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Knowledge Base

Music for Film Trailers: Where to Find It and What Makes It Work

Knowledge Base /

Music for Film Trailers: Where to Find It and What Makes It Work

You find music for a film trailer at a production music library like us, not a commercial soundtrack. Our catalogue is built for the tension, build and impact a trailer needs, and now includes 23,000 tracks from our global partnership with Audiomachine, the trailer-music specialist behind Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings campaigns. Every track is 100% human-made, cleared for broadcast and festival use, and available with stems for editing.

What Music Should I Use for a Film Trailer?

The right trailer track builds tension, builds momentum and lands an impact – the structure almost every effective trailer follows, whatever the genre.

For an action or sci-fi trailer, that usually means big hybrid orchestral-electronic cues with a clear rise and a hit. For horror or suspense, it’s more about tone and dread than volume. For comedy or romance, rhythm and warmth matter more than scale.

Our catalogue covers both ends of that range, and tracks are tagged by mood and tempo so you can search for the feeling a trailer needs – epic, tense, uplifting – rather than a genre label.

Where Do I Find Trailer Music?

You find trailer music at a production music library like us, and since 2024 that catalogue has included Audiomachine – one of the trailer industry’s best-known names.

Our global partnership with Audiomachine added 23,000 symphonic and electronic tracks to our catalogue, bringing in-house the kind of large-scale trailer sound that’s been used to market franchises including Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings.

That sits alongside our own cinematic and orchestral collection, so you can search across both catalogues in one place rather than licensing from separate libraries.

What Makes Good Trailer Music?

Good trailer music has a clear structure – a quiet or moderate build that escalates into a climax, timed to land with the cut, rather than staying at one intensity throughout.

It also needs to be flexible: available with stems, so an editor can isolate a riser, a hit or a percussion line and move it precisely against the trailer’s edit, rather than being locked into a fixed mix.

And it needs to be cleared cleanly – one licence covering broadcast, festival and online use, so the trailer can run everywhere it needs to without separate negotiations.

Does Audio Network Have Music Used in Major Film Trailers?

Yes – since our partnership with Audiomachine, our catalogue includes music used in trailer campaigns for franchises such as Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings.

The partnership added 23,000 tracks to our catalogue, growing it by close to 10% in one move and bringing Audiomachine’s specific trailer-industry expertise directly into our search tools alongside our own cinematic and orchestral collection.

Are Trailer Tracks Available as Stems for Editing to a Cut?

Yes – stems let an editor isolate hits, risers or percussion and rebalance a track to sit precisely with the trailer’s edit, rather than fighting a fixed mix.

That matters most in a trailer, where a hit or transition often needs to land on an exact frame.

How Does Licensing Work for Trailer Music?

We offer three ways to license – per-use for a single trailer, per-project for multiple cuts or a campaign, and an unlimited annual subscription for teams producing trailers continuously.

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

Ways to License Trailer Music

We offer three main ways to license music for a trailer:

Licence

Covers

Best for

Per-use

A single trailer, priced per track

A one-off cut

Per-project

Multiple videos and tracks, priced to the campaign

A trailer campaign with several cuts

Unlimited subscription

A year of content for a whole team, sound effects optional

Ongoing trailer production

Can Someone Help Me Find the Right Trailer Track?

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

Our team supports productions at every stage, from narrowing down a build for a difficult cut to turning around options fast against a release deadline.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What music should I use for a film trailer?

A: Music that builds tension and lands an impact, matched to genre – big hybrid orchestral-electronic cues for action, tone and dread for horror, rhythm and warmth for comedy.

Q: Where do I find trailer music?

A: At a production music library like us – our catalogue includes Audiomachine’s trailer-specialist collection since our 2024 global partnership, alongside our own cinematic and orchestral tracks.

Q: What makes good trailer music?

A: A clear build-to-climax structure, availability as stems so editors can sync hits to the cut, and one licence that clears it for broadcast, festival and online use.

Q: Does Audio Network have music used in major film trailers?

A: Yes – through our 2024 global partnership with Audiomachine, our catalogue includes music used in trailer campaigns for franchises such as Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings.

Q: Are trailer tracks available as stems?

A: Yes – stems let editors isolate hits, risers or percussion and sync them precisely to the trailer’s edit.

Q: Does Audio Network use AI to make its trailer music?

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

Q: Is Audio Network’s trailer music cleared for festival and broadcast use?

A: Yes – one licence clears it for broadcast, festival and online distribution, with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence. Some licences can also be granted in perpetuity, so once a track is cleared under one of those licences, it stays cleared for the life of the production.

Q: Is Audio Network royalty-free?

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

Q: How does licensing work for a trailer campaign with multiple cuts?

A: A per-project licence covers multiple videos and tracks at a price tailored to the campaign – the natural fit for a trailer with several cuts.

Q: Can Audio Network help me find the right trailer track?

A: Yes – send us a brief describing the trailer’s tone and pacing, and our licensing experts will return a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

Q: Is Audio Network’s music indemnified?

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

Q: What’s new in Audio Network’s trailer music catalogue?

A: Our 2024 global partnership with Audiomachine added 23,000 symphonic and electronic tracks, growing our catalogue by close to 10% in one move.

Ready to Find Music for Your Trailer?

Discover our catalogue to search by mood, tempo or scene, create a free account to test tracks against your cut, or contact our team about a subscription for an ongoing trailer campaign.

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How to Describe Music to a Music Library or Music Supervisor (and the Terminology to Know)

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How to Describe Music to a Music Library or Music Supervisor (and the Terminology to Know)

To describe music to a library or music supervisor, name the feeling you want, the pace, the style, and how the music will be used, then add a reference track if you have one. Our catalogue is tagged by mood, genre, tempo, BPM and key across 300,000+ tracks and versions, and our AI-powered search lets you describe a scene in everyday words, so you don’t need to know the jargon.

How Do I Describe Music I’m Looking for to a Music Library?

Describe the feeling first, then the pace, the style and the use. A library can only find what you can put into words, and the feeling is the part most people can already describe.

Start with the emotion you want the viewer to have: uplifting, tense, warm, driving, reflective. Add the pace (slow, mid-tempo, fast, or an exact BPM) and the style or genre (cinematic, electronic, acoustic, pop). Then say what the music is for: a 30-second ad, a documentary scene, a voiceover bed. Finally, add a reference track if you have one.

Our catalogue is tagged by mood, genre, tempo and descriptive keywords, and almost every track carries a BPM and a recorded musical key. You can search across 80 moods and 158 genres and sub-genres, so each part of your description maps to something you can filter by.

How Do I Describe Music to a Music Supervisor?

Describe the story and the moment, not just the genre. A music supervisor needs to know what the music has to do in the scene.

A music supervisor chooses and clears music for a production, so they need more than a mood. Give them the context: what happens on screen, what the viewer should feel, what the music should not do (for example, compete with dialogue), and the practical limits: length, budget, platforms and deadline.

References help most. Naming two or three tracks that capture the feel, and saying what you like about each (the pulse, the instrumentation, the build), gives a supervisor a faster route than adjectives alone. Describing the feeling of a visual is often more useful than describing it literally: not every beach scene needs steel drums.

What Does a Good Music Brief Include?

A good brief covers the story, the feeling, the pace, the style, any references, and the practical details. Vague briefs lead to long searches. Specific ones lead to a shortlist.

  • The project: what it is, who it’s for and where it will be published.
  • The moment: what’s on screen, and the emotion the music should add.
  • The pace: slow, steady or fast, or a BPM range, and whether it should build.
  • The style: genre, instrumentation and anything to avoid.
  • References: one to three tracks that capture the feel, and what you like about them.
  • The practical details: length, edits needed (cutdowns, stings, loops), vocals or instrumental, budget and deadline.

Here’s how a vague brief compares with a specific one:

Vague brief

Specific brief

“Something upbeat”

“Bright and optimistic, 110 to 125 BPM, acoustic guitar and claps, for a 30-second product ad”

“Dramatic music”

“Slow-building tension, sparse piano and low strings, no drums until the final third, for a documentary reveal”

“Corporate background music”

“Clean, modern electronic bed, instrumental, sits under a voiceover, loops for a two-minute explainer”

“Something like that big ad”

“Similar pulse to this reference track, but warmer and without vocals”

What music terminology do I need to know for production?

You need a small set of terms: tempo and BPM, mood, genre, key, instrumentation, and the names for the versions you’ll ask for. Here’s what the most useful terms mean, and how to use them in a brief:

Term

What it means

How to use it in a brief

Tempo / BPM

The speed of the music, measured in beats per minute. Higher BPM means faster music

Give a range, such as “100 to 120 BPM”, to match the pace of your edit

Mood

The emotional feel of a track, such as bright, tense or warm

Lead with it: it’s the part you can already describe

Genre

The style category, such as cinematic, electronic, pop or acoustic

Use it to narrow the search once you know the mood

Key

The musical key a track is in

Useful when you need two tracks to sit together or match a reference

Instrumentation

The instruments you hear, such as piano, strings or synths

Name the sounds you want, and any you don’t

Reference track

An existing track that captures the feel you want

Pair it with what you like about it (pulse, tone, build)

Bed

A steady, unobtrusive track that sits under speech or action

Ask for a “bed” when music must not compete with a voiceover

Underscore

Music that supports a scene quietly, often without a strong melody

Ask for it for dialogue-heavy or voiceover-led scenes

Sting

A very short musical hit used to mark a moment or transition

Ask for stings when you need punctuation, not a full track

Stems

Separate groups of instruments from a track, such as drums or strings

Ask for stems if you need to adjust the balance or drop an element under a voice

Cutdown / alternate version

A shorter or different edit of the same track

Ask for them when one track must fit several lengths

Sync licence

Permission to use a musical composition with moving images

Needed whatever type of music you use

Master (dubbing) rights

Permission to use a specific sound recording

Needed alongside a sync licence for commercial music

With production music, we control the rights, so a single licence from us clears the music rather than requiring separate sync and master negotiations.

