Can I feature you if I use your vocals?

No. The vocals on my site are available as ghost vocals only. You can experiment, chop and edit them as much as you want and you do not need to credit me.

Can I use royalty-free vocals in commercial songs?

Yes. Once you purchase a license, you are allowed to use them for your own song as long as you use them in an original way. You will own 100% of the recording you make using the vocal, meaning you make 100% of the income from that recording.

What does royalty-free mean?

All non-exclusive vocals are royalty-free. Once you purchase a non-exclusive vocal, you own the master and publishing rights to the track you make with those vocals. It doesn't mean you own the original song, just the track you make using the vocals.

What's the difference between an exclusive and non-exclusive license?

An exclusive license means the vocal is yours alone — once sold, it's taken down and can never be sold to anyone else. A non-exclusive license means the same vocal can be purchased by multiple producers. Exclusives cost more, but you get a one-of-a-kind topline.

Do I own the master rights on an exclusive vocal?

Yes. You get 100% of the master rights. That means you own the final recording, collect all streaming and sales revenue, and Kate receives nothing from the master income.

What about publishing on an exclusive vocal?

Publishing (the underlying melody and lyrics) is split 50/50 between you and Kate. This is standard for vocalist/producer collaborations. You'll need to register the song with your PRO as usual.

Can I use an exclusive vocal in more than one song?

Exclusive toplines are licensed for one song or one track project. You can release multiple versions of that track — radio edits, extended mixes, VIPs, remixes, instrumental versions, and remix packs are all fine. You just can't reuse the vocal to create a completely unrelated song.

What happens if I don't release the track within 2 years?

There is a 2-year release window. If the track is commercially released on major DSPs within 2 years of purchase, your license is valid permanently. If it's not released within 2 years, the rights revert back to Kate and the vocal may be re-licensed or resold. Extensions can be agreed in writing before the deadline.

Can I resell or redistribute the vocal files?

No. You may not resell, sublicense, distribute, or share the raw vocal files in any form. You also can't include them in sample packs, loop kits, or similar products, whether free or paid.

Can I use these vocals with AI tools?

No. You may not use any vocals to train, clone, or replicate Kate's voice using AI or machine learning. You can't extract stems for voice synthesis, conversion, or revoicing. AI misuse is actively monitored and will result in takedown notices and potential legal action.

Can I release a track using a cover vocal commercially?

Yes, but you are solely responsible for obtaining the appropriate mechanical license for the original composition, typically through services like Easy Song or Songfile. You must not register the track with Content ID systems unless you've cleared all necessary rights.

What does the custom vocal process look like?

First Kate will gather information from you — what you like, what you don't, 3 reference tracks, and what you'd like the lyrics to be about. Then she'll collaborate via voice note until you're happy with the melody and lyrics before officially recording. Once recorded and invoiced, you'll receive vocal stems in a .zip with all stems clearly marked and aligned to your instrumental.

Where to Find Royalty-Free EDM Vocal Toplines That Actually Sound Professional

23 Jun

Written By Kate McGill

If you've ever searched for EDM toplines online, you'll know the hunt can be... brutal.

Between overpriced packs, generic vocals, and the occasional AI-generated mess, it's hard to know what's worth your time and what'll just clutter your hard drive with unusable takes. Whether you're producing house, drum and bass, melodic techno, or anything in between, finding pre-recorded vocals that actually sound like real records is half the battle.

So whether you're looking for exclusive one-off toplines, non-exclusive vocal samples, or royalty-free vocals ready to drop into your project, here's a quick guide to the vocal marketplaces I actually rate (and some red flags to watch out for).

1. katemcgill.co.uk (yes, that's me 👋)

Let's get this out the way. I've built my own site to be the exact opposite of every vocal site that's let me down.

You'll find:

Exclusive toplines (sold once, you own 100% of the master)
Non-exclusive vocal toplines that are still high quality and totally royalty-free
Limited edition vocals for producers who want something rare, but not wallet-breaking

Everything's written, recorded, stacked, and mixed by me. I'm a session vocalist who actually lives for toplining EDM, drum and bass, house, and melodic techno. No filler or crap in the middle. Just female vocal toplines you'd actually wanna release.

