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Looking for music imagery for your latest project? Here are the basics you need to make sure you’ve got all the right permissions to use the music imagery you find.

Some quick definitions before we get started:

Editorial use – when an image or clip is used to illustrate a newsworthy article, a critique or an educational text. On the whole, model releases aren’t usually needed for editorial use

Commercial use – when an image is used to sell a product, promote something or raise money for a cause. This includes advertising, marketing, packaging, publication covers and consumer or merchandising products

Model Release – A legal release form signed by the person or people in a photograph. It gives permission for the photographer to use or sell the photo in one form or another

Using music imagery

The rules around how music images can be used depend on what’s in the image, the license type and whether or not it has a release. For example, an image of a well-known band will need different permissions to a shot of the crowd at a festival.

Music imagery for editorial use

On the whole, if you want to use an image for editorial purposes, it’s quite straight forward. You just need to buy the right license based on where the image will be used e.g. on a website, in a newspaper.  If you’re planning to use an image editorially it’s usually fine for it not to have a release.

Music imagery for commercial use

If you want to use an image for commercial purposes, this is where things get a bit more complicated. This is especially true if the image is of a live performance, artist or album cover.  Here’s an overview of some different types of music imagery and the permissions you’ll need to use each:

1. Images of live music performances, including ticketed and non-ticketed events

   1. Accreditation from the press officer or event organiser granting you permission to sell the images you take at the event. See more about this in our ‘top tips for live music shoots’ blog
   2. The image must have the relevant model and/or property releases for the people and property in the image
   3. Permission from the band or artist(s) and their label
   4. Permission from the venue featured in the photograph

2. Photos of CD, record or album covers 

   1. The image must have the relevant model and/or property releases – this is the photographer’s responsibility
   2. Permission from the band or artist(s)
   3. Permission from their record label
   4. If there is artwork, permission from the artist or designer that created it
   5. If the image is not available for commercial use, you will also need to get permission from the photographer on top of the above permissions

Things are a little simpler if you don’t need images of a specific band or artist, or are just be looking for some awesome music shots. But you’ll still need to check the photographer’s stated they have a model release for the image.

Quick ways to find some great music imagery

Check out our Music, fans and memorabilia category

The ultimate collection of music-related imagery, from live music shoots and festivals to album covers and vinyl players.

Head over to our live news feed

We have a range of photographers who have accreditation to photograph live music events such as concerts and festivals. So if there’s an event happening that you can’t wait to find images for, check out our award-winning live news feed.