1. How Much Music Is Available?
We have over 50,000 pieces of music in a variety of styles, from Classical and Opera to Hip Hop and Garage. We are continually expanding our catalogue to ensure you have the widest possible choice of music available. If there’s something new out there we’ll make sure we have it!!
2. How Much Does It Cost?
Check out our MUSIC CHARGES to see the options available to you.
3. How Do I Download Music?
Downloading music from the site is very straight forward. Once you have selected a track you will be able to create an new project to store it in or alternatively store it in an existing project.
When you transfer the track to your project you will be asked to select the type of license you are applying for. Music is charged at different prices in accordance with the music use ( see MUSIC CHARGES menu ).
Once you have selected the type of license you need the fee will be calculated. You can then go straight to the payment section or you can continue to search the site for additional tracks.
Once you have found everything you need you will be invited to proceed with your purchase. Follow the basic instructions. ( NB These charges do not apply to Annual Blanket License members ).
Upon completing your payment follow the simple download instructions .
NB: WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT YOU SAVE ALL DOWNLOADS TO A UNIQUE FOLDER ON YOUR HARD DRIVE
4. What does my license cover?
a) Download For Personal Use
Covers personal usage and storage by the member.
Unauthorized synchronization use with audio or audio-visual productions, copying, hiring, lending, broadcast and public performance are strictly prohibited.
b) Home / Student Productions:
Includes synchronization use in home/student videos, personal power point presentations, films and other multi-media projects or for use in your education establishment or church. Covers up to 10 copies of the finished audio-visual production for distribution to friends and family, festivals or User Generated Content aggregators. Excludes products for commercial sale or exploitation.
c) Charity and / or Corporate Productions:
includes synchronization use in Corporate or Charitable videos, DVDs, presentations, web-sites or other multi-media projects. Covers up to 100 copies of the finished audio-visual production for distribution within the Corporation or Charity.
d) TV & Other Productions:
includes synchronization use with film, radio and television programmes, commercials, and / or any other multimedia, audio-visual or computer generated production or presentations.
All rights in the sound recording and music and the dubbing fee are cleared for the above uses for the world.
e) Producer Blanket Licenses
For subscribers who elect to take out a music blanket license there is no restriction on the amount of any music track or number of tracks that may be used in any production made during the subscription period. You may use any track in whole or in part and any number of times in any production and re-edit a track to any required length.
The Subscriber must be directly involved in either the production or post production process or be responsible for the commissioning of the production to qualify under this agreement.
During your subscription period you can use as much Active music as you want, and everything you use is covered forever for multiple platforms, for the world. At the end of the period we will email you to notify you that the license is soon to expire and offer you the option to renew.
NB: Licenses issued do NOT cover the download and use of SFX. They are paid for on an individual basis. For more information on paying for SFX & FATFX Click here.
5. What is not covered by the license?
Your license includes all costs paid under normal circumstances by the production company which includes all mechanical synchronization fees, but excludes the following royalties which are normally paid by the broadcaster, distributor or manufacturer:
Performance ( PRS ) Fees: Performance fees are normally paid by the broadcaster and therefore they are not the responsibility of the independent producer(s). It is however a condition of all of our licenses that cue sheets are provided to us and ANY broadcaster where our licensed music is to be broadcast in order for the correct reporting procedure to occur.
Mechanical Sales: These, under normal circumstances, are paid by the distributor or manufacturer on the sale of CDs or other physical products. This is generally for companies releasing music only CDs.
Any music downloaded from www.activemusiclibrary.com may not be given or sold on to third parties in any format without Active’s permission, unless by prior arrangement.
6. Does My MCPS Blanket License Cover Me To Use Active?
Active operates independently from MCPS and the rate card it produces for music licensing. That’s why we’re up to 95% cheaper!! We made a conscious decision to provide a much more economical music facility in order to offer the best possible value to music users.
Unfortunately if you have an MCPS blanket license you can only use music from libraries that are controlled by MCPS. Active is not one of these libraries.
