If you're looking for music for a multimedia project and don't want to become a legal expert, why not explore the public domain offering? Beyond its apparent age, it gives us a restriction-free way to use and modify songs. So, where can we download public domain music? Today we're going to share a list of sites and online resources that will be very useful.
Public Domain Basics
A basic description of the public domain gives us an excellent starting point: “Intellectual heritage free from exclusivities and restrictions in its use and access.” Copyright laws are much more complex than we might imagine, but when a work enters the public domain, all limits disappear.
Depending on the region, copyright can take between 70 and 95 years to expire, starting from the original publication or the author's death. Want to write a version of Dracula in space with laser rays? Or how about the monster of Frankenstein fighting Nazis at the North Pole? Both works have been adapted and modified dozens of times, and if you need a closer example in time, many of Disney's 'jewels' are nothing more than derivative works from the public domain. If Disney can do it, you can too.
Obviously, this extends to music, and with the start of the new year many works have entered the public domain. Once again, the law varies by region, and if a song is in the public domain in one country it may not be in another, but most online sites are based on US law, with a 95-year extension. Do you want to download public domain music and don't know where to start? Don't worry, this list will help you.
How to download public domain music: Musopen
A familiar name here at NeoTeo, the Musopen portal offers streaming, MP3 downloads, and sheet music to play or adapt to your favorite instrument. Sheet music downloads and streaming are usually available without an account, but if you plan to get an MP3, you'll need to create one.
FreePD
FreePD enables download of hundreds of MP3 files organized into ten different categories, and all of them are in the public domain, or under its closest equivalent, CC0. The site's two 'premium' packages allow access to its catalog in larger packs (5 GB for the first, and more than 9 GB for the second), but if you only want a few songs, you can use the Download button without restrictions.
Mutopia
The Mutopia portal focuses entirely on distributing free sheet music, under a combination of public domain and Creative Commons licenses. You can get PDF files, MIDI files, and LilyPond-compatible files. Mutopia is maintained by volunteers and doesn't require any kind of account or profile.
Free Music Archive
The Free Music Archive has changed since we last visited it, but its 16 main genres haven't gone anywhere, ranging from rock and blues to classical and electronic music. In each genre you'll find subcategories that offer greater precision, but don't hesitate to take advantage of its internal search engine, with filters to show songs exclusively under public domain or CC0.
SoundBible
Not everything has to be a song, right? Sound effects are also important for any multimedia project, and that's when the SoundBible portal comes in. There you'll find samples in the public domain and under Creative Commons licensing, in WAV and MP3 formats. Your best strategy is to enter the Royalty Free Sounds section and start your search from there.
PD Info
The Public Domain Information Project has a more academic profile, so to speak. Its public domain material is for sale, but it includes the music, the lyrics, and the original copyright information. The list of songs alone is very valuable, and each entry has a shortcut to find a copy on YouTube.
