Royalty Free Music
 

Where is the best place to get royalty free music? Any recommendations on specific sets? Thanks.

Sorry I dont have an answer for this, but I just thought I would make an addition since it's relevant:

Is there anywhere where I can find FREE royalty free music?
I dont really want to pay £400 for something I might end up not liking

I don't know that free royalty-free music is going to be anything worth listening to. But with regard to royalty-free music that you pay for, the video magazines have plenty of ads for those companies, and there's usually a free CD or free download of short sample clips so you can try out little bits and pieces before you commit to buying.

There are lots of talented musicians out there waiting for their big break and just wanting to be heard. Though it might take some time, if you start looking now you'll eventually find someone, I bet, that you can build a long-term music/video relationship with. As long as they're not represented, they can make any deal with you they want.

Until you get your big break, you can probably convince them to score or compose original songs for your videos either free of charge or at a low price. They know that once you do get that break, and your film is suddenly shown at festivals or elsewhere, they're also getting instant advertising of their talents through credits.

How many musicians do you know that WOULDN'T want to hear their music included in a film...and to see their name in the credits? Can be a highly symbiotic relationship.

Where do you find them? University music departments, local musician organizations...and why not try the music section of "Zoetrope.com"...there you can listen to samples and contact the musicians directly to propose something.

Actually I'm not looking for anything serious here. Just looking for some music to put in wedding videos. Otherwise I'd take the time and compose it myself or do as you suggested (which would be easier in the long run).

Even so, Joe...find local musicians who write original romantic music, and more importantly who have CDs to sell, then strike a deal with them. Tell them that if they'll let you use their music as the soundtrack, you'll attach a plug at the end of the tape to sell their CDs.

Shouldn't be hard to convince them, I would think. Think how many times you've bought a CD just because the music is related to an important event in your life. They'd have prospective sales to not only the brides and grooms, but also their families...and whoever else hears it.

Well, here a few ideas.

http://asp.digitaljuice.com/backtraxx/backtraxx.asp

http://www.royaltyfree.com/

http://www.music2hues.com/

For generic (non-dramatic) stuff I sometimes like to use SmartSounds. You can quickly generate a music track to fit your video and then fine-tune it. It's very clever and handy.

http://www.smartsound.com/

* * SONIC FOUNDRY * *
 

You could purchase Sonic Foundry's Acid and some loop libraries and mix your own schtuff.

It sounds good to me... And its royalty free, minus what you pay for for the loops.

My copper coins...

Royalty Free Video, My projects
 

I got this bug to shoot Water Based Scenes a few months ago.
Now I have about 300 water based scenes.
Water falls, Rain, Streams, Boats, Mist and on and on...
All generic shots.

Now I am shooting scenes for one I am Calling 100 Planes/Jets.
Landing /taking off and side views. ( I will get this one done as long as security does not bother me)

I want to release the Raw footage as a Royalty free clips products.
*One for the Water Based shots. $295.00
*One for the 100 Planes/Jets $295.00
Need some advice on:
Pricing ?
How to market ?
Best places to market?

Thanks in advance for any help / comments
gamedayphoto@yahoo.com

Tom
Initial thoughts on your project
Pricing is a little high for a first time project - depends on how much footage do you get for $295 ?
What is it shot ?
Can you provide on other formats - PAL/NTSC - BETA ETC
Contact large agencies that handle corporate work and low to mid advertising agency - they sometimes are interested in stock footage
Talk to these people and see what stock they require ?
Re the planes project - all airlines provide high quality 35mm hdtv quality footage - if you look at any airline commercial you will notice that all shots are similar - this is because a couple of companies uniquely specialise in this and have chase lear jets designed for this filming. The other issue is that companies will only buy footage of an airline who is there client it is hard to have generic planes - better matreial for stock is generic airport with no actual id of where you are and not focusing on any specific company that way you can sell to all markets - take the ida further and you have trains planes taxis buses etc
Hope that helps
Mal

RE: Planes and Water
 

Thanks for the reply.
All of the footage Being shot with VX2000
NTSC
I took a shot at pricing from what I have found for sale.

