The music industry continues to grow with a huge number of independent artists and their musical contributions. While there is a huge amount of musical creations being made for the listeners and clients, there is a major issue when it comes to royalties. Even with the wide availability of commercial music licensing platforms, it gets difficult to choose one, as there are various aspects to consider other than just price.
As a music artist, you need to confirm what the music license covers; is it just you, your clients, or both? Are the tracks Content ID-cleared, and what if you cancel? Would you still have the rights? It is important to consider all aspects, as there is a major problem with royalty-free works.
Problem of “Royalty-Free” Commercial Work
Even after licensing a track, it can happen that a Content ID claim comes from YouTube or other platforms, and this has happened significantly with independent music artists. YouTube has already processed more than 2.2 billion Content ID claims in 2024, and the number has significantly increased in the last two years. It can be difficult for agencies and freelance editors delivering content, as a single ID claim can make client trust fade fast.
The music community on social media platforms has already stressed that ‘royalty-free music’ is not necessarily “safe for client work”. Therefore, artists should consider the avenues of content ID handling, commercial rights scope, and pricing system before hiring any licensing company.
Foximusic
Foximusic is a highly recommended platform for freelance video editors, small businesses, and agencies that might need 3 to 235 tracks per year. The platform can offer permanent commercial rights with no subscription overhead. The pricing system is also affordable enough, as it is a one-time payment with a lifetime license without the requirements of any subscription.
The license offered covers client work, digital ads and monetized content over unlimited online platforms, providing a hassle-free experience. It comes with 100% in-house catalog ownership, which means no third-party artist can claim it or change terms. There is also an extended license that caters to the needs of VOD/streaming, radio, TV, festivals, games, and many others. One can also find multiple versions of the tracks with affordable purchasing options.
PremiumBeat
This licensing company can be reliable for brands and agencies that are willing to pay premium per-track prices while prioritizing a name supported by Shutterstock’s infrastructure. The platform is based on a per-track purchase model, and it adds brand credibility for enterprise clients. The platform is equipped with a clean interface along with diversified categorization based on genre and mood. The content ID is cleared with Shutterstock’s ecosystem with zero room for errors.
While this platform can be quite helpful, one of the drawbacks is its pricing system for commercial use, which is quite steeper than the regular platforms. Similarly, the price gets even higher for broadcasting rights. Just like its name suggests, the services are quite premium.
Musicbed
Musicbed is a highly convenient platform to license music from emerging music artists. The platform is mainly recommended for videographers, commercial videographers, wedding videographers, documentary makers, and other creative personas looking for high-production-quality music. This platform is equipped with subscription plans that one can opt for based on budget and requirements.
The platform is well revered for its attention to quality, as it follows strict submission standards. There is a large collection in its curated library that can help every video creator. Independent filmmakers can find this platform to be the most reliable partner for licensed music with affordability. They offer custom licenses that are tailored for specific uses and targeted audience-base size. There are custom quotes for broadcast rights which make it difficult to get a value upfront.
Marmoset Music
This platform has gained much attention among clients for its dynamic collection that comes with a steep price. This platform is highly recommended for agencies that handle brand campaigns for clients, small to mid-size. It is a reliable platform for those who are looking for a distinctive and curated music collection. It comes with a special employee-count tiering, other than per-track payment.
The curated collection of this platform is mainly focused on independent artists, and the licensing categories are specially designed for agency-to-client workflows. There is also a Track Club app for those who are looking for lower-cost discovery of music for personal projects. While it can be beneficial for enterprises and big-scale businesses, the pricing can be steep for solo creators and micro-businesses with a hefty investment. It is perhaps not a wise choice for bulk track needs.
Epidemic Sound
Epidemic Sound is specially built considering the needs of social media influencers. It goes without saying that creators on social media are currently going through a competitive situation with more rising creators in the niche, and they need to constantly share fresh content to stay ahead in the game. It is a large platform with a constantly updated catalog where one can find fresh new music all the time. The huge catalog of this platform includes more than 50,000 tracks that span across 34 moods and 390 subgenres. Since content creators on social media need more interactive videos, the platform offers a collection of special sound effects other than just musical compositions and tracks.
This platform manages Content ID whitelisting with greater efficiency, with zero room for error. Users can also enjoy a 30-day free trial at the beginning and then switch to paid plans. However, the ongoing monthly expense does not offer any ownership.
Bensound
Budget is one of the greatest concerns among independent creators, and Bensound understands that well. This platform is highly recommended for the budget-conscious creators who are looking for something healthy within budget. It offers smooth growth with the opportunity to upgrade to paid commercial licenses. The platform offers a free tier along with mandatory attribution, while paid licenses are available for commercial use. While the basic model is freemium, there are payment options available for per-track and subscription models.
The simple and straightforward licensing system of this platform has attracted many users, and the process is convenient and hassle-free. It offers a good entry point with the required budget for creators. The platform is easy to navigate, but the catalog is much smaller for commercial needs.
Tunetank
Tunetank stands out in the market with its easy and affordable offers that can empower everyone. This platform is suggested for creators who are looking for occasional free tracks for their personal projects but might require a paid upgrade when it comes to commercial needs. Its special structure, with a blend of free and paid commercial upgrades, makes it suitable for all kinds of needs, whether personal or commercial.
The platform offers a no-cost entry point for testing the tracks in the projects, and the catalog keeps growing with different genres. This platform is better as a supplementary source than a primary source for licensing needs. The documentation for this platform is less extensive.
YouTube Creator Music
Just like the name suggests, this platform is exclusively made for YouTube creators who want to get popular on the platform and is a native supplementary source. Since it is mainly focused on YouTube, there are single-platform restrictions to look for. One of the unique approaches offered by this platform is that it offers options for revenue-sharing for those who are unable to make upfront purchases.
This platform offers access to popular commercial tracks on YouTube Studio, and there are no cases of Content ID disputes. While the revenue-sharing option is highly helpful for independent creators, the license is limited to YouTube only, and it does not cover posts for other digital platforms. Since it does not cover multi-platforms, it cannot be truly considered a licensing platform.
Loudly
Loudly is a highly trendy platform for independent and commercial licensing needs, which is specially designed considering the needs of modern creators. The rise in popularity and effectiveness of short-form content like TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts is widely visible. This platform offers a wide collection of royalty-free music for creators who are trying to leverage short-form videos. It is equipped with a customizable catalog design in order to match modern social video pacing along with hassle-free digital rights clearance.
Soundstripe
Last but not least, there is Soundstripe in the list that specializes in catering to the needs of modern creators and video agencies needing unlimited downloads and fast commercial clearance. It has a massive catalog that is constantly updated to keep it trendy, fresh, and relevant. There are also SFX, clean stems and video assets offered for the YouTube and social channels.
Final Thoughts
You can easily find more platforms for royalty-free music besides the aforementioned top 10. However, make sure to get through a comparative analysis before you decide to work with a licensing company.