What if I Don’t Know the Music Terminology?

You don’t need it. Describe what you want in everyday words, or point to a track you like, and let the search do the translation.

Our AI-powered search tools include keyword search, prompt or scene search, reference-track matching and lyrics search. In prompt search you can type something like “creepy forest at night” or “inspirational sports trailer”. With reference-track matching, you paste a link to a track you like and we return tracks with a similar sound or feel. AI only supports search and discovery in our catalogue. It plays no part in making the music, which is 100% human-created.

Once you have a shortlist, you can refine it by mood, genre, tempo and BPM, then download high-resolution, un-watermarked files from a free account to test in your edit.

How Do Tempo and BPM Translate Into a Feeling?

Faster tempos feel more energetic and slower tempos feel calmer, and most genres sit in a recognisable BPM range.

As a rough guide: ambient and chillout music often sits around 50 to 80 BPM, hip-hop around 60 to 100, pop around 100 to 120, house around 115 to 130, and dance music around 120 to 140. Use a range rather than an exact number, and match it to the pace of your edit. A fast-cut social video usually wants a higher BPM, while a reflective documentary scene usually wants a lower one.

Can a Human Help Me Write or Refine a Brief?

Yes. Complimentary music research is included as standard: send us your brief, even if it’s rough, and our team of music licensing experts returns a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

Our experts support you at every stage, from refining a brief to choosing the right licence, and work across most global time zones, so wherever your team is based, help is close at hand.

How Does Audio Network Organise Its Catalogue?

Every track is tagged by mood, genre, tempo and descriptive keywords, and almost every track carries a BPM and a recorded musical key.

That’s what makes a good brief searchable. Our catalogue holds 300,000+ tracks and versions across 158 genres and sub-genres and 80 moods, with alternate versions, edits and cutdowns, and more than half of the catalogue available as stems.

Who Uses Audio Network?

We’ve been creating and licensing music for branded content since 2001, and we’re trusted by leading global brands and agencies, including Spotify, Dentsu, Nike, Google, the V&A, Amnesty International, Saatchi & Saatchi and Disney.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I describe music I’m looking for to a music library?

A: Describe the feeling first, then the pace, style and use, and add a reference track if you have one. Audio Network’s catalogue is tagged by mood, genre, tempo and BPM, so each part of your description maps to a filter.

Q: How do I describe music to a music supervisor?

A: Describe the story and the moment: what’s on screen, what the viewer should feel, and the practical limits of length, budget and deadline. Naming two or three reference tracks and what you like about each helps most.

Q: What should a music brief include?

A: The project, the moment, the pace, the style, one to three references, and practical details such as length, edits, vocals and deadline.

Q: What music terminology do I need to know for production?

A: Tempo and BPM, mood, genre, key, instrumentation, reference track, bed, underscore, sting, stems and cutdown, plus sync and master rights if you license commercial music.

Q: What does BPM mean in music?

A: BPM means beats per minute: the speed of the music. Higher BPM means faster music. Almost every track in Audio Network’s catalogue carries a BPM, so you can search by tempo.

Q: What’s the difference between a stem and a mix?

A: A mix is the complete track. Stems are separate groups of instruments from it, such as drums or strings, so you can adjust the balance or drop an element under a voiceover. More than half of Audio Network’s catalogue is available as stems.

Q: What if I can’t describe the music I want?

A: Use everyday words or a reference track. Audio Network’s prompt search lets you describe a scene, and reference-track matching finds tracks with a similar sound or feel from a link.

Q: Can I search for music using a reference track?

A: Yes. Paste a link to a track you like into Audio Network’s search, and we return tracks with a similar sound or feel.

Q: Does Audio Network help me write a music brief?

A: Yes. Complimentary music research is included as standard: send us your brief, and our music licensing experts return a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

Q: Is Audio Network’s music AI-generated?

A: No. Audio Network’s catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. AI is only used to support search and discovery.

Q: Can I try a track before I licence it?

A: Yes. Create a free account, with no credit card required, and download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test in your edit.

Q: How many tracks and genres does Audio Network have?

A: 300,000+ tracks and versions across 158 genres and sub-genres and 80 moods.

Ready to Find the Right Music for Your Brief?

Discover our catalogue to search by mood, tempo and scene, create a free account to test tracks in your edit, or contact our team to talk through your brief.

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Licensed Music for Online Video Content: Where to Find It and What Licence You Need

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Licensed Music for Online Video Content: Where to Find It and What Licence You Need

The best place to find licensed music for online video is a production music library that controls its rights, so a single licence clears the music for YouTube, social and digital use. Our catalogue holds 300,000+ tracks and versions across 158 genres and sub-genres, with simple licences that cover the platforms brands publish on and indemnification, so there are no disputes when you go live.

Where Can I Find Licensed Music for Online Video Content?

Find it in a production music library that owns or controls the rights to its music. The licence comes with the music, so you aren’t chasing permissions from labels, publishers and artists.

We compose, commission and record our music specifically for licensing, and we control the rights directly. A brand or agency licenses straight from us, so a single licence clears the track, rather than a chain of third parties that can slow a project or cause problems after publishing.

Our catalogue covers everything online video needs, from short upbeat tracks for social to cinematic scores for brand films, across 158 genres and sub-genres and 80 moods.

What’s the Best Place to Find Licensed Music for Online Videos?

The best place is one that combines clear rights, a deep catalogue and licences written for the platforms you publish on. Here’s how the main sources compare for commercial online video:

Source

Suitable for brand and business video?

What to watch for

Commercial or chart music

Not without licences from the rights holders

Labels and publishers set the terms and may refuse

Music built into social platforms

Often restricted

Frequently limited to personal or non-commercial accounts; terms vary

Stock or royalty-free libraries

Depends on the licence

Platform, territory and term limits vary by provider and tier

Production music library (Audio Network)

Yes, within the licence you choose

Original, rights-controlled, pre-cleared and fully indemnified

What Does “Licensed Music” Mean for Online Video?

Licensed music is music you have written permission to use, for a defined use, from whoever owns the rights.

Our music is commercially safe: every track is original, we control the rights, the music is pre-cleared for the uses each licence covers, and every licence is fully indemnified. That means a brand or agency can publish with confidence, without the copyright claims or takedowns that unlicensed music can trigger. Our catalogue is also 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings.

What Music Licence Do I Need for Online Video Content?

You need a licence that covers your type of content, every platform you’ll publish on, and the territories you’ll reach.

A licence for one use doesn’t automatically cover another. An organic social post, a paid ad and a broadcast spot can each need different permissions, which is why it’s worth checking the licence before you publish. Our licences are written around how brands actually publish:

Online video use

What Audio Network’s licences cover

Digital advertising

Any online platform

Social media

Organic content, boosted posts and ads, across all platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and Facebook

YouTube

Entertainment, promotional or advertising use

Internal and corporate communications

Covered

TV advertising and VOD

Terrestrial broadcast, VOD and streaming

Podcasts

All platforms

Worldwide coverage is available depending on the licence you choose, and every licence is fully indemnified.

Do Different Platforms Need Different Licences?

They can. Each platform has its own rules, but a licence that clears all platforms for your content type means you don’t need a separate agreement for each one.

Platforms treat music differently. Some restrict the music in their built-in libraries to personal or non-commercial accounts, and systems on platforms such as YouTube scan uploads and let rights holders mute, monetise or block a video that uses their music. A brand that relies on whatever sound is trending can find audio is unavailable or isn’t cleared for branded or paid use.

With us, a single licence clears music across all the platforms brands publish on, so the same track can run on YouTube, in social ads and on your own site.

What Happens if You Publish Music You Aren’t Licensed to Use?

It can be claimed, muted, blocked or removed, and for a business it can lead to legal action.

For a brand, that usually means a campaign pulled while media spend is committed, time lost re-editing and re-publishing finished content, and in the worst case, legal action from the rights holder. A disclaimer or crediting the artist doesn’t replace a licence.

Licensing music up front, from a library whose licences are indemnified, removes that risk before the video goes live.

How Do You Find Music for Short-Form and Social Video?

Search by tempo and mood, choose tracks that hook quickly, and use short edits and stems to build a tight cut.

Short-form video works differently from a long brand film: the music has to hook in the first seconds, match the pace of the edit and often loop cleanly. Our music is created and designed for social and online content, with alternate versions, edits and cutdowns for digital-first formats. Every track carries a BPM, and more than half the catalogue is available as stems.

Our AI-powered search tools let you search by keyword, describe a scene, match a reference track or search by lyrics, and we curate playlists and collections for short-form content, creator campaigns and brand marketing. AI only supports search and discovery in our catalogue. It plays no part in making the music.

How Big Is Audio Network’s Catalogue?

Our catalogue holds 300,000+ tracks and versions across 158 genres and sub-genres and 80 moods, so there is depth for almost any online video.

It’s deepest in the upbeat, energetic moods that suit marketing and social content, including more than 29,000 “bright / optimistic” and more than 24,000 “driving / exciting” tracks and versions, alongside cinematic, electronic, pop, indie and hip-hop styles.

How Do I Try a Track and Choose a Licence?

Create a free account, with no credit card, then search the catalogue and download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test in your edit.

When you’ve chosen a track, there are three ways to licence. A per-use licence clears a single video or episode, a per-project licence covers multiple videos and tracks, and an unlimited annual subscription covers a whole team for a year. Accounts have no seat restrictions. Some licences can be granted in perpetuity, and some are agreed for a limited term at a lower price, so you pay only for the rights you need.

