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microgenres

THE RISE OF MICROGENRES IN MUSIC

FEATURED, MUSIC, OLD /
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    How many music genres are there in the world today? No-one truly knows – and thanks to the internet, streaming services and accessible, affordable software, there’s been a massive upsurge in micro-genres, or niche subgenres, in recent decades.

    Music is more fluid than it used to be in the heyday of jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, blues and pop. The evolution of music means that there’s now more crossover than ever – music has few geographical boundaries, as demonstrated by the global success of Latin music genres, but how do micro-genres emerge, and which are the ones you should know about?

    Then and Now: Micro-Genres Through Time

    You can date the origin of micro-genres to around the 1970s when people started coining words to describe highly specific subgenres of literature, film, art and song genres. In music, most examples cover the myriad subgenres of heavy metal and electronic music – though some were coined by record dealers and collectors as a way to pump up the value of certain, original records. Think of 70s phenomenon Northern soul, or freakbeat, garage punk and sunshine pop. Northern soul, with its roots in mod culture, was a dynamic, 360° culture of fashions, dance moves, vinyl obsession and more – not just a music style.

    In the 90s, electronic and dance music producers created specialised descriptions of their music as a way to assert their individuality – so trance branched out into progressive trance, Goa trance, deep psytrance and hard trance. House, drum and bass and techno also spawned a large number of micro-genres.

    Subgenres such as dubstep, reggaeton and hyperpop hit the mainstream. But because there were fewer ways of being exposed to and consuming music – radio and TV, largely, and then latterly MTV and YouTube – the more ‘micro’ differences between certain tracks would be filtered out. However, as Pitchfork points out, ‘now streaming services help to codify them into neverending playlists and see-what-sticks genre tags.’

    Lo-fi, melodic dream-pop Chillwave was one of the first music micro-genres to formulate online – gaining mainstream recognition in early 2010 when it was picked up by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Journalist Emilie Friedlander identified chillwave as, ‘the internet electronic micro-genre that launched a hundred internet electronic micro-genres (think: vaporwave, witch house, seapunk, shitgaze, distroid, hard vapor).’

    Pitchfork identified its appeal: ‘As America reeled from the collapse of entire sectors of the economy, young folks across the country burrowed into their bedrooms, fired up their laptops, and worked out their nostalgia with woozy new-wave synths, tape-warped samples, narcoleptic drum patterns, and hazy vocals hiding more than a smidgen of ennui beneath all that blissed-out reverb.’ It might have been relatively short-lived, but its sound ‘paved the way for everything from Tame Impala to lo-fi study beats.’

    From DIY to Digital: The Role of Social Media in Propelling Micro-Genres

    Theorist Mark Fisher wrote, as far back as 2004, that genre naming, ‘is not a neutral act of referring. Naming produces surplus value, something that wasn’t already there in the first place.’ He argued that a genre label has the potential to create an instant mythology for a sound. 90s jungle, grime, trap, UK garage – evocative names that conjure a feel for the music and where it’s come from.

    He also argued that, ‘when there’s a threshold shift in sound, there has to be a new name.’ But who is in charge of naming micro-genres now? Increasingly, it’s not critics or music journalists, but the artists themselves. In a world of SoundCloud and Spotify, how do you stand out? By claiming your own micro-genre.

    Glenn McDonald is a data analyst whose Every Noise at Once project tracks all genres of music he can identify on Spotify (as of August 2023, there are 6,275 listed). Micro-genres are driven online by like-minded people wanting to seek each other out and connect – plus, with a proliferation of platforms, forums and blogs, there’s far more discourse around music. As McDonald says, ‘we almost never make up genres, but we could. With great power comes great responsibility.’

    How do specific micro-genres take off? Largely through word of mouth, tags and online communities.

    Innovation or Fragmentation? Understanding the Impact of Micro-Genres on Music

    Micro-genres can help to point you to eras within a genre, for example 60s garage rock, 80s glam metal and Modern metal (an umbrella term that incorporates further micro-genres melodic death metal, metalcore and cyber metal), or a regional scene – Norwegian, American or French, say – and then through specific styles. It’s arguable that micro-genres are where the true music aficionados hang out – and where music tastes become most tribal.

    In terms of the industry itself, the fragmentation may mean that consumers are searching for smaller and smaller niches – but they may also be the groups that the industry depends upon most heavily. They’re the ones who go to gigs and buy the merchandise to support the artists they’re fans of – and identify themselves to other members of their ‘tribe’.

    Whilst the proliferation of micro-genres can lead to innovation, as The Fader says, ‘The internet has also sped up the process of hype and backlash, shortening our collective attention spans and forcing us to move on to the next thing with little ceremony… these specialised styles [are] like snapshots of a zeitgeist that’s being constantly redefined.’

    What Is an Example of a Micro Genre?

    Electronic music is a world that’s ever-evolving, with new micro-genres continually emerging to shape both sounds and scenes. Stutter House, also known as Tremor, Tremolo or Flutter House, is based on a production effect: a pulsating or stuttering vocal, lead or synth pad. It’s a micro-genre that’s largely been driven by producer Fred… Again, who’s worked with Stormzy, Ed Sheeran and FKA Twigs, and played a Glastonbury set this year that critics and fans alike were raving about.

    Bedroom Pop

    The clue’s in the name with bedroom pop – as one of its stars, Maia, aka mxmtoon, who recorded her indie folk-pop in her parents’ guest room says, ‘Anyone can make music, and I think that is the ideology behind bedroom pop. It’s more of an idea, of a person sitting in a small space and using whatever resources you have to make songs that you’re proud of.’

    The queen of bedroom pop? Surely Billie Eilish. Her early tracks epitomised bedroom pop: recorded at home and then uploaded to YouTube, Spotify, TikTok and SoundCloud, where she built a following. And when she and her brother Finneas accepted their first Grammy for ‘Bad Guy’, they really put the genre on the map. As Finneas said in his speech, ‘We just make music in a bedroom together. We still do that. This is for all of the kids who are making music in their bedroom today. You’re going to get one of these.’

    Check out Clairo, girl in red, Gus Dapperton, Cuco and beabadoobee for more bedroom pop – it’s a micro-genre that blends pop, indie, lo-fi and psychedelic.

    Witch House

    Witch house, sometimes referred to as drag, is an electronic music micro-genre with high-pitched keyboard effects, heavily layered basslines and trap-style drum loops. Its dark, dreamy sound also features pitched-down vocals and slowed-down tempos, dense reverb and creepy samples, a combination that Flavorwire described as, ‘generally, the feel of being trapped inside a haunted house – both exhilarating and terrifying.’

    Its roots are in ambient, dark-tinged synth-pop, trance and drone metal, together with 1980s ethereal wave bands such as the Cocteau Twins. Aesthetically, as you’d expect, there are plenty of occult and gothic-inspired themes (think The Blair Witch Project and Twin Peaks.)

    Names associated with witch house are Oneohtrix Point Never, Grouper, GFCF, Salem and Laurel Halo – the title was apparently coined by Travis Egedy, aka Pictureplane, as a joke in an interview for Pitchfork, but the term took off when it was picked up by other music journalists.

    Witch house has gone on to influence everything from Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ to Kanye West’s ‘Yeezus’ and Billie Eilish’s dark aesthetic.

    Dubstep

    Dubstep is an EDM genre that originated in South London in the early 2000s, an offshoot of UK garage that blended 2-step rhythms and sparse dub production with bass-heavy, rhythmic loops and glitchy sound effects. It also brought in elements of broken beat, grime and drum and bass.

    Kick-start your dubstep journey with ‘I Can’t Stop’ by Flux Pavilion or Skrillex’s remix of ‘Cinema’ by Benny Benassi.

    Other dubstep artists to check out include Bassnectar, Magnetic Man, Flux Pavilion, NERO and Chase & Status.

    Dubstep has, in turn, spawned its own micro-genres, including glitchstep (heavier on the glitchy sounds), chillstep, deathstep (give it a listen if you’re a heavy metal or deathcore fan) and ganjastep (ideal if you enjoy original reggae, with beat buildups and heavy beat drops.) Brostep emerged in the early 2010s and uses a blend of hip hop’s rhythm and dubstep’s bass.

    Vaporwave

    Named as a nod to vaporware – nonexistent software or hardware that’s announced, and even advertised, whilst still in its design stage – vaporwave took new-age optimism, digital synthesis, Sims-inspired computer graphics and call centre hold music and mashed them all together with retro imagery taken from 80s and 90s pop culture.

    Musically, it’s often based on samples of easy listening or lounge music – it’s been described as, ‘a nostalgic view of an imagined or actual past that never really existed.’ There’s a heavy use of synths and drum machines, plus vocoders to create a dream-like quality with slowed-down samples and pitch-shifted vocals.

    What’s the difference between synthwave and vaporwave? The former is largely inspired by 80s culture, featuring elements from movies, TV shows and video games. Vaporwave is characterised by a more ironic approach, often using samples from corporate advertising and other bits of consumer culture.

    Early pioneers were Daniel Lopatin (aka Chuck Person/Oneohtrix Point Never) – whose Eccojams Vol 1 featured chopped-up 80s tunes with loops and delay – and Far Side Virtual by James Ferraro, which showcased the genre’s love of computerised voices and chirpy elevator music. Esquire praised Floral Shoppe from Macintosh Plus for its ability to, ‘strike the delicate balance between being a parody of consumerism and actually really nice music to chill to.’

    For more vaporwave, have a listen to Blank Banshee, George Glanton, Luxury Elite and Skylar Spence.

    A World of Micro-Genres

    When it comes to music to license for your project or content, we have hundreds of thousands of original, high-quality tracks, covering a mass of micro-genres. Listen to our hand-picked playlists, or any of our new releases, including our NowNextFuture artists, who are guaranteed to be spearheading all the emerging micro-genres.

    Need Music for Your Project?

    At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

    SIGN UP

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    movie and tv

    HOW TO MAKE YOUR MOVIE & TV CONTENT STAND OUT

    FEATURED, FILM, OLD /
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      Imagine Jaws without its iconic theme – suddenly it’s much less terrifying. Or the MCU’s superheroes saving the universe unaccompanied by a soundtrack – would the action seem nearly as epic? Music has a very special place in storytelling and suggesting emotion for a viewer. It can create that edge-of-your-seat tension; a certain song can bring in a rush of romance, or make you feel suddenly sad. There are classical orchestral pieces that have been used in so many different ways that you feel an instant connection to them – and you’ll bring that connection to the scene that’s using it now. In short: music is an emotional language.