7. What Are The Benefits Of Being An Active User And Becoming An Online Member?
Active is a One Stop Shop for all your production needs. You can create your own projects for immediate downloading or save them in MY PROJECTS and download them at a later stage. This is great if you discover a piece of music that you would like to use at some point but have yet to begin that particular project.
We have a music search service for members which saves you time when you need it most. If you are in a rush and urgently need a specific piece of music but don’t have the time to find it, simply call or email us the details of what you want and we’ll do the rest. Once we’ve found a selection for you we’ll contact you with a link to the project we have created for you. All you have to do is audition the pieces and download what you want. EASY!!!
As a member you’ll receive a monthly eflyer that will inform you of new tracks that are due to be uploaded onto the site, new projects that have been created for you to browse, special offers on certain downloads and profiles on new writers.
Access to our in house writers for specially composed tracks if you can’t find what you’re looking for. All our writers are equipped with the latest digital technology and can provide music within hours of you submitting a brief.
8. How Good Is The Audio Quality And Do I Have A Choice Of Download Formats?
You have the flexibility to choose what kind of download format you want, whether it’s a full bandwidth WAV file or a 128 bit MP3. The choice is yours!
9. How Much Cheaper Is It To Use Active than MCPS Libraries?
There’s potentially massive savings to be made by using Active.
To view our charges for individual pieces of music go to MUSIC CHARGES from the drop down menu
If you have a blanket license with Active here is an example of the type of savings available to you.
This example shows charges for a UK production company who have made five 30 minute terrestrial programmes using either Active or MCPS library music
ACTIVE MUSIC BLANKET LICENSE: £700
MCPS LIBRARY CHARGE: £5000
SAVING: £4300 ( 86%)
This example shows charges for a UK advertising agency who have made five 30 minute terrestrial advertisements using either Active or MCPS library music .
ACTIVE MUSIC BLANKET LICENSE: £700
MCPS LIBRARY CHARGE: £10,030
SAVING: £9330 ( 95%)
10. Are The Sound Effects From SFX included in the Blanket License Charge?
No. Any effects from SFX or FATFX are purchased individually at one pound per download. You can audition all of the sound effects online free of charge before deciding to buy. For payment charges of SFX & FATFX Click Here.
11. Do I Have To Report Any Music I Use?
Yes. If you are downloading files from the Active website for use in any audio-visual production, you will be asked for the production details.
If you are using Active, it is important for broadcasters to know the following details:
Title :
Writer :
Publisher : Active
Label : Active
These details are required so that Performance Royalties are properly accounted for.
Active is not a member of MCPS as a library publisher or PPL and our music is only available on a commercial basis.
You are required to fill in the cue sheet in the normal way and send a copy to Active. There is a part completed form under the MUSIC CHARGES menu that can be printed off and completed.
Please send completed forms to:
Active. PO Box 165, Shepperton, Middlesex TW17 9WT
Or email the details to office@activeproductionmusic.com.
12. How Do I Use The Music Search Service?
If you’re in a rush and don’t have time to find what you need simply send an email to either neil@activeproductionmusic.com or ellie@activeproductionmusic.com with a brief outline of what you’re looking for and when you need it by. We’ll search our site and find a selection of tracks for you. We’ll then email you with a link telling you that it’s ready for you to audition.
13. How Do I Get Music Specially Commissioned?
You may like to have music specially commissioned by one of our writers. You can find out about some of our writers by checking out the WRITER SHOWCASE page. You’ll be able to listen to individual show reels of their work and read some of their credits. If you find someone who you would like to commission to write a specific piece simply send us an email with a brief outline of what you need and we will put you together with the writer. Alternatively if you haven’t a specific writer in mind contact Neil or Ellie and we can advise you on the right person for the job!
14. Can I License The Music If I Am From Outside The UK?
You can use music contained on this site if you are outside the UK although the pricing structure is not the same. You will need to email us at office@activeproductionmusic.com explaining where you are from and which tracks you are interested in licensing and for what purposes. We will then put you in touch with the relevant overseas agent who will be able to furnish you with prices and a license. |
