5 August 2026

filmmaking

Music for Film: Where to Find Licensed Tracks for Any Production

Music for Film: Where to Find Licensed Tracks for Any Production

filmmaking

You find licensed music for film at a production music library like us, not a commercial soundtrack or user-generated tracks. Our catalogue holds over 308,000 tracks and versions across every genre a film needs, from epic orchestral scores to intimate character themes, including a curated collection from Mission: Impossible composer Lorne Balfe. Every track is 100% human-made, cleared for broadcast, festival and theatrical use under one licence, and available with stems for editing.

Where Can I Find Licensed Music for Film?

You find licensed music for film at a production music library like us, which owns the rights to its catalogue outright.

That matters because licensing a commercial song for a film usually means clearing two separate rights – a synchronisation licence from the publisher and a master use licence from the record label. Because we compose, record and own our catalogue, one licence from us clears the music instead, with no separate negotiations.

We work with filmmakers across every genre and budget, from feature productions to short films and festival entries, and our catalogue spans 16 core genres and 142 sub-genres to match.

Search by mood, instrumentation or scene description to get to the right track fast, rather than browsing genre by genre.

Where Do I Find Music for Short Films?

You find music for a short film in the same catalogue as a feature – priced and licensed to fit a smaller production rather than a studio budget.

A single-track licence for a short film can be bought directly online, with no need to wait for a quote, and you can download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test a track in your edit before you commit.

Creating a free account costs nothing and comes with no seat restrictions, so a small crew can share access without extra charges.

If a short film is heading to festivals, the same licence that clears it for broadcast and paid use also covers festival screenings, so there’s no separate festival negotiation to arrange.

What Music Works Best for a Film?

The best music for a film matches its genre and budget – full orchestral scoring for a big-screen epic, sparse underscore for an intimate drama, or hybrid orchestral-electronic textures for a psychological thriller.

Our Lorne Balfe Collection, curated by the Mission: Impossible composer, brings the sound of Hollywood blockbusters to any production that needs that scale and polish.

For quieter, character-led stories, our orchestral, score and classical genre goes the other way – restrained piano and string writing that supports a scene without overpowering it.

Every track is tagged by mood and tempo, so you can search for the feeling a scene needs – tense, romantic, triumphant, unsettling – rather than a genre label.

Is Audio Network’s Film Music Cleared for Festival and Theatrical Use?

Yes – because our music is original and rights-controlled, one licence clears it for broadcast, festival and theatrical distribution, rather than requiring a separate deal for each.

That licence is fully indemnified and granted in perpetuity, so once a track is cleared for your film, it stays cleared for the life of that film, with no expiry or recurring fee.

Worldwide licensing is available depending on the licence you choose, so a film screening internationally doesn’t need separate territory clearances.

We’re proud to be the official music sponsor of the Golden Horse Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the Chinese-speaking world – a partnership that reflects how central film is to what we do.

How Does Licensing Work for a Film Production?

We offer three ways to license – per-use for a single film, per-project for multiple videos or a slate of productions, and an unlimited annual subscription for teams making films continuously.

A per-use licence clears a single production, priced per track, and can be bought online without waiting for a quote. A per-project licence covers multiple videos and tracks at a price tailored to the production. An unlimited subscription covers a full year of content for your whole team, with the option to add sound effects.

For larger or more complex productions, our licensing experts build a custom quote suited to your budget and how the music will be used.

Ways to License Film Music

We offer three main ways to license music for a film production:

LicenceCoversBest for
Per-useA single production, priced per trackA feature or short film
Per-projectMultiple videos and tracks, priced to the projectA slate or series of productions
Unlimited subscriptionA year of content for a whole team, sound effects optionalOngoing film production

Can Someone Help Me Find the Right Music for My Film?

Yes – send us a brief describing your film’s tone and story, and our licensing experts will return a curated shortlist of tracks at no extra cost.

Our team supports productions at every stage, from narrowing down a mood for a difficult scene to turning around options fast against a festival deadline.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find licensed music for film?

At a production music library like us – we own the rights to our catalogue outright, so one licence clears the music instead of negotiating separate publisher and label rights.

