There are so many myths when it comes to music licensing, it’s no wonder many marketing teams don’t know where to start when it comes to securing the best soundtrack for their project.
In this blog, we set about busting some of the most pernicious music licensing myths, tackling everything from the importance of music as a creative tool to what constitutes fair use in licensing terms.
Music Licensing Myths
- Music is just a finishing touch
- I can just use any track under fair use
- Popular music is always the best choice
- All royalty-free music is the same
- Licensing music is expensive and complicated
Myth #1 – “Music is just a finishing touch”
Viewing music as a nice-to-have rather than an essential tool in brand marketing, is a huge error. When it comes to making a lasting impression on audiences, music plays an integral role in enhancing storytelling, reinforcing brand identity and forging deep emotional connections.
Consider the power of sonic branding. Whether you’re using soundscapes, commissioning bespoke branded jingles or creating an audio logo, music can become intrinsically connected to events and emotions, helping cement your branding in the mind of consumers for years to come. So whether you’re after background music or intro music, it pays to make the right choice.
Myth #2 – “I can just use any track under fair use.”
The term “fair use” means using parts of a song without gaining the permission of the copyright owner. In the UK, fair use is decided on a case-by-case basis and is only applicable in specific circumstances such as teaching, criticism and non-commercial research. If you intend to use copyrighted music in the context of commercial use without securing the correct licence, you will be opening yourself and your brand up to legal challenges and takedown requests.
Obtaining the correct commercial music rights can be a complicated process, involving getting in touch with songwriters, performers, publishers and record labels. A much easier approach is to choose a trusted production music library, like Audio Network, to obtain music that’s pre-cleared for commercial platforms.
Myth #3 – “Popular music is always the best choice.”
It can be tempting to believe that securing an instantly recognisable hit for your campaign is the most effective form of marketing. The truth is that it is extremely expensive to license commercial music and it doesn’t guarantee any creative advantage.
Custom tracks offer brands greater flexibility to hone their message and can be every bit as emotionally resonant as a piece of commercial music. There are two paths when it comes to seeking out custom tracks: commissioning a bespoke piece from a songwriter – which is a very time-consuming and expensive undertaking – and using a production music library.
At Audio Network we offer more than 280,000 high quality tracks, spanning every genre, style and mood imaginable, And with cut downs, alts and stems available on selected tracks, you’re able to make the track your own, tailoring your sound to your project. Tracks are licensed worldwide, in perpetuity, allowing you the peace of mind that you are futureproofing your brand campaign.
Myth #4 – “All royalty-free music is the same.”
As royalty-free music myths go, this is one of the most pervasive. Put bluntly, the idea that all royalty-free music is the same couldn’t be further from the truth. Low cost stock libraries frequently equate to low quality recordings – a gamble that could damage your brand long-term.
At Audio Network you can expect nothing but the very best quality. We commission and curate performances by leading artists, musicians and composers from all over the world, recording our music at the world’s finest studios including Abbey Road Studios, Air Studios and Synchron Stage Vienna. Our in-house team of music experts have a hand in every stage of the process, from A&R to mixing and mastering, valuing quality above all else.
Beyond the music, we offer a range of tools to help our customers find the perfect track, from music consultancy to curated new music playlists, cut downs, alts and stems to super-fast, AI-powered prompt search.
Myth #5 – “Licensing music is expensive and complicated”
In many instances, music licensing is expensive and complicated and can involve applying to rightsholders directly for mechanical rights, synchronisation rights, performance rights, publishing rights and master rights. Learn more in our music glossary and our guide to music licensing. But just because enterprise music licensing and business music licensing can be complicated, it doesn’t need to be.
By using a production music library like Audio Network, you can avoid legal headaches. We offer high quality music licensed worldwide, forever, and a range of flexible pricing models. To find out more about our licensing offering, get in touch.
Discover More
So now you’re wise to the key music licensing myths, why not check out more of our blogs, from why licensing music for social media is a smarter choice than using free libraries and why the smartest ads always start with sound to how to license a song for video and how to find music for YouTube videos, TikTok or Instagram
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!
