Royalty Free Music Terminology

About Royalty Free Music

The term royalty free music, also known as buyout music or buy-out music, is frequently a source of confusion. Some believe that it means there is no cost associated with the music. Others believe that the music is “copyright free”, or that there is no copyright associated with the music. Each music library license will vary to a certain degree, however, as a general rule royalty free music simply means that you have purchased a “lifetime synchronization license” for a given song or group of songs. In other words, you have the right to synchronize the music with your audio and/or video productions an unlimited number of times without incurring any additional expense.

Other types of production music licenses include “Needle Drop” where the user pays a fee each time they synchronize a piece of music, and “Blanket Licensing” where the user leases a group of music or CDs, and can use the music for a specified set of uses during the term of the lease (typically a one, two, or three year commitment). Each of these licenses are a bit more like renting the music than buying. While you don’t actually own the music with a buyout library, you do own a lifetime license to synchronize the music with your productions.

The All Music Library license does away with much of the complication of typical music licensing and allows the user to pay a one time licensing fee, and then use it as much as they want. Not only is this a more affordable option, but it is more convenient as well because it eliminates much of the paperwork, calculating of fees, and check writing associated with standard music licensing.

To summarize, a Royalty Free License means that you do not continually pay a “synchronization royalty” each time you use a given piece of music. You pay only one time. It does NOT mean that a writer is forfeiting the performance royalty, or broadcast royalty, due him when his music is aired. This royalty has already been paid by the broadcaster and should be dispersed appropriately through the filling out and submission of cue sheets.

Royalty Free Production Music Library

The All Music Library is a collection of the highest quality royalty free music (or buyout music) available for use in a multitude of production areas including video production, advertising, television and radio programming, film production, on hold music, multimedia production, web design and more.

Royalty free music licensing requires a single one-time fee and grants a lifetime license to synchronize the production music with your projects. It is important to note that not all production music libraries offer royalty free music. Many music libraries charge a needle drop fee each time you use the music. Click here for more information on understanding royalty free music.

Royalty Free Music Library Downloads

All Music Library's royalty free music tracks are available individually as immediate and instant downloads. All production music tracks are available in high-resolution WAV format. Any file can be converted to MP3, OGG, MP4, or AIFF at no additional charge.