Where do I find music for short films?

In the same catalogue as a feature film – priced and licensed to fit a smaller production, with single-track licences available online without a quote.

What music works best for a film?

It depends on genre and budget: full orchestral scoring for a big-screen epic, sparse underscore for intimate drama, or hybrid orchestral-electronic for a thriller.

Is Audio Network’s music cleared for festival and theatrical distribution?

Yes – one licence clears it for broadcast, festival and theatrical use, granted in perpetuity, with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence chosen.

Are film tracks available as stems?

Yes – stems let editors isolate hits, risers or percussion and rebalance a track to sit precisely with a cut.

Does Audio Network use AI to make its music?

No – our catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. We use AI only for search and discovery.

Is Audio Network royalty-free?

No – we’re a premium production music library, the professional alternative to royalty-free libraries.

Do I need a separate licence if my film shows in multiple countries?

Not with the right licence – worldwide territory coverage is available depending on the licence you choose, so international screenings don’t need separate clearances.

How does licensing work for a short film on a tight budget?

A per-use licence covers a single production, priced per track, and can be bought online immediately without waiting for a quote.

Can Audio Network help me find the right music for my film?

Yes – send us a brief and our licensing experts will return a curated shortlist at no extra cost, at any stage of production.

Is Audio Network’s music indemnified?

Yes – every licence is fully indemnified, so you’re protected using the music as licensed.

Does Audio Network sponsor film festivals?

Yes – we’re the official music sponsor of the Golden Horse Film Festival, one of Asia’s most prestigious film events.

Ready to Find Music for Your Content?

At Audio Network, we create world-class music for brands and businesses, crafted by award-winning composers and performed by the finest musicians. With simple global licensing and total copyright peace of mind, we make it easy to elevate your content and support your creative vision every step of the way.

DISCOVER OUR LATEST RELEASES

DISCOVER MORE

Music for Film: Where to Find Licensed Tracks for Any Production Read More »

man filming

Music for Documentaries: Where to Find It and What Works Best

Music for Documentaries: Where to Find It and What Works Best

man filming

You find music for documentaries at a production music library like us, not commercial or user-generated tracks. Our catalogue holds over 308,000 tracks and versions, including the cinematic and orchestral music documentaries lean on most – over 99,000 tracks alone – plus dramatic, tense and epic styles for any tone. Every track is 100% human-made, cleared for broadcast and festival use under one licence, and available with stems for editing to narration and picture.

Where Do I Find Music for a Documentary?

You find music for a documentary at a production music library like us, built for exactly this kind of storytelling – rather than commercial tracks that need separate rights clearance.

We work with documentary producers across every genre, from nature and history to true crime and social-issue films, and our team is on hand to help you find the right playlist for a brief.

Because we compose, record and own the rights to our catalogue, one licence clears the music for broadcast and festival use, rather than negotiating separately with multiple publishers and rights holders.

Our search tools are built to get you there fast – search by mood, instrumentation or scene description rather than guessing at a track title.

What’s the Best Music for Documentaries?

The best documentary music matches the emotional weight of the scene without overriding it – which is why we cover everything from full orchestral scores to minimal, restrained underscore.

A sparse piano or string line can say “this is intimate”; a fuller orchestral cue can say “this moment matters.” Our catalogue spans both ends of that range, plus the hybrid orchestral-electronic textures many contemporary documentaries use.

We tag every track by mood and tempo, so you can search for the emotional arc of a scene – tense, reflective, uplifting, epic – rather than by genre name alone.

Tracks are also available with stems, so an editor can rebalance a cue to sit precisely under narration or dialogue rather than fighting for space in the mix.

Where Can I Find Background Music for a Documentary?

Background music for a documentary comes from the same catalogue as a lead theme – a production music library that covers subtle, unobtrusive beds as well as bigger cues.

Our catalogue includes minimal, ambient and textural tracks built to sit under voiceover and interview audio without competing for attention, alongside the more prominent cues used for openings and transitions.

Every track carries the same licence terms whether it’s a two-minute theme or a ten-second bed, so you’re not choosing between production value and rights clarity.

