Freedom251 › Stock Music Libraries
Free Music Archive
What Free Music Archive is
Free Music Archive (FMA) is a free web library where people can listen to, download, and stream audio and video. Its catalogue includes original music by independent artists, much of it offered under Creative Commons licenses. Search filters help narrow works by license, commercial use, remix or video use, genre, and duration. Registered members can comment on and rate songs and albums, and create playlists. Artists can publish original songs on artist pages and may enable ways for visitors to support them directly.
Each song or album page indicates its license. FMA does not own the original works, so it cannot grant permissions beyond the terms selected by each artist or rights holder. Whether a work can be reused in a video, podcast, film, game, app, commercial, or other project depends on that license; users are responsible for following its terms. FMA directs users to its FAQs and contact page and lists separate general, member, and technical contact emails. It records visit data that includes IP address, browser type, pages and media accessed, and visit date and time. The service was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its API has been shut down, and unapproved scraping and hotlinking are prohibited.
Who it suits
FMA suits people looking for free audio or video to listen to, and creators seeking works for media projects. Project use depends on the license displayed for each work.
What it does well
- Listen to, download, and stream audio and video for free.
- Filter by license, commercial use, genre, and duration.
- Registered members can make playlists and rate works.
- Artists can publish songs on artist pages.
What to know first
- Reuse permissions vary by each work’s license.
- FMA does not own the original works or grant additional rights.
- The API has been shut down.
- Unapproved scraping and hotlinking are prohibited.
Limits
The free plan covers listening to, downloading, and streaming audio and video. Reuse depends on the license for each work.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free · Listen to, download, and stream free audio and video; reuse depends on each work’s license | Free |
As freemusicarchive.org lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the Free Music Archive website.
- Search the catalogue and filter by license, use, genre, or duration.
- Check the license on the song or album page before downloading or using a work.
- Register to comment, rate songs and albums, or create playlists.
Verdict
FMA offers free listening and a catalogue that can also support licensed media projects. Check each work’s license before reuse, since permissions depend on the artist or rights holder’s terms.
Questions
Is Free Music Archive free?
Yes. Its plan is free and covers listening to, downloading, and streaming audio and video.
Can I use FMA music in a project?
It depends on the license shown on the song or album page. Users are responsible for following that license, and FMA cannot grant permissions beyond the artist’s or rights holder’s terms.
What platforms does FMA support?
FMA is available on the web.
Does FMA have an API?
FMA says it shut down its API because of server load.
Can members make playlists?
Yes. Registered members can create playlists, comment on and rate songs and albums.
Where is Free Music Archive based?
Its headquarters are in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and it was founded in 2009.
Facts from Free Music Archive's own pages
- API status
- FMA says it shut down its API because of the server load and prohibits unapproved scraping and hotlinking. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Artist pages
- Artists can publish original songs on artist pages and may enable ways for visitors to support them directly. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Audience
- FMA describes visitors using its catalogue for personal listening and for media projects such as videos, podcasts, films, games, apps, and commercials, subject to track licenses. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Commercial licensing
- FMA says it does not own the original works and cannot grant permissions beyond the terms chosen by the artist or rights holder. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2009 · freemusicarchive.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · freemusicarchive.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Amsterdam, Netherlands · freemusicarchive.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Licensing limits
- Each song or album page indicates its license, and users are responsible for following that license when downloading or using the work. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Member features
- Registered members can post comments, rate songs and albums, and create playlists. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Music library
- FMA is an online library of audio and video that the public can listen to, download, or stream for free. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Open licensed music
- FMA offers access to original music by independent artists, much of it under Creative Commons licenses. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The privacy policy says FMA records visit data such as IP address, browser type, pages and media accessed, and visit date and time. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Search and filters
- The search page offers filters for license, commercial use, remix or video use, genre, and duration. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- FMA directs users to its FAQs and contact page and lists separate general, member, and technical contact emails. · freemusicarchive.org, 8 Oct 2026
Where Free Music Archive stands on Freedom251
- Stock Music Libraries#8 of 60
- Music Streaming Software#34 of 62
- Music streaming services#42 of 62
- Free music streaming services#31 of 43