The royalty free licence limits nobody explains

"Royalty free" does not mean free, and it does not mean yours. It means you pay once (or monthly) and you do not pay royalties per use. It is still permission, with rules written by the company granting it. Here are the limits almost nobody explains upfront.

Stop paying and old videos can be left uncovered

Many subscriptions cover content published while the subscription is active, but only if you stay a customer or registered the project before cancelling. When you cancel, the right to use the music in new content ends, and in some cases the coverage of content already online changes too. Always check this clause: it is the most expensive one.

Thousands of people use the same track

A library lives on volume: the same track is licensed to anyone who pays. Your ad can end up sounding exactly like a competitor's, and your brand has no recognisable sound. Exclusivity, where it exists, is paid separately and is almost always temporary.

Restrictions hidden in the terms

• •Channels: the licence may cover your channel but not your client's.
• •Territory and term: some licences apply to certain countries or a limited number of years.
• •Type of use: TV, cinema, paid campaigns and installations often need a higher tier.
• •Resale and transfer: you cannot hand the licence to a client as if it were your asset.
• •Changing catalogs: if a track leaves the catalog, permission can be revoked or restricted.

Automatic claims on social platforms

The alternative: own the track

With a Sonify Music buyout the track becomes yours: it leaves the catalog, nobody else can buy it, and you get the WAV file with an ownership certificate. No expiry, no renewals, no supplier rules to follow. If you only need a lot of background music, the Sonify subscription gives you original tracks released nowhere else.

Frequently asked questions

Does royalty free mean free? No, it means no per-use royalties: the permission still costs money.

Can I use a royalty free track for a client? Often not, or a higher tier is required.

What if I cancel? Check the clause about already published content: it varies by service.

How do I avoid all this? By buying the track: ownership has no expiry and no conditions.