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VLOG MUSIC: WHAT MUSIC DO VLOGGERS USE?

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    'Vlog music' is such a generic term because, ultimately, the type of music you choose depends on the kind of video you're creating. Hence, we've sectioned our vlog music into seven distinct categories to help you find a track with ease. We know... we're too good to you.

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    Vlog Background Music Types

    • Reviews
    • Pranks
    • Travel
    • Beauty, fashion & fitness
    • Lifestyle
    • Gamer
    • Pop culture

    From prank vlogs to beauty vlogs, fitness vlogs to gamer vlogs, the internet is awash with different types of videos that educate, entertain and inspire. Find a selection of appropriate tracks for each type of vlog, below.

    Reviews Vlog Music

    We all love a review vlog – especially those that involve an unboxing – but, the question is, what kind of music do you edit into one? Well, it has to be something that keeps the viewers engaged during those show-them-what-they-came-here-for scenes, but it also has to be something that doesn't distract from the product – or movie or book - you're reviewing. So, here are the upbeat songs for vlogs we're suggesting as a happy middle ground.

    Pranks Vlog Music

    A prank vlog calls for a very specific type of music piece that complements the main attraction. It needs to be novel; it needs to be mischievous and, last but not least, it needs to be comedic. Naturally, we've selected three happy vlog music tracks that tick each of these boxes.

    Travel Vlog Music

    A travel vlog's purpose is to open the viewer's eyes to the awe-inspiring beauty of the world ­– to rouse the travel bug inside of the individual. Therefore, a travel vlog's soundtrack needs to transport the viewer to destinations across the world. Find travel vlog music inspired by the four corners of the world, here.

    Beauty, Fashion and Fitness Vlog Music

    For the content creators hoping to influence the way others look and feel – AKA the beauty, fashion and fitness vloggers – we have a whole host of background music tracks to aid your content. Here are just three to help you get started.

    Lifestyle Vlog Music

    From home interior tours to wholesome food tutorials, some of the most popular videos available on the web are lifestyle-centric vlogs. Make sure yours stands out with one of our vlog background music tracks.

    Gamer Vlog Music

    Looking to score a winner with your latest gamer vlog? The key is to add a touch of captivating music (extra points if it’s aptly electronic). Immerse yourself in our carefully-collated pick of Youtube vlog background tracks below.

    Pop Culture Vlog Music

    When we think of pop culture, we think of all of the things we love – from Marvel's Cinematic Universe to Game of Thrones or Netflix’s Tiger King. Therefore, a pop culture vlog needs to incorporate tracks that are zestful and versatile. Fortunately, we have a range of upbeat songs for vlogs stored safely in our virtual catalogue.

    Why Pick a Track from Audio Network?

    Audio Network makes things hassle-free by providing vloggers with high-quality, licensed tracks that they can simply add to their latest masterpiece.

    By purchasing music from us, you can rest assured knowing that your vlog is free of any legal restrictions, as our tracks are pre-cleared for use on any – and we mean ANY – platform across the world. Find whatever you need from our catalogue of 200,000+ tracks, from ambient to urban, electronic to classical favourites, to suit any style, mood or genre.

    Need Music for Your Project?

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

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    nigerian music

    HISTORY OF NIGERIAN MUSIC: TUNDE KING, BURNA BOY & MORE

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      Vibrant and energetic, Nigerian music includes genres such as Afrobeat, highlife and Jùjú. But what is its history, who have been its most successful and influential musicians, and who are the best Nigerian artists to listen to?

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      Traditional Nigerian music

      When it comes to the history of Nigerian music, little is known about it prior to European contact – though bronze carvings dating back to the 16th century have been found, depicting musicians with their instruments.

      Traditional music from Nigeria is almost always functional, to mark rituals such as weddings or funerals, together with work songs, sung in the fields, and by women, who use complex rhythms in tasks such as pounding yams.

      Highlife

      Highlife music originated in Ghana in the late 19th century, then spread to western Nigeria, where it flourished in the 1950s among the Igbo people. Originally primarily performed by brass bands along the Ghanaian coast, by the early 20th century, the bands had brought in a vocal component and stylistic elements of local music traditions and jazz.

      In Nigeria, highlife was transformed with asymmetrical drum rhythms derived from the Yoruba people’s drumming, and combined with syncopated guitar melodies. The songs were sung in either Yoruba or English. After the civil war in the 1960s, Igbo musicians were forced out of Lagos and returned to their homeland, with the result that highlife ceased to be a major part of mainstream Nigerian music.

      Jùjú music emerged from highlife to take over as the most popular style. However, Umu Obiligbo – Igbo highlife musicians and brothers Chukwuebuka Akunwafor and Ifeanyichukwu Okpuozor – are still singing highlife in its original Igbo style, whilst also featuring Afropop musicians on some of their tracks.

      Jùjú Music

      Jùjú is another style of Yoruba music – the name comes from the Yoruba word ‘juju’ or ‘jiju’, meaning ‘throwing’ or ‘something being thrown’ and the lead instrument is the lya Ilu, or talking drum.

      In the 1930s, early Nigerian fusion Jùjú music originated in Lagos. Jùjú has similarities with rap, as it mainly focuses on talking about people and things – the first recordings were made by Yoruba musician Tunde King in 1929. It was informal music played at parties or for friends; artists such as Irewole Denge, Ojoge Daniel and Ebenezer Obey popularized it in the 1930s, playing at concerts.

      A Pioneer of Modern World Music

      King Sunny Adé, born in 1946, is one of the most popular Nigerian Jùjú music artists and has been hailed as a pioneer of modern world music and is highly influential – he was the first to introduce the pedal steel guitar to Nigerian pop, and pioneered the use of synths, vibraphone and tenor guitar in the Jùjú repertoire.

      In the 70s and 80s, Sunny Adé toured America and Europe, where he played to mixed audiences. Trey Anastasio, an American guitarist, explained Adé’s musical approach, and why he admired his music so much:

      ‘Sunny Adé’s music is characterised by, among other instruments, the Talking drum – an instrument indigenous to his Yoruba roots, the guitar and his peculiar application to Jùjú music that would easily put him in the same class as guitar musicians like Santana. His music is in the age-old tradition of singing poetic lyrics, (“Ewi” in Yoruba) and praise of dignitaries as well components of “Jùjú” (traditional African belief) called the “Ogede”- “casting a spell”. Hence, Adé’s music constitutes a record of the oral tradition of his people for posterity.’

      The release of Odu, a collection of traditional Yoruba songs, in 1998 saw Adé become the first African to be nominated twice for a Grammy, and in the 1980s, his music was featured in the Richard Gere film Breathless.

      Afrobeat

      Afrobeat is a fusion of jazz, funk, highlife, salsa, calypso, and traditional Nigerian Yoruba music, pioneered by Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and activist Fela Kuti (1938-1997).

      Kuti was the son of Nigerian women’s rights activist Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and shot to stardom in Nigeria during the 1970s. He was known for his showmanship, but political meaning was always threaded through his music. In an interview in Hank Bordowitz’s Noise of the World, he stated, ‘Music is supposed to have an effect. If you’re playing music and people don’t feel something, you’re not doing shit. That’s what African music is about. When you hear something, you must move. I want to move people to dance, but also to think. Music wants to dictate a better life, against a bad life. When you’re listening to something that depicts having a better life, and you’re not having a better life, it must have an effect on you.’

      ‘Kannywood’

      In the 1980s, Bollywood films began to be introduced to Nigeria, which were then translated and remade in the Hausa language, leading to a new music genre, wakokin fina-fina.

      In the late 1990s, the Northern Nigerian film industry, known as Kannywood, developed and this style of music, also called Nanaye, became widespread. It involves a call-and-response structure, and features both male and female vocalists.

      One of the most prolific female composers, Maryam A Baba, has written more than 5,000 songs, including tracks for the film industry.

      The Nigerian Music Industry

      The Nigerian music industry is going from strength to strength, with artists such as Burna Boy winning the Best World Music Album with Twice as Tall at the Grammys, and Wizkid hitting the Billboard Hot 100 four times to date – the most for an African artist.

      Top 5 Nigerian Artists

      • Burna Boy
      • Wizkid
      • Davido
      • Tiwa Savage
      • Olamide

      Burna Boy

      Damini Ogulu – aka Burna Boy – is a singer, songwriter and record producer, who rose to fame in 2012 after releasing ‘Like to Party’ from his debut studio album L.I.F.E. He describes his music as Afro-fusion – a blend of Afrobeats, R&B, hip hop, dancehall and reggae.

      Burna Boy won Best International Act at the 2019 BET Awards – he’s since become the first African artist to bag three nominations and win consecutively (in 2019, 2020 and 2021). His fourth studio album, African Giant, won Album of the Year at the 2019 All Africa Music Awards.

      Fifth studio album Twice as Tall debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard World Albums chart and won Best World Music Album at the Grammy Awards, making him the first Nigerian artist with back-to-back nominations at the awards. He also won Best International Act at the MOBO Awards, where he was up against industry heavyweights including Drake, Megan Thee Stallion and Lil Baby.

      Burna Boy is also known for his collabs – he’s featured on Justin Bieber’s ‘Loved by You’ and Sam Smith’s ‘My Oasis’ and appeared alongside Ed Sheeran on Stormzy’s single ‘Own It’ from his Heavy is the Head album.

      WizKid

      2022 was the first year that the Headies Awards are coming to America from Nigeria, marking the fact that Afrobeats is now truly global, and Wizkid is leading the charge, with ten nominations.  

      The Nigerian singer/songwriter became the first Afrobeats artist to feature in the Guinness World Records under ‘Most streamed song on Spotify’ for his contribution to the hit song ‘One Dance’ in the 2018 edition (as well as appearing on the track, he also co-wrote and co-produced it.) The track also set a record for being the first to reach a billion streams on Spotify.

      In February 2021, Wizkid was the most-streamed artist of all time on Spotify, with over 3.4 billions streams across all credits. He also became the first Nigerian musician to have over a million followers on Twitter.

      Davido

      Davido broke through in Africa in 2011, with hit single ‘Dami Duro’ from his debut album Omo Baba Olowo. His 2019 album, A Good Time, has earned over a billion streams and his 2020 follow-up, A Better Time, featured everyone from Nicki Minaj to Nas, Lil Baby and Young Thug.

      Davido has always made a point of collaborating with up-and-coming African acts. His video for ‘La La’ features CKay and newer Nigerian musicians, such as Joeboy, Oxlade, and Blaqbonez.

      In a recent Rolling Stone interview, he explained his take on collaborations is that, ‘You can’t just come and say, “Oh, I want to make a song with this guy because he’s going to get a million views in one day.” I don’t work like that. I work based on vibes. If I like the record, I’m probably going to do it. And that’s how me and CKay linked up, because I love his sound, and then he ended up having the biggest Afrobeats record ever.’

      Tiwa Savage, aka The Queen of Afrobeats

      The ‘Somebody’s Son’ singer recently received an honorary doctorate in music from the University of Kent in Canterbury. ‘Some call me queen, but it’s Dr. Savage from now on,’ she joked in her acceptance speech.

      Savage started her music career at just sixteen and became the first African woman to win an MTV Europe Music Award. Over the course of her career, Tiwa has released four albums, 23 singles and was the first African woman to sell out the Indigo O2. She was also the first African woman to be a Pepsi brand ambassador, and appeared on the front cover of Billboard’s first issue devoted entirely to Africa.

      The songwriter’s collaborations have received significant acclaim, and in 2010, her collaboration with Fantasia led to the artists receiving a Grammy nomination.  As a solo artist, Tiwa has forged a path that draws from her musical beginnings of mainstream pop and R&B to develop a fusion heavily based on Afrobeats, typically switching between English and Yoruba in her lyrics. She’s said that, ‘There’s beauty in bringing both markets together and I had the ability to do it.’

      Her 2020 album, Celia, features guest appearances from Davido, Sam Smith, Naira Marley and Stefflon Don.

      Olamide

      Nigerian rapper Olamide is one of Africa’s most influential artists, recording in both Yoruba and English, and with his own record label, YBNL Nation. He released debut studio album Rapsodi in 2011, with his twelfth album, UY Scuti, released in 2021.

