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Music for Documentaries

We´ll explain the best, safest and cheapest ways to add background music to your documentaries—the legal way.

Bloody
adventuresuspenseful
Cease Fire
epicpeaceful
God
artbusinesshobbies
Over the Sea
beautycrafting
Chill
relaxingtrip
Relaxing Days
moviesleep
Red Roses
historicalmovie
City Entry
actiondramawar
No Gravity
ambiancedark
Ray
cinematicsad
Waiting For
adventurenight
Dawn
dynamicenergeticepic
Diligence
actionepicpowerful

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Music Plans

Pay once, use for a lifetime

You’ll never have to worry again about copyrights or claims.

Starter

Suited for personal projects and social media (Youtube not included)

$49 / forever

Buy plan
  • Personal projects
  • Social Media
  • Clients work
  • Online Advertising
  • TV, Cinema and Radio
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Personal

Most popular

Ideal for Youtube. apps, podcast and gameplays. Unlimited downloads and channels.

$99 / forever

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  • Social Media
  • Youtube & Streaming
  • Apps & Videogames
  • Clients work
  • Online Advertising
  • TV, Cinema and Radio
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Business

Ideal if you're a freelancer or a business. All covered, unlimited downloads and channels

$199 / forever

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  • Any Possible Use Case
  • Clients work
  • Online Advertising
  • TV, Cinema and Radio
Learn more

👉No need to create an account

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We currently offer 241 songs from 30 different genres

Testimonials

Don't take our word for it

“I was skeptical at first but Legis Music has exceeded my expectations. Their music library is diverse and constantly updated, making it easy to find the perfect track for any project. Plus, the peace of mind that comes with that royalty-free license is priceless.”

Kate Alexander
Kate Alexander
Marketing Department

“@legismusic has made my life as a video editor so much easier. The lifetime license is a no-brainer and the fact that I don’t have to worry about clearing channels or getting copyright strikes is a huge weight off my shoulders. The affordable cost and extensive music library make it the go-to source for all my music needs.”

Anthony Davila
Anthony Davila
Content Creator

“As a podcast creator, finding the right music to complement my content can be a challenge, but Legis Music has made it so easy. Their lifetime licenses are affordable and the fact that I can use the music on Spotify and Apple Music is a huge relief. A no-brainer for any podcaster.”

Cheryl B.
Cheryl B.
Podcast Host

“I was blown away by the value offered by Legis Music's lifetime royalty-free licenses. The cost is incredibly affordable and having the peace of mind to use the music for my clients without worrying about copyright strikes is priceless. I highly recommend this to anyone in need of music for their projects.”

Claire Simpson
Claire Simpson
Freelancer

“It was important for me to find a cost-effective solution for my company’s music needs. Legis Music’s business plan was the perfect fit and the lifetime licenses have been a game-changer. We can now use the music for all of our projects without any worries about copyright strikes. Highly recommend to any business in need of music.”

Logan Hamilton
Logan Hamilton
Business Owner

“The quality of the music is top-notch, and the licensing terms are crystal clear, saving me from any copyright hassles.”

Mark Johnson
Mark Johnson
Audiobook creator

“Legis Music has improved the way I create content. The selection of royalty-free music is great and the quality is unbeatable. I can now add the perfect sound to my videos without any stress or added costs. Highly recommended!”

Patrick Oliver
Patrick Oliver
Youtuber

“I've been using Legis Music for my YouTube channel for the past few months, and I couldn't be happier with the service.”

Sarah Thompson
Sarah Thompson
Youtube Channel Manager

“As a video game creator, having access to high-quality music for my games is crucial. @legismusic lifetime licenses are a steal and the fact that I don’t have to worry about any type of copyrights in the future is a huge relief. The extensive library makes it easy to find the perfect tracks for my games.”

Dennis Garcia
Dennis Garcia
Game Developer

“The audio quality is excellent, and I've never experienced any copyright issues since using their music. The licensing terms are transparent, which is essential for content creators like myself.”

Emily Rodriguez
Emily Rodriguez
Content Creator

“As a freelance producer, I need to keep costs down and Legis Music has been a huge help for me. The user-friendly platform and affordable pricing make it easy for me to access top-notch music for my clients. Anyone in need of royalty-free music should give it a shot.”

Lauren K.
Lauren K.
Freelancer

music song licensing made easyWhen creating a documentary, you are probably wondering: can I use famous or well-known songs?

Is it possible to use free music?

Where can I get licenses for its use?

In this article, we will solve all the doubts related to the use of music in documentaries so that you have all the possible information at your fingertips.

Can I use famous music in my documentaries?

This is the most frequent question asked by new artists who are starting out in the audiovisual world, as it is understandable that they want to use songs by world-famous artists.

Despite the fact that using them would mean reaching viewers in a deeper way because they are composers of songs that almost everyone knows, it is not a simple process:

In order to use famous music in any kind of music project, it is necessary to acquire two types of licenses : use or master license and sync license.

