A Guide to Royalty Free Music

Whether you’re looking for background music for your retail stores, hospitality venues, for a YouTube video, a podcast, a video game, or anything else, you’ll need to consider licensing. And that can get confusing fast.

Let’s unpack royalty free music together - what it is, what it isn’t, and how to use it safely and smartly (especially for commercial use).

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What is royalty free music?

• Royalty free music means you pay once (or via a subscription) to get a license, and after that, you don’t owe additional royalties each time you use the track.
  
  
• It doesn’t mean the music is public domain or that no one owns the copyright. Usually, the composer or rights holder retains ownership.
  
  
• The license you acquire governs how you can use it (which platforms, in what media, whether you need attribution, etc.).

So what does royalty free music mean?: pay once (or under agreed terms), license the track, then use it under the rules of that license without ongoing fees (for permitted uses).

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Why use royalty free music for commercial use?

• Predictability: instead of juggling multiple royalty streams, you often just deal with one license fee.
  
  
• Less legal risk: licensed tracks from trusted providers reduce the chance of takedown or copyright claims.
  
  
• Reuse across projects: many royalty free licenses let you apply the same track across videos, ads, or campaigns (as long as the license permits).
  
  
• Great variety: royalty free music spans genres, moods, and styles — you’re not stuck with generic loops.
  
  

We work with some amazing charity shop brands. Of course, every penny is precious for these organisations, so a lot of them have opted for royalty free as a means of saving money where they can.

But always double-check: just because it’s “royalty free” doesn’t mean all uses are allowed. That’s where the license matters.

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What royalty free music doesn’t mean

• “No cost forever” - Many tracks or libraries charge a one-time fee or subscription.
  
  
• “No copyright” - The track is still under copyright in most cases.
  
  
• “All rights included” - Some licenses exclude public performance, broadcasting, or restrict platforms.
  
  
• “Safe from all claim systems” - If you don’t properly clear, credit, or license, a Content ID or copyright system can still flag your content.
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What to look for in a royalty free music license

When you’re picking a track, scan for:

Permitted usages / media

Some licenses let you use music in video but exclude apps or commercials.

Territory / language

If you distribute globally, make sure rights are not region-locked.

Exclusivity

Most are non-exclusive (others can use the same track); exclusive licenses cost more.

Attribution requirement

Some cheaper or free tracks require crediting the artist.

Public performance / broadcast rights

If your content is shown publicly (TV, events), check it’s covered.

Duration / renewal

Some licenses last forever (perpetual), others have time limits.

Third-party samples / clearances

If a track includes a sample, ensure it’s cleared.

Don’t just trust that “royalty free” label - read the license.

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Royalty free music for commercial use

Here are where royalty free tracks shine:

• Monetised YouTube or social media content
  
  
• Ads, promos, corporate videos
  
  
• Apps, games, interactive content
  
  
• Podcasts with sponsors/monetisation
  
  
• Presentations, event videos
  
  

If a license says it allows commercial use, you can confidently use the track in profit-driven content - as long as you stick to its terms.

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Royalty free vs copyright free vs public domain

To avoid more confusion:

• Public domain: works whose copyrights have expired or were never copyrighted - free to use with no restrictions.
  
  
• Copyright free: this term is misleading - nearly all new music is copyrighted by default.
  
  
• Royalty free: still copyrighted, but you license usage and avoid ongoing royalties.
  

So:

Public domain = truly free to use
Royalty free = licensed for fewer ongoing costs
Copyright-free = misleading term, rarely applies