Tech Focus: Production Music, Part 2 — Libraries Have More To Offer Than Ever

Rising quality, ease of use, availability in a wide variety of formats mark the industry today

Anyone seeking library and production music and cues has more choices than ever before, including a new entry this year, Alibi Music. Here is a look at some of the leaders.

Click here for Tech Focus: Production Music, Part 1 — Technology, Business Upheavals Create Challenges and Opportunities.

Founded in 2011, Alibi Music provides music and sound effects for license in advertising, trailers, promos, programming, videogames, and multimedia content. Its expertly curated catalogs are produced and structured especially for storytelling, with high-quality, searchable tracks, alternate mixes, and stems, delivering robust versatility. Among its sports-organization clients are the UFC, WWE, NBATV, and MLB. “Formula 1: Drive To Survive” Trailer – Netflix

Formed by the partnership of Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing, the world’s two largest record labels, APM Music provides content creators with music of a quantity and quality previously unimaginable. It’s available for use in productions across all media types, and the combination of radio quality, variety, and ease of use has attracted the top sports-content creators. Clients include ESPN, NFL, NHL, MLB, NWSL, and WNBA; most Power 5 schools; and growth leagues PLL, PFL, and Fan Controlled Football. Sports Instagram

Megatrax has more than 30 years of experience creating remarkable soundtracks for global sports. It specializes in capturing the essence of various competitions and amplifying the raw energy and excitement through music. A commitment to quality is evident in the music’s impact, including a prestigious Super Bowl LVII placement. An advanced AI search feature on its website allows producers to easily find the perfect tracks and enhance the thrill and emotion of sports coverage. With exceptional music, high-profile placements, and innovative AI technology, Megatrax elevates the auditory experience of sports to new heights. Sports Playlists, Sports Albums

Born from original music and sound design for leading worldwide brands, The Vault Production Music Library, designed by Stephen Arnold Music, offers more than 300,000 tracks of highly curated, up-to-date, and relevant content with quarterly updates. Meeting a high standard in production music, it takes advantage of the assets that made it a leader in sonic branding. Its full-time staff of composers are regularly called on to aurally differentiate the likes of Golf Channel/NBC Sports, CNN Sports, ESPN, the UFC, Top Rank Boxing, Sony Interactive, and dozens of other brands, networks, and pro sports teams across the globe. Sports Related 

Sound Ideas offers more than 1,000,000 sound effects, production elements, and royalty-free music tracks for broadcast, live events, postproduction, game developers, and multimedia facilities, providing unlimited worldwide synchronization rights with every purchase. Delivery formats include downloads, hard drives, and online memberships. All .wav files are provided with full keyword metadata for search applications. Royalty-free sports music, Sports sound effects

Emmy, Telly, Addy, and Promax Award-winning Warner Chappell Production Music (WCPM) has more than 35 years of experience and success in production and custom music. Based in Los Angeles with offices in New York City, London, Paris, Nashville, São Paulo, and Hamburg, WCPM is owned by music publisher Warner Chappell Music, part of the Warner Music Group. WCPM represents 195,000+ unique tracks and 130 catalogs across all popular genres: hip hop, pop, rock, country, alternative, classical and orchestral, modern underscore, jazz, trailer music, sound design/SFX, world repertoire, vintage archival. WCPM also produces custom music from its studios in Nashville and Los Angeles. Recent clients include Disney+, ESPN, NBC, ABC, Fox, MLB, EA Games, and the UAE Pro League.

VideoHelper is an independent, boutique one-stop–licensing production-music library providing exclusive music for sports/entertainment broadcasters (NFL Films, ESPN, MSG, HBO, NBC Sports/USA/Golf Channel, NBA on TNT) and professional franchises. Thousands of multi-genre tracks constitute a catalog specifically designed to drive video. The company offers a very specialized breed of production music to sports programming: one that thinks like a producer and is easily editable. Its website/search engine makes it faster and easier than ever to find and license needed music. Sports