If a brief is complicated, complimentary music research is included as standard: send us the brief and we return a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

Who uses Audio Network?

We’ve been creating and licensing music for branded content since 2001, and we’re trusted by leading global brands and agencies, including Spotify, Dentsu, Nike, Google, the V&A, Amnesty International, Saatchi & Saatchi and Disney.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where can I find licensed music for video content?

A: In a production music library that controls its rights. Audio Network’s catalogue of 300,000+ tracks and versions is original, rights-controlled and fully indemnified, and licensed for YouTube, social, digital advertising and more.

Q: What’s the best place to find licensed music for online videos?

A: One with clear rights, a deep catalogue and licences written for the platforms you publish on. Audio Network combines all three, and a free account lets you test tracks before you licence.

Q: What music licence do I need for video content?

A: One that covers your content type, platforms and territories. Audio Network’s licences cover digital advertising, social, YouTube, internal communications, TV, radio and podcasts, with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence you choose.

Q: Do I need a different licence for each platform?

A: Not with Audio Network. A single licence clears music across the platforms brands publish on, so the same track can run on YouTube, social and digital.

Q: Can I use trending sounds or platform music in branded video?

A: Often not safely. Music in a platform’s built-in library is frequently limited to personal or non-commercial accounts, and trending audio may not be cleared for branded or paid use. Licensed music gives brands consistency and legal clarity.

Q: What happens if I use music without a licence?

A: It can be claimed, muted, blocked or taken down, and for a business it can lead to legal action. A disclaimer or crediting the artist doesn’t replace a licence.

Q: Is Audio Network’s music safe for brands and agencies?

A: Yes. Audio Network’s music is commercially safe: original, rights-controlled, pre-cleared and fully indemnified.

Q: How do I find music for short-form video?

A: Search by tempo and mood, look for tracks that hook quickly, and use short edits and stems to build your cut. Audio Network’s AI-powered search lets you search by keyword, scene description or reference track.

Q: Does an Audio Network licence last forever?

A: Some licences can be granted in perpetuity, so the track stays cleared for the life of the content. Others are agreed for a limited term at a lower price.

Q: Is Audio Network’s music AI-generated?

A: No. Audio Network’s catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. AI is only used to support search and discovery.

Q: Can I try a track before I licence it?

A: Yes. Create a free account, with no credit card required, and download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test in your edit.

Q: Is Audio Network royalty-free?

A: No. Audio Network is a premium production music library, the professional alternative to royalty-free libraries.

Ready to Find Licensed Music for Your Video?

Discover our catalogue to find music for your next video, create a free account to test tracks in your edit, or contact our team to talk through the right licence.

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Background Music for Videos: Where to Find Copyright-Safe Music

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Background Music for Videos: Where to Find Copyright-Safe Music

The best place to find background music for a video is a production music library that owns its rights, so every track is copyright-safe from the start. Our catalogue holds 300,000+ tracks and versions across 158 genres and sub-genres, searchable by mood, genre, tempo and BPM. You can create a free account and test tracks in your edit before you licence.

Where Do I Find Background Music for a Video?

Find it in a production music library, where the music is made for use in video and the rights are controlled in one place.

That’s different from searching the web for a track you like. Music found that way usually belongs to a label, publisher or artist, and using it in a video often needs permission you don’t have. A production music library like ours composes, commissions and records music specifically for licensing, so the permission comes with the licence.

Our catalogue covers everything a video team is likely to need, from light beds under a voiceover to cinematic scores for a hero film, across 158 genres and sub-genres and 80 moods.

What’s the Best Background Music for Videos?

There’s no single best track. The right background music depends on your video’s tone, pacing and audience.

Good background music supports the message rather than competing with it. It sets the mood, keeps energy up or calms it down, and stays out of the way of a voiceover. Here’s how common video types usually map to music styles, using our catalogue as the guide:

Video type

Music that usually works

Why

Corporate, explainer and product videos

Clean, modern electronic beds and light acoustic

Stays neutral under a voiceover and feels polished

Social and online video

Upbeat, energetic tracks in pop, indie, electronic and hip-hop styles

Grabs attention quickly in short formats

Documentary and factual

Cinematic, orchestral and minimal underscore

Supports narration and carries emotional moments

Podcast and spoken-word

Theme music, under-speech beds and transitions

Frames the show without covering the speaker

Advertising and promotional

Bright, driving or powerful tracks matched to the brand

Has to land in seconds and fit tight lengths

How Do I Find Music for a Video Project?

Start from your brief, search by the feeling you want, then test tracks against your edit before you commit.

  • Decide what you want the viewer to feel, and the pace of your edit: calm and reflective, bright and optimistic, driving and exciting.
  • Search the catalogue by mood, genre, tempo and BPM. Our AI-powered search tools also let you search by keyword, describe a scene, match a reference track or search by lyrics.
  • Use alternate versions, short edits and stems to fit the music to your cut. More than half the catalogue is available as stems.
  • Download high-resolution, un-watermarked files and test two or three directions in your edit.
  • Licence the track that serves the message best.

If you’d rather not search alone, complimentary music research is included as standard: send us a brief and our team returns a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

What Is Copyright-Safe Music for a Video?

Copyright-safe music is music you can use in a video without risking a copyright claim, takedown or legal action, because the rights are clear and a licence covers your use.

Ours is commercially safe because four things are true at once: every track is original, we control the rights, the music is pre-cleared for the uses each licence covers, and every licence is fully indemnified. Our catalogue is also 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings.

Our licences cover digital advertising, social media, YouTube, internal and corporate communications, TV advertising, radio and podcasts, with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence you choose.

Why Not Just Use Free Music From a Web Search?

Because music from a random web search can bring copyright strikes, demonetisation and takedowns, and the quality is inconsistent.

Free music often comes with unclear or restrictive terms, or none at all. If the rights aren’t clear, a video can be muted, blocked or removed by the platform it’s published on, which means time lost re-editing and re-publishing work that was already finished. For a business, using music without a proper licence can also expose it to legal action from the rights holder.

Using a professional music library removes that risk before you start, and it means the quality is consistent from one video to the next.

What Does Royalty-Free Mean, and How Does a Production Music Licence Compare?

“Royalty-free” describes how some music is paid for: you pay once and don’t pay per-use royalties to the library afterwards. It doesn’t tell you how good the music is or whether the rights are clear.

Audio Network isn’t a royalty-free music site. We’re a premium production music library, the professional alternative to royalty-free libraries. Here’s how the two approaches usually differ:

 

Audio Network (production music library)

Typical royalty-free library

How the music is made

100% human-created, commissioned and recorded for the library

Often aggregated from many sources, and increasingly AI-generated

Rights

We control the rights, so one licence clears the music

Rights chains and terms vary by provider and tier

Protection

Every licence is fully indemnified

Varies by provider

Coverage

Content type, platform and territory set out in the licence you choose

Often limited by platform, territory or subscription period

Help finding music

Complimentary music research included as standard

Often behind top enterprise tiers

What Do I Owe After I Licence a Track?

You pay one clear licence fee, with no hidden or recurring charges from Audio Network.

What you’re cleared for depends on the licence you choose. Some licences can be granted in perpetuity, which means a track stays cleared for the life of the content, with no renewal or recurring fee. Others, including some advertising licences, are agreed for a limited term at a lower price, so you only pay for the rights you need.

Check that the licence covers your content type, platforms and territory before you publish, and keep a record of it for each video.

How Big Is Audio Network’s Catalogue, and Which Genres Does It Cover?

Our catalogue holds 300,000+ tracks and versions across 158 genres and sub-genres and 80 moods, so there’s depth for almost any video.

It’s deepest in the styles video teams use most: cinematic and orchestral (over 99,000 tracks), electronic, rock, indie, hip-hop and pop, and in the upbeat, energetic moods that suit marketing and social content, including more than 29,000 “bright / optimistic” and more than 24,000 “driving / exciting” tracks and versions.

How Do Download Accounts Work?

Create a free account, with no credit card, and you can search the whole catalogue and download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test in your edit.

When you’ve chosen a track, you licence it: a single track can be licensed online for one video, a per-project licence covers several videos, and an unlimited annual subscription covers a full year of content. We place no seat restrictions on accounts, so you can add your whole team at no extra cost.

Who Uses Audio Network?

We’ve been creating and licensing music for branded content since 2001, and we’re trusted by leading global brands and agencies, including Spotify, Dentsu, Nike, Google, the V&A, Amnesty International, Saatchi & Saatchi and Disney.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where do I find background music for a video?

A: In a production music library that owns its rights. Audio Network’s catalogue of 300,000+ tracks and versions can be searched by mood, genre, tempo and BPM, and a free account lets you test tracks before you licence.

Q: What’s the best background music for videos?

A: There’s no single best track: it depends on your video’s tone, pacing and audience. Choose music that supports your message without competing with a voiceover, and search by mood to match the feeling you want.

Q: How do I find music for a video project?

A: Start from your brief, search by mood, genre and tempo, test two or three tracks in your edit using un-watermarked downloads, then licence the best one. Audio Network’s team will also return a curated shortlist from your brief at no extra cost.

Q: Where can I get copyright-safe music for a video?

A: From a library whose music is original, rights-controlled, pre-cleared and indemnified. Audio Network’s catalogue is commercially safe and 100% human-created.

Q: Can I use free music from the internet in my video?

A: It’s risky. Free music often has unclear terms and can lead to copyright strikes, demonetisation or takedowns, and using music without a proper licence can expose a business to legal action. A licensed library removes that risk.

Q: What does royalty-free mean?

