There are a lot of tools worth having in your DJ kit.
You’ll need a set of awesome DJ speakers, some great professional-grade DJ headphones, and the right DAW. There’s a good chance you’ll spend a decent amount of time shopping for decks and a laptop too.
However, none of those DJ accessories are worth much if you don’t have the right library of music.
Music is the lifeblood of any great DJ. The more tracks and sounds you have to experiment with, the more you can accomplish.
So in this article, we’re going to explore 12 Places to Legally Download Free DJ Music that will keep your sets fresh and, more importantly, you out of trouble with the law.
Here’s a summary of our 12 Place To Legally Download Free DJ Music:
- Soundcloud
- Free Music Archive
- Bandcamp
- ReverbNation
- Soundclick
- Beatstars
- Jamendo
- CCTrax
- Bensound
- Facebook Sound Collection
- Noisetrade by Paste Magazine
- Producer Friends
The Importance of Legal Downloadable DJ Music
These days, it’s common to get music from a streaming service. You might even know a handful of people who get their music illegally online. However, DJs should never take that route.
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As a DJ, you’re a part of the music profession. That means that you need to take your search for resources as seriously as possible. Downloading DJ music illegally could get you into a lot of trouble. If someone hears a sound in one of your tracks and recognizes it as their own, they can easily take you to court.
A fight over music copyright could lead to some hefty fines. At the same time, it ruins your reputation, as it shows that you’re not willing to invest in yourself.
Downloading free DJ music legally is an opportunity for you to support the industry that you want to be a part of. At the same time, unlike ripping music from YouTube, or downloading it elsewhere, accessing free or official tracks gives you greater quality.
Usually, when you download music legally, you can choose which file format is best for your DAW and avoid any quality issues common with other cheaper tracks.
Ultimately, as a DJ, you need to take your music collection seriously. Downloading tracks illegally is just bad manners.
12 Places to Legally Download Free DJ Music
Now you know why it’s essential to get legit music for free, let’s explore where you can go to get your tracks. Most of these resources are extremely easy to use.
1. SoundCloud
Probably one of the better-known sources to legally download free DJ music. Soundcloud is absolutely packed full of tracks to choose from. There are more than 150 million sounds available on this platform, and you can even upload your own content into the mix.
The service is free to use. There are also some songs that are free to download from the Soundcloud streaming platform without a subscription. There’s also the option to stream music for free, but it may come with a few ads, and unpredictable quality.
Pros
- Free to use
- Downloads are free in some cases, but may have a cost for others
- People frequently use this service to find background music for videos
- You can upload your own music into the community
- No advertisements on downloads.
Cons
- Streaming quality isn’t great
- Some tracks have a cost
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- Soundcloud vs Mixcloud: Who Rules Supreme in 2023?
2. Free Music Archive
Otherwise known as FMA, Free Music Archive offers free tracks under the creative commons license. That means that you don’t need to give any royalties to the creator of the content. The FMA website is an excellent source for podcasts, projects, and YouTube videos.
There’s access to free MP3 downloads from a range of genres here. All you need to do is search for the content you want and download it. However, the website does request that you send a message to the artist asking for permission to use their track however you like
Pros
- Tons of great legally downloadable free DJ music tracks to choose from
- Easy to find content with categorization
- Compositions are good quality
- Easy search function
- License information included on listing
Cons
- You need to email the artist
3. Bandcamp
Bandcamp is an online music service created in America. You can find downloadable free DJ music on this platform that’s free to use, or you can buy tracks for a premium price tag. DJs can set the prices for their work however they like, which makes this website great for promoting yourself.
Aside from having the option to download MP3 products from Bandcamp, you can also pay for compact discs and record vinyl too. Searching for your ideal content is easy too, thanks to the categorization and tagging throughout the site which is very similar to how DJ software works.
Pros
- Free platform for record labels and producers
- Easy to play songs for free before downloading them
- Great search functionality
- Bulk download options
- CDs and vinyl available
Cons
- Not all music is available for free
- Download links force you to go to your email inbox
4. ReverbNation
ReverbNation is a go-to platform for Indie bands and musicians around the world. This is a great platform to go searching for content. However, you can also upload your own tracks here and share your account with fans to gain more attention.
ReverbNation is free and easy to use. You decide if you want to join as a “fan” or as an “artist.” The artist option simply means that you can upload your own content. Once you’re logged in, you search for the tracks that are best for you.
Pros
- Excellent for exposure
- Already has a massive fan-based
- Lots of great legally downloadable free DJ music to choose from
- All of the tracks are carefully chosen based on quality
- Labels often visit this site
Cons
- More alternative music than anything else
5. Soundclick
Soundclick is one of the older websites online for DJs in search of legally downloadable DJ music to download. This website is a bit dated and not as easy to navigate as some of the other options on this list. However, you can browse through a wide range of tracks from different genres in a short space of time.
