Music Production Library tracks are of two types “buy-out” (also called royalty-free), and “needle-drop” (sometimes called “laser-drop”). Needle-drop got its name from the days when you literally dropped a phonograph needle on a record track.
With buy-out music you pay once for unlimited usage of several songs (buy-out music is sold by the disc or as single track downloads) without any market restrictions. A single royalty-free CD can cost from $50 - $250 (UniqueTracks charges $99 for audio and $110 for CD-ROM versions).
Needle-drop music is available by individual track. What you are charged depends on how you expect to use the music. There are different licensing rates for broadcast/non-broadcast, local/nationwide and profit/non-profit. A needle-drop license is good only for a single project (single drop license). You cannot reuse the music without purchasing a new license. If you want to use the music a number of times within the same production you are charged a higher rate (called a multiple drop license).
Needle-drops run from $100 - $1,500 per track depending on the licensing you choose. If you’d like, most needle-drop libraries offer a blanket license and unlimited synchronization’s. This license entitles you to use all the music in the library as many times as you’d like. Be prepared to pay some hefty fees though.
Our aim at UniqueTracks is to give you needle-drop quality at royalty free, budget-friendly prices. In the past, royalty free music has had a reputation as something made quickly by someone who had made an investment in a bunch of cheap synthesizers. The beats were lame, the sounds were boring.
UniqueTracks uses whatever instrumentation is appropriate to the musical style of the track. We use synthesizers if the music calls for it - i.e. dance music, trance, techno, etc. We use acoustic instruments and real musicians to produce other styles.
Though things have changed somewhat in the past few years, you still have to shop around to find quality royalty free music. We believe we offer a high quality product at an affordable price.