      Contents

      • Music makes the movies
      • Hook your audience – fast – the art of the trailer
      • Music to drive action and emotion
      • What is sync?
      • Why do I need a music licence?
      • Music to make standout content

      Music Makes the Movies

      Think of some iconic films and their soundtracks: Star Wars, Psycho, Tim Burton’s movies. Movies, trailers and their soundtracks have always gone together – right from the Silent Movie days, when there’d be a piano player at the front of the cinema to accompany the action and ramp up the emotion. Music acts as a subtle guide for the audience in how to feel, whether the stars on screen are battling in a galaxy far, far away, or one of the characters has a broken heart, just at the point they thought they had everything they ever longed for.

      Hook Your Audience - Fast

      Trailer tracks in particular, whether for TV or film, have to build an atmosphere – and anticipation – fast. They need to fit the genre, from action to horror, suspense to romance or excitement to intrigue.

      For a trailer, you’ll need to apply a structure, via the music, to enable you to tell the story quickly alongside the visuals. If you take a look at the best trailers, the music will feature:

      Intro//Build-up//Climax I//Climax II//Outro

      This music might be just one track, which moves through these gradual peaks, or it could be two or more tracks, ebbing and flowing to initiate the moods and high points.

      As of 2023, the teaser trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home from 2021 was the most-watched movie trailer within 24 hours of release.

      The trailer builds from a very low-key, quiet start to some huge slams to establish tension and excitement, and then brings in part of the iconic Spiderman theme right at the end to seal the deal.

      Marvel Studios are experts in cutting together smaller, more emotional moments and the big, action-filled sequences with the music to match in their trailers – Avengers: Endgame became one of the most anticipated movies of all time and its trailer notched up over 157 million views, using hybrid orchestral music for the soundtrack:

      The trailer for Jordan Peele’s horror smash, Us, takes a different route, using a heavily re-worked version of a track that appears in the film, Luniz’s ‘I Got 5 On It’. Slowed down, stripped back, full of echo and with the cello ramped up, the track that the family are happily singing along to in the opening scene becomes sinister and ramps up the tension, alongside the rapid editing and increasing threat.

      For both film and TV trailers, you need to match the music to your audience, as well as the content – as with this Netflix trailer for Heartstopper 2, which uses upbeat pop to connect to its fanbase:

      With the rise in teaser trailers, followed some weeks or months later by the longer, ‘official’ trailer, entertainment brands need to source more music in order to keep things fresh. Check out our handpicked trailer playlists to generate anticipation and elevate your content to ‘must-see’ status.

      Music to Drive Action and Emotion

      Music can affect everything from how you perceive a character (love interest, villain… or maybe both?), to a situation – upbeat or sinister, edge-of-your-seat thrilling or out-of-this-world, funny or frightening?

      Watch this witty explainer for some great illustrations on how changing up the music can alter how you feel about characters and scenes:

      Major big-screen brands like Pixar, Marvel, Mission: Impossible and James Bond have a recognizable sound when it comes to their music – and they use it expertly.

      It’s worth studying these big budget brands to see how they choose and use their music so effectively to promote their content, and to tap into both their audiences’ emotions, and their recall for the previous films and TV series to produce that ‘must watch/must have’ feeling for the new product.

      While not everyone can get Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman or John Williams on board to write a unique, orchestral soundtrack for them, we have the next best thing. Lorne Balfe, a composer who’s worked alongside Zimmer and created soundtracks for the Mission: Impossible films, has curated a collection to bring you the real sound of Hollywood. The tracks span everything from psychological thrillers to otherworldly adventures, together with the kind of epic themes that give blockbusters their big screen presence.

      What Is Sync?

      So, now you know why you need music for your TV or movie projects, let’s look at how to get it. If you don’t have the budget to commission a composer, you’ll want to search out some sync tracks. ‘Sync’ is shorthand for a music licence that’s granted to synchronise (‘sync’) music with some kind of content. That could be anything from films to TV shows, ads to video games, YouTube content to podcasts or radio dramas and movie trailers.

      Why Do I Need a Music Licence?

      The rights to a piece of music are usually owned by a record label and/or the composer or songwriter. If you don’t have a licence to use the music, then you can be fined, or your content can be taken down on platforms such as YouTube because of copyright infringement.

      When you purchase a music licence, the contract will look at how the track’s being used, how much of the track you’re using, and whether it’s used as background music, or as a title track during the credits, etc. Licensing big names or tracks can be very expensive, so if you’re working to a limited budget, you can turn to dedicated music libraries.

      Companies such as Audio Network, which own the rights to their music, take the stress out of licensing. You know that whatever track you choose from the catalogue, it’s fully licensed, and you won’t have to worry about take-downs or fines.

      Instead of having to negotiate with labels or artists, it’s ‘one click’ licensing, which makes the whole process very straightforward – no matter what content you’re creating. Audio Network have hundreds of thousands of tracks to choose from. Our hand-picked playlists make finding music to license quick and easy, whether it’s for TV programmes, advertising, digital entertainment or branded content. Plus, we have collections, from orchestral to hip hop, and regular new releases of high quality, original music in any genre, to suit every mood.

      Music to Make Standout Content

      Now you’ve seen how much impact music can bring to your TV or film content, from emotion to reinforcing brand awareness, be inspired by the best orchestral movie soundtracks, how drama and music take each other to new heights, from Titanic to Parasite, together with deep dives on hit TV soundtracks such as Wednesday and Sex Education.

      DISCOVER: MUSIC THAT RESONATES

      Need Music for Your Project?

      At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

      SIGN UP

      HOW TO MAKE YOUR MOVIE & TV CONTENT STAND OUT Read More »

      jazz soundtracks

      JAZZ SOUNDTRACKS: THE ULTIMATE ROUND UP

      FEATURED, MUSIC, OLD /
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        Jazz has a mind of its own – it ebbs and flows in any way it pleases. To add a jazz soundtrack to a film, a filmmaker must embrace the raw, unpredictable nature of the genre and allow it to reflect the labyrinthine reality of the human experience.

        To understand how jazz soundtracks enhance some of the most outstanding films in history, we’ve rounded up the 10 best jazz soundtracks. Keep reading to discover the entire list, and make sure to look out for links to our production jazz playlists.

        Top 10 Jazz Soundtracks

        1. La La Land (2016)

        To us contemporary film buffs, Damien Chazelle’s La La Land is the first flick that comes to mind when discussing jazz films. The American musical is fundamentally Chazelle’s love letter to Hollywood and, in turn, an ode to the city’s jazz foundations. Deservedly, Justin Hurwitz – the film’s composer – took home an Academy Award for Best Original Score for his efforts.

        2. Cabin in the Sky (1943)

        Filmmakers have been using jazz to immerse silver screen audiences for years, and the earliest example to make it to our roundup is 1943’s Cabin in the Sky. Based on a 1940 Broadway musical of the same name, the film – featuring an all-Black cast – sees God and Satan go head to head for the soul of a weak gambling man who goes by the name of Little Joe.

        3. St. Louis Blues (1958)

        In 1958, Paramount Pictures gathered some of the biggest stars of the 50s jazz scene – including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Cab Calloway – to create a film loosely based on the life of W.C. Handy. Naturally, the soundtrack to the film is stunning. See the clip below to watch Nat King Cole and Eartha Kitt duet in the black and white classic.

        4. Bird (1988)

        If you’re a jazz fan and have never seen Clint Eastwood’s Bird, then shame on you. Starring Forest Whitaker as the eponymous American Jazz saxophonist (Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker), the film is a bona fide classic that’s chock-full of emotion and memorable jazz moments.

        5. Joker (2019)

        In 2019, Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix presented their masterclass in origin stories. Joker – based on the world-renowned DC Comics villain – is more Martin Scorsese than MCU, and for that, we love it. Unexpectedly, Phillips incorporated some of the most well-known jazz tracks into his 1981-set super villain spectacular – most notably, Frank Sinatra’s ‘That’s Life’ and Jimmy Durante’s ‘Smile’.

        6. Monster’s Inc. (2001)

        Pixar’s animated films are as much for adults as they are for children, and one of our favourite things  about their 2001 hit Monster’s Inc. is its incorporation (see what we did there) of original jazz music. Prepare to be hit with a wave of nostalgia when you check out the clip of the smooth jazz Monster’s Inc. theme tune, taken from the Grammy and Oscar-nominated soundtrack.

        7. Soul (2020)

        In 2020, Pixar took its love affair with jazz music to the next level by creating a NYC-set film that pivots around a jazz pianist named Joe Gardner. Titled Soul, the film highlights the importance of one’s passion – in Gardner’s case, jazz – to one’s purpose in life; as you can imagine, there’s some incredible soulful jazz music to be heard.

        8. Alfie (1966)

        You might know Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, but we know him as cockney womaniser Alfie Elkins. Lewis Gilbert’s 1966 film, entitled Alfie, is a romantic comedy-drama film complete with a jazz soundtrack that features legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins.

        9. The Princess and The Frog (2009)

        In our opinion, The Princess and The Frog is top tier Disney. The 2009 animated musical takes place in the birthplace of jazz during the golden age of the genre. Aptly, the film is inspired by a jazzy soundtrack. From the word go, the film pays homage to New Orleans jazz culture. Just take a look at the title scene below.

        10. Green Book (2018)

        At the 91st Academy Awards, Peter Farrelly’s Green Book – a film that focuses on jazz pianist Don Shirley – won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The Green Book soundtrack (released by Milan Records) features Kris Bower’s jazz-centric score and songs from the era, including songs by Don Shirley, all of which transport the listener back to the 60s.

        Our Jazz Music Selection

        Want to listen to a little more jazz? From classic and contemporary jazz to the deepest, darkest funk, we’ve got it all here at Audio Network.

        Over on our discover jazz page, you can find enough jazz music to last you a lifetime. Choose from exploring our jazz selection via our selected albums, carefully curated jazz playlists or our jazz artists and composers.

        Want to use some of our jazz music in your next project? No worries! All of the tracks you find in our catalogue are ready and waiting to be used by you. Find out everything you need to know about downloading one of our tracks on our Downloading Background Music page.

        Need Music for Your Project?

        At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

        SIGN UP

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        This page was updated 21/05/2024.

        JAZZ SOUNDTRACKS: THE ULTIMATE ROUND UP Read More »

        MUSIC LICENSING

        AUDIO NETWORK’S GUIDE TO MUSIC LICENSING

        FEATURED, MUSIC, OLD /
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          When you’re looking for music to licence – whether it’s for YouTube content or a blockbuster trailer, ads or TV shows – we can guarantee you’ll have lots of questions. Is it a legal requirement to have a music licence? What does my licence cover? How do I find the best tracks – quickly? We’re here to answer all these and more, to make music licensing straightforward, and enable you to find your perfect track from our catalogue, which covers every genre and mood.