      He told Notion that, ‘the kind of music I make is really about moving ahead. Getting the people in a great mood, no matter what they’re going through. A lot of my albums from way back are centered around motivation, liberation and good music for people to vibe with. People are going through a lot, but they just want to be happy. For so long now, I’ve been giving people feel-good music that they can vibe with and just forget their sorrow.’

      Read More

      We have an array of great articles on Black music – from jazz to hip hop, country to R&B, read about Black music history, or explore the best hip hop movie soundtracks and iconic hip hop movies.

      Need Music for Your Project?

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

      SIGN UP

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      what is afrobeats

      AN EXPERT GUIDE TO AFROBEATS MUSIC: REMA, TITI LOKEI & MORE

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        What is Afrobeats music? How did it begin? Which countries does it originate from? And what are some of the different variations within the genre? In this guide, we give you the skinny on all things Afrobeats-associated, plus share some of our current favourite Afrobeats artists, including Audio Network songwriting sensation Titi Lokei.

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        A Brief History of Afrobeats Music

        There’s a lot of confusion around the differences between Afrobeat and Afrobeats, so allow us to explain.

        Afrobeat

        Afrobeat’s earliest roots were laid in Ghana in the early 20th century with the birth of highlife, a musical style which blended West African folk sounds with elements from Western jazz and calypso. By the late 1950s, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti had begun exploring the possibilities of this new genre, adding elements from soul, jazz, R&B and soca into the mix.

        In 1976, Fela and his band, Africa 70, released their debut LP Zombie, and with it established the classic Afrobeat sound, which embellished the aforementioned musical fusion with elements from funk, psychedelic rock and reggae. Under Fela’s guidance, political commentary became a key component of the Afrobeat genre, with artists seeking to inspire listeners to take action against government corruption and societal injustice.

        Fela continued to spearhead the Afrobeat movement until his death in the late 90s, when his sons Seun and Femi took up the mantle. Meanwhile, Fela’s drummer Tony Allen further explored the possibilities of Afrobeat by pioneering a hip hop, dub and electronica-influenced sub-genre dubbed Afrofunk.

        Afrobeats

        The name Afrobeats was first coined in the early 00s as an umbrella term to describe a vibrant wave of pop music largely emerging from Nigeria and Ghana. Though undoubtedly influenced by Afrobeat, Afrobeats largely eschews political content in favour of more uplifting subject matter, and incorporates a dizzying range of musical styles, including dancehall, bashment, juju, Naija beats, soca, house, hip hop and R&B. There are also a plethora of subgenres, including Afropop, Afrobashment, Afrorave and Afroswing (a fusion of rap, grime, dancehall, trap and R&B pioneered by British-Gambian rapper J Hus).

        Afrobeats’ meteoric rise can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, MTV Base Africa launching in 2005, broadcasting indigenous sounds globally. Secondly, the gradual dissolution of rigid genre boundaries, meaning that it’s now the norm for musicians to interpolate elements from disparate musical styles into their songwriting. As a result, the parameters of pop music are being rapidly redefined, with elements like driving, African-inspired drum rhythms becoming commonplace in modern pop.

        Another key factor in Afrobeats’ rise in popularity is the fact that the US is home to a thriving West African diaspora. As Rolling Stone report, “Between 2000 and 2015, the African-immigrant population in just the United States more than doubled, exceeding 2 million.”

        Key Characteristics of Afrobeats Music

        So what does Afrobeats music sound like? There’s no foolproof formula but here are some of the common characteristics of the genre:

        • Uplifting melodies
        • Complex rhythms and heavy percussion
        • Hybrid languages
        • Digital production

        Uplifting Melodies

        Synonymous with celebrations, Afrobeats songs favour bright vocal melodies and party-ready rhythms.

        Complex Rhythms & Heavy Percussion

        Drawing on the rich history of West African drumming, Afrobeats productions usually foreground syncopated, dancefloor-designed rhythms.

        Hybrid Languages

        Afrobeats artists typically mix English with the West African languages, including Naijá (Pidgin English) in the case of Nigerian Afrobeats stars.

        Digital Production

        Where Afrobeat songs are largely created with analogue production – both by virtue of the instrumentation used and the era in which the bulk of tracks were made – Afrobeats records are generally digitally produced.

        Afrobeats Artists You Need To Know

        • Tems
        • Titi Lokei
        • Rema
        • Amaarae
        • Obongjayar
        • Naira Marley

        Beyond Grammy-approved behemoths like Burna Boy and Wizkid, where do you begin with Afrobeats? Below, we round up some of our current favourite Afrobeats artists.

        Tems

        Hailing from Lagos, Temilade Openiyi has enjoyed an abundance of high profile support since the release of her debut EP, For Broken Ears, back in 2020. A-list collaborations so far include work with Wizkid on his Grammy-nominated, US top 10 single ‘Essence’, as well as cameos on Drake’s sixth album Certified Lover Boy and on Future’s 2022 single ‘Wait For U’.

        Titi Lokei

        Audio Network artist Titi Lokei is a songwriting sensation. Drawing on her Nigerian heritage, the Chicago-born star fuses Afrobeats with influences from hip hop and pop, and has previously opened for acts including Jeremih, Wizkid, Davido and Twista.

        Want to learn more about Titi? Check out her Talking Change episode:

        Rema

        Pioneer of the self-styled Afrobeats subgenre Afrorave – a phrase adapted from Benin City slang – Rema counts Selena Gomez, FKA Twigs, Skepta and Barack Obama amongst his high-profile fans. In addition, the Lagos-based star’s debut album Rave and Roses features collaborations with AJ Tracey, 6LACK and Chris Brown.

        Amaarae

        Born in New York and raised between Accra, Atlanta and Hackettstown, Amaarae’s cross-cultural experience is the driving force behind her deeply experimental ethos. Embraced and endorsed by the exciting melting pot of exuberant creativity that is Nigeria’s Alté scene, Amaarae is all about female empowerment and puts her West African heritage and influences at the core of everything she does, while challenging views on gender norms, female sexuality, artistic self-expression and more.

        Obongjayar

        Calabar-born, London-based singer Steven Umoh released his brilliant debut album Some Nights I Dream Of Doors back in May of 2022 to widespread acclaim. A chameleonic talent blending Afrobeats with an eclectic array of other influences, you might also recognise his distinctive vocals from his work with Little Simz, Giggs, Danny Brown, Pa Salieu and Moses Boyd.

        Naira Marley

        Known for his outspoken, anti-authoritarian outlook, Lagos-raised star Naira Marley creates Afrobeats music that draws on Caribbean dancehall as well as UK road rap. A viral sensation in his native Nigeria, he also runs the wildly successful record label Marlian Music.

        Last Last…

        Enjoyed learning about Afrobeats, and want to find out more about other musical styles? Head over to our blog, The Edit, which offers a veritable wealth of inspiration, expertise and news.

        Looking to license music for TV, film or advertising? You’ve come to the right place. At Audio Network we offer an exhaustive selection of original music, pre-cleared globally, forever. Discover the best new albums, learn more about your licensing options and browse curated collections and themed playlists, including Kick Ass Women.

        Need Music for Your Project?

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

        SIGN UP

        AN EXPERT GUIDE TO AFROBEATS MUSIC: REMA, TITI LOKEI & MORE Read More »

        music for commercial use

        HOW DO I FIND MUSIC FOR COMMERCIAL USE?

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          How to License Music for Commercial Use

          Thousands of people worldwide utilise our high-quality production music every day, and many use our licensable music for commercial use. But how do you purchase music for commercial use? And what do we mean by ‘commercial use’? It’s music used by for-profit businesses – projects that aim to financially benefit them in some way, shape or form.

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          From rock and pop to hip hop, every type of music is suited to commercial use, when placed in the right project. Below we highlight a selection of our best-loved commercial music offerings, right after we answer all of your most-searched questions surrounding the topic.

          Music For Commercial Use

          • What is Commercial Use?
          • How Can I Use a Song For Commercial Use?
          • How to Use Commercial Music on YouTube
          • Can You Buy Music For Commercial Use?
          • Where to Get Music For Commercial Use
          • How to Download Music For Commercial Use on Audio Network
          • Why Do You Need A Licence?
          • Why The Right Music Matters
          • Choose Your Track By Instrument
          • Choose Your Track By Genre
          • Choose Your Track By Topic Playlist

          What is Commercial Use?

          The term ‘commercial use’ alludes to an individual or business using something to enhance a project that intends to make money, such as commercial music libraries. That being said, the term ‘commercial use music’ makes reference to usable songs that can be added to anything from a radio ad to a short film to help the producers financially better themselves.

          How Can I Use a Song For Commercial Use?

          If you want to use a song for commercial use, you must first make sure you can obtain a licence for the song. Next, you must consider if the track is appropriate for your production (in every way thinkable). Finally, you must consider how much of the song you plan on using and the section of the song you intend to use.

          Some of the best examples of effective use of commercial music come in the form of television advertisements. Check out our articles covering the best Nike ads, best Adidas ads, best Burger King ads and best IKEA ads right now.

          How to Use Commercial Music on YouTube

          There are many reasons why you may want to get your hands on commercial music, one of which being that you plan on using the song to soundtrack a YouTube video.

          All a YouTuber must do to use commercial music on YouTube is download some licensed music onto their device and add the song(s) to the platform when uploading a new video.

          Find out how to use our music on YouTube here:

          Can You Buy Music For Commercial Use?

          Of course. Once you’ve purchased a piece of music and obtained a licence to use the song in commercial projects (commercial music license), you can use the song in everything from films to podcasts to radio shows. As for the commercial music license cost, it will differ depending on the song you’re purchasing and the place you’re purchasing it from. Which neatly leads us on to our next question…

          Where to Get Music For Commercial Use

          Music for commercial use is available right here at Audio Network. And, fortunately for you, we have over 250,000 production music tracks at your disposal.

          There are lots of ways to scan our sizable selection of background music songs. Some people prefer to head straight to our new releases to ensure the song in their next project is completely fresh. Others like to spend time scrolling through our hand-picked collection page, currently headed by our Latin Series, World Lifestyle Series and Maximum Impact collection.

          Why Do You Need A Licence?

          Using a song without a licence means that you’re infringing copyright law – one put into place to protect the work of an artist or author. If you fail to obtain a licence, there will be consequences, the worst being imprisonment Needless to say, it’s never worth the risk.

          At Audio Network we make licensing music simple. All that is required from you is to choose between our licensing options.

          Find out more about music licensing in our guide:

          Why The Right Music Matters

          As mentioned previously, the purpose of commercial-use music is to enhance a project in the hopes that it’ll encourage more people to spend their hard-earned money on your creation, whatever that may be. By choosing memorable, high-quality tracks (like those found in our catalogue) over poor, generic music choices, you have a better chance of people interacting with your project.

          Choose Your Track By Instrument

          Piano

          A piano can evoke an abundance of emotions, meaning there’s a piano-led track to suit every vibe. Check out our top piano tracks.

          Recommendation: Stefano Civetta’s romantic piano song ‘Evening Breeze’ is reflective and optimistic – it asks you to learn from the past, cherish the present and look forward to the future.

          Electric Guitar

          An electric guitar track will shake up your world if you let it. Work your way through our electric guitar playlist to discover the many sides of the powerful rock instrument.

          Recommendation: Barrie Gledden and Kes Loy’s ‘Just Believe It’ is an uplifting track that reminds the listener of good times spent outdoors during the height of summer.

          Acoustic Guitar

          There’s something reassuring about the sound of an acoustic guitar. Ergo, no matter what the listener is going through, an acoustic guitar song is sure to prove comforting.

          Recommendation: Chaplin, Frederick and Jones’ ‘Caught in the Light’ is warm and homely, yet still a little mysterious. It reminds listeners that there’s always more to things than meets the eye.

          Drums

          A lot can be said about the sound of drums: percussion-led rhythms can communicate all kinds of messages to a listener. Check out how versatile drums really are by sampling the songs in our solo percussion playlist.

          Recommendation: William Davies’ ‘Imago’ is a Latin-inspired drum track packed with flavour. It’s simultaneously sweet, spicy, zesty and tangy.

          Choose Your Track By Genre

          R&B

          R&B is just the genre you need to put some soul into your project. Sample songs from our R&B playlist to hear sultry vocals, smooth piano and funky beats.