What Kind of Music Is Used in Documentaries?

Documentaries use music that ranges from full orchestral scoring to sparse, restrained underscore, chosen to match the genre and tone of the story being told.

Nature documentaries tend to use expansive orchestral writing and soundscapes that evoke geography; investigative and true-crime documentaries often call for restraint – sparse piano, low strings, electronic pulses that build tension without announcing it.

Historical documentaries often use period-appropriate or era-evoking instrumentation, while social-issue documentaries frequently lean on contemporary styles – hip hop, indie folk, electronic – to anchor a story in its moment.

Our catalogue of over 308,000 tracks and versions spans 16 core genres and 142 sub-genres, led by an orchestral, score and classical collection of over 99,000 tracks and versions – the range most documentary work draws on.

Is the Music Cleared for Broadcast and Festival Use?

Yes – our music is original and rights-controlled, so it’s licensed for broadcast, streaming and festival distribution from a single source.

Every licence is fully indemnified and granted in perpetuity, so once a track is cleared, it stays cleared for the life of the production, with no expiry, renewal or recurring fee.

Worldwide licensing is available depending on the licence you choose, so international broadcast and festival distribution doesn’t need separate territory clearances.

How Do Editors Fit Music to Narration and Picture?

Editors fit music to narration and picture using stems, alternate versions and tagged search – rebalancing a track rather than settling for a fixed mix.

Stems let you pull back the melody under a voiceover or bring up a rhythmic element to match a cut, without re-editing the whole track.

Every track is tagged by mood, genre, tempo, BPM and musical key, and searchable through AI-powered tools – keyword, prompt or scene description, and reference-track matching – so you can describe the scene you’re scoring rather than guessing at a title.

Can Someone Help Me Find the Right Tone for My Documentary?

Yes – complimentary music research is included as standard: send us a brief describing your documentary’s tone and story, and our team returns a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

Our licensing experts support you at every stage, from narrowing down a mood for a difficult scene to turning around a shortlist fast against a broadcast deadline, and they work across most global time zones.

How Does Licensing Work for a Documentary Production?

We offer three ways to license – per-use for a single film, per-project for a series or a slate of productions, and an unlimited annual subscription for teams producing documentaries continuously.

A per-use licence clears a single production, priced per track. A per-project licence covers multiple videos and tracks at a price tailored to the production – well suited to a documentary series. An unlimited subscription covers a full year of content for your whole team, with the option to add sound effects.

Terms are clear and transparent throughout, with no hidden charges once you’ve committed to a track.

Ways to License Documentary Music

We offer three main ways to license music for a documentary production:

LicenceCoversBest for
Per-useA single production, priced per trackA one-off documentary
Per-projectMultiple videos and tracks, priced to the projectA documentary series
Unlimited subscriptionA year of content for a whole team, sound effects optionalOngoing production slates
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find music for a documentary?

At a production music library like us – search by mood, instrumentation or scene, and licence the track for broadcast and festival use from a single source.

What’s the best music for documentaries?

Music that matches the emotional weight of the scene without overriding it – from full orchestral scores to minimal, restrained underscore, depending on the story.

Where can I find background music for a documentary?

In the same catalogue as a lead theme – we cover subtle, unobtrusive beds as well as bigger cues, all under the same licence terms.

What kind of music is used in documentaries?

It ranges from expansive orchestral writing for nature and historical films to sparse, tense underscore for investigative and true-crime documentaries.

Is Audio Network’s music cleared for broadcast and festival distribution?

Yes – our music is original and rights-controlled, licensed for broadcast, streaming and festival use from one source, and granted in perpetuity.

Are documentary tracks available as stems?

Yes – stems let editors rebalance a track to sit under narration or dialogue rather than fighting for space in the mix.

Does Audio Network use AI to make its music?

No – our catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. We use AI only for search and discovery.

Can I search for music by the mood or emotion of a scene?

Yes – every track is tagged by mood and tempo, so you can search for a feeling – tense, reflective, epic – rather than a genre name.

How does licensing work for a documentary series?

