Website Music

[rubcar]

I have seen so many websites with music playing on the background, and I like it. It really adds a touch to the site, but is it legal? Can I just get any song and make it play in my website? I have seen some websites that you pay royalty fees in order to use their songs, but I have not found a website with nice songs. Any info on this matter will be greatly appreciated.

[bondarnes]

Most music is copyrighted just like your images are copyrighted. There is a price to use it on a website legally. Most current titles are probably too pricey for most photographers, but there are companies that sell music for a much smaller fee. The music is not from your top forty, but you should be able to find songs that you like and can afford. The only company that comes to mind at this moment is triplescoopmusic.com. I know there are others, but I haven't been to Google.

[Roy]

Here's some you can check out. You may not like the music but some are free with permission. Some have a fee.

http://www.musicbakery.com/
http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/ Free
http://www.musicforphotography.com/
http://www.opuzz.com/
http://www.pianobrothers.com/
http://www.jimmyg.us/

[Shelby Lane]

I use stock20.com. They have a sister company that licenses music with vocals, too.

[toverman]

My next site will have probably have music on it, but a big part of me hates when music starts playing automatically when I go to a site. I'm probably in the minority on that one, though.

[J Eddington]

Also to add to the list triplescoop.com

[Hikin' Mike]

Originally Posted by toverman

My next site will have probably have music on it, but a big part of me hates when music starts playing automatically when I go to a site. I'm probably in the minority on that one, though.

I hate music and I click away...period.

[Orogeny]

Originally Posted by Hikin' Mike

I hate music and I click away...period.

AMEN! When I click on a site, specifically a photo site, and music begins, I leave.

Tim

[tresorph]

Originally Posted by Shelby Lane

I use stock20.com. They have a sister company that licenses music with vocals, too.

yep redbeardmusic.com

[rubcar]

Thank you all for your input. I really appreciate it. I will look into these sites. It feels good to ask a question and not even 24 later I get 8 wonderful response. Thank you all!

[csa]

Have been wondering if "hear music, click away" is more a guy thing.

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by csa

Have been wondering if "hear music, click away" is more a guy thing.

Actually - it's not.

The company that did my logo design - Creative Leak - sent me this study done on websites - and one thing that people did NOT like....was music. They turn it off.

But, most photographers are VERY aware of the connection (emotional) between viewing photos, and hearing music. It stimulates the 'oh crap, I want this guy to shoot MY <insert whatever> and make me feel this wonderful - emotion... ;-)

I know PPA just joined with someone to offer music to play during viewing/proofing sessions. Legally - my understanding is that your not even supposed to play background music (i.e. the radio) in a place of business for the purpose of doing business...

[SpeedRacerSlots]

Yeah, not even going to get into the music rights mess.
Its bigger than you think it is.
Hard to police, absolutely.
Will they nail you for playing a radio in your shop? Most likely no. Can they? Absolutely.

Web broadcasting of top pop stuff (or whatever genera) can get you in trouble.

I can even visualize someone combining that iPod tool that tells you what a song is by listening to a snippet of it.... with a web walker, sniffing out their music catalog and partnering up with their lawyer buddy.

Shoot, music rights are a big nasty mess, even at churches now. I know of cases where music labels that technically own the publishing rights to a song have gone back an pinged churches for "performance rights" because a song happened to be sung when said person from music company happened to be visiting that week....

All in all, unless its your music, or a band that you have barterd with (and have it in writing) its better to just leave the music alone.

[mwebb]

Wow, I'm really glad I read all this. I had some music up on my site for a little while and read on another forum that most people leave right away when they hear music. Y'all just reinformed my decision to take the music off. Thanks!

[patsy easley]

If I go to site that has music and I can't find an off button in half a second I'm gone.