The master license is controlled and managed by the record label, while the sync license is controlled and managed by the publisher (in many cases the record label and the publisher may be the same entity, but this is not common).

This means that in order to obtain the above licenses, you will have to find a way to contact both – which is no easy task.

To do so, you can check with the US agencies BMI , SESAC and ASCAP or, in the case of Spain, SGAE to find information about the publisher.

Bear in mind, these societies do not manage synchronization rights, so you will have to find a way to locate the record label and negotiate with them.

One way might be through the artist’s or band’s official social media channels.

However, if you have been lucky enough to reach the right people to acquire both licenses, you will find the downside of having to shell out astronomical amounts of money: the price could skyrocket to several thousand dollars.

As you can see, licensing famous songs is a process that takes time and effort for a result that is not assured.

Is it necessary to license songs?

The answer is very clear: you do need to obtain licenses to use famous songs.

Either because you can’t get the licenses or because they are too expensive for your means, you should be aware that it is illegal to use the songs without first obtaining the licenses.

Illegal use of the songs could result in heavy financial penalties, with legal and criminal liabilities in the worst-case scenario.

So what other options are there?

Royalty-free music

Before explaining what this type of music consists of, it is necessary to know what copyright is. musica para clases virtuales para niños

These, in a clear and simple way, are those rights that belong to the authors of works, in this case of musical tracks or sound effects, by the mere fact of creating them, protecting them and establishing limitations of use on them.

In the case of copyrighted songs, the purchaser would have to pay according to, for example, the number of views of the media resource in which the songs are included.

In addition, they would have a specific period of use and, if they wanted to extend this period, they would have to pay a supplement.

Here is a clear example: Imagine that you use a song that is protected by copyright for one of the scenes of your new documentary.

The more times the documentary is viewed, the more royalties you will have to pay, and the more you can only use the song for a certain period of time, previously agreed with the copyright owner. Comprar licencia de uso cancion

With Royalty-Free music, this does not happen, as it is another type of license that is characterized by not having to pay royalties, but you only pay once, and you can use the song as many times as you want.

If you search the Internet for the term “royalty-free music“, you will find dozens of platforms that offer it.

However, you have to be careful, because many sites that offer royalty-free music do not include all the economic rights to their songs and do not give any prior notice of this.

This would be a complicated situation for you for several reasons:

  1. You will have to pay separately for the rights that the license does not include. This adds an extra cost, and you will also have to go through the cumbersome process of acquiring licenses.
  2. You risk your documentary being claimed for not respecting copyright.

However, there is a solution to this problem and that is to use royalty-free music under a so-called direct license.

Direct license

Simply put, it is the license that covers all the necessary rights, allowing you to use the music in your documentaries, distributing them on any platform and in any country in the world, without any fear of take downs.

This is where Epidemic Sound , the only platform with this licensing model, comes into the picture.

The company is currently one of the best positioned music platforms in the music licensing industry, which is used by world-renowned companies such as Loréal, GoPro and Pinterest, as they have more than 90,000 sound effects and more than 35,000 music tracks, all created by the best independent artists.

Within their subscription plans, you can find the ‘Commercial Plan’, created specifically for commercial productions.

Epidemic Sound’s Commercial Plan.

Epidemic-Sound-new-logoTo enjoy the benefits of this plan, which we will explain below, your company must meet the requirement of having an annual turnover of less than ten million dollars.

This license will allow you to upload your documentaries to social media and online video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitch or Vimeo.

In any case, if you want to know more about the permitted and non-permitted uses and the licensing conditions, you can access this link to the official Epidemic Sound website. musica sin copyright para linkedin

Having clarified this aspect, it should be noted that one of the great advantages of the ‘Commercial Plan’ is that you can use their songs in the way you want: only the voice or only instrumental; or you can also cut and select the scrubbing you want and need, all automatically from its own platform, without having to use external sound editors.

So, the main advantages of this plan are:

  • Unlimited monthly music downloads.
  • All rights included.
  • Possibility to ‘clean’ productions from copyright claims.
  • Personalized music recommendations.
How much does it cost?

You have two options: monthly payment or annual payment in advance.

If you decide to choose the former, you will have to pay $49 per month.

However, if you opt for the annual payment, the price is reduced to €25 per month, for a total of $299 per year, giving you a saving of almost 50% on the price.

Other royalty-free platforms

Legis Music

legis music logoWhile we will name later other platforms on which to get this music, we would first like to highlight a new feature we have introduced in Legis Music:

Launch of three exclusive plans in 2023

We consider it vitally important that our customers can access royalty-free music easily and cheaply.

Therefore, these plans have been designed so that you only have to pay once to get them, allowing you to enjoy unlimited songs for life and have the peace of mind of not having to worry about copyright claims in the future.

