Picking The Right Music For Your Videos

Picking The Right Music For Your VideoOne of the biggest production mistakes you can make is picking the wrong music for your videos. From the type of music to the mood it might elicit, there are all sorts of things that need to be considered when selecting a song… no matter what type of video you’re producing.

Is music even necessary?

First thing’s first, and it’s something many people don’t consider at all. Does the video even need music. That’s right. Not every video must have a music bed.

The main reason to use music is to set a mood. If you’re really focused on the content and less about mood, you might not want any music.

Next, if you have decided to move forward and use music, there are some things to consider.

The right music taps emotion

You can use music to manipulate the way people feel about what they’re watching. I don’t mean that in a sinister way. Just that your choice of song will tap into viewers’ emotions.

Pick an upbeat and happy song and you’ve put people on the path to feeling the same way about your content. Select a song that’s serious and sobering and viewers will expect that from your video.

Think about your subject matter and the way you want people to feel about it. That can help guide you when you’re looking for the right music.

Consider your viewers

Another consideration is the audience. Think about them and the type of music that’s going to catch their attention. The music you select for an older audience should be different than the music you select for a younger audience. There could be a difference in what you pick depending on whether your target audience is mostly men or women.

The main thing to avoid is simply picking the music that appeals to you. Think about your audience and their needs before your own.

Don’t pick this type of music for your videos

Speaking of things to avoid, here’s probably the biggest one… popular music. Many people like to incorporate popular music into their videos, but I’m not a fan and there are a couple reasons why.

  • You don’t own the rights. The song might be “perfect” for your video, but you can’t just pick any song you like. You have to have the rights to use it. Now, you can often buy the rights, but that’s an expensive proposition when it comes to popular music.
  • Popular music is too close to people’s hearts. Even if you didn’t have to worry about rights, music makes a strong impression on people. If you choose a song they’re familiar with, they’ll likely stop processing what they’re seeing in your video and start thinking about that song. I hate that song… I love that song… I remember where I was the first time I heard that song. These are all things they might be thinking about instead of paying attention to your content.

Bottom line, stick to royalty-free music from sites like premieumbeat.com (my personal favorite) or even the free music you can get from YouTube’s audio library.

Wrapping it all up

I love what music can do for a production. It can take mediocre content and make it more appealing. It can take good material and make it great. Finally, the right music can take great content and make it something that connects with an audience on a personal level.

So… don’t make it an afterthought. Keep it in mind through the production process. Make sure you select the right song for your video.

–Tony Gnau

Tony Gnau - T60 ProductionsTony Gnau is the Founder and Chief Storytelling Officer at T60 Productions. He’s a three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, has led T60 Productions to winning 18 Telly Awards for its corporate videos, and is the author of the Amazon #1 Bestseller “Lights, Camera, Impact: storytelling, branding, and production tips for engaging corporate videos.”