A: It describes a payment structure: you pay once and don’t pay per-use royalties afterwards. It doesn’t guarantee quality or clear rights. Audio Network is not a royalty-free site; we’re a premium production music library.

Q: What do I owe after I licence a track from Audio Network?

A: One clear licence fee, with no hidden or recurring charges from Audio Network. Some licences can be granted in perpetuity, and some are agreed for a limited term at a lower price.

Q: Does one licence cover every platform?

A: Our licences cover digital advertising, social, YouTube, internal communications, TV, radio and podcasts, with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence you choose.

Q: Is Audio Network’s music AI-generated?

A: No. Audio Network’s catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. AI is only used to support search and discovery.

Q: Can I try a track before I licence it?

A: Yes. Create a free account, with no credit card required, and download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test in your edit.

Q: Can my whole team use one account?

A: Yes. We place no seat restrictions on accounts, so you can add your whole team at no extra cost.

Q: Does Audio Network help me choose music?

A: Yes. Complimentary music research is included as standard: send us a brief and our team of music licensing experts returns a curated shortlist.

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Music for Advertising: How to Find the Right Music for Commercials and Marketing Videos

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Music for Advertising: How to Find the Right Music for Commercials and Marketing Videos

The best music for advertising lands in seconds, matches the brand’s tone and is licensed for broadcast and paid media. We offer 300,000+ tracks and versions across 158 genres and sub-genres, all original and rights-controlled, with fully indemnified licences cleared for TV, digital and social advertising on any platform and some licences available in perpetuity.

What Music Works Best for Advertising?

There is no single best track for an ad. The right music depends on the story: is the ad building excitement, trust, emotion or urgency?

Advertising music has to do more in less time than almost any other use. It has to land within the first few seconds, match the brand’s tone precisely, and hold up when the same campaign is cut into several lengths. Original production music is built for exactly that.

Our catalogue is deepest in the upbeat, energetic moods that suit advertising, including more than 29,000 “bright / optimistic” and more than 24,000 “driving / exciting” tracks and versions. We also offer cinematic, electronic, pop and acoustic styles, so a team can move from a warm brand story to a high-energy product launch without leaving one catalogue.

What’s the Best Music for a TV Commercial?

The best music for a TV commercial is broadcast-grade, original and cleared for television before it goes near an edit.

We’ve been creating production music for branded content and broadcast since 2001, and our licences cover TV advertising across terrestrial broadcast, VOD and streaming. Our catalogue includes over 99,000 cinematic and orchestral tracks and versions for premium, high-impact spots, alongside electronic, rock, indie, hip-hop and pop for faster, more energetic work.

Clearance matters most on TV. A broadcast campaign is expensive to produce and to air, so music that has to be replaced after approval or complaint can mean re-editing, re-delivering and missing a slot. Because we control the rights to our music, a single licence clears it, rather than a chain of separate approvals that can hold a campaign up.

What’s the Best Music for a Product Launch or Product Video?

For a product launch, choose music that matches the feeling you want customers to have: bright and optimistic for a feel-good consumer product, driving and exciting for a high-energy launch, or powerful and bold for a hero film.

Search by mood rather than genre alone. We tag every track across 80 moods, so a team can search for the emotion a launch needs, even when they don’t know the style. For product videos, clean, modern electronic and corporate beds work well under voiceover, and more than half the catalogue is available as stems so the music can sit around a voice.

Where Can I Find Music for Adverts and Marketing Videos?

Find it in a production music library that owns or controls its rights, so the music you choose is already cleared for advertising.

In our catalogue you can search by keyword, by describing a scene, by dropping in a reference track, or by lyrics, then narrow results by mood, genre, tempo and BPM. Create a free account, with no credit card, and you can download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test a track in your edit before you licence it.

If a brief is complicated, our music licensing experts include complimentary music research as standard: send us the brief and we return a curated shortlist at no extra cost, so you aren’t picking a generic “corporate upbeat” track from a long list.

How Do You Fit Music to Different Ad Lengths?

Use tracks that come with cutdowns, alternate versions and stems, so one piece of music can run across every version of a campaign.

Advertising campaigns rarely run at one length. A single idea may need a 60-second hero film, a 30-second TV spot, a 15-second digital cut and a 6-second social version. Our tracks come with alternate versions, edits and cutdowns, and every track carries a BPM so edits stay on the beat. More than half the catalogue is available as stems, which lets an editor lift the drums for impact or drop the melody under a voiceover.

Cutdowns are included with advertising licences on a per-use basis, so you don’t pay extra to adapt the music to each length.

What Licence Do You Need for Advertising Music?

You need a licence that covers your content type, every platform the ad will run on, and the territories you’re advertising in.

This is where advertising differs from other uses. A campaign often runs on TV, online and social at the same time, and a gap in any one of them can mean a pulled ad. Here’s what our licences cover for advertising and brand content:

Advertising use

What Audio Network’s licences cover

Digital advertising

Any online platform

Social media ads

Organic content, boosted posts and ads, across all platforms

YouTube

Entertainment, promotional or advertising use

TV advertising

Terrestrial broadcast, VOD and streaming

Radio

AM, FM, DAB and internet stations

Podcasts

All platforms

Worldwide territory coverage is available depending on the licence you choose, and every licence is fully indemnified, so you’re protected when you use the music as licensed.

How Long Does an Advertising Licence Last, and What Does It Cost?

Some licences can be granted in perpetuity, and some advertising licences are agreed for a limited term at a lower price, so you pay only for the rights you need.

A campaign with a defined run, for example one year, can use a time-limited licence. A brand that wants to keep an ad live indefinitely can choose a licence granted in perpetuity. Territory and platform work the same way: the broadest use costs more, and narrower needs cost less.

We offer three ways to licence. A per-use licence clears a single video or episode, priced per track. A per-project licence covers multiple videos and tracks at a price tailored to a campaign. An unlimited annual subscription covers a whole team for a year. Simple single-track licences can be bought online, and for anything more complex our licensing experts price a quote to suit your budget, typically responding within the hour during working hours.

Why Does Music Rights Clarity Matter So Much in Advertising?

Because an ad is a paid, public, branded asset, and music with unclear rights puts all of that at risk.

Music without proper clearance can trigger a copyright claim or takedown mid-flight, which can mean a paid campaign pulled or muted while media spend is already committed, and time lost re-editing approved work. In the worst case, using music without a proper licence can expose a business to legal action from the rights holder.

Our music is original, rights-controlled and pre-cleared, so that risk is removed before the ad is made, not discovered after it airs.

How Does One Catalogue Keep a Campaign Consistent?

By using the same music catalogue and the same licensing terms across every touchpoint, so the brand sounds the same wherever it appears.

A product launch may run as a TV spot, a product video, social cutdowns and a website film. When all of it comes from one catalogue under consistent terms, a brand’s sonic identity stays coherent and the team isn’t relearning licence rules for every channel.

How Is Audio Network Different for Advertising Music?

Our catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. AI supports how people search and discover music in our catalogue, but plays no part in making it.

For advertisers, that means no ambiguity over authorship or ownership, a point that matters more as brands think harder about the rights risks of AI-generated content. Alongside that, our licensing experts support you from first brief to final clearance, and complimentary music research is included as standard. Comparable personal curation from many competitors sits behind their top enterprise tiers.

Who Uses Audio Network for Advertising?

We’re trusted by leading global brands and agencies, including Spotify, Dentsu, Nike, Google, the V&A, Amnesty International, Saatchi & Saatchi and Disney, from in-house brand teams to creative and media agencies.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What music works best for advertising?

A: Music that lands in seconds and matches the brand’s tone. There’s no single best track: it depends on whether the ad builds excitement, trust, emotion or urgency. Audio Network’s catalogue is searchable across 80 moods, so you can search by the feeling the ad needs.

Q: What’s the best music for a TV commercial?

A: Broadcast-grade, original music that is cleared for television. Audio Network’s licences cover TV advertising across terrestrial broadcast, VOD and streaming, and our catalogue includes over 99,000 cinematic and orchestral tracks and versions.

Q: Where do I find music for adverts?

A: In a production music library that owns or controls its rights. At Audio Network you can search 300,000+ tracks and versions by keyword, scene description, reference track or lyrics, and test tracks in your edit before you licence.

Q: What’s the best music for a product launch video?

A: Music that matches the feeling you want customers to have, such as bright and optimistic or driving and exciting. Search by mood across Audio Network’s 80 moods, and use stems to fit music around a voiceover.

Q: Where can I find music for marketing videos?

A: Create a free Audio Network account, with no credit card, search the catalogue and download un-watermarked files to test in your edit. Our team also offers complimentary music research from your brief.

Q: How do I cut music to 6, 15, 30 and 60 seconds?

A: Use tracks that come with cutdowns, alternate versions and stems. Audio Network’s tracks include edits and cutdowns, every track carries a BPM, and more than half the catalogue is available as stems. Cutdowns are included with per-use advertising licences.

Q: What licence do I need to use music in an ad?

A: One that covers your content type, platforms and territories. Audio Network’s licences cover digital advertising, social, YouTube, TV advertising, radio and podcasts, with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence chosen.

Q: Is Audio Network’s music cleared for TV and social ads?

A: Yes. Our licences cover TV advertising across terrestrial broadcast, VOD and streaming, and social ads across all platforms. Every licence is fully indemnified.

Q: Does an advertising licence last forever?

A: Some licences can be granted in perpetuity. Some advertising licences are agreed for a limited term, for example one year, at a lower price, so you pay only for the rights you need.

Q: How much does music for advertising cost?

A: It depends on how the music will be used: a single track licensed online covers the broadest use, narrower needs cost less, and per-project or subscription licences offer the best value across several videos. Our licensing team will price a quote to suit your budget.