          Recommendation: Hunte and Smith’s ‘Heal Me’ is a triumphant track led by a silky female vocal. It wraps its arms around the listener – metaphorically, of course.

          Hip Hop

          Our hip hop tracks are a dose of energy – a collection of tracks that force the listener to bop their heads, tap their feet and loosen their shoulders.

          Recommendation: Joe Milburn’s ‘Fairytale Ending’ is hip hop with a twist. The quirky, addictive track is sleek, chic and sophisticated but still has a little edge.

          Dance

          If you want listeners to lose themselves within the world you’re presenting them with, you’ll want to check out our dance playlist. Expect intoxicating hooks and catchy lyrics.

          Recommendation: Bradley, Henson and Beck’s ‘Bad Luck’ is the kind of track that makes us want to get up and dance like nobody’s watching.

          NOT GIRLFRIEND MATERIAL

          Rock

          Our rock music is unconventional and rebellious. It’s music that keeps the listener on their toes and, most importantly, interested.

          Recommendation: Cahir O’Doherty’s ‘Bully Boy’ takes no prisoners. From the vey beginning, the US punk rock song is a rush of passion and excitement.

          the goons

          Epic Orchestral

          Our collection of epic orchestral music, and epic orchestral music in general, is designed to humble the listener – it reminds them that there’s a whole universe out there waiting to be explored.

          Recommendation: Speaking of the universe, one of our favourite epic orchestral tracks right now is Terry Devine-King’s ‘Solar Orbiter’. It’s a grand space adventure that lasts just over three minutes.

          supernova

          Pop

          None of the above genres appeal to you? Looks like your best move is to choose a song from our pop playlist. Everyone knows there’s no going wrong with pop.

          Recommendation: K-Pop is all the rage, which is just one of many reasons why we’re recommending Hardy, Jordan and Gustavsson’s ‘You Are My Number One’.

          Choose Your Track By Topic Playlist

          Fashion

          Explore our voguish fashion playlist to discover stylish tracks you can pair with your projects. Talk about a hero accessory.

          Recommendation: Smith and Henson’s ‘Obvious Youth’ is catwalk chic. It’s poised, steady and tasteful, just like Kate, Naomi, Gigi and Bella.

          Comedy

          Whatever your idea of humour is – whether that be dry humour, slapstick humour or surreal humour – you’d be silly not to soundtrack your rib-tickling production with one of our comedy songs.

          Recommendation: ‘Grooty McGruesome’ by James Brett is a pompous and quirky orchestral track that reminds the listener to never take anything too seriously.

          Children

          There’s nothing purer than a child exploring their imagination. Encourage children to think outside of the box by adding one of our children’s songs to your production.

          Recommendation: David Edward Holden’s ‘You Can Count On Me’ is magical and uplifting. It asks you to believe in a world past the visible one.

          Corporate

          Sometimes a straightforward corporate song is all you require for your commercial project. Discover some of the best corporate background tracks available by scrolling through our corporate playlist.

          Recommendation: ‘Drift Together’ by Kaczmarski and Acroleo proves that corporate music needn’t be dull. In fact, this particular track is giving Ibiza.

          Entertainment

          For a commercial project to be successful, it’s got to be entertaining. One of the ways you can make your project enjoyable is by featuring one of the songs from our entertainment playlist.

          Recommendation: The ultimate form of entertainment allows you to escape from the everyday. Hence, our ultimate entertainment song is ‘Sunshine Beach’ by Terry Devine-King and Adam Drake.

          Drama

          We live for drama, and whether you like to admit it or not, so do you. And nothing makes us all want to get our popcorn out quite like a dramatic piece of music (like those found in our drama playlist).

          Recommendation: Michael Levine, Bijan Olia and Charles Sicouri’s ‘Highlands’ makes one wonder what just happened and what’s going to happen next. It’s the kind of track that wouldn’t sound out of place in the finale of a juicy ITV drama.

          Documentary

          Our assemblage of documentary music tracks is rather impressive, even if we do say so ourselves, whisking listeners away to landscapes as diverse as the Arctic and the Amazon.

          Recommendation: ‘Glacial’ by George Georgia is an icy, atmospheric experience for the ears that’s defined by its glistening, plucked instruments and imposing choral textures.

          Sports

          Sports music puts the listener right in the middle of the action. It’s music that makes you feel empowered – music reminds the listener that they’re the real winner.

          Recommendation: Alex Arcoleo’s ‘Endorphin’ is a fast-paced, underground house track that’s ideal for contemporary sports projects.

          Need Music for Your Project?

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

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          music for documentary

          HOW DO I FIND THE MUSIC FOR A DOCUMENTARY?

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            If you’re going to produce a documentary, you’re going to need some documentary music, as it'll take an immersive experience to convince audiences to educate themselves in their free time. Think about it: the reason why documentaries such as BBC’s Planet Earth and National Geographic’s The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great are so popular is that they transport you to the centre of the action via spectacular shots, captivating narration and cinematic music.

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            Keep reading to discover the answer to all of your music for documentaries questions – from ‘Why is music used in documentaries?’ to ‘How do I find music for documentaries?’, as well as a selection of playlists we’d recommend for anyone seeking good documentary music.

            Music For Documentaries:

            • What is a documentary?
            • What types of documentaries are there?
              • Nature documentaries
              • Historical documentaries
              • Music documentaries
              • Science documentaries
              • True crime documentaries
              • Sports documentaries
            • Why is music used in documentaries?
            • How can music help to improve your documentary?
            • How do I find music for a documentary?
            • What types of documentary music are there?
              • Sad documentary music
              • Dramatic documentary music
              • Mysterious documentary music
              • Romantic documentary music
              • Historical documentary music
              • Nature documentary music

            What Is a Documentary?

            Documentaries are non-fictional television programmes and films with one primary aim: to inform. Of course, the most successful documentaries also set out to entertain their audiences by forming an intriguing narrative around the collated facts, findings and footage.

            What Types of Documentaries Are There?

            1. Nature documentaries
            2. Historical documentaries
            3. Music documentaries
            4. Science documentaries
            5. True Crime documentaries
            6. Sports documentaries

            Almost anything can be the topic of a documentary – the subject may be as broad as the universe (see National Geographic’s Journey to the Edge of the Universe) or as specific as rapper-cum-designer Kanye West (see Netflix’s Jeen-yuhs). Here are six of the most popular documentary genres:

            Nature Documentaries

            Nature documentaries explore different aspects of Earth, from the canyons of North America to the wildlife of the Amazon rainforest. And in a world where billions live in urban jungles, this documentary genre is immensely popular as the masses yearn to reconnect with nature.

            One of the standout nature documentaries of recent years is Our Planet, Netflix’s answer to a David Attenborough-narrated animal world extravaganza.

            Historical Documentaries

            No matter if you saw your first historical documentary at school or home, you’ve most likely been watching films and television series about the past from a young age. And a desire to learn about history rarely disappears with age; hence, historical documentaries are loved by all family members.

            Looking for a historical documentary like no other? We’d recommend Netflix’s Age of Samurai: Battle of Japan. It really packs a punch.

            Music Documentaries

            Music documentaries are popular as they help industry outsiders to appreciate the genius of their favourite music artists. They’ve also been known to inspire future generations of musicians by providing them with proof that there’s hope for those who follow their dreams.

            Some of the most lauded music documentaries capture the zeitgeist of a particular era. Take Summer of Soul, for instance – Hulu’s Oscar-winning documentary film that takes viewers back in time to the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival.

            Science Documentaries

            It's said that curiosity is a sign of intelligence, which makes sense considering those intrigued by the explanations of the universe spend their downtime soaking in information from science documentaries. And the inquisitive will never run out of content to consume as there's an abundance of science documentaries out there, each of which aims to detangle the theories around a different facet of the universe.

            We love a good science doc, and our favourite to debut over the last couple of years is Cosmos: Possible World. Described by Disney+ as ‘a wonder-filled voyage through humanity's past, present and future, transporting viewers to lost worlds and worlds yet to be revealed by science’, the National Geographic doc will have you holding onto the armchair of your sofa as you zip through space.

            True Crime Documentaries

            These days, an affinity for true crime docs is considered a personality trait – the type of attribute that people place on their dating profiles, discuss in interviews (yes, really) and boast about in social situations. So why do people love them? Because they’re scandalous. And, more often than not, they offer insight into human psychology.

            The Tinder Swindler – a Netflix show about a scam artist who used the dating app as a tool to defraud innocent women – became an international talking point when it was released in February 2022. And if you’ve not watched it yet, its 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is surely nudging you to give it a go.

            Sports Documentaries

            Whether you’re a sports fan or not, there’s a high chance that you enjoy sports docs as these kinds of documentaries are usually concerned with passionate people – from star players to lionised managers to dream teams – rather than the game itself.

            A fine example of a sports documentary? Netflix’s The Last Dance springs to mind. The basketball-centric miniseries follows the Chicago Bulls’ journey up to the 1997-98 NBA Season, Micheal Jordan’s final season with the team.

            Why Is Music Used in Documentaries?

            Music in the ribbon around the gift of knowledge that a documentary hands over to its audience. An embellishment that transforms the ordinary into the sensational. Without a soundtrack, many documentaries would fail to capture the attention of its audience, as good documentary music is the vehicle that drives the viewer to the centre of the story.

            How Can Music Help to Improve Your Documentary?

            To add dramatic music to a suspenseful section of your documentary is to elicit anxiety; to add romantic music to a scene featuring more than one individual is to tease a relationship; to add mysterious music to an eerie moment is to hint at horrific or supernatural happenings. Our point? Music is used in a multitude of ways to evoke different responses, but the goal is always to make the audience feel something.

            How Do I Find Music for a Documentary?

            Looking for good documentary music? Fortunately for you, we have over 200,000 tracks in our catalogue. Discover all of the documentary soundtracks you need over on our documentary page, and then find the right music licensing subscription for you by looking at the infographics on our music licensing page.

            What Types of Documentary Music Are There?

            1. Sad documentary music
            2. Dramatic documentary music
            3. Historical documentary music
            4. Mysterious documentary music
            5. Nature documentary music

            As I’m sure you’re aware, there’s music to suit every mood and emotion. Therefore, it’s safe to say there’s music to suit every kind of documentary imaginable. Discover five of the most popular documentary music collections available in our catalogue below:

            Sad Documentary Music

            More often that not, there are moving moments during a documentary film or docuseries. Therefore, sad background music is often used by documentary creators to encourage viewers to feel pity for the people or animals in focus.

            Dramatic Documentary Music

            There’s a knack to being a documentary creator – you’ve got to be able to find drama in anything. And one of the ways you can instantly dial up the drama on a scene is by adding some dramatic music that will all but guarantee bums on seats and eyes on the screen.

            Historical Documentary Music

            When audiences watch a historical doc, they want to travel back in time. And one of the most effective ways documentary makers help them feel as though they’ve ventured into the past is by utilising historical background music.

            Mysterious Documentary Music

            It’s human nature to be interested in the unexplained, from the origins of the universe to paranormal activity. Ergo, audiences love it when a doc explores mystifying topics topped off with some mysterious production music.

            Nature Documentary Music

            As mentioned previously, nature documentaries are uber-popular in an age in which humans find themselves further from the natural world than ever. With a little help from nature background music, viewers escape to the world’s most beautiful settings from the comfort of their own homes.

            Explore Our Music

            As we’re sure you’re already aware, music for documentaries isn’t the only kind of music available in our collection. We’ve got music for all sorts of projects, including music for advertising, music for films and music for radio. So, no matter what creative journey you’re about to head on, you can rest assured knowing that we’ve got the perfect soundtrack.

            Eager to start discovering our high-quality catalogue of licensable background music? Either head on over to our playlists page where you will find carefully curated, or check out our latest releases.

            MUSIC FOR DOCUMENTARIES

            Need Music for Your Project?