          Watch our music licensing guide to find out more about what rights you need to clear when you’re using music in films, videos, ads or TV:

          How Does Audio Network’s Licensing Work?

          We want to make things as simple as possible. So we license our music tracks per project or video. Every licence is valid forever, and your project can be used across multiple platforms.

          It covers all sync and dubbing rights, but it doesn’t cover performing rights. These are normally the hosting platform’s responsibility (e.g. YouTube). They can be easily cleared directly with performing rights societies.

          Need a licence that covers multiple projects or videos? To license music for a campaign or series, get in touch with our account managers, who’ll be happy to help you out.

          Read more about our licences to find the right one for your project.

          The Right Track: At Your Fingertips

          We’ve got loads of ways for you to find the track you’re looking for – such as hand-picked playlists that cover every genre and mood, plus our collections of everything from hip hop to classical.

          If you want a deeper dive, then click ‘Search Music’ at the top of the page to get started, then use keywords or filters to find what you’re looking for (they’ll appear as tags above your search.)

          To refine your search even further, click on ‘Advanced Filters’ to specify a track duration, tempo, BPM, key, metre, or by lyric content.

          We’ve made it easy to identify tracks with explicit lyrics – just look for the (E) symbol next to the track name. You can filter these tracks out completely in the ‘Advanced Filters’ dropdown. Plus, if you want music without vocals, you can also filter vocal and instrumental-only tracks and versions.

          Loving an artist, composer or album? When you’re listening to a track, just click on the three dots next to the listing.

          Do I Get All the Different Versions of the Track When I Buy a Licence Online?

          All our tracks have different mixes and stems, to give you the widest amount of choice, so this is an important question. Your licence means you only get the specific version that you choose to purchase. If you want to use various different versions of the track, they’ll each require a licence.

          If you’re not sure which version of a track’s going to work best for your project, then we offer download accounts to test our music. This means you (or your clients) can get a real idea of how the track will fit with your finished production. Give your account manager a shout, or contact us and we’ll sort it out.

          Cue up the Cue Sheets

          When you’re purchasing tracks through music licensing companies for TV or radio content, you’ll need to fill in a cue sheet so the broadcaster can pay royalties to the artists and composers.

          Cue sheets are an industry standard document telling everyone what music has been used in a specific TV show, film, production or video. You can download one when you’re looking at your orders online under Account > Orders.

          Paying For Your Tracks

          Our online purchasing process is designed to be as simple as possible. Once you’ve decided on the tracks you want, just click ‘add to cart’ and follow the step-by-step process to put in your project name, company and billing details.

          We’re a VAT registered company, so if you’re based in the UK, we charge you VAT at the current rate of 20%. If you’re within the EU VAT area and haven’t provided a valid VAT number (including country code), we have to charge VAT at the rate applicable in your country. However, if you think you’ve been charged VAT incorrectly, please contact the billing team.

          We also have lots of different subscription options, if you know you’re going to be licensing music regularly.

          If you’ve got a subscription, but you’ve run out of downloads, then just speak to your account manager or contact us to ask for some more.

          Once you’ve paid for your music, you can download your invoice, licence and the music from your account section.

          Right Time, Wrong Music

          With online purchases, we can’t guarantee a refund unless there’s a technical defect with a file and you let us know within 48 hours of purchase. To request a refund, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help. Refunds will be issued to the card used at the time of purchase and processed within 15 working days.

          If you’ve downloaded and paid for the wrong track, though, get in touch and we’ll check your email receipt so we can send you the correct track.

          Downloading Music

          Once you’ve bought a track, you can download it in three easy steps:

          1. Go to your account page, and click on the ‘orders’ button
          2. Click on the view arrow on the right of the order you wish to download
          3. Choose to download tracks individually by clicking on the WAV or MP3 icon, or all together by using the tick boxes on the relevant tracks and then click on ‘download selected files as zip’ at the bottom of the list. There are select all/deselect all MP3 and select all/deselect all WAV buttons at the bottom to help

          Just bear in mind, WAV files are quite large – typically 30-40mb each – so it’s not ideal to zip more than three or four of these together at a time. Most broadband connections seem to have an undefined download limit, and in our experience, attempting to download more than 200mb of data in one go will just result in a blank screen!

          Once you’ve paid for a sound file, it stays in your account permanently and you can download it as many times as you need. However, you cannot re-use/sync it onto new content. 

          Get the Best Music for Your Project

          When you want to put together tracks for a specific project, just make sure you’re logged in, and then click the ‘Add to Project’ icon when you find a track you like (we’ll give you a prompt to see if you want to add the file to a new project or an existing one.)

          If you’re a member and have access to projects, you can download music from them in two ways: One by one - by clicking the WAV or MP3 icon, or packaged as a zip file - by selecting multiple files and using the file download format action from the drop-down box at the bottom of the page.

          When you want to share your project with other members of your team, or your client, you can choose to only include yourself in the ‘participants’, or click ‘Edit Project Info’ on the project sound file listing page, then select or deselect users.

          Once you’ve created your new project, or added your file to an existing one, you’ll go through to the project file listing page; download your files either one by one (clicking on the icons), or packaged as a zip file.

          YouTube & Other Content Platforms

          As a YouTube creator, it’s important to understand music licensing for videos. Content ID allows copyright owners to identify YouTube videos that include content that belongs to them. If you use unlicensed music, then they can take down your content – and even your channel.

          YouTube monetisation is how you can earn money from advertising based on the number of views your video gets, which the platform has integrated into your YouTube account. Open your YouTube channel homescreen and select ‘Video Manager’ from the menu and you should see a submenu with the label ‘Monetization’.

          Monetisation means you need to agree to YouTube’s terms and conditions for advertising. Once you’ve agreed to these terms, you can allow ads to run alongside your videos and YouTube will share a portion of the ad revenue generated with you.

          What is Google AdSense?

          AdSense (or Google AdSense) is a Google-managed advertising service. It’s designed for website publishers who want to display targeted text, video or image advertisements on their pages and earn money when visitors view or click the ads. The video element is integrated into YouTube, which is why you may have heard about it in relation to monetisation. Google explain this in more depth.

          Ads will appear on most videos that use copyrighted music. The revenue paid is shared with our composers.

          To block third-party ads or to monetise your YouTube videos, you will need to buy a Creator+ or a Corporate licence. If you use your video to promote a business, brand, or service, buying the Corporate licence also prevents unwanted ads (such as competitor ads) showing on your videos.

          If you’re creating ads shown on YouTube, you need our Digital Advertising licence.​ And when you’re working on a project or campaign where you or your clients use media spend, give our team a shout and we’ll discuss the project and how we can help you to find the best music.

          Claim Notices on a YouTube Account

          Music licensing for YouTube can be something that many creators fall foul of. YouTube’s Content ID system automatically detects copyrighted material and serves a notice when it finds it. If you have the correct licence, you can use our YouTube monetisation code to clear this claim. Once you’ve entered your code, it can take up to 48 hours for your claim to clear.

          For more info on YouTube Content ID see our useful links section. If you have purchased a Creator (previously Home & Student) and you do not intend to monetise your videos then no further action is required.

          If you don’t want to monetise your video, simply click ‘Acknowledge’ when YouTube sends you the copyright notice. Your video will then be cleared to stay up.

          YouTube Monetisation Codes

          We want to make licensing music for YouTube and dealing with the platform as simple as possible. Our YouTube monetisation code clears YouTube copyright claims that occur when you use Audio Network music in your videos – we developed the code to speed up the process.

          You’ll find a four-word code either on your order confirmation page, or on your confirmation email, with codes related to previous purchases under Account > Orders.

          Here’s how to clear your video using the monetisation code:

          1. In Video Manager, select Copyright Notices.
          2. Underneath your video, click the link that says Includes copyrighted content
          3. Click File a Dispute and then select I have a licence or permission from the proper rights holder to use this material.
          4. After confirming you wish to dispute, place your code in the Reason for Dispute box
          5. Your video will be cleared within 48 hours

          Need some more info? These are trusted resources that you may find helpful:

          So now you know all about our licensing, it’s time to start exploring a world of high-quality, original music! Latest albums, playlists, collections, commercial releases, it’s all here. And if you’re looking for expert takes on everything from the best ads to the biggest TV series and must-see movies and their soundtracks, we’ve got you covered on The Edit. Check out our latest releases below -

          new releases

          Need Music for Your Project?

          At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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          How to Collaborate with Other Musicians

          HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER MUSICIANS

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            With an estimated 60,000 songs uploaded to Spotify every single day, it’s harder than ever for artists to get their music heard. One of the best ways to cut through that noise is to become an active member of a musical community, aligning yourself with like-minded artists through collaboration. In doing so, you’re giving yourself a head start in finding an entirely new audience.

            And the benefits of music collaboration don’t stop there. In addition to extending your reach, working with other creatives can be cost-effective, allowing you to pool resources – including studio time – as well as knowledge. Crucially, keeping your horizons open can only help widen your vision, encouraging you to reach new creative heights you might never have scaled solo.

            In this blog, we look at some of the different ways in which you can collaborate with other artists – both in person and remotely – and look closer at some of the best collaboration songs that have helped break new artists.

            HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER MUSICIANS

            Breakthrough Collaborations

            • Lil Nas X – ‘Old Town Road ft. Billy Ray Cyrus (Remix)’
            • Wizkid – ‘Essence ft. Tems’
            • Powfu – ‘Death Bed (Coffee for Your Head)’
            • Rema – ‘Calm Down ft. Selena Gomez’
            • Justin Bieber – ‘Despacito ft. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’

            Lil Nas X – ‘Old Town Road ft. Billy Ray Cyrus (Remix)’

            Peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking 19 consecutive weeks, ‘Old Town Road’ saw Georgia-raised rapper Lil Nas X redefine the parameters of viral success.

            Built from a beat bought online for $30, the song blends country music with trap, a novel combo that helped Lil Nas X play the algorithm on TikTok.

            To take things up a gear, he reached out to country music legend (and Miley’s dad) Billy Ray Cyrus to feature on the remix and – voila! – music history was made.

            Wizkid – ‘Essence ft. Tems’

            In linking up with Afrobeats legend Wizkid to co-write ‘Essence’, Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems increased her clout tenfold. The first Nigerian song in history to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, the track was subsequently nominated for a Grammy for ‘Best Global Music Performance’ and received a remix featuring Justin Bieber.

            Tems has gone on to collaborate with Drake and Future, and to write Rihanna’s recent comeback single ‘Lift Me Up’.