Q: Is Audio Network’s music AI-generated?

A: No. Audio Network’s catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. AI is only used to support search and discovery.

Q: Is Audio Network royalty-free?

A: No. Audio Network is a premium production music library, the professional alternative to royalty-free libraries.

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What Music Can Businesses Legally Use? Copyright Rules for Brands

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What Music Can Businesses Legally Use? Copyright Rules for Brands

Businesses can legally use music only when they hold a licence covering that specific use. Commercial chart music, tracks with unclear terms and platform audio often don’t qualify. Our catalogue is commercially safe: original, rights-controlled, pre-cleared and fully indemnified, so one licence clears branded content on every platform worldwide, with some licences available in perpetuity.

What Music Can Businesses Legally Use?

A business can legally use music it has a licence for, covering the way it will be used. That includes production music from a library that owns or controls its rights, music commissioned directly from a composer, and tracks cleared by every rights holder involved.

What it generally can’t use is music it simply likes or found online: commercial releases, tracks from streaming services, and audio lifted from other videos. Using that music in branded content, even briefly, normally needs permission from the rights holders, and brands rarely have it.

Production music libraries exist to solve this. We compose, commission and record our music specifically for licensing, and we control the rights, so a brand gets permission in one step.

What Is Copyright-Safe Music for Businesses?

Copyright-safe music is music a business can use in commercial content without risking a copyright claim, takedown or legal action, because the rights are clear and a licence covers the use.

Ours is commercially safe because four things are true at once: every track is original, we control the rights, the music is pre-cleared for the uses each licence covers, and every licence is fully indemnified. Each one matters: original music has no hidden source to trace, controlled rights mean no separate negotiations, pre-clearance removes copyright-strike and takedown risk, and indemnification gives a brand legal protection when it uses the music as licensed.

Our catalogue is also 100% human-created. We use no generative AI to make music, so there are no AI-generated compositions or recordings in it. AI only supports search and discovery.

What Copyright Rules Apply to Music in Business and Brand Content?

The core rule is simple: music in commercial content needs permission from whoever owns it, and the permission has to cover how, where and for how long it’s used.

In practice, that means checking three things before any track goes into a brand video: who owns the rights, whether the licence covers your use (paid advertising and organic social are often treated differently), and whether it covers the platforms and territories you’ll publish in.

Several common assumptions don’t hold up. Crediting the artist isn’t a licence. Buying or streaming a track doesn’t give you the right to use it in business content. Keeping a clip short doesn’t remove the need for permission. And music in a social platform’s built-in library is often limited to personal or non-commercial accounts, so a brand should check the terms before relying on it.

How Common Music Sources Compare for Brand Use

Here’s how the sources brands most often reach for compare on copyright safety, set against our catalogue:

Music source

Safe for brand use?

Why

Commercial chart or streaming music

No, not without licences from the rights holders

Owned by labels and publishers; a brand rarely holds permission for commercial use

Platform built-in music libraries

Often restricted

Frequently limited to personal or non-commercial accounts; terms vary by platform

Stock or royalty-free libraries

Depends on the licence terms

Rights chains and platform, territory or term limits vary by provider and tier

AI-generated music

Can be unclear

Authorship and rights position can be harder to establish and verify

Audio Network’s catalogue

Yes, within the licence you choose

Original, rights-controlled, pre-cleared and fully indemnified

How Do You Avoid Copyright Issues When Using Music in Brand Videos?

License the music before you publish, check the licence covers your use, and keep the paperwork. The cheapest way to avoid a copyright claim is to start with music that’s already cleared.

  • Choose music from a source that owns or controls its rights, not from a consumer streaming service.
  • Check the licence covers your content type (advertising, social, TV, radio, podcast, internal) and every platform you’ll publish on.
  • Check the territory and term: some licences are worldwide, some are limited, and some can be granted in perpetuity.
  • Test the track in your edit first, using un-watermarked downloads, so you don’t license music you end up not using.
  • Keep a record of the licence for every piece of content, so a claim can be answered quickly.

Free to try: create an account with no credit card, search the catalogue and download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test in your edit before you commit to a licence.

Why Does Clear Music Licensing Matter for a Brand?

Because unclear rights create real, expensive problems after content is already live.

Music without proper clearance can trigger a copyright claim, strike or takedown on the platform your content is running on. For a brand that can mean a campaign pulled mid-flight, content muted or removed, and hours spent re-editing, re-exporting and re-publishing work that was already approved. In the worst case, using music without a proper licence can expose a business to legal action from the rights holder, with the reputational damage that follows.

Pre-cleared music removes that risk before it starts. And because every licence we offer is fully indemnified, a brand that uses the music as licensed is protected, rather than left to deal with a rights holder alone.

How Does Audio Network Keep Brand Content Copyright-Safe?

By owning and controlling the rights directly, so there is one source and one licence, and no chain of third parties to trace.

Our catalogue is original music, commissioned and recorded specifically for the library. Because we don’t aggregate tracks from outside sources, there is no ambiguity over who made a track or who can license it. Usage rights are set out in the licence you choose: what content it covers, which territories and platforms, and how long. A brand always knows what it’s cleared for.

Alongside the licence, our music licensing team helps you pick the right one. Complimentary music research is included as standard: send us a brief and we return a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

Does One Licence Cover Every Platform and Content Type?

Yes. A single Audio Network licence clears music across all the content types and platforms brands produce, with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence you choose.

Here’s what our licences cover:

Content type

What Audio Network’s licences cover

Digital advertising

Any online platform

Social media

Organic content, boosted posts and ads, across all platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube

YouTube

Entertainment, promotional or advertising use

Internal and corporate communications

Covered

TV advertising

Terrestrial broadcast, VOD and streaming

Radio

AM, FM, DAB and internet stations

Podcasts

All platforms

TV, film and documentary productions

Broadcast, VOD, streaming, cinema and festival release

How Long Does an Audio Network Licence Last?

It depends on the licence. Some licences can be granted in perpetuity, which means a track cleared under one of those licences stays cleared for the life of the content, with no renewal and no recurring fee.

Other licences, including some advertising licences, are agreed for a limited term, for example one year, at a lower price. Term works like territory and platform: you choose the rights you need and pay only for those, so a brand with a short campaign doesn’t pay for rights it won’t use.

Is Audio Network’s Catalogue Big Enough to Cover a Brand’s Content?

Yes. Clean rights only help if the catalogue is deep enough to find the right track, and ours spans 300,000+ tracks and versions across 158 genres and sub-genres.

That covers a broadcast-grade hero film, a short social cut and an internal explainer from one catalogue, under licences with the same clear rights. Tracks are tagged by 80 moods as well as genre, and more than half the catalogue is available as stems, so editors can fit music to a voiceover or a fixed-length cut.

Who Uses Audio Network?

We’ve been creating and licensing music for branded content since 2001, and we’re trusted by leading global brands and agencies, including Spotify, Dentsu, Nike, Google, the V&A, Amnesty International, Saatchi & Saatchi and Disney.

We work with in-house brand teams and creative and media agencies alike.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What music can I legally use in branded content?

A: Music you hold a licence for that covers your use, such as production music from a library that controls its rights. Commercial releases and streaming tracks generally need permission from the rights holders, which brands rarely have. Audio Network’s catalogue is original, rights-controlled and fully indemnified.

Q: What is copyright-safe music for businesses?

A: Music with clear rights and a licence covering your use, so it won’t trigger copyright claims or takedowns. Audio Network’s music is commercially safe: original, rights-controlled, pre-cleared and fully indemnified.

Q: How do I avoid copyright issues when using music in brand videos?

A: License music before you publish, check the licence covers your content type, platforms and territory, test the track in your edit first, and keep a record of the licence. Starting with pre-cleared music removes most of the risk.

Q: What music copyright rules apply to businesses?

A: Music in commercial content needs permission from its rights holders, covering how, where and for how long it’s used. Crediting the artist, buying a track or keeping a clip short doesn’t replace a licence.

Q: Can a business use music from streaming services or the charts?

A: Not without permission from the rights holders. Streaming services license music for listening, not for use in a brand’s content. Production music libraries such as Audio Network are set up to license music for exactly that purpose.

Q: Is Audio Network’s music indemnified?

A: Yes. Every Audio Network licence is fully indemnified, so a business using the music as licensed is legally protected.

Q: Does one Audio Network licence cover every platform?

A: Yes. A single licence clears music across advertising, social, YouTube, TV, radio and podcasts, with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence you choose.

Q: Does an Audio Network licence last forever?

A: Some licences can be granted in perpetuity, so the track stays cleared for the life of the content with no renewal or recurring fee. Others, including some advertising licences, are agreed for a limited term at a lower price.

Q: Is Audio Network’s music AI-generated?

A: No. Audio Network’s catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. AI is only used to support search and discovery.

Q: Is Audio Network a royalty-free music site?

A: No. Audio Network is a premium production music library, the professional alternative to royalty-free libraries.

Q: Can I test a track before I license it?

A: Yes. Create a free account, with no credit card required, and download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test a track in your edit before you license it.

Q: Does Audio Network help me choose the right music and licence?

A: Yes. Complimentary music research is included as standard, and our licensing experts help you choose the right licence for your brief.

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What Music Licence Do You Need for a Podcast? A Guide for Brands and Producers

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What Music Licence Do You Need for a Podcast? A Guide for Brands and Producers

You need a licence that covers everywhere your podcast will be heard or seen: audio platforms, a video version on YouTube and any clips you promote. Our podcast licence can cover all of that in one licence, including organic and paid use, and we can license worldwide, on every platform and sometimes in perpetuity. Every track is 100% human-made, and you can license a single track, a whole series or a subscription for your team. 