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

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            70s music

            70S MUSIC: TIMELESS HITS AND ICONIC TRACKS

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              The thrill of disco. The outrage of punk. The excess of glam rock. The late 70s were one of the most exciting eras of music there’s ever been – and we’re still feeling its influence today. Whatever music ‘tribe’ you belonged to, there were a plethora of thrilling artists and tracks for you, and everywhere you looked, musicians and groups were experimenting – with both their sounds and their looks. So, what were the 70’s greatest hits, from iconic pop to punk anthems, the classic rock hits to the disco tracks that are still being sampled nearly 50 years later?

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              Rock Takes Root

              Rock ‘n’ roll was king in the 1960s, thanks to the ‘British Invasion’ of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, which contrasted with the hippy vibes from Woodstock in 1969 and a raft of protest songs driven by the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. But by the 1970s, the excesses of rock superstardom gave rise to a number of different genres, making it an iconic era. When it comes to influential artists of the late 70s, many of them were playing rock music.

              Traditional rock expanded – partly because car stereos became common. FM stereo radio, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes – the variety of music distribution channels, plus the fact that cassettes were portable, enabled more and more rock styles to break through. Think hard rock, prog rock and heavy metal, with everything from Pink Floyd’s psychedelic soundscapes and concept albums to Led Zeppelin’s thunderous riffs and epic anthems.

              Glam rock was a self-consciously camp take on being a rock star – bands and artists including T-rex, Roxy Music, David Bowie and Queen embraced theatricality and grandeur.

              ‘What Are You Rebelling Against?’ ‘What Have You Got?’

              However, if glam seemed too considered and arch – a bit posh and ‘art school’ - then the other ‘alternative’ rock ideology, built on the idea of a militantly DIY aesthetic, was punk, which exploded onto the scene in 1976.

              In the UK, the late 70s were pretty depressing, with unemployment and inflation reaching new highs, the 3-day week and numerous industries striking for better pay. Teenagers have rebelled since the term was invented, but when the Sex Pistols’ ‘Anarchy in the UK’ hit the headlines, a revolution in attitude, music and fashion really blew up.

              Punk informed design, fashion, clubs, artwork, writing and performance and an alternative media of independent labels and fanzines – punk’s attitude pushed boundaries across the board. The moral panic around the Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save the Queen’, released to coincide with the Jubilee in 1977, ensured that punk went overground and spread to the suburbs, spawning local scenes.

              The Clash and X-Ray Spex criticized society and culture; Siouxsie and the Banshees, Wire and The Slits carved out a place for extreme otherness. Manchester’s Joy Division then moved punk on from anger to alienation.

              Punk’s diversity led to 2-Tone and New Romanticism by the end of the 70s with new styles, the modernity and slick sound of synths and a whole new version of pop music that emerged largely from club subcultures.

              Culturally, the 70s were characterized by a spirit of freedom and individuality, with everything from the Women’s Liberation Movement, the LGBTQIA+ Rights Movement and the Civil Rights Movement all continuing to gain momentum. You can clearly see the influence that flamboyant 70s stars like David Bowie, Elton John and Queen still have when you look at artists like Lady Gaga, Harry Styles and Sam Smith.

              Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

              Berry Gordy’s Motown hits of the 60s, such as the Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas, gave way to disco in the 1970s. Disco had its roots in R&B and funk, but it was also born out of New York’s gay culture. The massive success of Saturday Night Fever in 1977 catapulted disco to worldwide popularity (the soundtrack sold over 15 million copies), and hits by artists from Donna Summer to Gloria Gaynor and the Village People cornered the mainstream.

              Era-Defining Tracks

              • Love to Love You Baby
              • Dancing Queen
              • I Will Survive

              Here are some of the iconic 70s songs which defined the era – covering disco, punk, rock, funk and soul and pop.

              Love to Love You Baby

              The Queen of disco music in the late 70s was undoubtedly Donna Summer. With hits including ‘I Feel Love’ and ‘Last Dance’ with Georgio Moroder, she was a chart regular. But it was ‘Love to Love You Baby’ that really created a moment. Producers were concerned it was too risqué and might get banned when it came to radio airplay. But when it was given to DJs in discos, it was an immediate club hit, and radio stations were inundated with calls demanding they play the track. The label released it, and it hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and No. 4 on the UK Singles chart, despite the BBC’s initial refusal to play or promote it.

              ‘Love to Love You Baby’ was one of the first disco hits to be released in an extended form, and The Rock and Roll Hall of fame named it one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

              Dancing Queen

              Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015, ABBA’s disco classic reached No. 1 in 14 countries around the world. The Swedish quartet’s knack for creating songs that make you want to hit the dancefloor is pretty much unparalleled, and the massive success of their avatar-fronted live show, ABBA Voyage, is testament to their impact and longevity.

              I Will Survive

              An anthem for the broken-hearted everywhere and tapping into the female empowerment movement, Gloria Gaynor’s disco stomper netted a Grammy in 1979 for Best Disco Recording and Billboard ranked it among the 500 Best Pop Songs of All Time in October 2023.

              The song was originally recorded as a B-side (to ‘Substitute’) in just 35 minutes. The power of the clubs was instrumental again in making it a hit, and among many other accolades, Pitchfork featured it as one of 50 Songs That Define the Last 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Pride:

              ‘I Will Survive’ probably would’ve been a gay anthem even without the spectre of AIDS. It has an undeniable flair for the dramatic… It was released as disco’s wave was beginning to break.’

              Punk Rock Anthems From the Late 70s

              • Anarchy in the UK
              • Oh Bondage Up Yours!

              Anarchy in the UK

              Punk rock anthems don’t come much bigger or better than the Sex Pistols’ debut single, released on 26th November 1976. Their manager, Malcolm McLaren, considered it, ‘a call to arms to the kids who believe that rock and roll was taken away from them. It’s a statement of self-rule, of ultimate independence.’

              As a calling card and a statement of (rude) intent, you’re not going to get better than ‘Anarchy in the UK’ – as FarOut magazine succinctly puts it: ‘The Sex Pistols did exactly what they were supposed to, they made the people who were supposed to like them fall in love with them, and became hate figures for just about everybody else… Johnny Rotten immediately became the saviour of a generation, giving a voice to the voiceless.’

              The UK music scene hadn’t encountered anything as overtly political and rebellious as the Sex Pistols before – it arguably hasn’t since, and sticking two fingers up at the establishment has never looked so thrilling.

              Oh Bondage Up Yours!

              Gloria Gaynor was offering up female empowerment in the form of ‘I Will Survive’, but if you want a more in-your-face rallying cry, then get X-Ray Spex, fronted by songwriter and lead vocalist Poly Styrene, on your Spotify playlist immediately.

              The song takes on consumerism and disposability and Styrene described it as, ‘a call for liberation. It was saying: “Bondage – forget it! I’m not going to be bound by the laws of consumerism or bound by my own senses.”’ And in time-honoured fashion, the single was banned by the BBC, so didn’t trouble the charts, but has become one of punk rock’s defining moments.

              Iconic Pop Songs of the Late 70s

              • Wuthering Heights
              • Cars
              • Mull of Kintyre

              Wuthering Heights

              Can you believe that Kate Bush wrote her eerie gothic tale of lost love and longing when she was just 18 years old? Inspired by a TV adaptation of Emily Bronte’s novel, the song’s written from the perspective of Cathy Earnshaw’s ghost, pleading with the brutal Heathcliff to let her soul into the house. It became a hit in early 1978 – the first single written and recorded by a female artist to top the British charts – and sounded utterly unique. As the NME dryly noted, ‘perhaps the reason so few pop songs are based on classic novels is that they’d have to live up to this.’

              Bush’s vocal was apparently recorded in a single take, and as the Guardian’s Rebecca Nicholson notes, ‘Wuthering Heights’ turned Bush into a pop star, the rules of which she continues to bend to her own will: her individuality was set in stone from the very beginning.’

              Cars

              Gary Numan’s debut solo single might well be the polar opposite to ‘Wuthering Heights’ in terms of inspiration: he told the Sunday Times that ‘I really did write ‘Cars’ about me sitting in my car. Because of my Asperger’s, I’ve never been good with crowds of people, and I find cities very threatening. Somehow, as soon as I get in a car, all the panic goes away.’

              This trailblazing electro pop song from the summer of 1979 sounded like the future, but its genesis was more straightforward – Numan explained to Rolling Stone that, ‘I’ve only written two songs on bass guitar and the first one was ‘Cars’. I’d just been to London to buy a bass and when I got home the first thing I played was that intro riff. In 10 minutes, I had the whole song. The quickest one I ever wrote. And the most famous one I’ve ever written. More people should learn from that!’

              Mull of Kintyre

              The biggest-selling single of the decade was Wings’ ‘Mull of Kintyre’. Released in November 1977, the song became the Christmas No. 1 – and the first single ever to sell more than 2 million copies in the UK. It held the record for being the UK’s best-selling single of all time, until it was overtaken by Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ in 1984.

              Paul McCartney was living in the area and, ‘it was a love song, really, about how I enjoyed being there and imagining I was travelling away and wanting to get back there.’ The song featured Great Highland bagpipes played by the Campbeltown Pipe Band – quite an unusual addition to a pop song.

              Classic Rock Hits of the Late 70s

              • Comfortably Numb
              • Bohemian Rhapsody

              Comfortably Numb

              Pink Floyd were one of the 70s’ biggest rock bands, and this track captures all the facets of their distinctive sound, from ethereal to dynamic. It featured on their eleventh studio album, the concept/rock opera, The Wall, in 1979. The six-minute song boasts a legendary guitar solo and the lyrics are about Pink, the album’s character, in a drug-induced state.

              Roger Waters drew on a personal experience from 1977 for the lyrics – he was suffering from hepatitis when a doctor injected him with a tranquiliser before a show. He told Rolling Stone that, ‘that was the longest two hours of my life, trying to do a show when you can hardly lift your arm.’

              Bohemian Rhapsody

              The 70s were a time of excess: long hair, massive flares and tracks that redefined the word ‘epic’. You can’t talk about songs from the 70s and leave out Queen’s most celebrated track. It’s got an intro, a ballad segment, an operatic bit, a hard rock part and a reflective coda. Freddie Mercury referred to it as a ‘mock opera’ and it’s regularly voted one of the greatest songs of all time (it still claims the title of the UK’s third best-selling single.) Plus, after the release of the 2018 biopic, it became the most streamed song from the 20th century.

              Queen were certainly no one-take wonder – the entire piece took three weeks to record, with some sections featuring 180 separate overdubs, and Freddie, Brian May and Roger Taylor reportedly singing their vocal parts continuously for 10-12 hours a day.

              ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ has been classified as everything from prog rock to hard rock, art rock to progressive pop. One of the many things that makes it unique is that it’s got no chorus, and the band have never fully explained the lyrics. Freddie Mercury simply said, ‘It’s one of those songs which has such a fantasy feel about it. I think people should just listen to it think about it, and then make up their own minds as to what it says to them…’

              Record execs thought the track was far too long to be a hit, but typical late 70s rebellion won out. The band gave the single to outrageous DJ and comedian Kenny Everett, who played it 14 times over two days on his radio show; fans across both sides of the Pond clamoured for its release and it stayed at No. 1 for nine weeks.

              And let’s not forget that video, which many have credited with launching the MTV age:

              Funk and Soul Tracks of the Late 70s

              • One Nation Under a Groove
              • As

              One Nation Under a Groove

              George Clinton’s sci-fi funk collective, Funkadelic, turned dry protest songs on their head with this track, which encapsulated their philosophy of ‘moving towards freedom through the freedom of movement.’ Come and join the party, for a ridiculously empowering good time!

              It’s a track that’s been sampled almost 100 times – by artists from Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube to Queen Latifah and Janet Jackson. Daring and playful, irreverent and carefree, Funkadelic brought humour and inclusivity and challenged many people’s perceptions about Black music. George Clinton has been feted by not only the hip hop fraternity, but also rock acts like the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

              As

              Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life album was released in 1976, melding soul, funk, reggae, R&B, Latin, jazz and pop. ‘As’ was inspired by spending time in Ghana, where he gained a new perspective on life, and he recruited jazz-funk firebrand Herbie Hancock to record a separate track on a Fender Rhodes piano.

              Numerous acts have covered ‘As’ since its original release, including Sister Sledge, Michael Bolton and, of course, George Michael and Mary J Blige in 1999.