            Powfu – ‘Death Bed (Coffee for Your Head)’

            In a collaboration between two emerging artists, Canadian singer/rapper Powfu intepolated parts of 'Coffee' by Filipino-British singer-songwriter Beabadoobee into this alt-pop smash.

            Since going viral on TikTok, the track has amassed more than 1 billion streams on Spotify, while both artists have become household names.

            Rema – ‘Calm Down ft. Selena Gomez’

            ‘Calm Down’ by Nigerian artist Rema was already one of our standout tracks of 2022. But when Selena Gomez jumped on the remix, the track’s success was taken to another level entirely.

            At the time of writing, it’s still riding high on the BBC Radio 1 playlist.

            Justin Bieber – ‘Despacito ft. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’

            While Puerto Rican artists Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee have long been legends of the Latin music scene, this link-up with pop prince Justin Bieber helped propel ‘Despacito’ to an even wider audience.

            As well as hitting the top of the Billboard Hot 100 (and being placed at number 2 in the year-end chart), the remix was nominated for three Grammys. More importantly, it helped kickstart a wave of Spanish-language pop that continues to this day, paving the way for a host of other Latin American artists to achieve breakout success.

            Food for thought for anyone contemplating making songs with multiple artists.

            Different Ways to Collaborate

            • Co-write a song
            • Contribute a guest verse
            • Sample an artist
            • Share a tour
            • Swap gigs
            • Do a remix
            • Produce a track
            • Cover each other’s songs
            • Make music videos together
            • Collaborate on a live session
            • Do Instagram Live performances

            From co-writing and remixing to live social media broadcasts, there are lots of different ways in which you can collaborate with other musicians.

            We detail some of the key creative options below.

            HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER MUSICIANS

            Co-write a Song

            To co-write effectively it’s essential you leave your ego at the door: it’s a collaboration not a competition. Take advantage of the invaluable opportunity to receive constructive feedback. Be prepared to discard ideas that aren’t working, or to reshape them entirely for the greater good. And don’t let the fear of rejection limit you – the more uninhibited your creative process, the more likely you’ll create something memorable.

            The cornerstone of collaboration is ‘Yes, and…”, an improvisational technique in which you run with one another’s ideas, expanding on your partner’s line of thinking. Why not try it in your next co-writing session.

            Contribute a Guest Verse

            Looking to branch out beyond your current fanbase or genre? Why not write a guest verse for another artist. Not only can you take advantage of each other’s clout, very often a feature can help carry songs to heights they would never have reached solo.

            Some high profile examples include Burna Boy’s turn on Asake's 'Sungba' and Cardi B’s contribution to Kay Flock’s ‘Shake It’.

            Sample an Artist

            One great way to collaborate is to interpolate a portion of an existing song into a brand new recording. Recent hits built around sampling include Central Cee’s ‘Obsessed With You’ (featuring portions of PinkPantheress’ ‘Just For You’) and Beyoncé’s ‘Alien Superstar (sampling both 'Moonraker' by Foremost Poets and 'I'm Too Sexy' by Right Said Fred).

            As ever, it’s essential that you obtain permission both from the owner(s) of the copyright in the recording you are sampling, and from the owner(s) of the work’s publishing copyright. For more information on the legalities of sampling, head to the Musician’s Union website.

            Share a Tour

            Whether it’s a co-headline or a support slot, sharing a tour is another great way to pool fanbases and extend your reach.

            Not only that, you can split the overheads and take advantage of the opportunity to collaborate onstage every night. It’s a no-brainer.

            Swap Gigs

            Another opportunity for live collaboration is to swap gigs. For example, you might invite an artist to open for you at your hometown show, and they’ll return the favour in their hometown. As with sharing a tour, swapping gigs is a brilliant way to widen your audience.

            Do a Remix

            Remixing an existing song is another surefire way to extend your reach.

            Nowadays, the remit of a remix extends from contributing a guest verse (see Justin Bieber hopping on ‘Essence’ by Tems and Wizkid) to putting a new spin on the original production (hello to Cornershop’s 90s classic ‘Brimful Of Asha’, as remixed by Fatboy Slim). Whichever path you choose, be sure to put your unique stamp on the song.

            Produce a Track

            Producing a track for another artist gives you the opportunity to be creative while glimpsing someone else’s creative process and extending your creative network.

            Artists who double up as producers include Jeff Tweedy of Wilco – who produced Low’s 2013 album The Invisible Way – and Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff, who has produced everyone from Taylor Swift and Lorde to St. Vincent.

            Cover Each Other’s Songs

            They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but if Radio 1’s Live Lounge has proven anything, it’s that a cover version can unlock an entire new meaning.

            Whether you’re offering a like-for-like interpretation or a radical twist on the original track, covers are a great way to collaborate.

            Make Music Videos Together

            The music video remains one of the most powerful promotional tools at an artist’s disposal, and it’s the perfect arena for some artist or band collaboration.

            You could make a cameo in another artist’s video a la Phoebe Bridgers with Muna or even direct for them, as Lava La Rue did for Wet Leg’s song ‘Ur Mum’. Read our blog on how to make a music video.

            Collaborate on a Live Session

            Why not document that creative chemistry in real time? Find out everything you need to know about capturing the best possible sound in our blog, How To Record A Live Session.

            Do Instagram Live Performances

            Creating a collaborative social media broadcast provides the opportunity for artists to pool audiences while offering their fanbases unique content.

            Not only that, fans can interact with artists in real time, thereby feeling part of the performance.

            How to Collaborate Remotely

            • Set up a home studio
            • Reach out to musicians
            • Use the same software as other musicians

            If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that collaboration is not only possible at a distance, it can be a brilliant way to unlock brand new creative avenues.

            Whether swapping files over email, or undertaking co-writing sessions over Zoom, suddenly the parameters of who you can practically work with are widened exponentially: all you really need is a decent internet connection and some great ideas to connect with musicians.

            But practically, how do you go about online music collaboration? What hardware should you have at your disposal? And what music collaboration software is available to you?

            HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER MUSICIANS

            Your Home Studio-Set-up

            First up, you’ll need your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). If you’re completely new to home recording, why not try out free software like Apple’s GarageBand or Cakewalk by BandLab? If you’re ready to invest in your set-up, there are a plethora of paid options at your disposal, including Ableton Live, Apple Logic Pro, Avid ProTools, Cockos Reaper 6 and Steinberg Cubase.

            In addition, you’ll want to get your hands on some studio monitors, a MIDI keyboard, an audio interface and a decent quality microphone or two.

            Reaching Out to Musicians

            DMs are a great way to reach out to musicians you admire about potential collaborations. Of course, it goes without saying that you should always be respectful and never harass an artist – rather, build up a rapport over time with like-minded creatives. It might help to approach them with an idea so that you have something to tempt them, as well as a starting point for your collaboration.

            Using the Same Software

            You can either collaborate within the same DAW, using different DAWs or in collaborative software. In the former instance, you simply export and swap zipped folders containing the project files. If you’re using different DAWs, you export and swap your stems (AKA audio files).

            The biggest benefit of this approach is that it doesn’t matter which plugins you use as every sound is rendered to audio. Finally, there are now some great options for online music collaboration software, including Satellite Plugins 2.0 and Splice Studio.

            Sharing is Caring

            In conclusion, there are no downsides to collaboration. From building your knowledge base and skillset to splitting costs and creating a community that empowers you, working with other musicians is a win-win.

            For more tips and tricks head to our blog The Edit, which features articles on a huge range of subjects, including How To Come Up With A Stage Name and How To Make A Music Video.

            Discover and sample our playlists and collections, or browse the latest albums and our very own top 40. Each and every one of our high-quality background music tracks is licensed for use in you in your next production, whether you’re working on TV programming, films or advertising.

            Want to Get Your Hands on Our Latest Releases?

            When you need to license music for your production, we have thousands of original, high-quality tracks to discover. Including some of the greatest ever artist collaborations!

            new releases

            For example, if you're after a west coast sound with a UK twist, then we definitely encourage you to check out our latest release from Johnny Lloyd and Clif Norrell.

            Titled Reanimate, this is an uplifting and laid-back collection of guitar and vocal led indie-rock. Take a listen below.

            REANIMATE

            Need Music for Your Project?

            At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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            How Did African Artists Influence Latin Music

            HOW DID AFRICAN ARTISTS INFLUENCE LATIN AMERICAN MUSIC?

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              African and Black music has both created and influenced a huge array of music genres worldwide.

              From jazz to hip hop and country to R&B, disco to techno, some of the connections may surprise you. So, how did African artists influence Latin American music?

              African music originally spread around the globe largely because of the transportation of enslaved peoples, who took their music and instruments – mostly from Western Africa – to the ‘New World’.

              In the Americas, the earliest forms of music were probably within ceremonial contexts, such as religious worship. As with many cultures, percussion instruments such as drums and rattles were the first inventions.

              African & Latin American Music

              Many Latin American instruments, like drums, bells, rattles and flutes, are traceable to religions and ceremonies in Africa.

              The influence of African music can be most clearly seen in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti and Brazil, in the Latin American music genres of Afro-Cuban rumba, Brazilian samba, Jamaican reggae and Colombian cumbia.

              Afro-Cuban Rumba

              Afro-Cuban rumba originated in the northern regions of Cuba, mainly in urban Havana and Matanzas, during the late 19th century.

              There are three traditional forms of rumba - yambú, guaguancó and Columbia – based on African music and dance traditions. Its main African roots are Abakuá and yuka.

              Abakuá is an Afro-Cuban men’s fraternity akin to Freemasonry, the first of which was established by Africans in Havana in the 1830s. Its rhythmic dance music, combined with the Congo’s Bantu traditions, contributed to the rumba’s musical tradition.

              Yuka is another Afro-Cuban musical tradition based on drumming, singing and dancing, developed in Western Cuba by enslaved Kongolese people during colonial times. The Bantu word ‘yuka’ means ‘to beat’ and also refers to the drums used in the performances. These are traditionally made from hollowed-out avocado tree trunks; leather is nailed to one of the open ends and the player hits the skin with both hands. Alternatively, the drummer can use a small mallet to play rhythms on the drum body. The songs have a simple structure, with singing based on call and response.

              The rumba was traditionally performed by poor workers of African descent in streets and ‘solares’ (courtyards). It’s characterised by vocal improvisation, elaborate dancing and polyrhythmic drumming. Recordings began in the 1940s, and successful rumba bands include Los Papines, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas and Yoruba Andabo.

              The core instruments of a rumba ensemble are the claves – two wooden sticks struck against each other – and the conga drums.

              Other common instruments include shakers such as maracas, scraper percussion instruments (e.g. the guiro), bells and the guagua, a wooden cylinder.

