where can you find royalty-free music?

What is the definition of royalty-free music?#

The definition of royalty-free music refers to music that you can use in your content without having to pay royalties to artists or rights holders each time it’s played. Instead, you pay a one-time fee or subscribe to a royalty-free music service for ongoing access.

One major advantage of royalty-free music is the freedom to use it across a diverse range of platforms and content types without worrying about copyright issues. Royalty-free doesn’t mean the music creators don’t receive royalties; rather, it means you are not responsible for paying them. These payments are managed elsewhere. This model is widely used because it's cost-effective and convenient for creators.

What is the difference between royalty-free and copyright-free?#

Although the terms "royalty-free" and "copyright-free" are often used interchangeably, they have very different meanings in the music licensing world.

Royalty-free music refers to music that is still protected by copyright, but you pay a one-time licensing fee to use it without needing to pay ongoing royalties for each use or performance. The creator or copyright holder still owns the rights.

In summary, royalty-free means you still need to purchase a license but don't have to pay ongoing fees, while copyright-free means the music is truly free to use with no legal strings attached.

Is royalty-free music truly free?#

No, royalty-free music isn’t free of charge. The term ‘free’ refers to not having to pay royalties each time you use a track in your content. If you don’t purchase royalty-free music and secure the proper rights, your content might be monetized by the rights holder, blocked, muted, or even removed.

It’s crucial to carefully read and understand the terms of each royalty-free music license to ensure you comply with all usage conditions and avoid any potential issues.

Producing royalty-free music

Is royalty-free music a genre?#

No—royalty-free music isn’t a genre, it’s a licensing model. It allows you to use music without paying ongoing royalties, and it spans all genres and styles.

From YouTube videos and podcasts to Instagram Reels and films, royalty-free music can be upbeat, chill, cinematic, ambient, corporate, or anything your project needs. Tracks may feature drums, piano, bass, or synths, making them suitable for everything from vlogs to ads to horror films.

Royalty-free music libraries are typically organized by genre and mood, so you can easily find background music or sound effects for any type of content.

Why use royalty-free music?#

In the past, licensing music for big productions like TV shows or movies meant paying royalties to rights holders every time the show aired or was sold. This process is expensive and complicated, especially when dealing with multiple countries and distribution types.

Today, many creators prefer royalty-free music because it requires just one upfront payment or a subscription for ongoing use. Royalty-free music makes it easy to add great soundtracks to projects like films, ads, social media, and YouTube videos, giving creators more freedom and flexibility.

editing royalty-free music

However, royalty-free music providers often don’t own all rights to their tracks. Public performance rights, needed to play music publicly, are usually excluded. Without these, you risk fees, takedowns, lawsuits, and retroactive royalties.

Which types of royalty-free music to choose?#

There are various types of licenses available for royalty-free music. Depending on the provider, royalty-free music may be offered under different names and licensing models. Some of these names include:

• Pre-licensed music

• Single-fee music

• Pre-paid music

• One-stop music

• All-in-one music

It can be a bit overwhelming, so let’s simplify things. Hai Music’s platform features a unique collection of royalty-free and copyright music, offering creators a diverse and distinctive catalog to explore and choose from.

Hai Music offers an industry-leading royalty-free music platform with clear and comprehensive copyright protection. All tracks are safe for commercial use, public performance, and cross-platform distribution—giving creators complete peace of mind. With a diverse catalog spanning various genres and use cases, Hai Music is the perfect solution for ads, videos, livestreams, games, podcasts, and more.

Using royalty-free music

What's the difference between royalty-free and direct licensing?#

As mentioned earlier, royalty-free music companies usually don’t own all the rights to every song in their collection. They might own some rights, but often they act as middlemen. They get permission from the actual rights holders and then let customers use the music.

performing music in the public event

Where do you get royalty-free music?#

You can find royalty-free music on many different websites and from various providers. But if you want something better than just royalty-free music, Hai Music offers a huge library of studio-quality background music that can really improve your content. Their collection works great for any kind of project, whether it's for business, creative work, or personal use.

Because Hai Music owns all the rights to the music in their library, including public performance rights, you don’t have to worry about copyright problems when you license music from them. Every track is checked by professional artists to make sure it’s high quality. Synchronization rights, mechanical rights, and public performance rights? All included. Extra fees or royalties? No need to worry. Hai Music has you covered.