What Music Licence Do I Need for a Podcast?

You need our podcast licence, scoped to where your show will be published and whether it carries ads, sponsors or paid promotion. 

Every piece of music in a podcast needs clearing with whoever owns the rights, whether it’s a five-second sting or a full theme tune. With commercial releases, that usually means clearing the recording and the composition separately, often with different owners. We control the rights to all the music in our catalogue, so a single licence from us clears it. 

What changes from show to show is the scope of the licence. Our podcast licence can be tailored to every kind of podcast: 

Type of podcast 

What an Audio Network podcast licence can cover 

A charity or not-for-profit show without ads 

The episodes on the audio platforms you publish to 

A monetised show with ads or sponsors 

Commercial use alongside ad breaks and sponsor reads 

A branded or corporate podcast 

Commercial use for a show your brand produces or funds 

A video podcast on YouTube 

The video version as well as the audio feed (one podcast licence covers both) 

Clips promoted on social media 

Paid promotion of the show as well as organic posting 

 

Tell us which of these apply when you license, and we’ll make sure the licence covers them.  

Can One Licence Cover a Podcast Worldwide, on Every Platform and in Perpetuity?

With Audio Network, yes. We can license music for your podcast worldwide, on every platform your show appears on, and sometimes in perpetuity, so the music never needs re-clearing as your audience grows. 

Podcast listeners aren’t limited to one country, and a good episode keeps finding new listeners years after it goes out. Worldwide coverage means your show can be heard anywhere. A licence in perpetuity means an episode from three seasons ago stays cleared for as long as it stays online. Not every music licence gives you that: terms vary between providers, and some limit where, how or for how long you can use a track. 

If you don’t need all of that, for example if your show is for one market, or you only need the music for a defined period, tell us. We’ll price the licence for exactly the rights you use, which costs less than full coverage. 

Do I Need a Different Licence if My Podcast Has Ads, Sponsors or Paid Promotion?

With Audio Network, you can cover it all under one licence. Our podcast licence can cover organic and paid use together: episodes with or without ads and sponsors, plus paid promotion of the show. 

Most podcasts change over time. A show might launch without ads, pick up a sponsor in season two and start promoting clips with paid social. Rather than buying a new licence at each stage, you can cover all of it under one Audio Network podcast licence from the start. With other providers, ads, sponsorship and paid promotion may need separate licences or an upgrade, so check the terms before you publish. 

Sponsorships are easy to overlook. If a sponsor read sits over one of our beds, or a sponsor wants to use the show’s theme in its own promotion, tell us when you license so the licence covers it. 

Can I Use the Same Music on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube?

With Audio Network, yes. A single Audio Network podcast licence covers both the audio podcast and a video version, so the same edit works on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Not every licence covers video as well as audio, so if you source music elsewhere, check before you publish. 

More shows now publish a filmed version on YouTube alongside the audio feed. With commercial music, YouTube is where copyright claims tend to show up. Because our music is original, rights-controlled and pre-cleared for the uses your licence covers, you avoid the copyright strikes and takedowns that come with using unlicensed tracks. 

Whoever you license from, check that your podcast music licence covers: 

  • Podcasts specifically, not just online video 
  • The video version as well as the audio feed 
  • Ads, sponsors and paid promotion, if you have them or plan to 
  • Every territory and platform you publish to 
  • How long the episodes will stay online 

What Music Works for Podcasts, and Which Versions Will I Need?

Most podcasts need three things: a short, recognisable theme, a bed that sits under conversation, and stings for transitions and ad breaks. Our tracks come with versions for all three. 

A theme should be short and memorable, typically 15 to 30 seconds. A bed needs to support the voices without competing with them, so it works best without a strong lead melody. Stings mark a change of segment in a second or two. Our catalogue includes versions built for every part of a podcast: 

Part of the show 

What works 

Versions to look for 

Intro and outro theme 

Short and recognisable, typically 15 to 30 seconds 

15- and 30-second edits (more than 60,000 timed edits across the catalogue) 

Bed under conversation 

Low-key, with no lead melody fighting the voice 

Underscore mixes (more than 25,000) and instrumental mixes (more than 24,000), plus stripped-back, light and ambient versions 

Segment transitions 

A clear, very short change of mood 

Stings, usually under ten seconds (more than 69,000) 

Ad breaks and sponsor reads 

A short link in and out of the break 

Bumpers (more than 2,500) and 15-second edits 

Your own edits 

Looping a bed or shortening a theme 

Stems, available on more than half the catalogue 

 

Our production music catalogue includes more than 300,000 tracks and versions from over 1,000 composers, artists and producers. You can search across 80 moods, filter by tempo, or describe what you want with our AI-powered search, including by prompt or by matching a reference track. To get started, browse our Podcasts playlist, or send our team a brief for a free, curated shortlist. 

How Much Does It Cost to License Music for a Podcast?

The cost depends on the scope of use: what you’re making, where it will appear and how much music you need. 

A charity podcast on audio platforms reaches a very different audience from a sponsored video series promoted with paid social, and our pricing reflects that. You only pay for the reach your show needs. We offer three ways to license music for a podcast: 

Licence option 

Best for 

Single track 

One show or episode 

Per project 

A full series or season using several tracks, at a price tailored to the project 

Annual subscription 

Teams making podcasts and other content regularly: a full year of content for your whole team, with sound effects as an option 

 

Licensing several tracks together gets you a better per-track rate, and there are no seat restrictions, so your whole team can use the account at no extra cost. Our licensing team prices every podcast licence to suit your budget, and typically responds within the hour during working hours. 

Why Do Brands License Podcast Music From a Production Music Library Instead of Royalty-Free Sites?

Because our music is 100% human-made by professional composers and cleared for commercial use, so a branded podcast sounds distinctive and carries no copyright risk. 

Our catalogue contains no AI-generated compositions or recordings. Every track is written, recorded and produced by people. We only use AI to help you search and discover music, never to make it. As more music libraries add AI-generated tracks, that matters for any brand that cares what its show sounds like and where the music came from. 

Our composers earn performance royalties whenever their music is broadcast or performed, the recognised professional standard. That lets us work with established, career composers, the same people who score TV, film and advertising, so you get a calibre of music you won’t typically find on royalty-free platforms. And when you publish across online platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, those performance royalties are handled by the platforms themselves, so there’s nothing extra for you to arrange. 

“Royalty-free” describes a pricing model, not a quality or a set of rights: you pay once, with no ongoing royalties, but what you can do with the track varies from site to site, and popular free tracks turn up on many other shows. We’re a production music library, not a royalty-free site. Our music is original, rights-controlled, pre-cleared and fully indemnified, so it’s commercially safe for branded and sponsored content. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use Audio Network music in a podcast? 

A: Yes. Audio Network licenses music for podcasts under its podcast licence, which covers both the audio podcast and a video version on YouTube. A podcast licence can also cover organic and paid use together, including ads, sponsors and paid promotion of the show. 

Q: Do I need a music licence if my podcast isn’t monetised? 

A: Yes. Any music used in a podcast needs clearing with the rights owner, whether or not the show makes money. A non-monetised podcast usually needs narrower rights, and with Audio Network narrower rights cost less. 

Q: My podcast has no ads yet but might later. Which licence should I buy? 

A: Tell Audio Network’s licensing team your plans when you license. They can scope a podcast licence to cover ads and sponsors from the start, or price narrower, organic-only rights if you’d rather pay only for what you need today. 

Q: Can I use one Audio Network track as the theme across every episode of a series? 

A: Yes. An Audio Network per-project licence covers a full series or season using one or several tracks, at a price tailored to the project. Teams making podcasts regularly can also use an annual subscription, which covers a full year of content for the whole team. 

Q: Does an Audio Network podcast licence cover a video version of my podcast on YouTube? 

A: Yes. One Audio Network podcast licence covers both the audio podcast and a video version, so you can use the same edit on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. 

Q: Can an Audio Network podcast licence cover promotional clips and paid social ads for my podcast? 

A: Yes. An Audio Network podcast licence can cover paid promotion of your show alongside the episodes themselves. Tell the licensing team about any paid promotion when you license so it’s included. 

Q: What versions of a track do I get for a podcast? 

A: Many Audio Network tracks come with underscore and instrumental mixes that sit under speech, 15-, 30- and 60-second edits for themes, and short stings and bumpers for transitions and ad breaks. More than half the catalogue is also available as stems, so you can loop or shorten a bed yourself. 

Q: Is royalty-free music free to use in a podcast? 

A: Not necessarily. “Royalty-free” means you pay once with no ongoing royalties, but the rights included vary by site, and free tracks often come with attribution or commercial-use restrictions. Audio Network is a production music library, not a royalty-free site, and its licences are cleared and indemnified for commercial use. 

Q: Is Audio Network’s music made with AI? 

A: No. Audio Network’s catalogue is 100% human-created, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings. Audio Network uses AI only to help customers search and discover music, never to make it. 

Q: Will I get copyright claims if I use Audio Network music in my podcast? 

A: Audio Network’s music is original, rights-controlled and pre-cleared for the uses your licence covers, which removes the copyright-strike and takedown risk that comes with using unlicensed music. Audio Network licences are also fully indemnified. 

Q: How quickly can I license music for a podcast? 

A: Podcast licences from Audio Network are quoted rather than bought online: choose Podcast in the licence selector, and Audio Network’s licensing team typically responds with a quote within the hour during working hours. You can create a free account, with no credit card, to download un-watermarked tracks and test them first. 