              Samba

              Samba’s roots can be found in 17th century Bahia, where descendants of enslaved Africans combined their percussion techniques with Latin American folk music.

              It then developed in Rio de Janeiro, where the earliest recordings were made in the 1910s, starting with ‘Pelo Telephone’ in 1917. In the late 1960s, samba had a renaissance, led by Brazilian artists such as Nelson Cavaquinho, Guilherme de Brita and Cartola.

              Samba groups (baterias) use steady, hypnotic rhythms and repetitive chord progressions, with simple harmonies and call and response vocals.

              A large percussion ensemble is joined by guitar, bass and the cavaquinho – a four-string Portuguese instrument. Modern baterias also feature brass instruments such as trumpet and trombone and woodwinds, e.g. clarinet and flute.

              Cumbia

              Cumbia is a blend of musical traditions, including indigenous, African and European, all of which mixed together to create something new. In the early 1500s, the Spanish came to Colombia, as part of their Latin American conquest. They brought more than 100,00 captive Africans with them, some of whom eventually managed to escape and to build their own communities.

              Cumbia’s main ingredient is the drum beat that the enslaved peoples brought over from Africa, but the music evolved to include the instruments from the indigenous people of Colombia, such as the gaita, a flute, together with a European influence in the form of Spanish vocals.

              Cumbia is ever-evolving, with DJs now using the underlying beats and fusing them with electronic beats.

              Latin American Music Genres

              Latin American music influenced by African music doesn’t stop there, though – if you look at bachata, batucada, cha-cha-cha, conga, funk carioca, mambo, tango, reggaetón, rumba, son and tropicália, you’ll find the rhythm of Latin American music across the board is underpinned by African music.

              Son

              Son is a musical style that emerged in Eastern Cuba, gaining popularity in the early 20th Century. Son conjuntos – ensembles – are usually trios (three guitars, or two guitars with maracas or clave); sexteto (guitar, tres, bass, bongo, maracas and clave) or septeto, which is the same as the sextet, with an added trumpet. The percussion instruments can be primarily traced to central Africa’s Bantu region.

              Son Cubano (‘the Cuban sound’) also forms the bedrock for most forms of salsa music and Latin jazz. Top Cuban bandleaders like Arsenio Rodriguez and Beny Moré and bands like Sexteto Habanero and Septeto Nacional helped build the genre’s popularity in Havana.

              Present-day Son Cubano ensembles are known as son conjunto and incorporate a wide variety of instruments, as well as vocals.

              These include piano, tres – a Cuban variation on guitar – trumpet, double bass, claves, guiro and timbales.

              Influential Artists

              ‘First and foremost, music is political. It’s societal. It’s resistance. It’s survival. Black people and Afro-descendents from all countries in Latin America have held on to music and dance as a means for joy and liberation,’ music journalist Jennifer Mota told Refinery29 Somos. Here’s our pick of the artists and bands you should know.

              Celia Cruz

              Cuban legend Celia Cruz, aka the Queen of Salsa, proudly embraced her Afro-Latina heritage through her music.

              Beginning her career in Cuba in the 1950s, she took salsa music to the US and around the world, receiving the National Medal of Arts from Bill Clinton in 1994. One of her most famous songs is ‘La Negra Tiene Tumbao’ (‘The Black Woman has Rhythm’.)

              Chocquibtown

              Chocquibtown is a Colombian hip hop group that draws influences from hip hop, electronica, salsa, reggaetón, ska and Afro-Latin rhythms.

              Their track, ‘De Donde Vengo Yo’ won a Latin Grammy in 2011. Lyrically, they discuss Afro-Latino identity, with a common theme of attaining more inclusion for Afro-Colombians in the rest of Colombian society.

              Combo Chimbita

              Combo Chimbita refer to their sound as ‘tropical futurism’. They explore Afro-Caribbean rhythms and traditions such as sacred drumming.

              Novalima

              Peruvian band Novalima blend Afro-Peruvian music with electronica and Latin American beats and chants (many from times of slavery).

              They’ve released six studio albums and have played prestigious festivals such as Womad, and the Montreal Jazz Fest.

              Aloe Blacc

              Songwriter, musician and philanthropist Aloe Blacc’s parents hail from Panama.

              Global hits such as ‘The Man’ and ‘I Need a Dollar’ have their roots in meringue and salsa.

              La Tribu de Abrante

              The New York Times described La Tribu de Abrante as, ‘a high-energy, 12-piece fusion orchestra [that] has blended the sounds of bomba with reggaetón, reggae and hip-hop.’

              They’ve also been credited as being part of the resurgence of the traditional Afro-Puerto Rican music and dance known as bomba.

              More Latin Music

              Latin music has a huge variety of genres – read our deep-dive blog to find out their roots and rhythms and most importantly, check out our incredible Latin Series collection. These are the diverse musical stories of Latin America. From reggaeton to rumba, son to tango, discover authentic Afro-Latin music shaped by its African, European and Indigenous origins and its evolution in the Caribbean, North, South and Central American continental regions.

              If that isn't enough, our World Lifestyle series has even more Latin tracks for you to license for your content, from YouTube videos to TV shows.

              latin series

              Want more? Listen to our hand-picked Latin playlist on Spotify:

              And for more on Black music and its place in history, check out our Black History Month playlist.

              Need Music for Your Project?

              At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

              SIGN UP

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              Why Is Music So Powerful in Video Games?

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              You’ve nailed the perfect heist. You’ve stormed the villain’s lair and decimated a horde of henchmen. You’ve suffered the loss of a beloved character. When it comes to the components of a good video game, alongside fantastic graphics, involving plots and stellar characters, is there something that you’re not paying as much attention to?

              Movies can be taken up a whole level by a brilliant soundtrack, and the music for games is equally important. Why is music so powerful in video games? Read on for our deep dive on the effect of music in video games, and some of its most celebrated composers.

              Regular gamer? Bet you can hum composer Koji Kondo’s chirpy theme for Super Mario Bros, or recognise the cinematic score for Medal of Honour (composer Michael Giacchino later won an Oscar for his score for Up). Want a blockbuster feel? Look to the Halo franchise – its soundtrack is still the best-selling video game soundtrack of all time. The NFL’s Madden soundtracks have even become an annual event, with artists clamouring to be featured and often releasing tracks only available in-game.

              But what would the gaming experience be like without these iconic soundtracks? They’d definitely be a lot less engaging and fun to play.

              Early Video Games

               

              During the 8-bit era, developers brought in composers to score the games – however, they were pretty simple (as were the games themselves, to be fair.) The move to 16-bit meant that games music could be more than catchy little jingles and use better quality music, with many using full orchestral arrangements.

              Soundtracks changed forever, though, in the 64-bit era, when new tech capabilities enabled game designers to be more influenced by the movie industry. Game music emerged from the background and was used to drive forward the experience, by being integrated with each part of a game’s story and play.

              In this new era, music could turn games into unforgettable experiences – and transport gamers to somewhere else entirely, immersing them fully into the world.

              Music + Games = Global Success

               

              When it comes to games with good music, Madden NFL has been building its reputation for a long time. And the President of EA Music, Steve Schnur, told EA.com that no-one should underestimate the impact of its soundtracks: ‘Over the past decades, Madden NFL has become a platform for fans to discover new music, launching new stars and establishing trends that have changed the way players play the game and how they experience NFL football itself.’ The soundtracks are innovative and, ‘connect gaming, football and music culture for the next generation.’

              For their ground-breaking 2022 album, EA worked hand-in-hand with Interscope and their artists to create 11 custom songs from scratch, conceptualising, writing and ensuring the tracks worked on every level to fit – and elevate – the vibe of Madden NFL 22, which promises fresh experiences with every kick-off.

              Good game music has to fit in with gameplay, as well as connecting with the visuals. When the two come together, it can really contribute to a game’s overall success. Video games composer Winifred Philips, who created the soundtrack for Assassin’s Creed: Liberations, and the original God of War, revealed that the energy levels and rhythm of the gameplay are particularly important to lock into:

              ‘Gameplay is, for a composer, very much a structure that we wrap our music around. There is an inherent energy level and a visual kinetic rhythm to gameplay that as a composer I try to pay very close attention to. If I’m doing my job correctly, my music is going to kind of jigsaw well into the overall visual rhythm of gameplay, it’s going to feel like it really marries well to the energy level and promotes the players’ immersion and involvement.’

              How to Make Music for Video Games

               

              When you’re watching a film, the story is linear. Shots are edited into a set order, accompanied by pre-defined musical cues. Within a game, however, the player is, to varying degrees, much more in control of how the story plays out. So the music needs to adapt to the player’s choices within the narrative.

              Music in games, much like music in films, acts as a guide to the player. You’re not just watching out for visual cues, but also listening to the sound and music to see if there’s danger approaching. Are you in fight or flight mode? Is there time to just enjoy the world you’re in and wander around, as in Animal Crossing, guided by the sound of bees, or apples falling from trees?

              A games music composer talks to the game’s developers about what emotions they want to evoke from the player and also, where possible, they play the latest version of the game to get a feel for it. Video game composer Grant Kirkhope told Mashable that, ‘the images tell the story, but the music tells you how to feel.’

              Gareth Coker composed the soundtrack for 2020’s Ori and the Will of Wisps and stresses the importance of creating defined ‘moments’ for games players, when thinking about video game background music: ‘Having that differentiation between combat music and boss fight music and then regular gameplay music – and there being quite a wide dynamic range between all three of them – is the key to building an emotional experience. If you have everything at ten all the time, it’s just not going to register.’

              With platform games, where you may have to try, try and try again to make it through each level, the music also provides an encouraging backdrop to keep players motivated. Games music can create the subliminal messages that you’re on the right track, or that something is about to change – i.e. that you’re progressing.

              This is where it helps if a composer can play the game; a level may need far more music than you think, if it’s going to take hours to complete. The gamer doesn’t want to be hearing the same thing over and over, leading to a sense of monotony.

              The Last of Us Soundscape

               

              Argentinian composer Gustavo Santaolalla has become famous worldwide for his distinctive soundtracks for The Last of Us games. For the second game, as well as the ronroco (an Andean instrument like a mandolin) and the Fender bass and acoustic guitar he’d used to create the themes for the first part, he brought in a banjo to create a new element, tying into the game’s American setting.

              He discusses the similarities between composing for games and movies (he took home an Oscar for his original score for Brokeback Mountain) and the thinking behind his choice of instruments for The Last of Us.

              Santaolalla highlights the fact that, as a games music composer, you’re tasked with creating many hours of music – not all of which may be used.

