5 Common Misconceptions About Royalty-Free Music

 Royalty-free (RF) music is utilized in Videos, Podcast, Presentations, and many other projects. However, some common misconceptions are still present and concern the true meaning of the term ‘royalty-free’ and the way the royalty free music licensing operates. Clarifying these myths could improve content producers’ awareness of when, or if, RF music is ideal.

1. RF music isn’t really free

One of the main misconceptions is that the royalty free means no licensing fees and no limitations are applicable to the music used. Free, in this case, means that there are no recurring payments that would be charged after the initial use of the song; however, RF music comes with a one-time fee for the license to use the track. This compensation model lets the client purchase specific usage rights for the song, such as incorporating it into several projects. Therefore, while creators may stand to benefit in the long run by not paying royalties for their creations, RF music still has a cost in that users must buy it.

2. You Maintain Full Ownership

Another ridiculous fallacy is that in case you are using RF tracks it implies that you own the material fully and have all the rights to it. In fact, RF music licenses enable the person creating or distributing the music to retain ownership rights and earn revenue from it. What you buy is licenses for commercial usage of music and not the ownership of it. You are allowed to perform the song according to the license’s conditions, but you cannot own the composition’s copyright or solely distribute it.

3. Quality is Always Low

For this reason, the RF music is free from royalties and this makes some people think that it is low quality. Once upon a time in the not-so-distant past, and when it came to sound quality, modern RF tracks compared pretty well with music that cost many times more. It is still common to find truly gifted musicians who write only for royalty-free music firms. However, selection variance has not totally disappeared but continues to manifest between catalogues. However, there is good RF music out there for one to search and look for during these times.

4. No Attribution Required

People tend to consider that royalty-free music allows one to use RF music in any way possible without referencing the creator of such music. Not necessarily. RF licenses can usually be used with specific conditions for using the song, such as not being allowed to edit the song or use it in an advert. The failure to adhere to these regulations is liable to imply legal ramifications. Despite it not being obligatory, it is important always to credit the composers since it will give a good faith. So, there should be no illusion that the rights to RF music usage come with complete freedom of creativity.

5. Never Pay Royalties Again

There is a strong misbelief, which goes like this- RF music erases royalty burdens for good. Thus, the length of licensing periods restricts in most cases, RF licensing length limits apply. Most licenses come with terms that state that the use is limited to a certain period, which usually ranges between 2-5 years. If you fail to remove the song from the project within the said time frame, you normally have to buy another license for it. That being said, although choosing RF music eliminates constant royalty payments, it’s not as simple as paying once for indefinite music usage if you plan on using the same song for a long time.

Conclusion

Even for the creative minds who are more inclined to create music rather than licensing them, the world of music licensing is rather tricky. However, it is vital to reduce the chances of assuming facts that lead content producers to a problem by shedding some light on these common royalty-free music myths. As with any technology, it’s good to know what you’re getting into, its strengths, and weaknesses so that you can avoid mishandling it in the future.