Understanding the nuances between different types of music licensing can be confusing, especially when it comes to royalty-free music and copyright-free music.. I will explain the difference in this short article
Royalty-Free Music:
Royalty-free music refers to a licensing model where the user pays a one-time fee or fixed license fee to obtain the rights to use the music without the need for recurring royalty payments. Under a royalty-free license, the licensee can use the music within the terms and conditions outlined in the license agreement. The key point to note is that royalty-free does not mean that the music is free of copyright. Instead, it means that the user does not need to pay additional royalties for each subsequent use of the music.
Copyright-Free Music:
Copyright-free music, on the other hand, refers to music that is not protected by copyright or where the copyright has expired, making it part of the public domain. Copyright-free music can be used freely without the need for any permissions or licensing. However, it is important to note that copyright laws vary across countries, and what may be copyright-free in one jurisdiction may not be in another.
So to most people's concern, when royalty free music and copyright free music both have “free”on its wording, royalty free music is not free while copyright free music is. I hope this clarification could make you aware what words you should use to search when you are in need of free music.