              Plus, as Gramophone highlights, ‘compositions today are primarily interactive: composers cannot know in advance how players will react – each will have a different approach. This entails complex work with audio tracks; whether it’s menacing layers of strings that glide into the soundtrack when players put themselves in danger, or brass fanfares when they’re successful.’

              Lorne Balfe is one of the most prolific video games composers. The Grammy Award winner earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Original Music for his soundtrack for Assassin’s Creed: Revelations while Assassin’s Creed III earned him his second. Together with Beyond: Two Souls and Skylanders: Swap Force, Balfe has also made his mark with Call of Duty:Modern Warfare 2.

              Balfe, who composes for TV (His Dark Materials) and films as well (including last year’s all-conquering Top Gun: Maverick) told PCPlayerHub.com that if you want to try your hand as a composer, you don’t necessarily need to be a hardcore gamer:

              ‘A lot of people think you’ve got to be a gamer to do game music, but I have worked on a lot of games and I know a lot of the guys who make them and they don’t have free time to play them. Just like I know people who act and don’t have TVs. I don’t think it makes a difference, as long as you understand the technical points of what it has to do. I don’t think anyone wants me to write game music, they want me to write music that matches the game.’

              He also flags that games and movie music have diverged in recent years: ‘When I first started, games used to reference film. Music was a reference from films. Now, in the last year or two, I haven’t gone into a meeting with a game company where they’ve referenced a film. They want their own identity. Now it’s a role reversal.’

              Licensed Music for Video Games

               

              However, if you’re looking to create atmosphere, then you can also use licensed music, rather than getting music composed from scratch, which can be an advantage if you’re dealing with a smaller budget.

              Games such as Crazy Taxi, Gran Turismo and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater used licensed songs. As well as tapping into pop culture, licensed music has been used in innovative ways in games. The Grand Theft Auto franchise is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever game series. Its in-game radio stations let players choose the songs they wanted to listen to as they drove around, making the whole scenario feel even more ‘real world’.

              Saints Row 2 took this even further: you have the option to create your own mixtapes.

              If you need music to license for a game you’re developing, then look no further than the Audio Network catalogue. We have literally hundreds of thousands of tracks to choose from – and a ton of specially-chosen playlists for inspiration and to get you started. From blockbusters to action, whimsical comedy to otherworldly fantasy, you’ll be levelling up in no time.

              Using our original, high-quality music will make your games stand out from the crowd. Plus, we’ve got a variety of different subscriptions, depending on how much music you need. Why not have a free trial of our Essential Edit?

              Discovering Music Through Gaming

               

              Games can be an entry point for discovering all kinds of music. According to YPulse.com, two in five Gen Z-ers say video games influence the music they listen to – and with 96% of them playing video games in some capacity, that’s a huge opportunity to introduce them to music.

              With its mix of artists on the cusp of huge success and globally established names, NFL’s Madden soundtracks are almost as eagerly anticipated as the annual game release itself. FIFA also got in on the action last year, showcasing their music from video games by collaborating with Spotify to release a playlist of players’ favourite songs from their soundtracks over the past 25 years.

              Gen Z gamers spend an average of five to seven hours a week playing games and 30% of them overall say they use video games to listen to music. Fortnite and League of Legends have joined Madden NFL in collaborating with major artists for game songs and events.

              A poll by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra suggested that computer games are an important ‘access point’ for young people to experience classical music for the first time, as the orchestra’s managing director James Williams told the Telegraph:

              ‘It is encouraging to hear that there are platforms and opportunities for young people to engage with orchestral music, albeit in different mediums. It is about sparking their interest. What we are finding is once we have lit that fire there is a real desire to carry that journey on and explore. If [computer games] are the trigger and the catalyst that can only be a really positive thing.’

              Children aged six to 16 were asked about how they experience classical music; around one in six said they listened to it, ‘when it’s part of a computer game I’m playing.’

              Winifred Phillips thinks that games music is, ‘essentially a form of contemporary classical music, but it has a connection with a more immediate contemporary culture, so that it’s more identifiable, accessible to a more mainstream audience.’ Her music for Assassin’s Creed, for example, has a definite baroque feel to it.

              West Australian Symphony Orchestra ex-principal conductor Paul Daniel believes that the best video game scores, ‘reference great symphonic composers like Wagner, Mahler, Shostakovich, Holst and John Williams’.

              Similarly, many of the most celebrated Japanese video games composers have revealed that they’ve been influenced by classical composers in the same way. Pokemon‘s Junichi Masuda, who cites Stravinsky and Shostakovich as inspirations, to, ‘the Beethoven of video game music’, Nobuo Uematsu, who based the lyrics for the intro to ‘One-Winged Angel’ from Final Fantasy VII on the medieval poetry Carl Orff used for Carmina Burana.

              Awards for Video Game Music

               

              In 2012 Journey became the first ever video game to be nominated for a Grammy for its score, proving that game music is now celebrated for its quality and popularity outside of the games industry. The Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Videogames and Other Interactive Media was first presented at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in 2023. This award was introduced to recognise the impact of music specifically written for video games (it’s a sister category to the Grammy for Best Score soundtrack for Visual Media, which covered film, TV and video games).

              The winner of this inaugural Grammy was Stephanie Economou’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok.

              At the 2022 Game Awards, Bear McCreary won Best Score and Music for God of War Ragnarok. Clearly there was something about Norse mythology that caught the judges’ ear this year.

              McCreary’s work for the God of War saga brings in an Icelandic choir, Nordic instruments like the nyckelharpa and hurdy gurdy, together with plenty of orchestral bass to create an epic feel that’s also tied to its Norse roots.

              The 2022 BAFTA Games Award for best music was taken home by the night’s big winner, Playstation 5’s Returnal. The soundtrack was written by British composer Bobby Krlic, aka The Haxan Cloak. Krlic has worked with Björk, Father John Misty and Goldfrapp, and composed the soundtracks for horror film Midsommar and TV series Snowpiercer.

              On the Playstation blog, Krlic explained his approach to Returnal’s soundtrack:

              ‘[The game] is really about one person’s determination to get to the bottom of this mystery that’s surrounding her. There are so many different things to speak to: there’s determination. There’s sadness, confusion. An ever-lingering threat and horror that never really subsides through the game. It’s figuring out how to then have all these things complement each other and theoretically have them be a bit like a liquid jigsaw; everything tessellating together but also keep moving along.

              Building things, custom synths, using a theme, then breaking that theme down to its DNA and reassembling it… there’s so many musical elements to this that I’ve just found really stimulating. I think it made something that – for me – sounds really fresh to my ears, in terms of my catalogue.’

              Live Music

               

              As well as games music being showcased by awards ceremonies, its importance as an art form is demonstrated by the fact that live performances, staged in concert halls around the world, have become hugely popular over the last couple of decades. Video Games Live is an immersive event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time. Top orchestras and choirs perform along with exclusive video footage and music arrangements, live action and unique interactive segments.

              Japanese conductor and composer Koichi Sugiyama kick-started the trend with his first Family Classic Concert in Tokyo in 1987. He wanted to bring families to classical music, so took the unusual approach of combining music from Camille Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals with his own work – the music from the Dragon Quest video games series.

              In Europe, a 2003 performance at the Leipzig Gewandhaus launched a series of world tours with renowned orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

              Plus, artists are seeing the value of connecting with games audiences, creating even more of a crossover. In 2019, electronic musician Marshmello played his set to 10 million people in the multiplayer battle royale game Fortnite, and Lil Nas X has performed live in Roblox.

              Level Up

               

              Find out more about the wonderful world of games music with our deep dive articles on iconic Japanese composers, NFL’s Madden soundtracks and different types of animation.

              Or check out our music for games for inspiration:

              Plus, listen to acclaimed Call of Duty-composer Lorne Balfe’s new tracks for Audio Network.

              The Lorne Balfe Collection of hybrid orchestral music brings you the real sound of Hollywood, produced and curated for production music use. Whether you need a track for an epic trailer, a huge action set piece, music to create a world of fantasy or adventure, this is the collection that consistently delivers, creating an impact as well as setting the scene.

              Need Music for Your Project?

               

              At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

              SIGN UP

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              How to Record High Quality Audio on Set

              HOW TO RECORD HIGH QUALITY AUDIO ON SET

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                When it comes to recording high quality audio, for music, video or podcasts, what are the tips that will help you to minimise things like hum, buzz and hiss, and maximise your sound?

                Read on for our top tips on equipment, location, editing, testing and more.

                Equipment

                If you’re aiming for a really clean sound, then investing in the right microphone is your key starting point. But how to choose which one is the best for you?

                It’ll depend on whether you’re recording vocals or instruments. One way to decide is to book a session at a professional recording studio and try out a variety of microphones. Then listen back to your recordings and get some feedback. (Make sure to note down which mics you used on which track!)

                Check out mics from brands such as Rode, Shure, Sennheiser, Blue and Audio Technica. Plug in an external microphone into your camera’s microphone jack if you’re recording video as well, or record your audio completely separately.

                NPR Music’s video shows you how to mic up speakers and amps in the same way as they do for their ‘Tiny Desk’ performances, which have featured everyone from London’s Ezra Collective to cast and musicians from The Lion King and Santigold:

                 

                Get the microphone – or your speaker/amp – as close as you can to you, to minimise crowd noise if you’re playing at a live gig. And unless you’re aiming to record ambient sound, the closer your mic is to the source of the sound you’re recording, the lower the sensitivity setting can be on your microphone. Which means that any sounds you’re not trying to record will sound fainter.

                Audio for Video Content

                What kind of mic is best for YouTube or podcasts? Javier Mercedes has you covered, across a variety of budgets:

                 

                Ideally, mics should be at a distance of around 6-14 inches from your subject. If you can’t get that close because you’re using an overhead mic and it’ll appear in the shot, then just get as near to it as possible. This will then avoid picking up ambient noise or any reverb that’s bouncing around your space.

                Different Microphone Types

                To record sound on a set, depending on what you’re shooting, these are the microphone options: handheld, mounted, suspended, boundary, lavalier (or lav) and wireless. Most handheld mics can also be mounted to stands, booms or camera attachments.

                Videomaker.com advises that ‘stage productions use a blend of suspended overheads, dynamic boundary mics along the front of the stage and flesh-coloured wireless headsets.’

                Lavaliers are the small, clip or tape-on mics that you often see newsreaders wearing – you attach them to clothes. They have the advantage of being discreet and portable, and they’re easy to conceal under clothes if you don’t want to see them on-screen.

                If you’re shooting music videos, where people are moving around a lot, you’ll need a boom operator to track your subject(s) to keep the mic as close as possible.

