Motion Array

Motion Array is an all-in-one creative asset subscription platform founded in 2013 that offers royalty-free music, sound effects, video templates, footage, motion graphics, AI voiceovers, and video editing plugins under a single subscription. Acquired by Artlist in December 2020 for $65 million, Motion Array's catalog includes over 100,000 royalty-free songs and 11,000+ sound effects. The platform operates on a non-exclusive, revenue-share model where artists earn 10% to 45% of monthly category revenue based on download volume. Best suited for composers and producers who want passive income from a large-scale royalty-free marketplace while retaining the right to sell on other platforms.

How Motion Array Works

Motion Array operates as a subscription-based creative asset marketplace. Subscribers pay a monthly or annual fee for unlimited downloads across the entire catalog. Artists contribute music and other assets, earn a share of platform revenue based on download performance, and retain non-exclusive rights to their work.

The process works as follows:

1. Artist application: Composers and producers apply through the Motion Array Artist Hub. The team reviews submissions for quality, commercial suitability, and technical standards. Accepted artists can upload tracks to the marketplace.
2. Non-exclusive contribution: Artists retain ownership of their music and can sell the same tracks on other platforms simultaneously. This is a significant difference from exclusive libraries like Epidemic Sound that require full rights transfer.
3. Subscriber downloads: Paid subscribers browse the catalog, download tracks, and use them in unlimited projects. The license covers commercial use worldwide, and projects published during an active subscription stay cleared forever.
4. Revenue share calculation: Each content category (music, sound effects, templates, etc.) has a separate revenue pool. Artists earn a percentage of their category's monthly revenue based on their download count. There are 7 earning levels per category, with rates ranging from 10% to 45%. The more downloads an artist gets, the higher their earning level and percentage.

Real-World Example

A composer uploads 20 instrumental tracks to Motion Array's music category. In their first month, the tracks receive 150 downloads from subscribers. At the entry-level earning rate of 10%, the composer earns a share of the music category's monthly revenue pool. If the music category generates $50,000 in monthly revenue and the composer's 150 downloads represent 0.5% of total music downloads that month, they earn approximately $250.

By month six, the composer has uploaded 80 tracks and receives 800 downloads per month, moving them to level 3 (25% earning rate). Their monthly earnings increase to approximately $1,200. A top-performing track that reaches the top 20 downloaded assets in its category gets a 200% download boost for that month, further increasing earnings.

For subscribers, a YouTube creator with 200,000 subscribers pays $24.99 per month (billed annually) for the Everything plan. They download 30 music tracks and 50 sound effects per month for their videos. Total monthly cost: $24.99. If they had licensed each track individually through traditional sync deals, the cost would be $200 to $2,000 per track.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Motion Array offers composers and producers a passive income stream that scales with catalog size and download performance. The non-exclusive model means you are not locked in. You can sell the same music on other platforms while earning from Motion Array's subscriber base.

Key considerations before applying:

• Volume drives earnings: The revenue-share model rewards artists with large catalogs. A composer with 100+ tracks will earn significantly more than one with 10 tracks, assuming similar per-track download rates. Treat this as a volume business.
• Quality still matters: Tracks that reach the top 20 in their category receive a 200% download boost. Well-produced, commercially useful tracks rise to the top. Read our guide to creating music for sync licensing for production standards.
• Non-exclusive freedom: You can sell your music on other platforms simultaneously. This contrasts with exclusive deals that prevent you from licensing the same tracks elsewhere. Read more about exclusive vs. non-exclusive models in our guide to sync licensing companies vs music libraries.
• No PRO collection on marketplace tracks: Motion Array's marketplace music is royalty-free, meaning the platform does not collect performance royalties on behalf of contributors. However, artists may register their music with a PRO or Content ID outside of Motion Array. Subscribers must handle cue sheet reporting for PRO-affiliated tracks. Read more about PROs in our PRO directory.
• Respond to user requests for bonuses: Motion Array rewards up to 20 artists per month who create outstanding assets in response to user requests with an extra $150. Engaging with the community can boost earnings.

Use our sync licensing fee calculator to compare subscription marketplace earnings against direct sync licensing deals.

Subscription Pricing for Creators

Motion Array offers several subscription tiers (verified 2026):

• Free: $0. Limited access to assets with watermarks.
• Everything (Individual): $24.99 per month (billed annually) or $39.99 per month (billed monthly). Unlimited downloads across all categories including music, SFX, video templates, footage, graphics, plugins, and AI voiceovers. Single user license covering commercial use worldwide.
• Video Templates: $15.99 per month (billed annually) or $23.99 per month (billed monthly). Unlimited video templates, presets, and motion graphics only.
• AI Voiceover: $10.99 per month (billed annually). AI-generated voiceovers only.
• Team: $27 per member per month (billed annually). For teams of 2 to 7 members. Same unlimited access as Everything plan.
• Business: Custom pricing for companies with 50+ employees and creative agencies. Extended license covering broadcast, in-app, software, games, and out-of-home advertising.

All plans include lifetime clearance for projects published during the subscription period. If a subscription is cancelled, previously published projects remain covered, but new projects cannot use downloaded assets.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Revenue share, not per-track fees: Motion Array pays artists from a shared monthly revenue pool, not a fixed fee per download. This means earnings fluctuate based on platform-wide subscription revenue and the total number of downloads across all artists in your category. You cannot predict exact per-track earnings.
• Low starting rates: New artists start at the 10% earning level. Reaching higher levels (up to 45%) requires consistent download volume over time. In the first few months, earnings per track may be very low.
• Not a sync licensing agency: Motion Array is a royalty-free asset marketplace, not a sync licensing agency that pitches your music to music supervisors for film and TV placements. If you want direct pitching to supervisors, consider Crucial Music or Bodega Sync instead.
• PRO and Content ID complications: If you register your Motion Array tracks with a PRO, subscribers must file cue sheets for broadcast use. Content ID registration can cause copyright claims on subscriber videos. These complications may reduce the attractiveness of your tracks to subscribers.
• Subscription cancellation stops new use: If a subscriber cancels, they cannot use downloaded assets in new projects. This means your music is only usable by active subscribers, limiting its reach compared to perpetually licensed tracks.
• Diluted earnings in a large catalog: With 100,000+ songs in the library, individual tracks compete for attention. Without active promotion of your assets or high search visibility, downloads may be sparse.

Related Resources

• Sync Licensing Companies vs Music Libraries - How royalty-free marketplaces differ from sync agencies
• Library Music and Production Music for Passive Income - Understanding revenue-share models
• How to License Your Music for YouTube Creators - The YouTube music licensing ecosystem
• Sync License Glossary Definition - Core sync licensing concept explained
• Motion Array Official Website - Subscription plans and artist applications