Finding just the right music for your next YouTube video or podcast episode can be a super confusing undertaking. From figuring out where to find the music to how the licensing works, it takes a lot of time and energy away from what you would probably rather be doing - working on your video or podcast! I want to help make this process a little easier for you so I came up with 5 main things you want to look for when you are searching for music to license.
1. Royalty Free
Make sure the music you license is royalty free. What does this mean? I wrote a blog post about it and you can read it here. Basically, it means that you pay a licensing fee up front so that you don't have to pay royalties to the artists or songwriter every time someone plays your video and their song is played. Most licensing websites are going to offer royalty free music, but it's something you need to double check before you purchase the use of a song.
2. Simple Licensing
Music licensing can get super confusing. Some licensing websites give you multiple options pending on how much you are going to use the song. Sometimes it is hard to know this up front and so it's hard to know which option to choose. Some sites make you renew your license every few years. It is a lot of fine print to read through. The best option is to go through a site that offers super, simple licensing that you can understand. Ideally, you want to pay one time up front and that's it.
3. Unique Music
Have you ever been watching a YouTube video and noticed you have heard lots of other YouTubers use the exact same music? This happens all the time because most video creators use the same sites with the same songs. If you want to stand out from the crowd, make sure you use a licensing site that offers unique music options that not everyone is using.
4. No Credit Necessary
A lot of licensing sites will require you to credit the music somewhere in your video. You will need to mention it at some point or at least put a credit in text at the end of your video. This may not be a big deal for some, but your video time is valuable. You shouldn't have to clutter or confuse things by adding a credit for the music. The best licensing agreement will not require you to post any credits on your video.
5. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
Any music licensing site worth anything will offer you a satisfaction guarantee. This is just good business and something you should look for in any product or service you buy, especially online. Whoever is providing you with music, should be confident enough in their work to offer you a 100% satisfaction guarantee. And if they don't, be very cautious. Many times this is a sign of a shady business.
So there you go - 5 things to look for when licensing music. I hope this helps. The biggest thing to remember is to be careful and do your homework. Make sure you understand any licensing deal you are entering. If you have any other questions about music licensing, feel free to leave a comment below. I am always happy to help. Happy musical hunting!