              70s Influences

              These timeless hits, alongside the rest of the music of the late 70s, have had a lasting impact on subsequent decades and genres. You can see it in everything from Lana Del Rey’s vintage sound to Florence Welch’s Kate Bush/glam rock-style dress sense and theatricality; Harry Styles’ flamboyant jumpsuits and disco-inspired beats from Tame Impala, Daft Punk and The Weeknd.

              If you fancy revisiting 70s sounds, then we’ve got some perfect albums for you – try vintage rock with plenty of swagger on 70s Rock Fest, or go psychedelic with Classic and Prog Rock; get down to some up-tempo funk courtesy of Show Stoppers, or pull on your sequined jumpsuit and platform boots for Glam Rock.

              Need Music for Your Project?

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

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              best recording studios

              THE BEST RECORDING STUDIOS AROUND THE WORLD

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                You might be able to create whole musical worlds at home with just a laptop, software and good quality speakers, but sometimes  nothing beats being in a studio. With the best technology, musical equipment and the added inspiration and can’t-bottle-it magic of recording in the same space as one of your idols, which are the best recording studios in the world?

                Including the beautiful scenic settings of Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios and Ocean Sound Recording Studio in Norway, mau5 House and Steve Aoki’s tech playgrounds, via the history-making Sun Studio, our picks span spaces from the most famous recording studios to high-end personal set-ups.

                The Best Music Studios

                • Abbey Road Studios
                • AIR Studios
                • Muscle Shoals
                • Synchron Stage
                • Elfo Recording Studio
                • Capitol Studios
                • Metropolis Studios
                • Question de Son
                • Hansa Studios
                • Ocean Sound Recording Studio
                • Real World Studios
                • Onkio Haus
                • Electric Lady Studios
                • Studios 301
                • mau5 House
                • Hans Zimmer’s Studio
                • Sunset Sound
                • Sun Studio
                • Blackbird Studio
                • Steve Aoki’s Neon Future Cave

                Abbey Road Studios – London

                The crown jewel of the studio world, the HQ of pop music’s most groundbreaking bands, and undoubtedly the most famous recording studio in London – maybe the world. Originally built in 1829, Abbey Road Studios was just a large house, bought by the Gramophone Company in 1928 as a project studio. They then set out to build the world’s first-ever purpose-built pro studio and later merged with the Columbia Gramophone Company to create Electrical and Musical Industries – later known as EMI Studios.

                In 1970, the studios were renamed as Abbey Road Studios after the legendary Beatles album. And in 2012, the studios changed hands once again, when Universal Music Group took over EMI.

                Abbey Road’s original recordings were jazz and swing bands. But when it comes to icons, Abbey Road has hosted nearly all of them. Studio Two became famous for the albums The Beatles recorded there (Please Please Me, The White Album, Revolver and A Hard Day’s Night, among others).

                As you’d expect from one of the world’s premier recording facilities, Abbey Road has embraced modernity and innovation, with an impressive array of in-house equipment. This includes Bricasti M7 studio reverb processors, Yamaha SPX 1000s, an AMS NEVE 88RS 72 channel recording console and the GML 8200 EQ for accurate frequency modification and frequency range. The studio is also diving into AI in music, VR/AR/MR, source separation and spatial audio, and has broken new ground in the field of de-mixing.

                As well as offering these superb studio facilities and recording software, Abbey Road also offers an array of online services, such as music production, vocal tuning, mixing and mastering.

                AIR Studios – London

                London’s AIR Studios have been the home of Coldplay’s A Head Full of Dreams, Radiohead’s OK Computer, and Adele’s 21. They’ve also been used by some of the industry’s most successful commercial artists, such as Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, Jake Bugg and Ellie Goulding, together with indie names such as The xx.

                AIR – the first independent studio – was founded in 1969 when visionary producer Sir George Martin saw the need for a London studio that could record pop. The original studio was in Oxford Circus, but when the lease came up in 1992, the team moved to Lyndhurst Hall and shifted its focus to cinematic film scores.

                The Hall, which has recently undergone a stunning renovation, will hold a 60-70 piece orchestra and is a favoured spot for Hollywood composers, rock bands and pop stars. Studio 1 can accommodate up to 45 musicians and is ideal for bands.

                Muscle Shoals – Alabama USA

                Muscle Shoals Sound Studio (MS Sound) is one of America’s legendary studios. Founded in Sheffield, Alabama in 1969 by owner and producer Jimmy Johnson, together with three other session musicians known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section at Rick Hall’s FAME Studios, it helped to define the sound of Southern Soul. Who’s recorded there? Everyone from Aretha Franklin to The Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Wilson Pickett, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, Cher, Linda Ronstadt and Bob Seger, Rod Stewart and even George Michael.

                Cher’s sixth album was titled 3614 Jackson Highway, and this became the informal name for the studio. That building closed in 1979, relocating to a larger, updated facility at 1000 Alabama Avenue.

                MS Sound is now run by a foundation, which began privately fundraising to restore the original building after its purchase in 2013. Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine from Beats Electronics saw a documentary about the project, Muscle Shoals, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and set up a philanthropic wing of Beats called Sustain the Sound to help to fund the restoration.

                The studio reopened in 2017, and musicians can once more record there – it’s a working studio at night, with a Hammond organ, Wurlitzer electric piano and a baby grand piano, plus a recording console and an analogue tape machine, together with isolation booths for vocals and percussion, just as it was in its 70s heyday.

                Synchron Stage – Vienna

                Vienna’s Synchron Stage specialises in recording large orchestras and film music. The landmark protected building was constructed from 1939-41 for picture-synchronised sound recordings, hence its original name ‘Synchronhalle’. In order to shield it from outside noise and vibrations, the recording hall is isolated from the rest of the building by a custom foundation and insulated against air traffic by an elaborate roof structure.

                In the mid-1960s, the complex was acquired by the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation and hosted eminent classical artists such as Herbert von Karajan, Yehudi Menuhin and Mstislav Rostropovich. The hall was purchased by the Vienna Symphonic Library in 2013 and developed into a globally unique music production facility. Its largest recording hall, Stage A is 540 square metres and can accommodate an orchestra of up to 130 people.

                Since 2021, Synchron Stage Vienna has been an official Dolby Atmos studio and can offer Auro-3D in addition to stereo and surround sound. Plus, it offers four concert grand pianos, a Steinway D-274, a Bosendorfer 290 Imperial with CEUS performance reproducing system, a Yamaha Disklavier CFX EN PRO and a Fazioli F308.

                Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions chose the studios to record music for Ron Howard’s Inferno and the Netflix series The Crown. Film scores for Ad Astra, Promising Young Woman and Marvel miniseries including WandaVision and Ms Marvel have also been recorded at Synchron.

                Elfo Recording Studio – Tavernago, Italy

                Surrounded by tranquil countryside, Elfo Recording Studio’s triple-studio complex can house a 20-piece orchestra and 50-person choir in its main room. From a technical perspective, there’s an API 1608 console, plus DAWS. Studio 3 has an elliptical shape owing to a meticulous study of sound refractions, making it perfect for editing, composing and creating beats, while Studio 2 is ideal for overdubs, voiceovers, dubbing and film scoring.

                Built in 2002, rock, classical and jazz musicians have all made it their home. Major names who have recorded at Elfo include Daniel Lanois, Van der Graaf Generator, Deep Purple and Greg Lake.

                Capitol Studios – Los Angeles

                Built in 1956, Capitol Studios was reserved for artists signed to Capitol Records until 1968. The building is 13 storeys high, with the studio in the rectangular part of the building on the ground floor, which is topped by a 150-foot tall cylindrical tower. The largest recording space, Studio A, has seen everyone from Nat King Cole to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, the Beach Boys and Muse pass through its doors. It now has a NEVE 88RS 72 channel recording console, an EMT 140 plate reverb and 7.1 surround monitoring capability.

                Plus, at the cutting edge, Capitol’s famous recording studios have eight custom-built ‘echo chambers’, which each have their own characteristic sound to perfect any desired frequency response. These are part of an underground concrete bunker designed by legendary guitarist and sound engineer Les Paul to get a better reverb sound.

                Just a few of the Studios’ major hits have included Michael Jackson’s Invincible, Jay Z’s The Blueprint, The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance, Snoop Dogg’s Doggumentary and Miley Cyrus’s Bangerz.

                Capitol Studios also does plenty of recording sessions for TV, for studios such as Warner Brothers and Universal, as well as film mixes. ‘Georgia’ from the film Ray, starring Jamie Foxx, was filmed at the Studios.

                Metropolis Studios – London

                Over the last three decades, Metropolis Studios has gained a reputation as one of Britain’s top tier studio hubs, having seen everyone from Queen (who recorded their last two albums, Made in Heaven and Innuendo there) to Madonna, George Michael (Listen Without Prejudice), The Rolling Stones and Ed Sheeran pass through its doors, plus Adele, whose chart-topping 25 was recorded at Metropolis, including the single ‘Hello’, winner of two Grammys.

                Founded in 1993, high end recording studio Metropolis Mastering was set up with the aim of going beyond the standards of the day in terms of mastering. Featuring four main recording studios and mix rooms, it’s one of the most impressive mastering studios in the UK, with several leading mastering engineers based at the facility.

                Studio A has a large stone and wood live room, a dead room and a stone room (modelled on the classic Townhouse Studio Two stone room). The control room is over 80 square meters with separate machine and amp rooms. The control room houses an SSL 9072 J series console with PMC main monitors. The live room is also used for concerts and album playbacks.

                Studio B is based around the classic SSL 4064 G Series console and features Genelec main monitoring. The live area comprises a central live area surrounded by two spacious isolated areas that offer more controlled acoustics. As well as being a great tracking room, Studio B is one of the most sought-after mix rooms in London. Notable clients have included George Michael, The Stone Roses, U2, Elton John, The Verve, Rihanna and will.i.am.

                Question de Son – Paris

                Question de Son’s owners, Jordan Kouby and Frédéric Vectol, had both worked at large studios before setting up on their own, with the ‘philosophy of a big studio in a smaller place’. The former garment factory in the 10th arrondissement was built in the 1930s and had been empty for over a decade. Remodelling began in 2010 to create Studios A and B, plus editing and production suites.

                Studio A has a live room with three acoustically variable zones: the main area, a stone room, and a separate booth. Its main feature is a vintage Neve desk. Commissioned in 1975 for EMI Mexico, its most notable features include a total of 24 1093 input modules and a pair of EMI TG12413 limiters. Outboard processors including a Gates SA-39 and a Gyraf Gyratec X complement the equipment collection.

                Prefer mixing through an SSL? Studio B is for you. It houses an SSL 4048 G+ desk, together with a pair of EAR 660 limiters, a Gates SA-39B, a GML 8200 EQ and a set of three Pultec EQH-2s, with a Martinsound MultiMAX surround controller available on request. A feature is the stompbox side rack, which holds dozens of pedals and offers all the functionality to combine them within a line-level mixing environment. There’s also a Yamaha C3 grand piano, Yamaha CP70B, Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer pianos, a Hammond B3 organ, a modified Minimoog Model D and the entire Roland Juno family of synths.

                Question de Son’s roster of recording artists includes notable French names and Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Babyshambles and Beck.

                Hansa Tonstudio – Berlin

                Hansa Studios started in the early 1960s as a small recording studio in the headquarters of Berlin’s Hansa Music Production, founded by brothers Peter and Thomas Meisel.

                As the number of Hansa artists expanded, the Meisel brothers decided to found Hansa Tonstudio GmbH at the start of the 1970s, and built their own studio in order to be able to produce independently. Hansa Studio 1 opened in 1973, and in 1975 the brothers took over the former Sonopress Studio on Köthener Street, turning it into Hansa Studio 2. Further property purchases at the end of the 70s and the start of the 80s resulted in the brothers running five studios.

                With a ‘factory’ ethos, hits from Mireille Mathieu, Drafi Deutscher, Peter Maffay, Udo Jürgens and Roland Kaiser came from the studio. But it was David Bowie who truly put them on the map. He wrote ‘Heroes’ there, and also recorded Low, Heroes and Baal.

                Other major artists and albums include U2’s Achtung Baby, Depeche Mode’s Construction Time Again, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ The Firstborn is Dead, giving the studio near legendary status within the post-punk and synthpop genres.