A per-project licence covers multiple videos and tracks at a price tailored to the production – the natural fit for a series.

Can Audio Network help me find the right tone for my documentary?

Yes – complimentary music research is included as standard: send us a brief and we’ll return a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

Is Audio Network’s music indemnified?

Yes – every licence is fully indemnified, so you’re protected using the music as licensed.

Is Audio Network royalty-free?

No – we’re a premium production music library, the professional alternative to royalty-free libraries.

Ready to Find Music for Your Content?

At Audio Network, we create world-class music for brands and businesses, crafted by award-winning composers and performed by the finest musicians. With simple global licensing and total copyright peace of mind, we make it easy to elevate your content and support your creative vision every step of the way.

 

DISCOVER OUR LATEST RELEASES

DISCOVER MORE

Music for Documentaries: Where to Find It and What Works Best Read More »

woman on mobile phone

Music for Social Media: Where to Find It and How to License It for Brands

Music for Social Media: Where to Find It and How to License It for Brands

woman on mobile phone

You find licensed music for social media at a production music library like us – not a platform’s free built-in library or a downloaded trending sound. Our catalogue holds over 308,000 human-made tracks, searchable by keyword, mood or reference track, with short edits and stems built for TikTok, Reels and Shorts. Every track is cleared for social use under one licence, so your content stays clear of copyright strikes and takedowns.

Where Do I Find Music for Social Media?

You find licensed music for social media at a production music library like us – not a platform’s free built-in library or a trending sound.

In-app “free” audio and trending sounds aren’t licensed for brand or commercial use, and platforms can remove tracks or change terms without warning – leaving your content vulnerable to a takedown.

We’re a production music library built for exactly this: our catalogue holds over 308,000 tracks and versions, cleared for social platforms under one licence.

Because we own or control the rights to what we license, you don’t need separate permissions for each platform your content runs on.

What’s the Best Music for Social Media Videos?

The best music for social media grabs attention in the first few seconds, matches your content’s pace, and is built to loop or cut cleanly.

Short-form and vertical formats reward tracks that establish energy immediately rather than building gradually – so look for a track with a strong opening beat, hook or motif rather than a slow intro.

Editing in from a track’s hook rather than its first note, and choosing tracks that loop cleanly, both help hold attention on fast-scrolling platforms like TikTok, Reels and Shorts.

Our AI-powered search lets you filter by tempo, mood and duration, so you can find tracks built for that pace rather than editing a longer track down to fit.

Can I Use Trending TikTok Sounds Instead of Licensed Music?

Trending sounds work for individual creators, but they’re rarely commercially cleared for brand use across paid media or multiple platforms – which is why we recommend licensed music instead.

Trends move quickly, sound availability can change without warning, and not every trending track is cleared for the kind of paid, multi-platform use a brand needs.

You don’t have to lose the on-trend feel, though: our reference-track search lets you find similar-sounding, fully licensed tracks by matching a track you’ve heard on TikTok, Spotify or YouTube.

That gives you a consistent, recognisable sound across your content instead of chasing a trend that might disappear next week.

How Long Can My Video Be, and Does That Affect the Music?

Short-form platforms reward brevity – often under a minute – so the right track needs to deliver its hook fast and be cut or looped to fit any length.

TikTok, Reels and Shorts content is typically well under 60 seconds, and every second of that counts for retention – so a track that takes too long to build rarely works.

Our tracks come with alternate versions, edits and cutdowns, so you can drop in at the strongest section of a track rather than starting from the first note.

Stems let you rebalance a track further still, so a single piece of music can be cut to fit a 15-second teaser, a 30-second cutdown or a longer edit.

Is Audio Network’s Music Safe and Commercially Licensed for Social Media?

Yes – our licence covers social media explicitly, including organic posts, boosted content and paid ads, across every platform.

Because our catalogue is original and rights-controlled, it can be used across social platforms without copyright-strike or takedown risk.

Every licence is fully indemnified, so you’re protected using the music as licensed, and it’s granted in perpetuity – no expiry, renewal or recurring fee.

