50+ Sources For Royalty-Free Music, 
Sound Effects, Looped Tracks & More 
 
By Dave Courvoisier
Voice Actor & TV News Anchor
 
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 below 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: www.pdinfo.com.
 
HEAR IT HERE
 
And below is a list of 50+ royalty-free music sources 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've 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 also yield sections that offer looped tracks, special effects, stingers and sound effects.
 
I’d recommend checking out the first 10 or so on the list before going deeper. But they’re all genuine!
 
ROYALTY-FREE SOURCES
 
 
ABOUT DAVE ...
 
Dave Courvoisier (“pronounced just like the fine cognac, only no relation”) is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, writer, producer, voice actor, and the main weeknight news anchor on KLAS-TV, Channel 8, the Las Vegas CBS affiliate. He also writes Voice-Acting in Vegas, a daily blog of adventures and observations in a style that’s true to his friendly Midwestern farm roots.

 

Your Daily Resource For Voice-Over Success
 

 

Tell Us What YOU Think!
Please Note: Since we check for spam, there will be a slight delay in the actual posting of your comment.
Your Name:
Your Email Address (will not be published):
Your Comment:
Security code:     
Comments (4)
DanoSonsg
5/24/2010 at 9:13 PM
Also please check out http://www.danosongs.com
KJ
5/20/2010 at 7:01 PM
Didn't see this in your list:
http://www.jewelbeat.com
Some free background music and royalty-free sound effects.
Marcus Weems
5/20/2010 at 7:46 AM
As always, Dave, your generosity is appreciated and a continuing example of the attitude that I have found with almost everyone I've encountered in this business. Big "Howdy" from Dallas.
Dave Menashe
5/19/2010 at 1:25 PM
Excellent list - thanks Dave
FREE Voice-Over Newsletter
Name:
Email:
Follow Daily News
Link Your Browser
Login
Email Page To A Friend
Follow Daily News Link Your Browser
Home | Contact Us | Calendar | Directories | Subscribe | Advertise | Privacy | Terms of Use