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How Much Does It Cost to License Music? A Clear Guide to Pricing 

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How Much Does It Cost to License Music? A Clear Guide to Pricing 

The cost of licensing music depends on the scope of use: what you’re making, where it will appear and how much music you need. Local social content reaches a very different audience from broadcast TV or an international, all-media campaign, so with Audio Network you only pay for the reach your project needs. Every track is 100% human-made, with one clear fee and no hidden costs. 

How Much Does It Cost to License Music?

Pricing is based on the scope of use: what you’re making, where it will appear and how much music you need — and we price to suit your budget. 

The audiences for local social content are very different from broadcast TV or international, all-media campaigns. Our pricing reflects that, so you only pay for the reach your project actually needs. And because we don’t split the catalogue into price tiers, the cost depends on that use, not on which track you pick. Whatever the project, our licensing experts build pricing to suit your budget. 

Within a given use, a single track licensed online is sold at a set price with worldwide distribution included. If you need narrower rights — only certain territories or platforms — the price comes down accordingly, so you only pay for the rights your project actually uses. 

That’s simpler than licensing is often assumed to be — there’s no opaque fee to negotiate. You can see and buy a straightforward single-track licence online at a set price, or ask us for a quote to cover just what you need, whether that’s narrower rights, multiple tracks or a year of content for your team. 

Why Is Every Audio Network Track Priced the Same?

We don’t split our catalogue into “premium” and “budget” tiers — for a given licence type, every track costs the same. 

That means the price of your licence depends on how you’ll use the music, not on which track you choose. You’re never charged more for picking a big orchestral score over a simple acoustic bed; the cost is the same either way. 

For a marketing or content team, that makes budgeting straightforward. You can choose the track that’s right for the work on its merits, knowing the price won’t jump because you picked a favourite. 

How Do I License Music, and How Quickly Can I Do It?

For simple needs you can license online in minutes; for anything more tailored, our team turns a quote around fast. 

Getting started is free. Create an account with no credit card required, search the catalogue, and download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to try our tracks in your edit before you commit. 

When you’ve found your track, use our online licence selector to buy a straightforward single-track licence in minutes, or to request a quote if you need something more specific. If you only need certain territories or platforms, we’ll bring the price down to match — our experts will find the right licence for your project, so you only pay for the rights you need. And when you need more than one track, the same principle applies to our per project licences or annual subscriptions. Our licensing team typically responds within the hour during working hours, so a tailored price doesn’t hold up your project. 

And if you’re not sure which licence you need, you don’t have to work it out alone. Our licensing experts help you choose the right licence for your use, so you can license with confidence. 

Ready to look? Create a free account — no card required — and test tracks in your edit before you license. 

How Can I Pay Less for a Music Licence?

You pay only for the rights you need, so the more precisely your licence matches your use, the less you pay. 

You pay a lower price by narrowing the rights on a single-track licence — fewer territories or fewer platforms — or by licensing several tracks together for a better per-track rate. 

And when you want a set price covering multiple videos or episodes, a per-project licence or annual subscription covering your whole team gives you better value. 

Ways to Pay Only for the Rights You Need

Pay a lower price: 

  • Fewer territories rather than worldwide 
  • Only the platforms you need 
  • Licensing several tracks together for a better per-track rate 

Get better value — a set price covering multiple videos or episodes: 

  • A per-project licence — such as an ad campaign or TV series 
  • An annual subscription — a year of content for the whole team 

For anything beyond a simple single-track use, we’ll price it around your exact needs and budget — so you only pay for the rights your project uses, and never for coverage you don’t. 

What Does One Audio Network Licence Cover?

We license any type of content you produce and can clear it across any platform. Worldwide coverage and perpetuity are available too, depending on the licence you choose — and if you only need music for a set period, a shorter term can cost less. 

One Audio Network licence can cover any type of content you produce — from advertising and social media to TV programmes, film and documentary: 

Content type 

Covered under one licence 

Advertising (TV, digital, social) 

Any platform — terrestrial broadcast, VOD, streaming and online 

Social media & YouTube 

Organic, boosted and paid content across all platforms 

TV & broadcast productions 

Drama, entertainment, factual, news and documentary — terrestrial, VOD and streaming 

Film 

Cinema, festival and streaming releases, including trailers 

Radio & podcasts 

AM, FM, DAB and internet radio; podcasts on all platforms 

Corporate & internal comms 

Internal communications and brand-owned channels 

So one licence can carry your music across the content you make — a TV programme or film, an ad campaign, a social pipeline, a podcast or a radio spot — without clearing each use separately. And where your licence is in perpetuity, the track stays cleared for the lifetime of your content, with no renewal or recurring fee. 

Is Audio Network’s Music Commercially Safe to Use?

Yes — our catalogue is commercially safe. Every track is original, rights-controlled, pre-cleared for the uses your licence covers and fully indemnified, and it’s 100% human-made — so brands and productions can use it in commercial work with complete confidence. 

The most important thing to know is how our music is made. Our catalogue is 100% human-crafted — commissioned, recorded and produced by real composers — and contains no AI-generated compositions or recordings. We use AI only to help you search and discover music, never to create it. As some libraries pivot to selling AI-generated music, that’s a distinction they can’t currently claim — and for brands it removes any ambiguity over authorship and rights. 

That commercial safety comes from owning our rights. Because we own or control the rights to our music, a single licence clears it for use — there’s no chasing multiple rights holders — and every licence is fully indemnified, so you’re protected if a claim is ever raised. Using pre-cleared production music also removes the copyright-strike, Content ID and takedown risk that comes with commercial or user-generated tracks. 

Do Composer Royalties or Pro Fees Add to What I Pay?

Your Audio Network licence is one clear fee — you pay us once, with no hidden or recurring charges from us. 

Our composers earn performance royalties through collecting societies (PROs) such as PRS, ASCAP and BMI — the recognised professional standard for how working composers are paid, and a deliberate contrast to buy-out or AI-generated catalogues. That model is also part of why the music is so good: rewarding composers the way the professional industry does lets us work with established, career composers — the people who also score broadcast, film and advertising — so you get a calibre of musicianship you won’t typically find on royalty-free platforms. 

You don’t have to handle any of that. When you publish content across online platforms — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook — those royalties are covered by the platforms themselves, so there’s nothing extra for you to arrange. 

Can My Whole Team Use One Licence?

Yes — there are no seat restrictions, so your whole team is covered at no extra cost. 

Our accounts have no seat restrictions, so you can add your whole team — or, for an agency, everyone working across multiple clients — at no extra cost. One subscription covers everyone under a single licence. 

Can Someone Help Me Choose the Right Licence and Find Music?

Yes — our licensing experts help you pick the right licence, and complimentary music research is included as standard. 

If you’re unsure which licence fits your use, our team will guide you — that’s part of the service, not an add-on. It’s why being able to talk to us is a strength, not a barrier: you get an expert building the right licence around your project. 

And if you’d rather not search alone, send us your brief and our music researchers come back with a curated shortlist, at no extra cost. We work across most global time zones, so help is close at hand wherever your team is based. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to license music? 

The cost depends on how widely you use the music and the audience it reaches — local social content is priced differently from a broadcast TV or international, all-media campaign. With Audio Network, a single track licensed online has a set price with worldwide distribution included, and you pay less if you only need certain territories or platforms. For multiple tracks or specific rights, our licensing experts will price it around your exact needs and budget. 

How much does a music licence cost? 

An Audio Network music licence is priced by how you’ll use the music, not by which track you choose — every track is priced the same for a given licence type. A straightforward single-track licence can be bought online; a per-project or annual subscription licence covers multiple tracks for better value. 

How much does a sync licence cost? 

With Audio Network there are no hidden restrictions or unexpected fees. Because we own or control both the recording and the composition, one licence clears both — so you pay a single, transparent fee for the use you need rather than negotiating separate master and publishing rights. 

Can I buy a music licence online, or do I have to request a quote? 

You can do either. Simple single-track licences can be bought directly online, at the listed price, through our licence selector. For bigger campaigns, multiple tracks or a whole team, request a quote from the same page and our licensing experts will usually respond within the hour (during working hours). 

Is Audio Network expensive? 

No — you pay only for the rights you need. A single track licensed online has a set price with worldwide distribution included, and you pay less if you only need certain territories or platforms; for multiple tracks, a per-project or subscription licence gives the best value. Every track is priced the same, so there’s no premium for choosing a bigger-sounding track. 

Is licensing music with Audio Network complicated? 

No. One Audio Network licence can cover the content types and platforms your team produces for, so you don’t clear each channel separately. Simple licences are bought online, and our experts are on hand to help you choose the right one. 

Is Audio Network’s music copyright-safe to use commercially? 

Yes. Our catalogue is commercially safe: every track is original, rights-controlled, pre-cleared for the uses your licence covers and fully indemnified, so you can use it in commercial and branded content with confidence. Because it’s also 100% human-made, there’s no ambiguity over authorship or rights — and using pre-cleared production music removes the copyright-strike, Content ID and takedown risk that comes with commercial or user-generated tracks. 

Is Audio Network royalty-free? 

No — we’re a premium production music library, not a royalty-free service. Our music is original and rights-controlled, our composers are credited and fairly paid, and our licences are built around how professional teams actually work. 

Are performance royalties covered when I publish on social media, YouTube or through a broadcaster? 

Yes. On the online platforms brands publish to — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook — performance royalties are covered by the platforms’ own agreements, so there’s nothing extra for you to arrange. Your Audio Network licence fee is a single, clear charge with no hidden or recurring costs from us. 

Does one licence cover social media as well as TV and advertising? 

Yes. A single Audio Network licence can cover advertising, social media (organic and paid), YouTube, TV, radio and podcasts — from a two-minute hero film to a daily pipeline of vertical social cuts — with no per-platform limits to manage. 

Can my whole team use one account? 

