scoresforchange.com

What It Is

Scores For Change is a royalty-free music licensing library for filmmakers, media producers, game developers, advertisers, and content creators. Its core differentiator is not feature complexity, but its charitable model: after deducting reasonable administrative costs, most net sales proceeds are donated to 501(c)(3) nonprofits that support youth music programs, such as Hungry for Music, Save the Music Foundation, and Music Fund.

Core Features and Licensing

The platform offers high-quality, relatively affordable music licensing for student projects, social media, advertising, podcasts, games, apps, websites, corporate videos, and film/TV/broadcast distribution. Its licensing terms are clearly segmented: the Student license does not allow commercialization or broadcast use; the Personal / Social Media license allows monetization on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch, but excludes paid advertising or brand sponsorships; the Commercial license covers advertising, branded content, podcasts, games, and corporate videos, but excludes theatrical, TV, and broadcast distribution; the Media & Broadcast license covers film, television, radio, theatrical release, and streaming. None of the licenses transfer ownership of the music, and standalone resale, sublicensing, or redistribution of tracks is prohibited.

Pricing and Value

Pricing is based on a one-time purchase by license type: Student Use is $5, Personal / Social Media is $25, Commercial is $100, and Media & Broadcast is $250, with display options for USD, GBP, EUR, and AUD. The entry cost is low for students and small creators, while commercial and broadcast licensing is also straightforward. However, the terms state that licensing is generally per-project, so costs can add up if the same track is reused across multiple projects.

Pros and Cons

The main advantages are clear licensing tiers, broad use-case coverage, a strong charitable mission, and the fact that attribution is encouraged rather than mandatory in most cases, reducing friction for commercial use. The drawbacks are that the main materials do not disclose key details such as catalog size, genre categories, search and filtering tools, preview experience, audio formats, download specifications, invoicing, or customer support. There is also no mention of team collaboration or enterprise account features.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is best suited to students, YouTubers/TikTok creators, indie film and game teams, advertising agencies, and corporate video producers who have limited budgets but want to use music legally. The available information does not specify access from China, supported payment methods, or download stability. Before purchasing, it is advisable to test site connectivity and confirm whether credit cards or other payment methods are accepted. If access or licensing needs do not match your use case, alternatives to compare include Artlist, Epidemic Sound, AudioJungle, Pond5, PremiumBeat, as well as licensed music asset platforms in China.