Epidemic Sound vs. Musicbed

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Epidemic Sound vs. Musicbed
Epidemic Sound vs. Musicbed

Finding the perfect music for your video projects can be challenging. Two popular options for creators are Epidemic Sound and Musicbed. This comprehensive guide compares these platforms to help you decide which one best suits your needs.

Overview of Epidemic Sound and Musicbed

Epidemic Sound and Musicbed are both music licensing platforms that provide tracks for creators to use in their projects. However, they differ in several key aspects:

Epidemic Sound

  • Founded in 2009 in Sweden
  • Offers over 35,000 tracks and 90,000 sound effects
  • Known for a large, diverse library with consistent quality
  • Provides simple licensing terms

Musicbed

  • Founded in 2011 in the United States
  • Offers over 10,000 tracks from established artists
  • Known for high-quality, unique music
  • Provides more specialized licensing options

Music Library Comparison

The size and quality of a platform's music library are crucial factors for creators. Let's compare Epidemic Sound and Musicbed in this area:

Epidemic Sound's Library

Epidemic Sound boasts an extensive library:

  • Over 35,000 tracks
  • 90,000 sound effects
  • More than 50 distinct genres
  • Over 200 sub-genres

Popular genres on Epidemic Sound include:

  • Electronica & Dance
  • Film scores
  • Hip Hop
  • Pop
  • Acoustic

Epidemic Sound adds new music frequently, with nearly 10 new songs added daily since 2021. In 2023, they added about 5,000 new tracks to their catalog.

Musicbed's Library

Musicbed offers a smaller but highly curated library:

  • Over 10,000 tracks
  • No sound effects
  • Focus on genres popular for filmmaking and video production

Musicbed is known for:

  • Indie rock
  • Ambient music
  • Cinematic styles

While Musicbed's library is smaller, it's praised for its high-quality, distinctive tracks from established artists and bands.

Music Quality and Style

The quality and style of music can significantly impact your project. Here's how Epidemic Sound and Musicbed compare:

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound offers:

  • A wide variety of genres and styles
  • Tracks mostly produced by lesser-known artists
  • Consistent quality across the library

While Epidemic Sound's tracks are professional-grade, some users feel they lack uniqueness compared to Musicbed's offerings.

Musicbed

Musicbed is known for:

  • Very high-quality, unique tracks
  • Music from established indie artists and bands
  • A more "premium" sound overall

Musicbed's focus on quality over quantity makes it a favorite among professional filmmakers and agencies looking for distinctive music.

Pricing and Plans

Cost is a significant factor for many creators. Let's break down the pricing structures of both platforms:

Epidemic Sound Pricing

Epidemic Sound offers two main plans:

  1. Personal Plan:
    • $15/month or $108/year ($9/month when billed annually)
    • Ideal for individual creators and personal projects
  2. Commercial Plan:
    • $49/month or $228/year ($19/month when billed annually)
    • Suitable for businesses and commercial use

Musicbed Pricing

Musicbed offers more specialized plans:

  1. Individual Plan: Starting at $19.99/month
  2. Business Plan: $99.99/month
  3. Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing
  4. Non-Profit Plan: $69.99/month
  5. Wedding Plan: $79.99/month

Musicbed's pricing is generally higher than Epidemic Sound's, especially for business and commercial use. However, they offer more specialized plans for specific user types.

Licensing Terms

Understanding licensing terms is crucial when choosing a music platform. Here's how Epidemic Sound and Musicbed compare:

Epidemic Sound Licensing

Epidemic Sound offers straightforward licensing terms:

  • Unlimited use across most platforms with an active subscription
  • Perpetual license for published content, even after canceling subscription
  • Simple, easy-to-understand terms

Musicbed Licensing

Musicbed's licensing structure is more complex:

  • Some licenses are limited to specific uses or platforms
  • May need to repurchase licenses for new uses
  • Offers custom licensing options for larger projects

Musicbed's licensing terms can be more restrictive and may require careful consideration for each project.

