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Music | Sound Effects | Performance Rights Organizations

Music

A close-up of an ear. A computer search for "production music" will show you hundreds of companies offering music. Most of those are aimed at the trade and their rates are often prohibitive for non-commercial users. The ones we list are relatively modest in pricing and "n-c friendly". Almost all of them allow you to listen to part or all of a melody in low quality without charge. Only if you like it, need you consider purchase and download. Do check the licence terms for any music or sound-effects you download. Even if there is no fee you may find a request that the composer or source be cited. Please honor such requests.

Remember that most such music is intended for background atmosphere rather than as a "main theme" in a movie. That said, you can often use a specific theme for each character in a story and blend those into satisfying music sequences. It is much rarer to find a piece of modestly-priced royalty-free music strong enough to play on its own for several minutes under (say) beautiful scenic views.

Note that most music does not include include Performance Rights which may apply if you show your work in public rather than within private homes or your film club. Links to the various agencies concerned with such rights are here.

2-b Royalty Free - huge stock of music in a very wide range of styles. Good search faclities. Fees mainly between $5 - $35 a track.
AKM Music - a British-based company whose range includes "Performance Rights free" music. Keyword search. The catalog includes a "Cine to Video Selection CD" with longer tracks and organized music loops which can be fitted together. Between $5 and $14 a track.
Audio Network - huge library with separate sections for prodiction music, classical and sound-effects. Use their "Home/Student Productions" licence. Priced in British pounds but tracks are around $1.30
Bobsongs - Bob Chambers often produces tracks between 3 and 6 minutes long. He prices in British pounds but tracks cost about $2 or you can buy an album at about $22 or a bumper bundle of albums for around $56.

Incompetech - better known as the home of Kevin McLeod who makes loads of excellent music available free - optional donations welcomed. All he asks is a credit. If you cannot give a credit there are modest fees.
The Music Bakery - has a wealth of music of all sorts. Fees vary according to length of track but 4 minutes for $47 is typical.
NVM - they sell CDs rather than tracks. Around 60 minutes for about $28.
Primary Elements - they offer various licences. For most of us type A is appropriate which costs $3 a track. CDs often available at bargain rates.
Royalty-Free TV - their standard licence suits most of us. Full length main theme $29.50. Lower pices for short clips.
Trackline - wide range of music. Buy CDs or tracks. For example 5 minutes of Bach for about $8

Sound Effects

The Freesound Project - a vast range of sound fx from nightingale song to thunderstorms. Created by enthusiasts and available free in return for a credit.
PacDV - has a range of useful ambience and background sound effects free. The website is sometimes a little flaky.
Ljudo - has a useful collection of small sounds free.

A1 Free Sound Effects - has a quirky collection which is good quality and free for non-commercial use. They also sell commercial rights if required.
TNS Group - offer a free collection of sound fx they believe to be in the public domain.
Sshhtt! - world sound effects including weird ones like a parrot and a dog! All free.

Performance Rights Organizations

United States

ASCAP (U.S.)
BMI (U.S.)
SESAC (U.S.)
SoundExchange (U.S.)
Canada

SOCAN (Canada)
CMRRA (Canada)
SODRAC
SPACQ (Québec)

2-b Royalty Free - huge stock of music in a very wide range of styles. Good search faclities. Fees mainly between $5 - $35 a track. AKM Music - a British-based company whose range includes "Performance Rights free" music. Keyword search. The catalog includes a "Cine to Video Selection CD" with longer tracks and organized music loops which can be fitted together. Between $5 and $14 a track. Audio Network - huge library with separate sections for prodiction music, classical and sound-effects. Use their "Home/Student Productions" licence. Priced in British pounds but tracks are around $1.30 Bobsongs - Bob Chambers often produces tracks between 3 and 6 minutes long. He prices in British pounds but tracks cost about $2 or you can buy an album at about $22 or a bumper bundle of albums for around $56.	Incompetech - better known as the home of Kevin McLeod who makes loads of excellent music available free - optional donations welcomed. All he asks is a credit. If you cannot give a credit there are modest fees. The Music Bakery - has a wealth of music of all sorts. Fees vary according to length of track but 4 minutes for $47 is typical. NVM - they sell CDs rather than tracks. Around 60 minutes for about $28. Primary Elements - they offer various licences. For most of us type A is appropriate which costs $3 a track. CDs often available at bargain rates. Royalty-Free TV - their standard licence suits most of us. Full length main theme $29.50. Lower pices for short clips. Trackline - wide range of music. Buy CDs or tracks. For example 5 minutes of Bach for about $8
Sound Effects
The Freesound Project - a vast range of sound fx from nightingale song to thunderstorms. Created by enthusiasts and available free in return for a credit. PacDV - has a range of useful ambience and background sound effects free. The website is sometimes a little flaky. Ljudo - has a useful collection of small sounds free.	A1 Free Sound Effects - has a quirky collection which is good quality and free for non-commercial use. They also sell commercial rights if required. TNS Group - offer a free collection of sound fx they believe to be in the public domain. Sshhtt! - world sound effects including weird ones like a parrot and a dog! All free.
Performance Rights Organizations
United States ASCAP (U.S.) BMI (U.S.) SESAC (U.S.) SoundExchange (U.S.)	Canada SOCAN (Canada) CMRRA (Canada) SODRAC SPACQ (Québec)