I’ve been producing radio for over 17-years and have used countless licensed music collections and services, and I am very impressed with JewelBeat.
One of the biggest drawbacks with most licensed music libraries, is the cost. I remember paying $20 (sometimes $35) per CD, on top of the high annual fees for music use. Often times, the most you could squeeze out of a CD was 75% of the tracks.
When online services began to emerge, you could at least sample the tracks. Even still, to fully know what a CD was like, the music library would snail-mail you the disc for your review. If you didn’t like it, you sent it back. This way of doing business is expensive.
Although many of the established music libraries have given per download options and full music track review, the cost still remains high.
As a small, independent, audio freelancer, the options that remain for affordable music beds is slim, and the quality doesn’t compare to the higher priced licensing.
JewelBeat is a breath of fresh air.
JewelBeat
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I browsed through JewelBeat’s library, and although I didn’t sort through it long enough to get an idea of it’s depth (35,000 total tracks), I can tell you from my 17-years of experience that these tracks are good. (Their sound-a-likes are solid, too!)
First off, you can sample the entire track.
When I’m choosing an audio track for a project, I’ll playback the “naked” mix while playing-back the test track. Listening to the dynamics of the piece, the tempo, etc … to see if it’s a good fit.
You can do that with JewelBeat, and I love it!
Once you find the track you like, give them a dollar, and you can use that track however you like. If you want to use that same track for a different project, simply go and purchase it, again (see license agreement).
JewelBeat is currently offering 1,000 free downloads when you purchase one, that’s right, one 99¢ track.
Sweet.
Once you’re hooked on JewelBeat’s quality, you may want to consider some of their more robust purchase options.
JewelBeat has three ways to purchase music:
Download
Grab tracks one by one, for 99¢ per track, or a complete “CD” for $19.00.
JewelStick
For $99 or $9 per month, there are 12 different JewelStick’s to choose from:
- Motivation
- Relaxing
- Action
- World
- Minimal
- Dramatic
- Business
- Video Games
- On Hold
- Wedding
- Background Music
- Nature
JewelDisk
This is what I want.
Why?
Because it’s awesome.
First, there’s the JewelDisk mini:
- $399 or $39 per month.
- 100 best-selling CDs.
- Dedicated music library hard-drive.
The second option is my favorite! JewelDisk MAX:
- $999 or $99 per month.
- The entire JewelDisk library on hard disk.
- Free new releases for 1-year.
- Free delivery worldwide! (I live in Italy, so this really adds to the awesomeness)
Conclusion
Give JewelBeat a try on your next media project.
With their licensing structure and prices, you can hardly go wrong.
The next time I need a music bed, this is going to be my #1 destination.
Learn more about JewelBeat and browse their library on the JewelBeat website.
April says
I really like the Silent Night mix under Religion. It’s my favorite Christmas song and it’s a beautiful mix. http://www.jewelbeat.com/store/downloadtrackdetails.php?tId=108806
Jay Caruso says
I’m loving this already.
I have to do a 30 second intro for a new sermon series based on end times and I found the music I am going to use:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2_azz0ghHo&feature=player_embedded
Jay Caruso says
Whoops. Didn’t realize the comments would actually embed the video!
Eric Dye says
Whoops!?!
I think not. Very cool.
We’ll be looking for that finished video on Saturday Sunday Share!
Eric Dye says
I used some music on a video project for my wife’s blog, tonight!
Cliff says
How do you get the “1,000 free downloads when you purchase one” deal? I don’t see anything about it on their site.
Jay Caruso says
Yeah I don’t see that either.
Eric Dye says
Check on their website again 😉
https://churchm.ag/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/jewel-capture.png
Eric Dye says
Mid-way down and on the left, on their website – look for this: https://churchm.ag/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/jewel-capture.png
Eric J says
Sweet deal! One downside to these tracks in my opinion is that they are obviously computer generated and sound kind of like elevator music. I might buy this track for our childrens camp video and for the purposes of the contest this is my pick http://www.jewelbeat.com/store/downloadtrackdetails.php?tId=147310
Eric Dye says
This is the nature of pre-composed music beds. If you don’t mix them with VO or video, they can come-off that way 🙂
Megin says
A lot of variety to pick one quickly, but here’s a cool bluesy-guitar number…
http://www.jewelbeat.com/store/downloadtrackdetails.php?tId=139009
Neil @ Looking Towards Home says
Excellent! I’ll bear this site in mind when I eventually get around to video.
Bill Whitt says
I just used “Strong Feelings” in a production, and I tweeted a link to this page!
Josh Bartolomucci says
This is pretty amazing stuff. Lot’s of amazing tracks at a great price. Really like http://www.jewelbeat.com/store/downloadtrackdetails.php?tId=141705 Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/ministrypixel/status/100298218973315072
Eric Dye says
You win!
Jay Caruso says
Here’s a link to the video I did using the music from above:
http://www.vimeo.com/27452131
Eric Dye says
You win!!
Drake says
I am considering getting their entire collection. The ONLY thing that worries me about this is how impersonal it is. As in, who are the artists, who makes the music… The price is certainly great for those of us who work in video and do not compose our own music.