Royalty Free: The Music of Kevin MacLeod (2021)
As a composer myself, I am always game for stories about musicians that compulsively create. In fact, I’ve lost track of the number of recordings I’ve put out into cyberspace myself and need to sit down to finally archive everything. That being said, there is no way to match the subject of this thoroughly enjoyable documentary in terms of output. He’s probably made enough music for two lifetimes at this point. Not only can I relate to the passionate drive to record but at the very least, I was intrigued by the process. Prolific composer Kevin MacLeod is internet-famous among content creators for allowing people to use his music for free, provided they credit him. His talent, passion and process are covered extensively and enthrallingly in Royalty Free: The Music of Kevin MacLeod directed by Ryan Camarda.
Starting out, I was a bit skeptical at the notion of several talking heads (including some of his friends) constantly “singing” his praises but both the man and the film is worthy of that praise when all is said and done. MacLeod has composed over 2,000 pieces of royalty-free library music and made them available under a Creative Commons copyright license. His songs are free, through the website Incompetech, which has existed since 1996. The website started out as a joke but has since evolved into something much more. His licensing options allow anyone to use his music for free as long as he receives attribution (credit), which has led to his music being used in thousands of films. His music serves as the background for pretty much the entire running time and you’ll definitely want to visit his website to hear more. The film is worth recommending for that potential rabbit hole alone. There is an overabundance of content and you’ll get lost in what MacLeod has to offer. If you decide to do so after seeing this, I completely understand the impulse.
As much we delve into the creative side of music-making through a variety of means, another avenue the documentary explores is how the subject’s music and business model relate to the industry as a transaction. Similarly to the surprisingly good 30 Seconds To Mars documentary (Artifact) that went on to comment on how everything is evolving when it comes to recording and distribution in the digital age. Camarda explains the concept behind the Creative Commons license and explores the implications of releasing music royalty free. For me, that’s the only real blemish to be found - a rather inevitable animated sequence to explain what it means felt like it could’ve been clipped but I also realize that not everyone watching might know about licensing rights, etc. At the same time, I’m thoroughly grateful for additional context rather than just a straightforward love-fest of its subject that’s for sure. In other words, there’s food for thought throughout in addition to shedding light on the success and struggles of MacLeod. We get to think about several facets of what it means to create and share and learn to accept ourselves even if we’re not setting the world on fire financially. MacLeod is doing what he loves and does it well - that feeling is infectious throughout. By the end, there’s a sincere warmth behind the subject and its filmmaker that is undeniable.
Like any great story well-told, it becomes a fully realized character piece that showcases imperfect moments as well as the triumphs. Yes, there are friends and musicians in awe of MacLeod but he is also a complicated human being like we all are. The audience experiences a rather compassionate look at an unsung, if highly successful musician, but also, his ongoing struggles with addiction and being actively social. I can relate to the latter especially being an introvert that values time spent in my bedroom recording studio or watching film alone on the couch. MacLeod ends up coming across as a true inspiration and this documentary highlights why his business model remains a success. Thousands of his tracks have been heard by millions of people worldwide in a variety of videos to where you’ve probably come across something he’s done without even knowing it. Let’s hope millions of people will also get to learn about this remarkable story by seeing this delightful documentary as soon as possible.
Currently playing until February 28th at:
https://beloitfilmfest.org/films/royalty-free
Trailer:
https://youtu.be/i4j81Q5ykzc
Learn more about the film:
http://royaltyfreedoc.com/