Water based footage: 300 scenes, The majority of scenes are 10 seconds long and can be looped.
Boat scenes tend to be longer but can not be looped.

I gave some friends Some of the waterfall scenes on dvd & We are already getting some requests for a serenity Video. (that might be Where this goes?)

As far as the Jets and Planes:
Most are private jets/planes with some Airlines.

Yes our Airport can look like it is anywhere. And I can definitely make it look like many different airports. Might have to Get a permit to get really good angles. That could be hard because of security
Are You are also suggesting filming Inside the Airport?

Tom, to get an idea as to some stock footage pricing check eBay.
Just do a search for stock footage. Now granted the big boys get far far more for their footage. Now if you get into that ballpark we may do some talking. I can always use scenic footage, but I'm on a very low/strict budget.

Re filming in airports - Yes Security is an issue but approach the airports in your region - outline what you are doing - and seek permission - you can also offer to let them review material to ensure that they are happy that no security has been affected.
Normally a person from the airport authority will be with you to smooth the way , if not make sure you have some ID which is normally the best way to appease security and passerbys
Hope that helps

Stock footage on Ebay!
 

Well I could not believe the pricing.
Too cheap to compete with.
But A great value if you are looking for stock footage.

I think I will just use my footage for SERENITY DVD video's.
Looks like I can make 3 or 4 distinctly different 2 hour Videos.

I will need to find best way to Price & market

Marketing is usually the tough part, at least in getting good distribution beyond your local area. You might consider doing both with the same footage. You would then have two very different markets. Who knows what doors either or both might open in the future.

Where can I see previews of these clips??

Hey Tom.

Like William said,
Where can I see previews of these clips?

You can e-mail me at breath@safe-mail.net

Thanks for the reply's
 

Hi

We received an order for 100 serenity videos from a church. Based on a preview from these clips.
So we are now editing for making SERENITY DVD's & video's
I really do not think I will sell the clips now as there seems to be a market via Churches.
I would hate to sell them and then find they were used for a competitive product.

Nice work Tom.

What exactly is a Serenity Video? Just some nice pictures with easy music or is there more to it?

Sounds like you got a good little score there.

serenity videos
 

Yes thats about it.
Not That great a deal but it is somthing.
Sort of like fireplace videos

Royalty music for memorial videos.
 

Hi,
I am starting to do tribute videos for people and I want to work within the law on background music. I have Apple's soundtrack, so instrumentals are not really an issue. And, I'm aware of sites like freeplay.com. Someone told me recently that they've heard of companies using music that is recent, such as a country hit, but sung by a different artist. Is anyone aware of a site that sells popular music with vocals for synching to video? Again, I have the instrumental side covered, for the most part.
Thanks,
-John

If you want to stay within the law, I don't think covers of recent country hits are an option. The copyright covers the song for more than versions performed by the original artist. People who do covers or even sample other musicians' songs normally pay royalties. Sorry I can't offer anything positive, but I can tell you to stay away from that because it would not be legal.

Thank you for the reply. So, I guess the only way to stay within the law is to use original music. The stuff that Soundtrack produces is fine. I am going to serach these forums some more about copyright info. I just don't see it as feasible to license each song, there's just not enought time to do that. Maybe there's a blanket license...I don't know.
Thanks again,
_ john

We all wish that were so. But the price of licensing music is way to high to be justified by any reasonable budget.

Find a young band you like and produce their music video for them in exchange for rights to use their music.

Steve,

That's precisely what I have done with a local band. They have enough of their own original material for me to use. Although, I am also a musician and have ways to create my own, it never hurts to get some help when under a time crunch.