If you want something particularly special, then you can pay for the rights to premium songs and tracks. There’s even the option to look for curated playlists or check out artists that are local to you.
Pros
- Unique selection of artists to choose from
- Excellent for free and premium music
- Lots of different genres available
- Relatively simple to download music
Cons
- Outdated website
6. Beatstars
Beatstars advertises itself as the number one marketplace for buying and selling tracks. You can browse for content by checking out the recommended records on the site. Alternatively, you can use the site’s intuitive search function to find something with the exact sound you need.
There are more than 1.5 million beats to choose from, and the collection keeps growing every day. Beatstars also has its own app on Google Play, so you can check out new music on the move. There’s a free version of this service available, and you can even upload your own music.
Pros
- Android app makes it easy to find music on the move
- Lots of different beats to choose from
- Intuitive search feature
- Excellent range of sounds
Cons
- Not a very profitable site for music creators
- No iOS app
7. Jamendo
Jamendo is a thriving online music website. There are two sides to the site. First, you have the Music site, where you can search for new artists and find free tracks. You can find legal downloadable DJ music and you get access to free streaming too. No strings attached.
The other side of Jamendo is where you can find royalty-free music for commercial use. You do need to pay for this service after a 2-week free trial. Still, the website is a great environment for DJs who need to access music for a variety of reasons.
Pros
- Quick and easy music downloads
- User-friendly interface with quick navigation
- Free download and streaming service
- Great resource for commercial music
- 6 languages available
Cons
- Can’t access downloads on iOS
8. CCTrax
CCTrax is an incredible audio library for DJs that want access to plenty of ambient and electro music. Unfortunately, you can’t use the music that you get here anywhere. Some of the tracks won’t be available to use on YouTube due to issues with licensing.
The good news is that you can check what kind of licensing problems you might face in advance. The search option for CC Trax comes with the option to search for royalty-free releases. Another bonus of this site is that the quality of the tracks available is great! However, you will need to give the creator a shout-out.
Pros
- Excellent selection of music options
- Lots of high-quality tracks to choose from
- Search based on your copyright needs
- Royalty-free music is available
Cons
- Some licensing issues with certain tracks
- Heavy focus on electric music
9. Bensound
If you’re looking for an underrated website that offers a diverse selection of free legally downloadable DJ music, then you can’t go wrong with Bensound. The free licensing option here lets you use the soundtracks available on the site however you choose.
If you use Bensound music on a YouTube video, or in your own music, you might need to add credits to your track’s description. It’s worth checking the licensing requirements on each track before you start downloading.
Pros
- Wide range of sound options
- Royalty-free or license music
- Subscription services available
- Lots of support from the community
Cons
- You will need to credit some artists
10. Facebook Sound Collection
People often forget about Facebook as an environment where you can legally download free DJ music. However, this social platform is a lot more valuable than you think. As a diverse social environment, Facebook gives DJs the freedom to distribute music for free on their pages. If you like the DJ’s page, then you might be able to use some of their clips without a fee.
Aside from searching for specific artists and music, you can also browse through available tracks using the Facebook Sound Collection within the FB Creative Tools. If you already have a Facebook account, you won’t need to sign up to download tracks from artists.
Pros
- Convenient environment for finding music
- See updates from your favorite DJs
- Lots of music options to choose from
- Content library creation features
Cons
- Liking too many pages drowns your feed with updates
11. Noisetrade by Paste Magazine
Noisetrade is similar in style to BandCamp. With this service, you can easily and legally download DJ music, songs, or entire albums, depending on what you need. Because this site is all about getting new artists plenty of exposure, you only need to give your email address to access a download.
Another great thing about Noisetrade is that you can give extra support to the DJs that you love most. If you find an artist that you want to support, you can tip them with some extra cash. Noisetrade has tons of different tracks to choose from.
Pros
- Lots of different music genre options
- Option to tip your favorite artists
- Access tracks with just your email address
- Easy search function
Cons
- Most of the artists are very news
- Newsletters are pretty frequent
12. Producer Friends
Here’s a source where you can legally download free DJ music that most DJs and creators don’t think about. The more you build your presence as a DJ, the more your network will grow. That means that you get to interact with lots of dedicated music producers and white label record companies.
Work on building a network of contacts and friends who can send you access to their new tracks. You can always reach out online to connect with these people or attend industry events and DJ sets where people are showing off their stuff.
Pros
- Find unique music no-one else is using
- Build your professional network
- Unlock new opportunities for growth
- Experiment with different sounds
Cons
- Takes more effort to build a network
Finding Downloadable DJ Music that is Legal
As a DJ, you need access to a lot of different sounds to create some amazing tracks. Although your DAW, especially Ableton or Logic Pro X, will often come with samples available, that’s not the same as having various pieces of music to experiment with.
Hopefully, the ideas above will give you some helpful ways to build your resource library. However, don’t forget to keep your eyes open for other resources too. There are plenty of solutions out there for DJs if you know where to look for them.