
Have I mentioned I’m a prodigious list-maker?
I am….my shrink has yet to explain the significance.
With Google around, it may seem a moot point, but then again, Google only provides search results, and the list I have here today is sifted, winnowed, filtered and somewhat vetted.
Voice-Actors are always looking for royalty-free, stock music, music beds, sound effects, looped tracks, and public domain music (must be 1922 or older, BTW).
HERE‘s a great site that explains public domain, copywriting, and music copying principles. Reading below, you’ll see a list that I’ve compiled from — first — my trusted friends at the VO-BB (Voice Over Bulletin Board), and secondly from a Google search using the terms “royalty-free”, “music-beds”, “public domain”, and “stock music”.
I can tell you that I visited each site, and found them all to be exactly what they claim to be. Not all sites are made the same, but you’ll see a lot of similarities among them: free download samples, graduated pricing structures, an occasional calendar special, packaged specials, and a spectrum of music genres.
Digging into some of the sites will yield sections that offer looped tracks, special effects, stingers, and sound effects. I’d recommend checking out the first ten-or-so on the list before going deeper…but they’re all genuine.
CourVO
http://www.stock20.com/commerce/index.php
http://www.radio-mall.com/stxold.htm
http://www.tracksnow.com/shopping/catalog/
http://www.shockwave-sound.com/
http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/
http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/
http://www.pacdv.com/sounds/free-music.html
http://incompetech.com/static/music/
http://www.publicdomain4u.com/
http://www.publicdomain4u.com/
http://derekaudette.ottawaarts.com/music.php
http://www.stockmusicstore.com
http://www.primaryelements.com/
http://www.productiontrax.com/
http://www.stockmusicsite.com/
http://www.allmusiclibrary.com/
http://www.buyoutmusictracks.com/
http://www.stonewashed.net/buyoutmusic.html
(Author’s note: the following two added 5-20-10 from suggestions of the ones I missed – also see next blog article)
http://www.doschdesign.com/products/audio/Dosch_Trailer_Music_Sounds.html
(another added 6-13-10)
(another added 6-25-10)
http://www.musicrevolution.com
(another added 12-14-10)
http://www.directcomposer.com/
(another added 3-15-11)
(another added 6-11-11)
(this one added 8-17-11)
added (6-25-12)
added (8-28-12)
added (1-24-13)
http://www.dl-sounds.com/
added (6-10-13)
http://www.soundtaxi.net/en/
(added 7-27-13)
(added 1-26-14)
UniqueTracks Production Music Library http://www.uniquetracks.com
(added 12-27-15)
(added 3-27-18)
(added 12-3-2020)
https://www.joystock.org
Hi Dave, if you get the chance It would be great to see you add AmbientMusicGarden.com to your list as we offer all our music royalty free as well.
Many thanks,
Guy Lewis
Looks like you missed one of the top 5.
http://www.royaltyfreemusiclibrary.com
Hi Dave!
Here’s my current favorite for royalty free music:
http://www.BobsMusicCafe.com
(They also have terrific customer service!)
Best,
Linda
I’m with Greg. I have used http://www.royaltyfreemusiclibrary.com twice. Music is good and licensing is easy to understand. (which isn’t always the case with some royalty free sites)
Hi Dave,
I would really appreciate it if you could take a look at our new royalty free music site and maybe add it to your list. http://www.music2license.com.
Best wishes,
Ian Kirton.
You should also consider MusicRevolution.com (https://www.musicrevolution.com), an innovative new online marketplace for royalty-free production music. I am the Co-Founder.
Chris Cardell
Please consider http://www.directcomposer.com
It really is a whole other level of cutting edge stock music.
I think you will love it.
cheers
That’s a great list, I do a lot of multimedia for work, so I’m always looking for more music to add to my library.
check out http://www.freestockfor.us and http://www.allourstock.com both 100% free (Creative Commons licensing)
I like the list, not sure if this made it or not, but there is plenty of decent SFX and audio and music over there… http://stockfuel.com
Thanks, Alexander…I’ll add the link to the list.
DC
Wow! This is a fantastic list of royalty-free stock music sites. Thank you so much for taking the time to share them with us here. This will save us an awful lot of time with voice over and video production! And the fact that you actually took the time to check each one of the 50+ websites out yourself is an added plus. I will DEFINITELY be blogging about this and sharing your website with my readers over at my blog, http://cheapvoiceoversandvideos.blogspot.com/. You offer a lot of truly valuable resources for the voice over community. Thanks again!
Jerry,
Thanks for visiting and commenting those kind words.
I appreciate the link…
write soon, write often,
Dave C
I currently enjoy using http://www.soundjig.com for free royalty free music and sound effects.
Another site to be added to this list is http://www.stockmusic.net. We provide royalty free music licensing for all media forms and do custom composing as well. Not to mention we have witty and fun track descriptions so that you don’t get bored as you browse.
🙂
Thanks for making the list!
Thanks for writing, Leane! I’ll be sure to add it to the list!
Dave C
We are an audio / sound production company that specializes is providing
high quality audio for students, faculty, non profit agencies and projects.
Our resource is 100% free and has loads of free content your students would
hopefully be interested in.
We’ve worked with such fine organizations as the British Columbia Ministry
of Finance, Stony Brook University in NY, Our Dynamic Earth, and Tux Paint a
popular paint program designed for children.
We were hoping you could offer our services to your students and faculty. We
saw where you https://courvo.mystagingwebsite.com/2010/05/50-royalty-free-stock-music-sites.html
and hoped you would consider adding our site as well.