-gb-

Thanks for the replies. I am going to get a friend to let me use her recordings of public domain music for a fee. Plus, I tried my first memorial video with music from Soundtrack and it works perfectly.
Thanks again,
- John

I think I can explain what they are talking about there. You see once a piece of music has been recorded, to license it requires two different types of licenses one for the song as intellectual property (publishing rights) and one for the recording itself. If the song is resung by a different artist you avoid the second set of licenses. Publishing rights can be negotiated through the publisher, or even that can be avoided alltogether if the publisher won't negotiate and you can obtain what is called a "compulsory license" meaning for a set industry price the writer HAS to license the song to you provided you pay and that the song has been recorded and released at least once. However, I am not entirely certain that this can give you syncronization rights...so obviously ask a lawyer or publisher.

Wow! Thanks, Matt.
That all makes sense, and I do need to talk to a lawyer about this.
Also, I have a meeting next week with the guy who told me about the music and I can look into the company's selection and do a little research there. I will post back with what I find next week.
Thanks again,
- john

I use http://www.freeplaymusic.com

Magnatune.com
 

Magnatune.com has a license specifically targeting weddings and low unit productions. The prices is a bit high (to me) ($150-ish) for a song or so and you will need multiple licenses if you intend to distribute through the internet. If the internet is used, then they want a cut depending on traffic (?!?!).

I have been serriously looking at shockwave-sound as well as getting to know good hobbiest musicians. Shockwave sound charges near $70 a song, but you OWN that song for any use below 10,000 unit productions, including internet.

I recently found a good pianist with a CD out and got his permission to use his tracks for FREE. I'm going to pump traffic to him to help him out as my part of the deal (once his site is up). he is basically burning CDs to pay for his college, so you gotta love that.

jason

Digital juice is running a special on their package, 33 CDs for $99. Limited time offer.

I just got the Digital Juice $99 package. It's got great variety with hundreds of songs in :30, :60, and full (usually 2:30 to 4:30) in length. It's a great buy.

Where'd you see that? I was just on the Digital Juice website but couldn't find any mention of a set of 33 CDs for $99. Got a URL handy?

i think...
 

this might be what he was talking about:

http://www.digitaljuice.com/enewslet...dlebuilder.asp

sorry to bump this up, but recently i have found an amazing company for freeplay music. make sure to check out stock20.com. $7 a song, its cheap, its real, and its good.

Archive.org has Public Domain and Creative Commons-licensed music for your productions.

Also, of you're releasing your project under a Creative Commons license, you can find great stuff at magnatune.com

If anyone is looking for music, I am a musician and I'm interested in making my music available for projects. I'll do it for ridiculously cheap, just because I like getting my stuff out there.

If you would like samples of my work, email me at speak at JLBoyce.com

Try NEO Sounds (www.neosounds.com). COOL! Recommend!

Using BMI Royalty Free Music in TV Spot?
 

So, I'm a little confused right now. I used a piece of royalty free music that I bought for a TV spot my company produced. Now, I am trying to file the cue sheet with BMI, but it seems a little absurd what I have to do. They want me to fill out the :

"BMI Commercial Jingles Data Sheet and a copy of the Sync License between the publisher and the advertising agency", and "A CD(audio), audiocassette, DVD, VHS videotape or QUICKTIME (PC version) of the commercial as broadcast." and "Performance information submitted must include the network or station call letters and the specific air dates for each performance. Redacted copies of station invoices will also be accepted. BMI encourages electronic submission of airdates on either diskette or E-mail using MICROSOFT EXCEL or other compatible software."

Do I really have to do to file a friggin cuesheet?! With ASCAP, all I had to do was file the cue sheet. Easy as pie...

How do you all file cuesheets?

Thanks,

Matthew Rogers

Haven't used them but....
 

Is the BMI cuesheet that different than the ASCAP cuesheet? I have not used that sort of royalty free music before and if it requires that detailed of reporting I may not. Why buy royalty free music if they want a copy of every single piece that it is used on?

Jason