How to Legally Use Music in Your Commercial Business Videos

When someone mentions "content," you probably think of traditional written content. But there's more to it than just that!

Different people have different learning styles, and not everyone is inclined to read lengthy blog posts. While some enjoy and comprehend written content, others prefer to watch videos that explain the same concepts. Therefore, it's important to tailor your content to cater to various learning styles and personalities.

However, you can't just create a bland 3-minute explainer video without any background music, can you? This is where music comes into play. But you can't simply pick any song from the internet to add to your video without considering legal matters and copyright issues. Fortunately, this guide will show you how to legally use music or hire a music video production company for your business videos, ensuring you never have to worry about legal issues. But let's start from the beginning, shall we?

What is royalty-free music and how to use it in your business videos?

‍

You’ve heard about this term by now, most certainly. In a nutshell, royalty-free music is the type of music for which you pay once and use it for as long as you like, the professionals at Melody Loops explain.

To choose the right type of music for your business videos, you have to carefully pick a royalty-free music vendor that features a wide selection of categories where you can choose from. This will help you ensure your music for business purposes is exactly what your company needs, and you always send the right message to your audience.

Make sure to only work with reliable and trustworthy royalty-free music vendors. This will help you ensure the music you purchase is actually copyright-free and no legal problems will ever appear when using it.

Besides, reliable platforms will help you ensure all your user data is protected. From name to credit card details, you must ensure everything is in good hands.

Royalty-free music platforms also feature a wider selection of music, whereas new websites can offer users a limited experience. So, again, make sure to do your research beforehand.

Consequences of Using Copyrighted Music Without Permission

Using a song without the necessary license(s) can result in various immediate and long-term consequences. Here are some potential outcomes you may face:

In the short term, platforms like YouTube and Instagram are likely to flag your video for copyright infringement. If your video is blocked or muted due to this infringement, it could lead your audience to encounter a broken link. Additionally, you may lose valuable data on your video's performance up until it was removed. Even if your video is initially uploaded without any issues, it can still be flagged and removed later on.

If YouTube doesn't block your video, it may receive a copyright claim, allowing ads to play within it and preventing you from monetizing the content through the YouTube Partner Program.

In the long term, you risk facing legal action from the song's record label and/or publisher for copyright infringement. The potential penalties include imprisonment for up to five years and fines of up to $250,000. These are consequences best avoided.

Why should you consider using background music?

‍

All kinds of business videos, whether for marketing, product presentations, or company introductions, have been shown to convey messages more effectively when accompanied by music. Still not convinced? Here are three solid reasons why incorporating music into business videos can be beneficial.

1. Music shapes perception: Depending on how you want your audience to perceive your products or services, you can influence their perception by choosing the appropriate music. Music can evoke different perceptions of your company, such as reliability, comfort, or a sense of security.

2. Music captures viewers' attention before the video begins: It serves as a captivating introduction to your video content, drawing viewers in from the start.

3. It fosters an emotional connection with viewers: Music can help brands and businesses establish an emotional bond with their audience. It also assists marketing teams in setting the desired mood more accurately. Depending on the emotions you want to evoke—whether excitement, sentimentality, or attentiveness—you can achieve them through music.

As you can see, music is a powerful tool that can enhance your marketing efforts! However, it's crucial to determine which videos require background music. Otherwise, you risk undermining all the effort put into creating the video. For example, while background music might complement an animated explainer video, it could be out of place in a conference presentation. When deciding whether to include music in your content, use your judgment to gauge its appropriateness.

How to Find Legal Music for Your Videos

When you require a specific piece of music for your video, you'll have to arrange a licensing agreement with both the publisher and the record label. Typically, you'll negotiate either a pay-per-use deal or an unlimited use deal.

In a pay-per-use agreement, you'll pay a small fee each time your video is played, while in an unlimited use agreement, you'll pay a flat rate for access over a set period, regardless of the number of views.

Once you've successfully obtained both the sync license and the master license, you can freely share your video with the music included. The simplest way to secure these licenses is through websites specializing in selling music rights for video content. However, if you're interested in using a track from a smaller artist or record label, you might be able to contact them directly to initiate discussions.

Not interested in navigating these processes? Here are a few tips to simplify the task:

1) License through a music library

Many reputable websites offer libraries of royalty-free audio files to address this common challenge for content creators. Examples include Storyblocks and Pond5, both of which also provide stock footage. Before finalizing a purchase from these sites, be sure to review the license terms and any associated limitations or exceptions.

2) Explore royalty-free music from emerging creators

If you're open to collaborating with newer or lesser-known artists, obtaining licenses may be easier. Since these creators are more accessible, negotiating licensing terms tends to be quicker and simpler than with larger, established creators. Just ensure you secure both licenses (sync license and master license) if the rights are divided.

3) Create your own audio

Lastly, if you possess the skills to compose your own music or audio clip, you can opt to produce it yourself. Anything you create personally can be utilized in your video content without requiring a license.

Your quick guide to selecting the perfect music for business videos

Now that you understand the significance of incorporating music into certain corporate videos, it's essential to ensure you always choose the most suitable music. Simply selecting any music from royalty-free websites won't suffice, so adhere to the advice below.

• Consider the role of your music. It should complement your message without overpowering it. If the music becomes the sole focus, you've gone too far.
• Pay attention to the intro and outro segments. These sections set the tone and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
• Select music that resonates with your target audience.
• Take into account the pacing of the music.

If you ever question the necessity of including music in your company videos, reflect on the reasons outlined above. Choosing the right music and seamlessly integrating it with your video content can make a significant difference. Let the music reflect your company's ethos, and you'll witness the results.

Make your business stand out with a captivating commercial video!

Get Camera Crew creates professional commercials that grab attention, tell your story, and drive results.  From concept development to stunning visuals and expert editing, they'll craft a commercial video that leaves a lasting impression on your target audience.  Increase brand awareness, boost sales, and take your business to the next level – contact Get Camera Crew today and see the power of video marketing in action!