Thus, you can choose the plan that best suits your needs:

  1. Starter Plan. It is the most recommended for using the songs for personal and home videos. It also allows you to use the music in all social networks and on any web page.
  2. Personal Plan. If you are looking to get numerous songs to use in your personal projects, this is the license for you. The Personal Plan offers unlimited music downloads, which can be used in social networks and streaming platforms, YouTube, apps, video games and audio books; as well as podcasts, virtual classes and online ads. Its price is $99 in a single payment and for life -if you use it for 3 years, it will be like paying $2/month-.
  3. Business Plan. This plan is specially designed for freelancers, companies and those who work for clients. It is the most open license of all, as any use case is covered and it also offers unlimited music (the only thing that is not allowed is to resell the songs). Its price is a one-time payment of $199 for life -if you use it for 2 years, it will be like paying $8/month.

As you can see, if there is one thing that makes our licenses stand out, it is the opportunity to enjoy them forever and paying only once.

Below is a table with the three plans and their respective prices.

Starter PlanPersonal PlanBusiness Plan
Price$49 for life$99 for life$199  for life

Artlist

Artlist has a bank of more than 8,000 music tracks with a wide variety of musical genres that are distinguished by the filters of ‘Mood’, ‘Genre’ or ‘Instruments’.

A great advantage of Artlist is that it offers different versions of the same song, that is, you can enjoy extended, shortened or instrumental versions, among others.

To enjoy both its music and its sound effects you will have to purchase one of two plans: ‘Creator Pro‘ or ‘Team‘.

The ‘Creator Pro‘ plan is for filmmakers and freelancers who want to publish their documentaries on any platform in the world, including branded and commercial projects.

derechos de autor españa precioIt is priced at $16.60 per month billed annually.

Once purchased, you will be able to enjoy their large catalog without worrying about anything for the duration of your active subscription.

In addition, you will be able to use the downloaded music after your subscription expires; once used, your license will cover the use forever.

On the other hand, you can use the “Team” plan if you are a company with a team of between two and seven members, as this recently added plan is a multi-access account with a license that covers all members and the projects they create.

The price is $28.20 per month billed annually for two components, increasing progressively depending on the number of people on the team.

Audiio

Audiio is another platform that stands out in the royalty-free music sector.

It offers more than 30,000 different songs and sound effects from which you can choose by “mood”, “genre”, “duration” or “instruments” depending on what you are looking for to accompany the scenes of your documentary.

Although they have three different plans, with ‘Audiio Pro‘ you will have access to unlimited downloads and new music tracks and sound effects on a daily basis, as well as the possibility of publishing your documentary on any video platform during the year covered by the license.

All this for the price of $199 per year.

Specialized online platforms

In case you want to use copyrighted songs, all is not lost, because there is a possibility: specialized online platforms that offer to license of famous songs or cover versions of them.

The best known are Easy Song and Lickd .

These companies are in charge of obtaining and offering the necessary licenses for many of the most popular songs for different audiovisual uses in a legal, fast, and much cheaper way.

Their prices vary from one website to another, but, to give an example, Easy Song offers their team of licensing experts for you starting at $299. And for cover songs, these can be easily obtained within one business day for a small fee of $16.99 or less.

Just go to their website and find out which songs they offer and if any of them match what you are looking for.

If this option still doesn’t quite convince you and you decide not to use well-known or royalty-free music because the documentary is low-budget, you have the possibility of accessing Creative Commons licenses.

Creative Commons music

music-creative-commonsCreative Commons music is music that is protected by free and open licenses, in which the author is the one who establishes the limitations for the reproduction, distribution, diffusion, and copying of his or her work.

These licenses have two conditions: they can be used if the final product is not for profit and the credits must be cited in the medium where the reproduction is made.

Thus, if you use a song in your documentary that is under these licenses, you must attribute or mention the author of the song in the credits at the end.

There are 6 different Creative Commons licenses depending on a series of conditions, which we explain in more detail in this article.

However, these have several drawbacks:

  • Restrictions and research time. It may happen that you find a song that fits perfectly with your project, but because it is the authors themselves who decide what limitations the licenses have, you cannot use it in the way you would like. So, you will have to check the licensing conditions beforehand to find out which one best suits the song you want and for what purpose you want to use it.
  • Licensing conditions can change at any time. Once you have chosen and used a song under a Creative Commons license that suits your needs, it may happen that after a while the author decides to change the conditions.
  • Three of the six licenses offered by Creative Commons do not allow songs to be used for commercial purposes.
  • Some of the licenses prohibit modification of the original song, i.e. if the song has vocals, you cannot choose, for example, to download it as an instrumental.

This is why film producers generally opt for royalty-free music.

Conclusion

Through this article, we have tried to clarify the most frequent doubts about the use of music in documentaries. musica sin copyright libre de derechos de autor

In this way, we have tried to explain that, although there is the possibility of using famous songs (with all the processes and costs involved), it is more advisable to use music by independent authors under Creative Commons licenses or royalty-free music (highlighting those under the direct license offered by Epidemic Sound).

Audiio music library

It is the safest, most convenient, and most economical way to accompany film scenes with a musical background that manages to convey the desired message to the audience.

Do not hesitate to access the aforementioned platforms and browse through their endless playlists of music and sound effects, as we can assure you that none of them will disappoint you.

Frequently asked questions