What are the best practices for selecting music in your video?

1 Know your audience

The first step to choosing music for your video is to understand who your target audience is and what they expect from your content. Different genres, tempos, and tones of music can appeal to different demographics, preferences, and moods. For example, if you are making a video for a young and energetic audience, you might want to use upbeat and catchy music that matches their vibe. On the other hand, if you are making a video for a professional and serious audience, you might want to use calm and subtle music that supports your credibility. Knowing your audience will help you narrow down your music options and select the ones that resonate with them.

2 Define your purpose

The next step to choosing music for your video is to define what you want to achieve with your content and how music can help you do that. Different types of videos have different purposes, such as informing, entertaining, persuading, or inspiring. Depending on your goal, you might want to use music that reinforces your message, creates a contrast, or adds a twist. For example, if you are making a video to inform your audience about a serious topic, you might want to use music that is informative and authoritative, such as classical or instrumental. However, if you are making a video to entertain your audience with a humorous or ironic story, you might want to use music that is unexpected and playful, such as pop or rock.

3 Consider your budget

The third step to choosing music for your video is to consider how much you can afford to spend on music licensing and royalties. Music is not free, and using copyrighted music without permission can result in legal issues and penalties. Therefore, you need to be aware of the different types of music licenses and how they affect your usage and costs. Generally, there are three main types of music licenses: royalty-free, rights-managed, and creative commons. Royalty-free music means that you pay a one-time fee to use the music as many times as you want. Rights-managed music means that you pay a fee based on the duration, location, and distribution of your video. Creative commons music means that you can use the music for free as long as you credit the author and follow their terms.

4 Match your style

The final step to choosing music for your video is to match the music to the style and tone of your content. Music can enhance or detract from the visual and verbal elements of your video, so you need to make sure that they are consistent and coherent. For example, if you are making a video with a minimalist and elegant style, you might want to use music that is simple and refined, such as piano or acoustic. However, if you are making a video with a colorful and dynamic style, you might want to use music that is vibrant and energetic, such as electronic or hip-hop. Matching your style will help you create a harmonious and impactful video.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?