When you are a new artist trying to get discovered, finding music sources that the major labels are providing can be difficult. This is one of the reasons why the independent music scene is so exciting and competitive. In the past, radio and television were the primary music sources available for new artists. But with the advent of the internet, there are many other music sources besides radio and television that you can tap into. Here are some great ideas for music resources that you can tap into.
Public Domain – When it comes to audio and music sources, nothing provides a rich wealth of creativity more than the public domain. Public domain music sources include the music libraries that are freely distributed all over the world and the music compositions themselves. There are a few different ways that you can use public domain audio and music compositions for your own projects. For example, many composers who have created compositions that are licensed under the Creative Commons License can license these compositions for use in your projects if you credit them as the author. This makes taking a recording from the public domain and using it for your own music source extremely easy.
Royalty Free – Some people think of music services and their audio tracks like a store or warehouse. If an artist is able to acquire a license to use one of these music sources, they can literally hold a crate of thousands of songs that the public is free to license and use. While this is great for new artists and musicians trying to get discovered, this option can also come with a few restrictions. First, you will need to contact each radio station that plays music on their airwaves and request permission to use one of their songs as a base for your music composition.
Partner a Companion Website – If you are a fan of a specific singer or band, try researching their music history on a companion website. Many sites offer great resources for finding music sources, especially when looking for older material. Many will have articles about artists that may be more difficult to find.
Mobile Device – Chances are, you have either a smartphone or a tablet. By accessing a mobile device, you can not only find scores of music services, but also download songs and access the radio on the go. This is a great solution for students who want to listen to their favorite songs while they are on the run. With a smart phone, you can even purchase songs on the go, which helps the busy student have something readily available when needed.
Show Controlling Options – To find out which songs are played next, you can access the show controlling options. Once you are signed into the Pandora site, select favorites, then play music. You can set up your own preference settings where you will be notified when a song plays on the radio or a clip is being broadcast on television. In addition to your preferred radio stations and clips, you can also add songs to your music collection by accessing your personal play list.
Attribution – One of the most popular features on Pandora is the ability to attribution the songs for your selections. For instance, you can enter “artist name”, “cover” and the date of recording to get a breakdown of who created the track. The tracks are also credited to the actual artists or groups that created them. The artist’s name and album cover are often featured prominently. This attribution allows you to avoid missing an important attribute of a radio station, especially if you like the song.
AudioScaleurs – Sound effects and music are one of the key features of Pandora. You can browse through thousands of tracks that are attributed to an artist or group based on their recordings. On the right hand side, you will see a list of tracks played in this session. This gives you the ability to easily jump to specific tracks that you want to hear. You can even adjust your volume and skip to the next or previous track without having to replay the whole show all over again.