Yes. Our accounts have no seat restrictions, so adding your whole team costs nothing extra. One annual subscription covers everyone — ideal for agencies managing multiple clients or brand teams producing content at scale. 

How long does an Audio Network licence last? 

It depends on the licence you choose. We can offer licences in perpetuity, so your content stays cleared for its lifetime with no renewal or recurring fee. If you only need music for a set period — a one-year advertising campaign, for example — a time-limited licence can cost less. And if you’re on a subscription, anything you licensed during it stays cleared after the subscription ends. 

How quickly can I get a licence or a quote? 

Straightforward single-track licences can be bought online in minutes. For a quote tailored to your specific project, our licensing team typically responds within the hour during working hours, so getting the right price doesn’t slow your project down. 

Find the Right Music, Licensed Your Way

Find the right licence for your project and buy online in minutes, or create a free account to test tracks in your edit first — no card required. Need something more specific? Our licensing experts will put together a quote built around your budget.

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Best Music Licensing Platform for Brands: What to Look For

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Best Music Licensing Platform for Brands: What to Look For

The best music licensing platform for brands is one built for brand use specifically: 100% original, rights-controlled music, one licence covering every platform worldwide, some licences that can be granted in perpetuity, and human support included as standard, not locked behind an enterprise tier. Audio Network is built around exactly that. Our catalogue spans 158 genres and sub-genres across 300,000+ tracks, with no AI-generated compositions and no third-party rights chains to untangle.

What’s The Best Music Licensing Platform for Brands?

The best platform for a brand isn’t necessarily the biggest or the cheapest – it’s the one that removes risk and complexity from a campaign, not adds to it.

That means original music your team can trace the rights to, a licence that doesn’t need re-checking every time content moves to a new platform or territory, and pricing that scales from a single video to a global content pipeline without renegotiating from scratch.

We built our catalogue and licensing model around exactly that brief, for brands running everything from a single campaign to an always-on content pipeline.

What Should Brands Look for in a Music Licensing Platform?

Look for four things: original, rights-controlled music; licensing that covers every platform and territory a campaign will run in; pricing that scales with your team; and human support when a brief gets complicated.

Rights clarity matters most. Because we compose, record and own our catalogue outright – rather than aggregating tracks from third parties – one licence clears the music instead of chasing down separate publishers and labels.

That’s not just a convenience. Music with unclear or unverified rights can get a piece of content flagged or taken down for copyright infringement on the platform it’s running on – a real brand risk, and one that wastes time re-editing or re-clearing content that’s already live. In the worst case, using music without a proper licence can expose a business to legal action from the rights holder.

Our music is pre-cleared for the uses each licence covers, which removes that copyright-strike and takedown risk before it becomes a problem, rather than leaving a brand to discover a rights issue after a campaign has gone live.

Scale matters just as much. Whether it’s one campaign or a global content pipeline running across a dozen markets, the same trusted catalogue and licensing terms apply everywhere, so a brand team isn’t relearning the rules for every project.

How Does Audio Network’s Licensing Model Work for Brands?

We offer three main ways to licence, so you pay only for what you need: an unlimited annual subscription for your whole team, a per-use licence for a single video or episode, and a per-project licence covering multiple videos and tracks at a price tailored to the campaign.

Every licence is fully indemnified and covers all content types and platforms globally – advertising, social, YouTube, TV, radio and podcasts – with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence you choose, and no need to re-clear content when it moves to a new channel.

Some licences can also be granted in perpetuity: once a track is cleared under one of those licences, it stays cleared for the life of the content, with no renewal or recurring fee.

Is Audio Network’s Catalogue Big Enough to Cover All of a Brand’s Content?

Yes – the licensing model only works well if the catalogue behind it is deep enough that a brand doesn’t need a second library, and ours spans 300,000+ tracks and versions across 158 genres and sub-genres.

That means a brand team can source a broadcast-grade hero film, a 30-second social cut and a corporate explainer from the same catalogue, under the same licence, rather than piecing content together from several different providers with different terms.

Tracks are tagged by mood and tempo as well as genre, so a team can search by the feeling a piece of content needs – bright and optimistic, driving and energetic, warm and uplifting – across 80 distinct moods, and find it fast.

Is Audio Network’s Catalogue Actually Original and Rights-Controlled?

Yes – every track is 100% human-created, commissioned and recorded specifically for our catalogue, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings anywhere in it.

Some of the most widely used alternatives have pivoted into selling AI-generated music, video and voice as part of a broader toolkit. We’ve taken the opposite position: AI powers how people search and discover music in our catalogue but plays no part in how the music itself is made – a distinction that matters more, not less, as brands navigate the rights risks that come with AI-generated content.

Because we own the rights outright, there’s no third-party rights chain to untangle and no ambiguity over authorship – which is what makes a single licence enough.

Does The Platform Scale Across a Whole Marketing Team or Agency?

Yes – we place no seat restrictions on accounts, so an unlimited subscription covers your entire team or agency, across any platform globally, under one licence.

That makes it well suited to agencies managing multiple clients and brand teams running content at scale: one invoice, one licence, and a team that’s ready to work without individually licensing every seat.

What About Sound Effects?

Yes – our music library includes access to over 200,000 professional sound effects, powered by our partnership with Pro Sound Effects, so a team can source music and SFX from one place.

Sound effects can be added to a subscription alongside the music catalogue, rather than sourced from a separate provider.

How Is Audio Network Different from Other Music Licensing Options?

The biggest differences are how the music is made and how simply it’s licensed – not just catalogue size.

Royalty-free and stock libraries often aggregate tracks from multiple third-party sources or lean on AI-generated content, which can mean unclear rights chains and licence terms that vary tier by tier. Because we compose, record and own our catalogue outright, one licence covers a brand’s content everywhere it needs to go, with no AI-generated material and no rights ambiguity.

What To Compare When Choosing a Platform

Here’s how the criteria that matter most to brands typically play out:

Criteria Audio Network Typical royalty-free / stock library
Music origin 100% human-composed and recorded, no AI-generated content Often aggregated from third parties or increasingly AI-generated
Licensing clarity One licence, rights-controlled, fully indemnified Varies by tier; rights chains can be harder to trace
Global, all-platform coverage; some licences with perpetual terms Included, depending on licence chosen Often limited by platform, territory or subscription period
Sound effects included Yes – 200,000+, via Pro Sound Effects Varies by provider
Human music research Included as standard, at no extra cost Typically behind top enterprise tiers

Does Audio Network Offer Support Beyond Just a Search Tool?

Yes – complimentary music research is included as standard: send us a brief and our team of licensing experts returns a curated shortlist of tracks at no extra cost.

Comparable personal curation from many competitors typically sits behind their top enterprise tiers. Our music experts also support you at every stage, from choosing the right licence for a complex brief to turning around options fast against a deadline, across most global time zones.

Who Uses Audio Network?

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

We work with both in-house brand teams and creative and media agencies of every size, from a single in-house marketer to a global agency network.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best music licensing platform for brands?

One built for brand use specifically: original, rights-controlled music, a licence covering every platform worldwide, some licences that can be granted in perpetuity, and human support included as standard.

What should brands look for in a music licensing platform?

Original, rights-controlled music; licensing that covers every platform and territory; pricing that scales with your team; and human support for complex briefs.

Is Audio Network’s music original?

Yes – every track is 100% human-created and commissioned specifically for our catalogue, with no AI-generated compositions or recordings.

Does one Audio Network licence cover every platform?

Yes – a single licence clears content across advertising, social, YouTube, TV, radio and podcasts, with worldwide coverage available depending on the licence chosen.

How long does an Audio Network licence last?

Some licences can be granted in perpetuity – once a track is cleared under one of those licences, it stays cleared for the life of the content, with no renewal or recurring fee.

Can a whole agency or brand team use one account?

Yes – we place no seat restrictions on accounts, so one subscription covers your entire team or agency at no extra cost.

Does Audio Network offer sound effects as well as music?

Yes – over 200,000 professional sound effects, powered by our partnership with Pro Sound Effects, available alongside the music catalogue.

Is Audio Network royalty-free?

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

Does Audio Network help find the right music for a brief?

Yes – complimentary music research is included as standard: send us a brief and our team returns a curated shortlist at no extra cost.

Is Audio Network’s music indemnified?

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

Which brands use Audio Network?

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

Can I try a track before I licence it?

Yes – create a free account and download high-resolution, un-watermarked files to test a track in your edit before you commit.

Ready to Find the Right Music Platform for Your Brand?

Discover our catalogue to see the depth for yourself, create a free account to test tracks before you licence, or contact our team to talk through a licence for your organisation.

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filmmaking

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

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

filmmaking

You find licensed music for film at a production music library like us, not a commercial soundtrack or user-generated tracks. Our catalogue holds over 300,000 tracks and versions across every genre a film needs, from epic orchestral scores to intimate character themes, including a curated collection from Mission: Impossible composer Lorne Balfe. Every track is 100% human-made, cleared for broadcast, festival and theatrical use under one licence, and available with stems for editing.

Where Can I Find Licensed Music for Film?

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

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

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

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

Where Do I Find Music for Short Films?

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

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

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

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

What Music Works Best for a Film?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Does Licensing Work for a Film Production?

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

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

For larger or more complex productions, our licensing experts will price it to suit your budget and how the music will be used.

Ways to License Film Music

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

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

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

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

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

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find licensed music for film?

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

Where do I find music for short films?

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

What music works best for a film?

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

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

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

Are film tracks available as stems?

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

Does Audio Network use AI to make its music?

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

Is Audio Network royalty-free?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is Audio Network’s music indemnified?

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

Does Audio Network sponsor film festivals?

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

Ready to Find Music for Your Content?

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

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