Every download includes dry and wet stems, harmonies, doubles, adlibs, and a lyric sheet. Professional studio quality, ready to go.

→ Check out my vocals here

2. HitVocals

Honestly? HitVocals have some great writers and vocalists on board. It's not a huge catalog, but what's there is solid. They truly care about the vocals that are uploaded, and they're decent people, which is sadly huge in this day and age.

Expect clean adlibs, full toplines, and mostly electronic-focused material. It's a strong option if you want ready-to-drop ideas that don't sound like they were ripped from a YouTube tutorial in 2013.

3. The Vocal Market

This one's like a digital farmer's market for vocals. Lots of variety, and you can tell some real humans are behind the work.

It doesn't always hit gold, but there are some genuine gems buried in there if you're willing to dig. Worth bookmarking, especially for non-exclusive bits! The guy behind it is really nice, too. Hello if you're reading!

4. Vocal Deals

If you're looking for bang-for-buck, Vocal Deals has... well, deals. As in bundles, discounts, and lots of rotating offers. They've recently upgraded their site, too! And it's built for the vocalists that upload there, so you know that the singers doing the work are actually getting treated well. Which means the quality is top-tier.

5. Red flags to watch out for… 🚩

Not every vocal marketplace is worth your money. Here are some things to look out for before you buy:

AI-generated vocals sold as "real" recordings. If it sounds too clean, too flat, or weirdly robotic, trust your ears. Your track deserves a real human performance.
Vocals that never get delivered. Some sites take your money and leave you waiting. If there's no instant download and no clear timeline, be careful.
Poor vocalist pay. If a platform doesn't treat its singers well, the quality suffers. Simple as that.
No clear licensing. You should always know exactly what you're getting. Can you release it commercially? Do you keep 100% of royalties? If it's not spelled out, walk away.

There's no shortcut for a real vocal performance, and your track deserves more than a half-finished stem spat out by a machine.

Final thoughts:

Finding great royalty-free vocal toplines for your EDM, house, or drum and bass tracks doesn't need to be painful or expensive. But it does require filtering out the fluff.

If you're after real female vocals with warmth, power, and a topliner's touch, start with the sites above. Or better yet, start here.

Whether you're finishing a banger or looking for a spark of inspiration, you'll thank yourself for skipping the spammy sites and going straight to the good stuff.

Have any questions? Shoot me an email and I'll find you the perfect vocal: kate@katemcgill.co.uk

Kate x

FAQ

What's the difference between exclusive and non-exclusive vocal toplines? Exclusive vocals are sold once and then removed from the site. You own them completely and no other producer can use them. Non-exclusive vocals can be purchased by multiple producers at a lower price point, and they're royalty-free, so you keep 100% of your royalties.

Are pre-recorded vocal toplines royalty-free? It depends on the marketplace. All of my non-exclusive and limited edition vocals are 100% royalty-free. Always check the licensing terms before you buy from any site.

Can I use non-exclusive vocals for commercial releases? Yes! Non-exclusive vocals from reputable sites (including mine) can be used in commercial releases on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and all major platforms. You keep 100% of the royalties from your finished track.

Where can I find high-quality female vocal samples for EDM production? There are several great options including Kate McGill Vocals, HitVocals, The Vocal Market, and Vocal Deals. Look for sites that offer professional studio-quality recordings with dry and wet stems, so you have full control over processing in your mix.

What genres do pre-recorded vocal toplines work for? Most vocal toplines from quality marketplaces are written with EDM, house, drum and bass, melodic techno, and pop-electronic in mind. But they're versatile enough to work across a wide range of electronic genres. You can always pitch, chop, and rearrange them to fit your production style.

edm vocalsroyalty-free vocalsvocal samplesmusic productionproducer tips

Kate McGill

Where to Find Royalty-Free EDM Vocal Toplines That Actually Sound Professional

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Why I'm Selective About Vocal Features (and What That Means for Producers)