                Studio 1 remains active as Hansa Studio, while the Hansa building on Köthener Street houses independent studios and production companies from music to film scores and dubbing.

                For a look inside, Anton Corbijn shot parts of the video for U2’s ‘One’ at Hansa.

                Ocean Sound Recording Studio – Giske, Norway

                Ocean Sound was first established in a small boathouse in 2005 as a private studio for Norwegian band The Margarets. In 2009, American sound expert Ric Vaughan designed the purpose-built Ocean Sound to be one of the best acoustically treated spaces to record music in. Ocean Sound has a large live room, twin ISO rooms and a large control room – plus, with a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean, could there be a better place to hole up to record an album?

                Having upgraded their Studio B mixing space in 2022, they’re now a Dolby Atmos Music Studio and have welcomed artists including Swedish House Mafia, Sigrid, a-ha, Kygo, Arcade Fire, Sampha and Travis.

                They also offer analogue tape, with multi-track and 2-track tape machines, mixing and mastering. Tech on offer includes a Rupert Neve 5088 Shelford console, an Amphion 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos System and a mass of preamps, Eq, effects and digital equipment.

                Real World Studios – Bath, UK

                Set in stunning rural surroundings near the city of Bath, Real World Studios is a unique residential recording facility where artists, producers and engineers can escape their daily distractions and focus solely on making music.

                Peter Gabriel conceived Real World as both a studio for technical excellence and an idyllic retreat in 1987. It’s been the location for many landmark albums by musicians from all over the globe, and is also home to the WOMAD festival and Real World Records.

                Close to the water and with plenty of natural light, Van Morrison, Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Björk, Coldplay, Paul Simon, Jay Z, Kanye and Beyoncé have all kicked back and chilled out at the idyllic location, designed by Gabriel so that the musicians aren’t separated from the engineer or producer.

                The Big Room is a 2000 square foot live room and control room, with a custom wraparound 72 channel SSL 9000 XL K Series mixing console at its centre; it’s designed as one large collaborative recording space with no dividing walls. The Wood Room has a 24 channel SSL AWS 924 console and features a more lively acoustic character.

                Onkio Haus – Tokyo

                With over 40 years covering recording, mixing, mastering and post-production, Tokyo’s Onkio Haus is one of Japan’s most well-known studios – especially for Japanese pop songs and jazz music. Their tech includes an SSL SL9064J-64VU mixing console, a Sony PCM-3348 multitrack recorder and EVE Audio SC408 and SC207 monitors.

                Electric Lady Studios – New York

                In 1968, Jimi Hendrix and his manager Michael Jeffery bought a newly defunct nightclub called The Generation in New York’s Greenwich Village — a venue that Hendrix had frequented for impromptu performances and late-night jam sessions. Instead of renaming the club, Hendrix was persuaded into converting the space into a professional recording studio. It became the only artist-owned recording studio in existence at the time.

                The grand opening was in 1970, with guests including Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ron Wood, and Patti Smith. Electric Lady Studios was made famous by Jimi Hendrix and classic 70s sessions with The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Patti Smith, among others, and it’s the oldest working recording studio in New York City.

                Recent projects include Kendrick Lamar’s Mr Morale and the Big Steppers, Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti, Love for Sale by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, plus albums by Frank Ocean, St. Vincent, Adele, Taylor Swift, and Lorde.

                There are four studios (A-D), with Studio A the most sought-after, owing to its place in rock ‘n’ roll history. It’s home to a fully restored Neve 8078, a hand-wired analogue console, plus an impressive collection of vintage microphones, instruments and amps. Studio B features an SSL 9000J 80 channel console and a Yamaha U30a upright piano.

                Mix engineer Tom Elmhirst works out of Studio C – he currently holds the record for most Grammys won by an engineer in a single year, having worked on Adele’s 30, James Blake’s Friends that Break Your Heart and albums by David Bowie and Amy Winehouse.

                Studios 301 – Sydney, Australia

                Australia’s most iconic recording studio lays claim to having the largest recording space in the Southern Hemisphere and being the only Tier One recording studio in Australia. The studios were established as a subsidiary of the Columbia Gramophone Company in 1926, later becoming EMI Records, then Studios 301, so it’s also Australia’s longest-running professional recording studio. They also have outposts in Stockholm and Byron Bay.

                The current set up boasts music recording studios, production suites, mastering rooms and digitisation facilities and has hosted artists spanning every genre, including INXS, Elton John, Prince, Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, U2, The Weeknd, Lizzo, Charli XCX and Migos, to name a few.

                Despite its heritage, Studios 301 isn’t one to rest on its laurels; it’s been at the forefront of pioneering audio formats in Australia, and the 301 Academy offers new engineers and producers the experience of working within a professional recording studio environment.

                mau5 House – Toronto, Canada

                Deadmau5, aka Canadian DJ/producer Joel Zimmerman, has an enormous studio space stacked with a visual feast for techies. The Dolby Atmos-certified studio features nine custom-made ATC speakers, a top-secret black box, a $50,000 analogue recording console and more. Take the full tour with Linus Tech:

                While you may not be able to book the studio yourself, it’s definitely something to aim for, if you’re planning your own home set up (you just might need to have a string of massive global hits first, in order to afford a custom Modcan Series A, five custom-built PCs and a near-limitless quantity of hard drive storage space.)

                Hans Zimmer’s Studio – California

                If you fancy a studio that could also double as a gentleman’s club with gothic tinges, then look no further than legendary film composer Hans Zimmer’s beautiful California studio, complete with comfy sofas, Persian rugs and gorgeous, warm lighting.

                There’s vintage outboard gear, the Bosendorfer piano which has often provided the foundation for his epic scores, together with a 3M multi-touch screen workflow, with custom-made software to navigate Zimmer’s go-to DAW, Cubase.

                Zimmer is perhaps best-known for being Christopher Nolan’s favourite composer (The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar), but he’s also created everything from themes for Pirates of the Caribbean and The Crown to scores for Dune and the synth programming for Top Gun: Maverick here.

                Sunset Sound – California

                Once an automotive repair garage, Sunset Sound was set up in 1958 as a recording studio for Disney. Bambi, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Mary Poppins, 101 Dalmatians – these and dozens of others were recorded in magnificent mono.

                Studio 1 eventually grew into a three-room complex and became a home for artists as well as soundtracks, including The Doors (The Doors and Strange Days), Janis Joplin, Van Halen, Whitney Houston, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and Carly Simon. The Rolling Stones recorded Exile on Main Street here and it’s also the home of the Beach Boys’ iconic Pet Sounds. More recently, Macy Gray’s multi-million selling debut, On How Life Is, was recorded at Sunset.

                Film scores as varied as My Best Friend’s Wedding and Dune, Rocky II and IV, Wayne’s World and The Big Lebowski have all been created at Sunset Sound.

                The studios’ tagline is, ‘high quality in a historical custom setting’ and its 60-year history has produced over 300 gold albums. Studio 1 has a 68 x 16 Sunset Sound custom discreet console with flying faders automation, while Studio 2 has a 48 x 48 x 16 Class-A Discreet Neve 8088 console.

                Sun Studios – Memphis, Tennessee

                One of the most famous recording recording studios in the States – and known as the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll – Sun Studios launched the careers of musical legends in the 50s from BB King and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, and genres spanning blues and gospel to country and rock.

                Record producer Sam Phillips worked as a DJ in the 1940s in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, whose ‘open format’ of broadcasting music by white and black musicians alike would later inspire his work in Memphis. In 1950, Phillips opened the Memphis Recording Service, aka Sun Studio, which drew performers such as BB King and Howlin’ Wolf. Phillips launched his own record label, Sun Records, in early 1952.

                Although it’s mainly open for tours now, you can still book a recording session there from 7pm, using a blend of Sam Phillips’ original analogue techniques, together with modern tech. There’s also a 1960s Ludwig drum kit, a 1950s Hammond B3, a 1950s Wurlitzer Spinet piano and a 1950s Kay double bass.

                Blackbird Studio - Nashville

                Music capital Nashville is home to the hallowed Blackbird Studios, which has welcomed everyone from Dolly Parton to Taylor Swift, Beck, Kesha, The White Stripes, Faith Hill, Neil Young and Kings of Leon through its doors.

                Founded by sound engineer John McBride and his country superstar wife, Martina, in 2002, Blackbird Studio is known for its state-of-the-art production facilities and an impressive collection of vintage and modern recording equipment.

                There are nine different recording studios, The Blackbird Academy, a post-secondary audio engineering school and Inside Blackbird, an online learning platform. Studio A has a Neve 8078 console and features a 1930 Hammond B3 organ and a Wurlitzer 200A. Studio B’s equipment list includes an API Legacy Plus console and a range of mic pres, equalisers and dynamics.

                Steve Aoki’s Neon Future Cave - Las Vegas

                If you want to have a good time, head to electro house DJ and producer Steve Aoki’s Neon Future Cave. Aoki’s debut album, Wonderland, received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album and he’s collaborated with artists such as will.i.am, Afrojack, Iggy Azalea, BTS and Fall Out Boy.

                This home-turned-studio – equipped with a foam pit, skate ramp and futuristic neon lighting – certainly isn’t your traditional studio and is set up according to Aoki’s belief that creating music, ‘shouldn’t be work. The best way we can create is when we’re in a really positive mood, and when there’s no pressure.’

                Billboard described the studio – converted from the house’s former movie theatre - as ‘what the Jetsons would have if they were producing dance beats’. The ultra high quality recording studio is centred around a large workstation housing an ‘epic’ Slate Raven Z3C digital mix rack and Focal SM9 monitors. Plus there’s a prized Sony C800G microphone, a Universal Audio Apollo 16 interface with a DSP Accelerator and a combination preamp and compressor/limiter, the Universal Audio UA 6176, through which Aoki runs all his guitars and bass.

                Audio Network and the World’s Best Studios

                Much of Audio Network’s high quality original music, from a huge range of global artists, composers and producers, is recorded at the world’s most renowned recording and music mixing studios, including Abbey Road Studios, AIR Studios, School Farm Studios in Maplestead and Synchron Stage, Vienna.

                Our music spans every genre and mood, and is ideal for licensing for TV, advertising and digital content. Explore our hand-picked playlists and collections, tailored for every possible production genre, together with our latest albums – we refresh our music every fortnight. From hip hop to trailer music, classical to global, we have everything you need when it comes to music made for sync. And if you’re a musician or composer who fancies becoming part of the Audio Network roster and potentially having a recording session at Abbey Road Studios, then find out how you can submit your music to us.

                Need Music for Your Project?

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

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                the power of music

                THE POWER OF MUSIC: HOW TO MAKE YOUR BRAND STAND OUT

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                  Imagine a Christmas ad without the music – suddenly it’s much less heart-warming. Or a Nike campaign without an up to the minute soundtrack – would it miss its target market? Music has a very special place in storytelling and creating emotion for a viewer. It can tap into our sense of nostalgia during the holidays; a certain song can bring in a rush of romance, or make you feel suddenly sad. There are classical orchestral pieces that have been used in so many different ways that you feel an instant connection to them – and you’ll bring that connection to the brand or business that’s using it now. In short: music is an emotional language.

                  How to Make Your Brand Stand Out

                  • Why you need music
                  • Hitting the right brand note
                  • Can music make or break an ad?
                  • How music can make you stand out as a brand
                  • What is sync?
                  • Why do I need a music licence?

                  Why You Need Music

                  Kantar, who test ads globally, point to the rise of radio in the 1920s as being fundamental to brands using their own music and sound to establish their identity.

                  They suggest that the benefits of ‘sonic branding’ as an element of marketing strategy are:

                  • Establishing an emotional connection with consumers
                  • Conveying brand values
                  • Differentiating brands from competitors
                  • Increasing brand recognition

                  Kantar’s BrandZ research shows that brands with strong brand assets achieve 76% higher brand power, and 138% higher perceptions of advertising strength – which includes ‘sonic assets’. And the world’s top 100 most valuable brands are currently worth an astonishing $6.9 trillion.

                  Just think of McDonald’s ‘I’m Lovin’ It’ four-note sign off, Intel Inside’s audio jingle, or Coca-Cola’s ‘Holidays are comin’. When you hear those small pieces of sound, you automatically think of the brand. A brand’s sonic identity can include everything from jingles to voice overs, sound effects to background music.