                Where possible, always have at least two mics, so that you have a back-up recording if anything goes wrong!

                Location

                Not everyone gets to record in spaces that are specifically designed for it. Which was something that a lot of broadcasters and podcasters realised when they had to broadcast from home during the pandemic lockdowns.

                To make audio sound better, you need to be really attuned to the acoustics and subtle sounds in the background – whether these are in the room, or coming from outside.

                To check if you’re in a room with a lot of echo, or reverb, you can do a quick clap test – see how much sound bounces back from things like hardwood floors, bare walls and ceilings.

                How do you record clear and crisp audio? Here are some options:

                • Try to eliminate or minimise those hard surfaces – the sound will bounce off them
                • Books can be a good option for covering hard surfaces – making a study a good place to record, if you have one
                • With hard floors, try to cover them with a rug or carpet
                • Add curtains or blankets to the walls. Or put up acoustic materials like sound dampening panels or acoustic foam
                • Put up lights stands, with blankets over them
                • Furniture also works, if you have room – a big couch will block echo
                • Are there things in the room that are generating noise? Look out for computer fans, heating, air con or fluorescent lights.
                • What about outside noise? Think about how to screen out traffic if you’re near a road

                For outside noise, try to choose the best location for recording. Think about somewhere that’s out of the wind (it can sound surprisingly loud!), away from traffic or noise such as building work and other street sounds. You can even record later at night, when most people are at home, have stopped working, or are sleeping, if you’re recording in a flat or building where there are lots of other people around.

                If you’re recording audio indoors, then if you don’t need a huge amount of space, using a small room – even a closet – is often easier than trying acoustically treat a bigger room.

                For podcasts, tutorials or video content you’re recording at home, or in an office, try noise-cancelling tool Krisp, which removes background voices, noises and echo.

                How to Improve the Audio Quality of a Recording

                So, you’ve tried as hard as possible to follow all the advice above, but your audio still has a few problems. Or, you had to record something on the fly, without being able to go through all your usual noise-reduction hacks. What are the best ways to remove background noise from your recording?

                Repairing damaged audio files is called audio restoration. Engineers most often recommend audio repair plugin bundles, such as iZotope’s RX 7 bundle. BlackGhostAudio.com recommends RX 7 Elements, which will remove clicks, clips, hum and noise: ‘Most music producers dealing with controlled environment recordings will be happy with RX 7 Standard, while post-production engineers dealing with problematic field recordings will want to take a look at RX 7 Advanced.’

                They also recommend Waves’ Restoration bundle and Accsuonus’ ERA Bundle PRO. Clicks and other digital impulse noise can be fixed using a de-click plugin. Vinyl crackle or dry-mouthed dialogue on podcasts can be tackled with iZotope’s De-crackle, or Waves’ X-Crackle.

                If you’re dealing with the kind of ambient noise from recording in a flat or house, then de-noise plugins are your friend. Ideally, you want to capture a ‘noise profile’ by analysing a section of your audio recording in which there’s only noise, and nothing else. The plugin will then use the profile to remove that noise from beneath vocals or instruments. iZotope’s RX 7 Voice De-noise and Waves’ Z-Noise will both do the trick.

                Other recommended software includes Camtasia, which has a built-in noise removal feature, or use Audiate, which also makes audio editing easy.

                If you’re recording podcasts, then you need to get close to the mic. However, this can result in ‘plosives’, the air from consonant sounds. Grab yourself a pop filter – the screen that goes around or in front of the microphone – and you’ll have instantly improved your audio quality. (Some mics have a built-in pop filter.)

                Editing

                Videomaker.com advises that, ‘editing means lining up your tracks, creating your timeline, stripping away silence, removing unwanted sounds and checking for correctness.’ Quality editing and production will massively improve your audio quality. If you’re creating podcasts, then hire a producer if you have the budget. Alternatively, check out Auphonic, a useful piece of software which helps you to level your audio and remove background hiss and noise.

                Audacity is a free, cross-platform audio software for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux that’s a multi-track audio editor and recorder. Check out this beginner’s tutorial to get started:

                Using a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) and editing tools in post-production will help your audio sound the best it can. You can use these tools to fix common problems such as changing audio levels through a recording, from very loud to very quiet. If you’re using Premiere Pro, then try the EQ (parametric equalizer) and compression tools.

                Simply put, compression closes the gap between the loud and quiet parts of an audio track by making the loud parts quieter, and the quiet parts louder, evening out the audio track so that it’s playing at a consistent volume. The Premiere Pro tool you’re looking for is ‘Dynamics’.

                A top tip when you’re editing and mixing is to listen to the audio through different headphones and speakers. Studio monitors will have a lot more ‘low end’ than cheap laptop or phone speakers.

                Expert Guides

                So there you have it – how to record high quality audio in a few easy steps. Want more expert advice? Check out our articles on how to make a great YouTube video and tips on making music videos, or the ultimate guide to starting as a podcaster.

                Want to Get Your Hands on Our Latest Releases?

                When you need to license music for your production, we have thousands of original, high-quality tracks to discover.

                For example, if you’re after a west coast sound with a UK twist, then we definitely encourage you to check out our latest release from Johnny Lloyd and Clif Norrell.

                Titled Reanimate, this is an uplifting and laid-back collection of guitar and vocal led indie-rock. Take a listen below.

                Need Music for Your Project?

                At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

                SIGN UP

                This page was updated 28/05/2024.

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                How to Record a Live Session

                HOW TO RECORD A LIVE SESSION: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

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                  Live music is big business and it’s one of the key ways that fans discover up and coming singers and bands. But if you’re not equipped with an Ed Sheeran-level touring budget to hit the stadiums, then recording a live session can be a great way to show people what you’re made of.

                  Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to record a live session, covering all things audio and visual – as well as some of the challenges you might come acrossif you’re new to videoing your music. We’ll be covering:

                  • Why record live sessions?
                  • Videoing a band
                  • Location
                  • Prepping the space
                  • Lighting
                  • Video quality
                  • How to record live music
                  • Mics, mixers and digital recorders
                  • What are the challenges?
                  • Editing (mixing and mastering, video editing)
                  • How to promote your video

                  Why Record Live Sessions?

                  If you’re an artist or a band, then even something as simple as recording one of your practice sessions has plenty of benefits. It gives you instant feedback on your performance and where you can improve. If someone improvises a brilliant solo or riff, or just comes up with an idea you can expand on later, then you’ve captured it. Plus, it’s all potential content to connect with fans and get their feedback through social media.

                  You can film a live studio recording as a demo or use it to try out a different direction for a particular track – with moody, stripped-back lighting for something that’s usually more high-impact, for example, or to try out an acoustic set if that’s not your usual vibe.

                  Videoing a Band

                  For a filmmaker, shooting a band playing live can give you a great insight into learning how they play and flow together, and how to capture the band’s dynamics.

                  If you’re starting out as a filmmaker, or a video creator, then it’s great to practise with these kinds of sessions. You don’t need a huge budget, with a mass of sets, effects or costumes dictated by an ambitious concept. You can film with something as simple as an iPhone, or experiment with a three-camera set up, making it easier to vary your shots.

                  Location

                  Recording spaces can range from your living room to a practice hall or studio, or a set at a venue.

                  If you’re in a studio or quite a ‘blank’ space, though, you may have to work out some ways to give your location a bit of personality or atmosphere and mood, through lighting and camera placements.

                  Prepping the Space

                  Ideally, go into the space where you’ll be shooting to do some planning with your cameras and pre-lighting, the day before the shoot. If you can get stand-ins, then all the better! This means you can experiment, for example with top-down lighting to spotlight a singer.

                  If you don’t own a huge variety of lights, remember, you can always hire a few key ones.

                  Discuss with the band beforehand what kind of feel they want from the video and how it matches their track. Work out which of the band’s members you’re primarily focusing on, and what part the others are playing. How much attention do you need to give each one? This will help you to nail down the lighting and a shot list, which will make editing the final video easier.

                  This video has great tips on lighting live music set-ups if you’re on a budget, including utilising natural light, if you have it.

                  Video Quality

                  To give yourself plenty of choice when you’re editing the video, get a variety of shots. If time permits, then aim to get a variety of single, long takes of each band member, even if they’re not playing or singing throughout the whole take; this will give you more options when it comes to the edit. Start by shooting your priority band member, to make sure you have all your key shots covered, from wides to close ups, and then work down the list.

                  Harv Video has tips on using three cameras to film a band in a studio, which is a fairly standard filming set up, and enables you to capture specialist shots like drum fills or guitar solos easily:

                  He also covers colour and contrast grading and shot-matching during the editing process. If you have a multi-camera setup, compare your white balance, ISO, shutter speed, picture profile, etc. Try to get a uniform-looking footage with all the cameras, as this will make the post-production procedure much easier.

                  Low-To-No-Budget?

                  No budget for professional cameras? You can film on an iPhone – you’ll get the best result if you can set up multiple ones – and mount some of them on tripods for static shots.

                  If you’re filming a gig at a venue, then check out these five essential tips – complete with a full list of recommended cameras, lenses, etc:

                  How to Record Live Music

                  What Will You Need?

                  First up, make sure you’ve got all the right equipment. From instruments and amps to a laptop with DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software – for example GarageBand – you’ll also need an interface that can take multiple XLR inputs. Plus enough XLR cables. Make life easier by labelling them with each source, so the signal paths don’t get confused. And, of course, don’t forget the mics.

                  Mics

                  When it comes to recording live music, a must-have is dynamic mics for the amps, plus condenser and dynamic mics for the drums.

                  Musician’s Friend has a great how-to on how to mike up a standard 4-piece band, comprising vocals, guitars, bass and drums:

                  You can also ask in a music shop to see what mics they recommend.

                  Using multiple mics to record the instruments means you’ll have to navigate ‘spill’ or ‘bleed’ between them. This is when one mic’s instrument is picking up the sound of another’s – particularly from drums. A hack to minimise bleed is to position your band members in a semi-circle, so they’re spaced out, but close enough to communicate. For vocals, you might want to record them in a separate session, or a stand-alone take.

                  Mic everything as closely as possible – and MacProVideo.com advises utilising direct outs/direct boxes whenever possible. ‘The more direct and isolated you can capture a sound, the more you can manipulate that sound in the mix.’

                  Audio Interface

                  This is a conduit that allows you to capture the direct signal from your soundboard into your recording device. This then connects to your computer, or even an iPad.

                  Mixers & Multi-Track Recorders

                  Bands need a mixer, so why not have one that’s also a recorder? Look at TouchMix or Tascam for a variety of models.

