Royalty Free Music News

Everyone loves festive Christmas music. If you’re producing a holiday-themed movie, television show or pilot, commercial or video piece, sprucing up the soundtrack with the spirit of the season is a must.

At SmartSound, we’ve created a comprehensive royalty free holiday music library. You’ll find all your Christmas favorites as well as our own unique renditions of timeless yuletide songs. Whether you want a classic sound or a more contemporary feel, our Christmas music collections run the gamut.

» Read the entire Royalty Free Christmas Music article

The Royalty Free Classical Music page contains Royalty Free collections of Classical Music. Most of the tracks on these collections were written by composers from the classical period of western music. Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, Strauss, Schubert, Chopin, Mozart and more - the music of these composers defined an era. Most of the music on these CDs was recorded from live performances, not produced with synthetic sounds. If orchestral and chamber music is what your looking for the SmartSound Royalty Free Classical Music page is the right place.

» Read the entire Looking for Royalty Free Classical Music? article

SmartSound's Royalty-free Music with Vocals & Lyrics section gives you that opportunity to showcase up-and-coming musical talent in your own productions.

Need some edge to your visuals? Hard-hitting hip-hop and rap tracks from Mike G give the bold, urban sound you might be looking for as background to your non-dialogue scenes. The lyrics say what the characters are thinking, but don’t have the nerve to say out loud!

» Read the entire Royalty Free Music with Vocals & Lyrics article

Despite its name, Royalty Free Trance Music isn’t just for Halloween. The style developed in the 1990's as part of many electronic genres most at home on the dance club scene. Growing originally out of disco roots, electronic music got gradually faster and more minimalist, giving dancers the opportunity to merge with the repetitive melodies into their own trance in motion.

From the vibrant Club Scene album, slick, sexy Miami Lounge exhibits the characteristic Drum & Bass/Electronica sound of Trance. Commercials, Reality TV and Video Games and any scene needing a cool current chill out to this Synthesizer Track.

» Read the entire Royalty Free Trance Music article

Most people recognize folk music when they hear it, yet it’s not easy to define. Coming from the German "volk," – "of the people," traditional folk music is often unexcitingly labeled "music of no known composer," or "passed down through oral tradition." It’s usually at least as old as the 19th century, but may even pre-date that. Some types of folk music are called world music.

Contemporary folk music reached a peak in the 1960's, being based on a revival of older folk styles. Whatever the era or style, SmartSound Royalty Free Folk Music includes generous examples of both modern composition and traditional songs.

» Read the entire Royalty Free Folk Music article

When the circuits are busy churning out futuristic techno tones that drive the action on and off the dance floor, Smartsound’s Royalty Free Electronic Music rolls it out.

Electronic pulse is at the forefront with slick, retro Club 45 from Eurobeat/Club/Electronica, strutting out the background beat with disco style that doesn’t interfere with narration or visuals. R&B meets electronica in smooth, soulful Funk Machine, a punchy track with background vocals available.

» Read the entire Royalty Free Electronic Music article

Aptly-named Latin Flavors serves up a feast of delectable, spicy tracks, guaranteed to make your mouth water. Is it any wonder Latin music brings up visions of food and festivity? Party, travel, or romantic scenes love the Latin touch!

Festive, punchy Cha Cha with Me lights up the kitchen with sassy brass horn riffs, cha cha piano and spirited percussion. Its high-octane energy dances its way through your happiest Travel, Cooking, and home Video projects.

» Read the entire Royalty Free Latin Music article

Off-beat music genre, Reggae, developed literally off the beat. Unlike most other forms of music, the emphasis is on the third beat of the measure, instead of the first (downbeat). Its roots hail from Africa, by way of Jamaica, where Reggae was developed in the 1960’s, as well as from jazz, and R&B.

The music line is often slower than some other Caribbean styles, but sly and seductive, and well suited for background music designed to put you into a relaxed, stay-in-the-present state.

» Read the entire Royalty Free Reggae Music article

Royalty Free Patriotic Music music isn’t limited to just the old favorites, like Sousa march Stars and Stripes, though Smartsound does feature a very lively, dignified version, thank you very much, or vintage Yankee Doodle Dandy. It also brings the spirit of America alive with regional specialties like Dixieland, ragtime, marches and folk music.

Album American Spirit gives you a robust sampling of American favorites, making this collection a perfect background for political, holiday, and historical projects.

» Read the entire Royalty Free Patriotic Music article

Like dub music, Hip Hop developed first as a purely instrumental offshoot of African-American music, in the 1970’s. Part of its origin was block parties in the Bronx area of New York City, where DJ’s started isolating the percussion breaks of popular funk and soul music songs.

Vocals in the form of rap, breaths, or monosyllables were added over the top, and a whole new style was born. One legend of the origin of the term has rapper Keith Cowboy mocking a friend who’d just joined the Army with the nonsense phrase “hip/hop hip/hop” to mimic the marching soldiers.

» Read the entire Royalty Free Hip Hop Music article