                  Hitting the Right Brand Note

                  Kantar say that, ‘by leveraging the power of music and sound to evoke emotions and memories, brands can create a consistent image and increase brand recall.’ In an analysis of audio ads for Spotify by Nielsen, they found that listeners were more likely to enjoy audio ads than display ads across radio and streaming services – and that they drove 24% higher recall than display ads, and were twice as likely to lift purchase intent.

                  However, brands need to choose their music carefully: ‘People have become increasingly discerning when it comes to music selection, and they can quickly spot insincere attempts to keep up with musical trends. If a brand’s choice of music seems too generic or out of touch with its audience, it risks eroding brand affinity.’

                  Plus, as Forbes.com makes clear, ‘A logo would not be created without a deep dive into the goals, values and voice of a brand or without data driving the creative strategy; the same should go for a brand’s sonic identity. This exploration of which keys, chord progressions or beats per minute will best convey the tone of the brand will allow it to not only create a pleasant sound to connect with its audience, but also ensure that there is a much stronger ROI for this new sonic identity.’

                  So, to stand out from the crowd, look for high quality, original music, as well as the music or sounds that will chime with your business or brand values, as well as your target audience and your messaging - a study by PHMG suggests that 74% of young adults develop a better understanding of a company’s personality through music.

                  What’s your music identity as a brand and how is it creating a point of difference in today’s hyper-competitive environment?

                  Can Music Make or Break an Ad?

                  When you add music to advertising, it makes it more effective – and it’s been scientifically proven. According to a study by Leicester University, consumers are 96% more likely to remember the brands that use music aligned with their brand identity.

                  Studies show that we use the same parts of the brain to process music that are responsible for emotion and memory. In a Nielsen study of over 600 TV ads, those with music performed better with regard to empathy, creativity, emotive power and information when compared to those without music.

                  Music hits you at a neurological level: if it’s pleasing, the brain releases dopamine, aka ‘the happiness hormone’: music puts your body into a contented state. The neurotransmitter oxytocin is also activated – this is the bonding hormone; like dopamine, it’s released in interpersonal relationships and creates the typical ‘butterfly’ feeling of being in love.

                  Experiments by a research team at the University of Zurich also showed that oxytocin can influence trust in other people and even change the behaviour of the test subjects as a result. In short, music can make people happy and influence emotionally-driven behaviour. Music also ensures that people remember this feeling: episodic memory associates music with the situation in which it was first heard. Hence, why it’s important for brands and businesses to harness the power of music.

                  At Kantar, 84% of the ads they test globally have music, whilst for Ipsos, it’s 89%; 80% of YouTube ads include music and TikTok is one of the platforms where the sound – and therefore the music – is most definitely ‘on’, making music a key element.

                  Beto Azout, SoStereo’s co-founder, told LLBOnline, ‘Brands are putting out more video content than before – there’s more pressure on musical decisions to be made cleverly. There’s more traffic on all of these platforms, but also the attention spans are shorter. That’s where music can play a very big role. It’s been proven that when someone likes a piece of music, they are twice as likely to continue watching the video and remembering it later. That’s where the concept of brand recall starts to become a real factor.’

                  How Music Can Make You Stand out as a Brand

                  A tailor-made signature sound or music score can definitely make you stand out. Netflix’s signature ‘Tudum’ – that three-second burst that plays when you open the streamer – captures the excitement and anticipation that comes with starting a new show or movie.

                  It was created by a team of audio designers at the company and launched in 2015. Then, in 2020, Netflix decided to update ‘Tudum’, making it longer and more cinematic. Who did they commission? None other than Mr Hollywood Movie Score himself, Hans Zimmer. The new version, created for theatrical releases, was made with a full orchestra to give it maximum impact.

                  This one sound has created an emotional connection with Netflix’s customers – it’s the sound that people associate with relaxation, entertainment, intrigue and enjoyment, so much so that they built a whole campaign around it, ‘Sounds like a good story’:

                  There are brands that make music a more fundamental part of their identity. Taco Bell, for instance, gives out $500 gift cards to help subsidize the costs of touring bands through its Feed the Beat programme, and tapped up Lil Nas X, a former fast-food employee, as Chief Impact Officer to help connect music culture with the brand.

                  Another food brand working with artists and making music a core part of its identity is Just Eat. They’ve worked with Snoop Dogg and Katy Perry, and their most recent campaign saw Latto and Christina Aguilera singing their praises.

                  Both of these campaigns and collabs are great examples of finding the perfect artist and music to fit your brand personality – and your target audience – and then building on them.

                  What Is Sync?

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

                  Why Do I Need a Music Licence?

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

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

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

                  Instead of having to negotiate with labels or artists, it’s ‘one click’ licensing, which makes the whole process very straightforward – no matter what content you’re creating. Audio Network have hundreds of thousands of tracks, in every genre and to cover any mood.

                  Music to Make Your Brand Sing

                  Now you’ve seen how much impact music can bring to your brand or business, from emotion to recall and reinforcing brand loyalty, be inspired by how global brands have perfected their choices, with our deep dives on IKEA, Just Eat, and the best radio ads of all time. Or, be on top of the trends in music licensing to stay ahead of the crowd.

                  Our hand-picked playlists make finding music to license quick and easy, whether it’s for TV programmes, advertising, digital entertainment or branded content. Plus, we have collections, from orchestral to hip hop, and regular new releases of high quality, original music in any genre, to suit every mood.

                  Need Music for Your Project?

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

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                  romantic albums

                  ROMANTIC ALBUMS: THE BEST ALBUMS INSPIRED BY LOVE

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                    When it comes to Valentine’s Day, the saying, “if music be the food of love, play on” should definitely be uppermost in your mind. But what are the best romantic albums and the most romantic love songs? From the albums inspired by love to iconic heartbreak albums (if Cupid has shot his arrow elsewhere this year…), here’s our pick for your playlists on 14th February.

                    Whether you’re streaming or buying a CD or vinyl for your loved one, there’s a huge range of classics and contemporary love song albums, from record-breaking Adele and Whitney Houston to Father John Misty’s wit and wisdom, and iconic titles by Fleetwood Mac, Al Green and Marvin Gaye.

                    Best Romantic Albums

                    • Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
                    • 69 Love Songs – The Magnetic Fields
                    • Room for Squares – John Mayer
                    • 21 - Adele
                    • The Love Below – Andre 3000
                    • Love Deluxe – Sade
                    • I Love You, Honeybear – Father John Misty
                    • Hounds of Love – Kate Bush
                    • The Lexicon of Love – ABC
                    • Come Away with Me – Norah Jones

                    Let’s Stay Together – Al Green

                    Rolling Stone noted that, ‘Green’s voice is something to marvel at. Let’s Stay Together is, like its predecessor, an indispensable treat.’ Included in Q magazine’s ‘Best Soul Albums of All Time’, in 1999, they wrote that the album, ‘shows him as the authentic voice of love’s pain and purity’ and ‘his cover of the Bee Gees’ song [‘How Can You Mend a Broken Heart’] took the soul ballad to new levels of artistry and refinement.’

                    ‘Let’s Stay Together’ is the perfect track for a wedding playlist and has been a classic ever since it was released on the Hi label in 1972. The fourth album by soul singer Al Green was recorded in Memphis and claimed the No. 1 slot on the soul album chart for ten weeks. It was also reissued in 2003.

                    Albert Leornes Greene, also known as The Reverend Al Green, scored his only Billboard No. 1 single with ‘Let’s Stay Together’, which praises unconditional love and sticking it out through good times and bad. Green’s signature warm delivery opens the album on a soulful, gentle, mellow note and the song pours straight from his heart. If you’re looking for an expert blend of soul, funk, R&B, pop, blues and jazz, then you won’t find one that’s stood the test of time as well as this 50-year-old classic.

                    In the mood for heartbreak instead? Check out the grittier tracks, ‘So You’re Leaving Me’ and ‘What is This Feeling’, which references Green’s frustration about his relationship falling apart.

                    69 Love Songs – The Magnetic Fields

                    Want to really go big? This six-disc box set of 69 love songs is the one for you. The American indie poppers’ sixth studio album was released in 1999 by Merge Records. The three-volume concept album, comprised of the titular 69 love songs, was all written by Magnetic Fields’ frontman, Stephin Merritt.

                    The inspiration for the collection came from Merritt sitting in a Manhattan piano bar, listening to Stephen Sondheim songs and deciding that he wanted to get into theatre music. Interestingly, Merritt has said that 69 Love Songs is ‘not remotely an album about love. It’s an album about love songs, which are very far away from anything to do with love.’ The album spans songs in genres as varied as country, punk rock (‘Punk Love’), Scottish folk (‘Wi’ Nae Wee Bairn Ye’ll Me Beget’), synth pop, free jazz (‘Love is Like Jazz’) and mournful ballads (‘Busby Berkeley Dreams’, ‘The Book of Love’).

                    Music critics loved it – The Guardian hailed it as, ‘an album of such tenderness, humour and bloody-minded diversity, it’ll have you throwing away your preconceptions and wondering how you ever survived a broken heart without it.’ Others compared Merritt’s lyrics with Cole Porter and, proving its quality, in 2021, NME placed it at No. 213 on their list of all-time greatest albums.

                    Merritt combined forces with four other vocalists, and brought in a dizzying array of instruments, from ukulele, banjo and accordion to cello, mandolin, piano, flute, guitars, a selection of percussion and his more usual synths and effects.

                    Pitchfork described the huge variety of genres on the album: ‘As a prism refracts light into a spectrum of colours, 69 Love Songs not only refracts love into a spectrum of emotions, but also refracts the love song itself into a spectrum of musical forms. There’s a duet between a dysfunctional Sonny and Cher (‘Yeah! Oh Yeah!’), a country-gospel tune confusing religious and secular love (‘Kiss Me Like You Mean It’), and an amusingly light-hearted tale of a soldier’s drunken tryst (‘The Night You Can’t Remember’).

                    ‘There’s giddy lust (‘Let’s Pretend We’re Bunny Rabbits’), romantic longing (‘Come Back from San Francisco’), sleazy leering (‘Underwear’), and resignation and despair (‘No One Will Ever Love You’).’

                    Seems that whatever romantic mood you want to channel, 69 Love Songs will have you covered.

                    Room for Squares – John Mayer

                    Soulful guitar and a soft vocals ensure that Mayer’s melodic album about young love cuts straight to the heart of the matter. Whether you’re currently caught up in first love or reminiscing and going on a nostalgic rummage through your romantic memories, the tracks on Room for Squares make an excellent soundtrack.

                    The American singer-songwriter’s debut album was released in 2001 on both Aware and Columbia Records. Single ‘Your Body is a Wonderland’ earned Mayer a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

                    There are sweeping, classical strings on ‘City Love’ and pure pop guitar on ‘Back to You’, plus some funky bass on ‘Neon’. The result? A slick collection of infectious tunes with moving vocals and honest sentiment.

                    21 – Adele

                    Well, you can’t have a run-down of the best albums inspired by love and leave out Adele’s record-breaking 21, can you? The singer-songwriter’s second album debuted in 2011 on XL Recordings in Europe and Columbia Records in the US.

                    In the canon of heartbreak albums, has there ever been one that’s more ubiquitous than 21? Adele began writing the album when she was still in the relationship whose break-up subsequently inspired the record. The Queen of Breakup Belters collaborated with songwriters and producers including Rick Rubin, Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder, Jim Abbiss and Dan Wilson.

                    21 topped the charts in more than 30 counties and became the world’s best-selling album of the year for both 2011 and 2012. Want an even bigger stat? In the UK, it’s the best-selling album of the 21st century. Yes, you read that right, the whole century. It’s also the best-selling album by a solo artist of all-time and won the Grammy for Album of the Year.

                    Adele’s performance of ‘Someone Like You’ at the BRIT Awards in 2011 blew everyone away and cemented her reputation not only as a performer, but also as the lyricist for the lovelorn.