                  Portable Digital Recorders

                  Alternatively, if you’re on a budget, you can record your instruments on a portable digital recorder, such as the Zoom or Tascam, into which you can plug mic inputs.

                  You can then import your tracks into the DAW in order to mix them. Plus, you can use a recorder such as the Zoom if you’re recording audio at a live gig with a crowd. This enables you to mix the live music and bring in some crowd noise, for atmosphere, without the latter drowning out the former.

                  Mix Engineers

                  If you’re working with live audio, then it’s great if you can get a mix engineer – also known as audio engineers – on board as part of your crew. Again, if you can get access to your location ahead of time, then the mix engineer can check out how the sound carries within the space.

                  What Are the Challenges of Recording a Live Session?

                  There can be all sorts of issues that come up when you’re recording and filming live sessions. Here are some things to watch out for (sometimes literally!)

                  If you’re filming in a studio, or a small space, then there may be a lot of equipment and cables around. You need to plan your shots and your movements if you’re using a hand-held camera, to ensure that you don’t trip over, bang into or knock anything over. Some of this equipment can be worth thousands of pounds!

                  If you’re doing multiple takes, because you only have one camera, then you can get your sound engineer to record the audio during the shooting from one angle. The group or band can then play over their recording for the other angles. Ideally, you always want to film the whole session live, to stay truer to the process of a live recording. But when this isn’t possible, this is one way to maximise angle changes, when you only have one camera.

                  If you’re filming a live gig in a venue, then there may be someone there to help you to operate the lights, who can play around with gels, colours, etc. to bring more atmosphere and add depth and interest, even on a small stage.

                  Jacques Gaines has useful advice on the challenges of shooting at live music events, including using cameras with automatic focusing, so that you can ‘set and forget’

                  He also advises negotiating your access with the venue beforehand and asking plenty of questions. Can you go backstage? Are you able to shoot from behind the drummer? What about where the sound and monitor operators are? How close to the front of the stage can you get?

                  Editing

                  If you’re using software such as Final Cut Pro, then a good tip is to label your files with unique names when you’re filming. If you didn’t do this at the time, then put them in clearly labeled folders that are easy to organise when you import them.

                  Then edit the audio files, mixing and editing them to get it sounding great. One of our most successful composers, Terry Devine-King, has great advice on mixing and mastering. Import the audio and then you’re ready to bring the two elements together!

                  Read our guide to the best editing software, followed by a cheat’s guide to basic editing cuts, and then our deep dive on how to edit music to picture if you want more in-depth advice!

                  How to Promote Your Video

                  So you’ve recorded, mastered and edited your audio and your video. Now, how do you go about promoting it?

                  Well, YouTube is still the go-to channel, with more than two billion users worldwide, and millions of videos. You can use YouTube ads to increase your visibility – you just need a Google Adwords account. Then choose the format of the ad and its location (in a video, via search, etc.) Create a target audience and set a budget that will be linked to the cost per click, or the cost per view.

                  Build a community around your band by offering additional content on your YouTube channel, from behind-the-scenes clips from your live sessions and more, to vlogs on your musical influences.

                  When it comes to YouTube searches, the title of your video is crucial and don’t forget to write a description and add relevant, accurate tags.

                  Already got a fanbase? Post up some teaser clips and let them know when your video is dropping. Plus, share your video on your personal pages, your artist page and on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and more, depending on your audience. Make sure you optimise the video for each platform individually, as some of them have different preferred video formats.

                  Check out what magazines and blogs like to post about new music and reach out to see if they’d like to post yours. Ditto for music influencers. You can also target communities that love your genre – but make sure to participate in these forums and become a part of the community before you promote your video.

                  Beyond the Studio

                  If you’ve been inspired and want to expand your skills, we’ve got tons of expert articles on everything from using green screen to all you need to know about using music in YouTube videos.

                  Want to practise editing picture to music? Then you might want to license some tracks from our huge catalogue of original music! We’ve got over 200,000 wholly owned tracks from the most incredible albums, including AyseDeniz’s latest release ‘Patterns‘.

                  Patterns is an emotive set blending solo piano with lyrical pieces embellished by orchestral strings. Moods range from romantic and wistful to mysterious and dramatic – take a listen below and prepare to fall in love.

                  Need Music for Your Project?

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                  This page was updated 24/05/2024.

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                  AUDIO NETWORK VINYL

                  BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS

                  FEATURED, NEWS, OLD /
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                    While the annual Billboard Music Awards are more known for their live concerts than actual awards, music’s biggest superstars, including Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion and Morgan Wallen, all gathered to accept such awards as Top Artist, Top Streaming Songs Artist and the trophy for the Top Tour.

                    Here’s a full rundown of all the Billboard Music Award 2022 winners.

                    Top Artist

                    • Doja Cat
                    • Drake – WINNER
                    • Olivia Rodrigo
                    • Taylor Swift
                    • The Weeknd

                    Top New Artist

                    • Givēon
                    • Masked Wolf
                    • Olivia Rodrigo – WINNER
                    • Pooh Shiesty
                    • The Kid LAROI

                    Top Male Artist

                    • Drake – WINNER
                    • Ed Sheeran
                    • Justin Bieber
                    • Lil Nas X
                    • The Weeknd

                    Top Female Artist

                    • Adele
                    • Doja Cat
                    • Dua Lipa
                    • Olivia Rodrigo – WINNER
                    • Taylor Swift

                    Top Duo/Group

                    • BTS – WINNER
                    • Glass Animals
                    • Imagine Dragons
                    • Migos
                    • Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)

                    Top Billboard 200 Artist

                    • Adele
                    • Drake
                    • Juice WRLD
                    • Morgan Wallen
                    • Taylor Swift – WINNER

                    Top Hot 100 Artist

                    • Doja Cat
                    • Drake
                    • Justin Bieber
                    • Olivia Rodrigo – WINNER
                    • The Weeknd

                    Top Streaming Songs Artist

                    • Doja Cat
                    • Drake
                    • Lil Nas X
                    • Olivia Rodrigo – WINNER
                    • The Weeknd

                    Top Song Sales Artist

                    • Adele
                    • BTS – WINNER
                    • Dua Lipa
                    • Ed Sheeran
                    • Walker Hayes

                    Top Radio Songs Artist

                    • Doja Cat
                    • Ed Sheeran
                    • Justin Bieber
                    • Olivia Rodrigo – WINNER
                    • The Weeknd

                    Top Billboard Global 200 Artist (NEW)

                    • Doja Cat
                    • Ed Sheeran
                    • Justin Bieber
                    • Olivia Rodrigo – WINNER
                    • The Weeknd

                    Top Billboard Global Artist

                    • BTS
                    • Dua Lipa
                    • Ed Sheeran – WINNER
                    • Olivia Rodrigo
                    • The Weeknd

                    Top Tour

                    • Eagles (Hotel California Tour)
                    • Genesis (The Last Domino? Tour)
                    • Green Day, Fall Out Boy & Weezer (The Hella Mega Tour)
                    • Harry Styles (Love on Tour)
                    • The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour) – WINNER

                    Top R&B Artist

                    • Doja Cat – WINNER
                    • Givēon
                    • Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak)
                    • Summer Walker
                    • The Weeknd

                    Top R&B Male Artist

                    • Givēon
                    • Khalid
                    • The Weeknd – WINNER

                    Top R&B Female Artist

                    • Doja Cat – WINNER
                    • Summer Walker
                    • SZA

                    Top R&B Tour

                    • Bruno Mars (Bruno Mars at Park MGM) – WINNER
                    • Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021)
                    • Usher (The Vegas Residency)

                    Top Rap Artist

                    • Drake – WINNER
                    • Juice WRLD
                    • Lil Baby
                    • Moneybagg Yo
                    • Polo G

                    Top Rap Male Artist

                    • Drake – WINNER
                    • Juice WRLD
                    • Polo G

                    Top Rap Female Artist

                    • Cardi B
                    • Latto
                    • Megan Thee Stallion – WINNER

                    Top Rap Tour

                    • J. Cole (The Off-Season Tour)
                    • Lil Baby (The Back Outside Tour)
                    • Omarion & Bow Wow (The Millennium Tour 2021) – WINNER

                    Top Country Artist

                    • Chris Stapleton
                    • Luke Combs
                    • Morgan Wallen
                    • Taylor Swift – WINNER
                    • Walker Hayes

                    Top Country Male Artist

                    • Chris Stapleton
                    • Luke Combs
                    • Morgan Wallen – WINNER

                    Top Country Female Artist

                    • Carrie Underwood
                    • Miranda Lambert
                    • Taylor Swift – WINNER

                    Top Country Duo/Group

                    • Dan + Shay – WINNER
                    • Florida Georgia Line
                    • Zac Brown Band

                    Top Country Tour

                    • Luke Bryan (Proud to Be Right Here Tour)
                    • Eric Church (Gather Again Tour) – WINNER
                    • Chris Stapleton (All-American Road Show Tour)

                    Top Rock Artist

                    • Glass Animals – WINNER
                    • Imagine Dragons
                    • Machine Gun Kelly
                    • Måneskin
                    • twenty one pilots

                    Top Rock Tour

                    • Genesis (The Last Domino? Tour)
                    • Green Day, Fall Out Boy & Weezer (The Hella Mega Tour)
                    • The Rolling Stones (No Filter Tour) – WINNER

                    Top Latin Artist

                    • Bad Bunny – WINNER
                    • Farruko
                    • Kali Uchis
                    • Karol G
                    • Rauw Alejandro

                    Top Latin Male Artist

                    • Bad Bunny – WINNER
                    • Farruko
                    • Rauw Alejandro

                    Top Latin Female Artist

                    • Kali Uchis – WINNER
                    • Karol G
                    • Rosalía

                    Top Latin Duo/Group

                    • Calibre 50
                    • Eslabon Armado – WINNER
                    • Grupo Firme

                    Top Latin Tour

                    • Bad Bunny (El Último Tour Del Mundo)
                    • Enrique Iglesias & Ricky Martin (Live in Concert)
                    • Los Bukis (Una Historia Cantada Tour) – WINNER

                    Top Dance/Electronic Artist

                    • Calvin Harris
                    • David Guetta
                    • Lady Gaga – WINNER
                    • Marshmello
                    • Tiësto

                    Top Christian Artist

                    • Carrie Underwood
                    • Elevation Worship
                    • for King & Country
                    • Lauren Daigle
                    • Ye – WINNER

                    Top Gospel Artist

                    • CeCe Winans
                    • Elevation Worship
                    • Kirk Franklin
                    • Maverick City Music
                    • Ye – WINNER

                    Need Music for Your Project?

                    At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

                    SIGN UP

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                    This page was updated 20/05/2024.

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