Usage Rights

Understanding what you can do with the music is essential. Here's a comparison of usage rights:

Epidemic Sound Usage Rights

  • Personal Plan: Covers personal use and monetization on major platforms
  • Commercial Plan: Includes client work and commercial projects
  • Covers most major online platforms
  • Directly connects to social platforms to mitigate copyright claims

Musicbed Usage Rights

  • Individual Plan: Personal use only, limited to 50,000 followers per channel
  • Business Plan: Covers client work and commercial use
  • Specialized plans for non-profits and wedding videographers
  • Covers major platforms but may have more restrictions
  • Offers specific coverage for events, trade shows, and ad network revenue in higher-tier plans

User Interface and Search Functionality

A platform's ease of use can significantly impact your workflow. Here's how Epidemic Sound and Musicbed compare:

Epidemic Sound Interface

Epidemic Sound offers:

  • A clean, intuitive interface
  • Good search and filtering options
  • A "Find similar" function for discovering new tracks
  • Annual lists of best songs in each genre

Musicbed Interface

Musicbed provides:

  • A sleek, visually appealing design
  • Excellent curation and mood-based searching
  • Advanced search features, including AI-powered search

Both platforms offer good user experiences, but Musicbed is often praised for its superior curation and search capabilities.

Additional Features

Extra features can add value to your subscription. Here's what each platform offers:

Epidemic Sound Features

  • Stems and alternative versions available for many tracks
  • Direct YouTube claiming to avoid copyright issues
  • Mobile app for discovering and downloading music on the go

Musicbed Features

  • Custom music creation service
  • Collaboration tools for teams

Both platforms offer unique features, with Epidemic Sound focusing on flexibility for creators and Musicbed on premium services.

Customer Support

Good customer support can be crucial when issues arise. Here's how the two platforms compare:

Epidemic Sound Support

  • Comprehensive Help Center with searchable articles and FAQs
  • Direct contact with support team through a contact form
  • Fast response times (some users report responses within minutes)
  • Generally positive reviews for support quality

Musicbed Support

  • Help Center with FAQs and troubleshooting guides
  • Mixed reviews on support quality
  • Some users report issues with responsiveness and account cancellation

While both platforms have areas for improvement, Epidemic Sound generally receives more positive feedback about their customer support.

Pros and Cons

To summarize, here are the main pros and cons of each platform:

Epidemic Sound

Pros:

  • Large, diverse library with frequent updates
  • Simple, flexible licensing terms
  • More affordable pricing, especially for commercial use
  • Good customer support with fast response times
  • Offers sound effects in addition to music

Cons:

  • Music may lack uniqueness compared to Musicbed
  • Some users report issues with copyright claims despite licensing
  • Limited options for specialized use cases (e.g., weddings, non-profits)

Musicbed

Pros:

  • High-quality, unique tracks from established artists
  • Excellent curation and search functionality
  • Specialized plans for different user types
  • Custom music creation service available

Cons:

  • More expensive, especially for commercial use
  • Complex licensing structure
  • Smaller music library
  • No sound effects
  • Mixed reviews on customer support

Who Should Choose Epidemic Sound?

Epidemic Sound is likely the better choice for:

  1. Individual creators and small businesses on a budget
  2. Those needing a large variety of tracks and sound effects
  3. Creators who value simple licensing terms
  4. Users who frequently need new music for various projects

Who Should Choose Musicbed?

Musicbed might be the better option for:

  1. Professional filmmakers and agencies looking for premium, unique tracks
  2. Those willing to pay more for high-quality music
  3. Creators with specific needs (e.g., wedding videographers, non-profits)
  4. Users who prioritize excellent curation and mood-based searching

Conclusion

Both Epidemic Sound and Musicbed offer valuable services for creators, but they cater to different needs and preferences.

Epidemic Sound provides a large, diverse library with simple licensing terms at a more affordable price point. It's an excellent choice for individual creators, small businesses, and those who need a wide variety of tracks and sound effects.

Musicbed, on the other hand, offers premium, unique tracks from established artists, with superior curation and search capabilities. It's ideal for professional filmmakers, agencies, and those willing to invest more in distinctive music for their projects.

Ultimately, the choice between Epidemic Sound and Musicbed depends on your specific needs, budget, and the type of projects you create. Consider trying both platforms' free trials to see which one aligns better with your workflow and creative vision.

Remember, the right music can elevate your project from good to great. Whether you choose Epidemic Sound or Musicbed, investing in quality music licensing is a step towards creating more impactful and professional content.