                    If Valentine’s Day is giving you grief, then channel either vengeful feelings through ‘Rolling in the Deep’ (‘don’t underestimate the things that I will do’), your inner piano-vixen lounge singer (‘Rumour Has It’) or, of course, go full-on ‘I’m not giving up without a fight’ and bellow ‘Someone Like You’ into your second tub of Ben and Jerry’s of the night. We’ve all been there.

                    The Love Below – Andre 3000

                    Looking for a jazzy, funky Valentine? This 2003 release on Arista Records by half of Outkast is just the thing. ‘The Love Below (Intro)’ is a gorgeously old skool piano piece that could easily have slotted into either the soundtrack for When Harry Met Sally or La La Land.

                    The album, which Uncut magazine called, ‘an avant-soul concept album’ features guests including Rosario Dawson, Kelis, Norah Jones and Fonzworth Bentley, who examine the emotions of falling in love and of loving oneself. It was suggested that Andre 3000’s breakup with Erykah Badu influenced the album’s lyrics, many of which are concerned with the search for true love.

                    The Love Below’s claim to ultimate Valentine’s day album? Well, track four is titled, ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’. Or why not have a joyous dance about to ‘Hey Ya!’ to celebrate the giddiness of love.

                    Love Deluxe – Sade

                    Sade’s fourth studio album was released by Epic Records in 1992. If you’re after an album that surges with emotion, but without all the bombastic bells and whistles, then this is the one for you. The first track ‘No Ordinary Love’, shows off Sade’s gorgeous voice, and the spare arrangements on the other tracks follow the signature style of earlier classics Diamond Life and Stronger than Pride.

                    The lyrics are loosely inspired by the ups and downs of Sade Adu’s six-year marriage to Spanish film director Carlos Pliego. For evocative love songs, look no further than ‘Kiss of Life’ and ‘I Couldn’t Love You More’, or the soaring ‘Cherish the Day’, the final single released from the album, which Sade confessed was her favourite track on the album. ‘I think it’s really quite deep, but at the same time it’s a love song.’

                    I Love You, Honeybear – Father John Misty

                    If you find some aspects of Valentine’s Day a bit cloying, then Father John Misty is the perfect choice. I Love You, Honeybear is full of sardonic wit and is romantic almost in spite of itself.

                    Folk musician Josh Tillman’s second album since his departure from Fleet Foxes came out on the Bella Union label in 2015 and was described by the artist as a concept album about himself. The songs explore his relationship with his wife, Emma, and aspects of his personal life that saw him ‘engaging in all manner of regrettable behaviour’.

                    The album’s last song, ‘I Went to the Store One Day’, chronicles Tillman and his wife’s relationship from the day they met in a store and up to their deaths. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian particularly loved the album’s lyrics: ‘There are moments when, if you’re listening closely, the constant lyrical shifts from caustic irony to plaintive declarations of love can really knock you for six, not least on the title track.’

                    Pitchfork called it, ‘an album by turns passionate and disillusioned, tender and angry, so cynical it’s repulsive, and so open-hearted it hurts.’ This is definitely an album for the ‘it’s complicated’ crowd.

                    Hounds of Love – Kate Bush

                    For everyone who’s discovered Kate Bush thanks to ‘Running Up that Hill’ on Stranger Things, Hounds of Love should definitely be on your playlist for Valentine’s Day.

                    The album debuted way back in 1985 on EMI Records and as well as ‘Running Up that Hill’, there were three further singles, ‘Cloudbusting’, ‘The Big Sky’ and title track, ‘Hounds of Love’. Sounds called the album, ‘dramatic, moving and wildly, unashamedly, beautifully romantic’, while Spin hailed it as an, ‘art-pop classic’. Rolling Stone ranked it at No. 68 in their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2020.

                    Dive into ‘Cloudbusting’s lush strings for full-tilt romance (‘you’re here in my head, like the sun coming out’) and use the album as a jumping-off point to segue into today’s big, bold artists such as Florence + the Machine, St. Vincent and Anohni.

                    The Lexicon of Love – ABC

                    Another concept album, this 80s debut from ABC tracks singer Martin Fry’s heartache as he tries and fails to have a meaningful relationship. If you’re currently in the throes of unrequited love, then mooning over the object of your affection on Insta seems a lot better soundtracked by ‘Tears are not Enough’, ‘Poison Arrow’, ‘All of My Heart’ and ‘The Look of Love’.

                    You can particularly wallow in the talky bit on the latter: ‘And all my friends just might ask me / They say, “Martin, maybe one day you’ll find true love”/ And I say, maybe, there must be a solution to / The one thing, the one thing we can’t find’ – there’s a satisfyingly big sigh you can indulge in, if you’re feeling particularly dramatic.

                    Come Away with Me – Norah Jones

                    Come Away with Me celebrated its 20-year anniversary last year. At the time Norah Jones burst onto the international scene, she was an unknown artist. But her unique blend of jazz, blues, country, folk and pop instantly made her a global star.

                    Blue Note Records’ newest chart-topper hit the No. 1 slot on the Billboard 200 and received Grammy Awards for both Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. ‘Don’t Know Why’ also won Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Jones was supported by jazz musicians including Kevin Breit, Bill Frisell and Tony Scherr on the mix of jazz standards and folk infusions.

                    If you’re yearning for relaxed romance on the 14th February, then chill out with Come Away with Me – it’s like a gorgeous, jazz-tinged caress.

                    If Music Be the Food of Love…

                    Can’t get enough romantic music? Listen to our hand-picked playlist, then dive into our selection of the most romantic movies and their soundtracks, together with the movies’ best love songs. Alternatively, explore our latest albums for the best in high-quality original music to license.

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                    sped up music

                    THE RISE OF SPED UP MUSIC

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                      ‘Life comes at you fast’, so they say, and now that’s more true than ever. With the option to watch everything from film and TV and listen to podcasts at 1.5 speed and in half the time, it was pretty much guaranteed that music would follow suit. But what’s behind the trend for sped up songs and fast music?

                      The Popularity of Sped-up Songs: A Modern Music Trend?

                      As with many trends, the rise of sped-up music can be attributed to social media: TikTok in particular. But do a slightly deeper dive, and you’ll find pitch-shifted, sped-up audio as far back as the 1950s. A novelty track called ‘Witch Doctor’ used vocals which were manually recorded at half speed and then sped up the tape so the voice of the ‘witch’ sang at a higher pitch.

                      ‘Witch Doctor’s originator, Ross Bagdasarian Sr., recorded under the name of David Seville, who became the fictional character who was the adoptive father/producer of Alvin and the Chipmunks. Yes, our tiny, squeaky pals were there first, in the early 60s.

                      Bagdasarian’s son explains in the video above that a DJ in Philadelphia on a graveyard shift in 1980 played Blondie’s ‘Call Me’ sped up to give it that Chipmunk sound. Sadly, instead of kick-starting a whole new way of Blondie making money, he announced it as a new Alvin record, which led to a record label commissioning Chipmunk Punk.

                      What Are the Other Origins of Sped-up Music?

                      Leaving Alvin and chums behind, let’s take a look at ‘nightcore’, a micro-genre that emerged in the early 2000s in Norway. Nightcore takes a core song and speeds it up by 30%, to around 160-190bpm – for vinyl fans, it’s essentially the same effect as playing a 331/3 RPM vinyl at 45 RPM.

                      The genre is named after a Norwegian duo, Nightcore, who released pitch-shifted versions of trance and Eurodance tracks. They were influenced by German group Scooter’s pitch-shifted vocals in ‘Nessaja’ and ‘Ramp! (The Logical Song)’ – the pair later told SuperSuper! Magazine that, ‘Nightcore has become a style of music, a way to make the music happier – ‘happy hardcore’ as they say.’

                      From the 2010s, nightcore crossed over into pop and hip hop, K-pop and electro house, but it’s undoubtedly TikTok’s massive popularity in the 2020s that’s led to the global appeal of fast bpm music.

                      Sped up TikTok Audios: Changing the Pace of Social Media Entertainment

                      So, what is the big appeal of sped-up tunes? Producer, performer and comedian Oliver Tree, whose nightcore track ‘Miss You’ was a hit, told the NME that, ‘The current state of living in a digital society, with the advent of social media and online dating, is that we’re all quickly swiping to see what’s better. This leaves us moving at an incredibly fast pace. Music’s a mirror of humanity, so no one should be surprised that sped-up music has become popular, when you look at the speed in which we’re living.’

                      Fans and creators remixing songs is part of TikTok’s appeal – Clive Rozario, TikTok’s Global Music Programme Manager, highlighted the fact that people don’t just come to it to consume, but also to create: ‘Fans are empowered to become part of the music-making process, which often manifests in creators experimenting with their own sped-up or slowed-down versions.’

                      Fan-First Fresh Takes

                      When you speed up a track, you can transform it into a dance hit – and create an entirely fresh take on songs from any number of genres. There have always been remixes created and promoted by music labels, but the difference now is that social media’s making these new versions a fan-first activity, which the labels then jump on, officially releasing the sped-up versions. The result? Another chart boost for an already successful track – a sped-up remix of RAYE’s ‘Escapism’ was credited with helping her to top the UK Singles Chart.

                      The Psychology Behind the Appeal of Fast Music

                      Speeding up or slowing down tracks might have originated on YouTube as a method of creators trying to get their content past the platform’s copyright censors, but creators often enjoy sped-up TikTok audios because they’re just more energetic and interesting to watch. Plus, TikTok is notorious for tapping into people’s short attention spans – you have to grab them, and stop them from scrolling past your content.

                      Sped-up remixes pack more emotion and lyrics into a shorter timespan: ideal for TikTokkers’ speedy swipe rates and the platform’s short videos. Look for the hashtag #spedup on TikTok and you’ll find videos that have racked up over 16 billion views. Related hashtags like #nightcore and #spedupsounds also have billions of collective views – it’s clearly a genre that’s not going anywhere fast (ironically).

                      Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

                      Many acts, artists and label execs are getting proactive and automatically creating nightcore versions of their songs to boost streams (RAYE’s remix has more than 51 million Spotify streams), but TikTok songs are also resurfacing old tracks. Miguel’s 2011 hit ‘Sure Thing’ was just one instance of a massive TikTok smash in 2023 that was returned to Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs’ Top 20. Lady Gaga’s 2011 track ‘Bloody Mary’ didn’t even chart on its original release, but it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to millions of people, including Gaga herself, recreating the viral Wednesday dance to the song.

                      You can instantly see the crossover and influence on streamers such as Netflix from social media with this track – it wasn’t on the original Wednesday soundtrack, but a teaser trailer for the second season features the sped-up ‘Bloody Mary’ remix, alongside Wednesday’s voiceover dryly shouting out the fact she’s been ‘mimicked millions of times across the internet’.

                      All of the biggest songs in TikTok in 2023 were sped-up remixes; according to its year-end report, ‘Collide (more sped up)’ by Justine Skye was top amongst its US users.

                      Used in more than 4.2 million TikTok videos, this was another track that was nearly a decade old. K-poppers Fifty Fifty and ‘Favorite Song – Sped Up’ by Toosii were all more widely used than more obvious hits such as Taylor Swift’s ‘Cruel Summer’.

                      You can instantly see the popularity of sped-up TikTok audios when you look at the stats for SZA’s song, ‘Kill Bill’. The original has been used for more than 100,000 TikTok videos – whilst the unofficial sped-up remix vastly eclipsed it, being used in more than 1.1 million TikToks.

                      What’s the Downside of Sped-up TikTok Songs?

                      In short, if you’re an artist or label and you’re not releasing your own sped-up versions, then fan-made remixes are costing you money. Forbes reports that digital rights company Pex found hundreds of millions of modified audio tracks were distributed on social media between July 2021 and March 2023, and in November, it identified at least a million tracks on streamers such as Spotify and Apple Music were unlicensed manipulated audio tracks. Pex’s senior VP pointed out that these tracks, ‘generate millions in cumulative revenue for the uploaders instead of the correct rightsholders.’

                      Want to dive into fast bpm music? Spotify curates its own sped-up songs playlist:

                      The Story Behind the Music

                      Explore more music genres with our deep dives into the rise of microgenres, electronic music, the evolution of hip hop and the differences between synthwave and vaporwave.

                      Need to license music for TikTok, YouTube and other social media platforms? Check out our Trending playlist to stay ahead of the curve.

                      Need Music for Your Project?

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

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