We’re trusted by leading global brands and agencies, including Spotify, Dentsu, Nike, Google, the V&A, Amnesty International, Saatchi & Saatchi and Disney.

Should I License One Track at a Time, or Subscribe?

It depends on your volume – a per-use licence suits the occasional video, while an unlimited subscription suits teams publishing social content regularly.

A per-use licence clears a single video, priced per track – the quickest route if you’ve already found what you need. An unlimited annual subscription covers a full year of content for your whole team under one licence, with the option to add sound effects – better value if you’re publishing social content every week. For campaigns in between, a per-project licence covers multiple videos and tracks at a price tailored to the project.

Ways to License Music for Social Content

We offer three main ways to license music for social content:

LicenceCoversBest for
Per-useA single video, priced per trackOccasional posts
Per-projectMultiple videos and tracks, priced to the projectA campaign or content sprint
Unlimited subscriptionA year of content for a whole team, sound effects optionalRegular social publishing

What Kind of Music Works Best for Short-Form and Vertical Video?

Short-form and vertical video need music engineered for fast pacing – tracks with an immediate hook, a strong beat and an ending that loops cleanly.

Vertical formats like TikTok, Reels and Shorts move faster than a widescreen ad: cuts are tighter, and music needs to establish energy in the first few seconds rather than building slowly.

TikTok and Shorts tend to be sound-on environments where the track is part of the content itself; Instagram Reels is more mixed, so music needs to work whether or not sound is on.

Our catalogue spans 16 core genres and 142 sub-genres and is searchable across 80 moods, with the deepest ranges in the upbeat, energetic styles – electronic, hip hop and pop – that suit fast-paced social content.

Can My Team Find and Edit Tracks Quickly?

Yes – our AI-powered search and included music-research support are built to keep a fast-moving content team moving.

Search by keyword, mood, scene description or reference track, and filter by tempo and duration to find a track built for your format rather than editing one down to fit.

Accounts have no seat restrictions, so your whole social and marketing team can share one login and one set of projects.

If a brief is tricky or you’re short on time, complimentary music research is included as standard – send us a brief and we’ll return a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I find music for social media?

At a production music library like us, not a platform’s built-in “free” library – our licence covers social use across every platform.

What’s the best music for TikTok, Reels or Shorts?

Music that hooks fast, matches your pace, and loops or cuts cleanly – our catalogue is searchable by mood and tempo to find exactly that.

Can I use trending TikTok sounds in branded content?

Not safely for paid or multi-platform use – trending sounds are rarely cleared for that. Use our reference-track search to find a similar, fully licensed alternative instead.

Is Audio Network’s music licensed for TikTok, Instagram and YouTube Shorts?

Yes – our licence covers social media, organic, boosted and paid, across all platforms.

Is Audio Network’s music AI-generated?

No – our catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. We use AI only for search and discovery.

Does track length matter for short-form content?

Yes – most short-form videos run under a minute, so we provide alternate versions, cutdowns and stems so a track can be cut to fit any length.

Should I license per video or subscribe?

It depends on volume: per-use suits occasional videos, while an unlimited subscription suits teams publishing social content regularly.

Are stems and short edits available for social cuts?

Yes – tracks come with alternate versions, edits and cutdowns, plus stems for further rebalancing.

Can I search using a track I heard on TikTok as a reference?

Yes – our AI-powered reference-track search finds similar, fully licensed tracks from a track you describe or link to.

Is the music indemnified?

Yes – every licence is fully indemnified, so you’re protected using the music as licensed.

Can my whole social or marketing team share one account?

Yes – there are no seat restrictions, so your whole team can use one account at no extra cost.

Is Audio Network royalty-free?

No – we’re a premium production music library, the professional alternative to royalty-free libraries.

Ready to Find Music for Your Content?

At Audio Network, we create world-class music for brands and businesses, crafted by award-winning composers and performed by the finest musicians. With simple global licensing and total copyright peace of mind, we make it easy to elevate your content and support your creative vision every step of the way.

DISCOVER OUR LATEST RELEASES

DISCOVER MORE

Music for Social Media: Where to Find It and How to License It for Brands Read More »

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