If we can help you at all, or if you happen to have questions about
SoundBible.com just let us know.
In addition to this project we have started what is going to be another top
knotch project WikiTopic.org, an open discussion platform that aims to
promote local and regional topics submitted by users.
While it’s not a audio resource is is a nice discussion utility for class
discussions, no registration is required.
.
—
Thanks C.J.
Charles Johnson
Koenig Media, LLC
Charles,
Thanks for tipping me off to this site. I chuckled about your reference to “my students”. This is just a blog for VO talent where I share whatever information I come across that enables my peers.
I’m not only going to add your site to the current list on the previous article, but I blogged about soundbible.com and other recent adds to the list on Today’s blog.
I appreciate your stopping by to let us know!
Dave C
Killertracks.com is not rights managed, not royalty free
Thanks for stopping by, “guy”…
Educate me/us. What’s the discinction here? Is Killertracks.com illegal? Is Killertracks.com breaking some rules? Does in not belong in this list? In short…can you flesh-out your comment a little.
I’d really like to know.
Thanks for taking the time to raise the flag.
Dave C
Hello people,
I want to share a new royalty free music site with pianos music tracks
There are many genres and moods with high quality sound.
http://www.royaltyfreepianos.com
Needed a sound effect for a project and realized you were the guru who put this together a few blogs back. Went to you site here did a simple search and BAM! got what I needed…thanks Dave…you certainly are amazing!
Hi Dave
Like your list.
There are many players out there..
You can also check http://www.themusicase.com and included in your list if you want.
i am working the last 5 years on royalty free music industry as an independent film maker and stock music libraries saved me a lot of time.
thanks.
Bill,
You’re great for stopping by and letting me know about that. I’ve added it to the list.
Let me know if there’s ever anything I can do for you.
best,
Dave Courvoisier
I have a new motivational track entitled “The Waterfall” I’d like to offer your readers 🙂 Thanks for listening !
Cheers! Wesley
Link:
http://audiojungle.net/item/the-waterfall-motivational-theme/2554784?WT.ac=new_item&WT.seg_1=new_item&WT.z_author=vizion-studios
Hi Wesley,
I’d like to thank you on behalf of my readers for this generous offer. I’m including you in the 50+ Royalty-Free Stock Music sites list if that’s OK.
I’m also adding you to an update blog I’m writing today on this article, since I also got a similar message from another visitor: Jean Anfossi. Know her?
Best to you, and thanks for stopping by to comment!
Dave Courvoisier
Hi Dave, Can you please add my company when you have time?
http://www.musicforproductions.com/home.aspx
Thank you:)
Jean
Jean,
Done.
CourVO
Thank you Dave!
Hi Dave,
Please also check out http://www.grooveoption.com
These tracks can be used for audio-video production.
Best regards,
Mathias
Thanks for this link, Mathias…I’ve added it to that particular blog article.
Dave C
Hi Dave,
Royalty Free Music with free download is also available from http://www.royaltyfreeze.com
The free tracks on offer are changed a few times per month.
I find it an excellent source for original tracks.
Regards,
Frederique
Hi Dave,
In my previous message i’ve forgotten to mention the direct link to the page with the free tracks:
http://www.royaltyfreeze.com/free-instrumental-music
Regards,
Frederique
Hey Dave,
I am totally new to the notion of purchasing music, but am embarking on a small video project that will require music. Regarding respect for copyrights, I am concerned that I might download something that is not legit. Is there a verified clearing house that can confirm that a particular stock music site is legit? Dave, I’d be so very grateful for your input.
Thanks!
Another suggestion is http://www.dl-sounds.com 😉
Hi Dave,
great list! but It seems you missed another one of the top addresses for royalty free music, Soundtaxi.net.
I’d really appreciate, if you could add it. Thx a lot for checking it out!
best,
Marc
Thanks, Marc,
Now added to the list!
Dave Courvoisier
On a slightly different slant, if you are looking for royalty free music to use in the background of your business, say for example, a cafe, restaurant, retail store etc, then http://www.melodypods.com offers up a simple way to play legal royalty free music in your business using smartphone and tablet apps. So not a traditional track download licensing website for production music needs but still royalty free background music.
Thanks!
I’ve added this link to the list in that article.
I appreciate your stopping by my blog.
dave courvoisier
Thanks Dave.
Hi Dave,
We have yet another site for your list.
UniqueTracks Production Music Library
http://www.uniquetracks.com
Online since 1998
Nice comprehensive list
Dave G.
Thanks for finally talking about >50+ Royalty-Free Stock Music Sites | Dave Courvoisier’s
Blog <Liked it!
Thanks for that amazing list!
I would like to add Foximusic.com – which offers free downloads (credit needed).
Best,
Yoav
Hi Dave, my hubby has a royalty-free library available via CDBABY downloads:
https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/MusicBackPackLibrary
It’s largely space and ambient music, available for a small fee per download.
Cheers!
Thanks, CC! Hope all is well!
Dave C
Thanks for that amazing list!
Howdy,
I’ve just launched Joystock: cool music, no account needed, and most importantly the music is free to use:
https://www.joystock.org
I could make a good addition to your article if you update it for 2021!
Thanks and have a great day!
Regards,
Jessica
Jessica,
I just added it to the list.
Thanks!
Dave Courvoisier
Hi, I didn’t think there were so many places!
I’m going to share one which is that small but has excellent quality and offers not so common music styles, and I haven’t seen it on your list!
I recently purchased a standard license for royalty free chinese instrumental music
You can add it to this precious list:
https://www.mp3jungle.org/
Than you!