Royalty-free music isn’t a perk reserved for large creators. YouTubers of all sizes need 

 to make better content and attract more viewers.

Think about it: Have you watched a video that seemed OK, but everything improved once the music kicked in? At that moment, you probably felt the “cinematic mood” as the music paced the story.

Well, viewers can feel that, too. They might not leave a comment saying so, but there’s a reason polished videos get significant views. And that reason alone is why you should 

find royalty-free music for YouTube content

If a song is royalty-free, you don't need to pay 

 it's used in a video.  At most, you'd pay a one-time fee to use the song if it's not free already.

By doing this, you'll skip the hassle of dealing with copyright holders and reduce copyright claims and strikes on your channel.

What's the Difference Between a Copyright Claim and a Copyright Strike?

If that sounds good to you, here’s your guide for finding high-quality stock music.

 This resource is from YouTube itself and pretty much guarantees you won’t use copyrighted music. Every sound in the collection is copyright-free and ready to download.

3. Here you can see Paid and Free options for the music you want. You can also choose to split your revenue with the original artist!

Ways to use music from YouTube Audio Library


4. Use the Browse tab to search for music by title, genre, mood, artist name, duration, and attribution requirements.


5. Hover over the icon for the music file and click the play button to hear what a track sounds like.

Ready to download from the YouTube audio library? Hover your mouse over any track and click 

As a creator, you’re allowed to use these tracks and continue 

There’s a good selection of music, too: jazz, rock, reggae, pop, folk, country music, and other genres. Just make sure you don't distribute the music yourself or use it in illegal content.

Best Royalty-Free Music Sites for YouTube

The music library on YouTube is helpful, but some people just need 

They might want royalty-free background music that sounds better, uses different instruments, or creates a specific vibe.

If that sounds like you, it’s time to find a music website and pay for original tracks. This isn’t the same as paying for 

Here are the best royalty-free music sites:

The sites above require a little cash, but that’s better than going to risky sites to find free music.

Technically, an artist offering royalty-free music (for free) could change their mind in the future. After that, what’s stopping them from slapping a copyright claim on your video?

It’s not a common situation, and people usually aren’t that sneaky. But there’s a slight chance it could happen. In that case, it's best to reach out to the individual artist and offer a mutual agreement that benefits both parties. In such a case, you need to make sure that you have a written contract that lays out the details to avoid conflict in the future.

Now that you have some royalty-free jams, learn how to 

Do you want to add royalty-free music to your YouTube videos? Here’s how to find the perfect tunes and take your channel to the next level.

How to Get Royalty Free Music for Your YouTube Videos

 make thousands of dollars using other people’s content? It seems impossible now that YouTube is dishing out copyright notices, and yet, creators are still getting monetized.

careful when starting a YouTube automation channel, especially with copyrighted material. That's because YouTube automation — the process of using AI or freelancers to create, edit, and publish videos — is hard to accomplish without referencing 

Who is Noah and how does he know any of this, 

great question! Noah isn’t a legal expert, but he’s a genius at running automated YouTube channels. In fact, he oversees 20 of them. They pull in six figures each month, so Noah has seen his fair share of claims, disputes, and lawyers. 

The Truth About AI: Can YouTube Automation Ruin Your Channel?

Our goal is to help you avoid any hiccups, so here’s how to dodge copyright claims on a faceless channel.

Person holding up a sign showing the copyright symbol

Before we dive into the deep stuff, let’s cover the basics. 

 gives the owner of a creative work the exclusive right to use, distribute, and monetize their intellectual property. That could be a song, image, movie, book, TV show, or countless other creations.

YouTube doesn’t like creators using copyrighted material in their videos unless they have permission from the owner. If they don’t have permission, YouTube issues a 

 when it detects “stolen” content in a video.

Creators can dispute these claims, but a 

 is more serious. A strike occurs when a creator notifies YouTube that their content has been used without their permission. The copyright owner can request that the video be removed, or they can choose to monetize it for their benefit. But after three strikes, YouTube can delete your channel permanently — a devastating consequence for any creator.

Copyright Claims vs. Copyright Strikes: Here's the Difference

Making automated content is tricky, but it gets easier when you understand 

When there's a copyright case, U.S. law examines:

The source of the copyrighted work (movie, TV show, song, etc.)

How the copyrighted work is used (commercial, non-commercial, educational, etc.)

The amount of copyrighted material used in a work

Now that you know what copyright law examines, we can answer the burning question. How do creators make money using other people’s work? This typically happens through 

In U.S. copyright law, you can sometimes use small parts of someone else's work for things like reviews, news, teaching, or research without asking for permission or paying the owner. This is called fair use, but it isn't a guaranteed way to make money from YouTube automation.

“What does transformative mean? You have to add value to the original copyrighted work. This means educational value. You have to give commentary, a different perspective, a parody, perhaps. That is what transformative means,” Noah says.

How to Dodge Copyright Issues with an Automated Channel

Want to automate your channel in the safest way possible? Keep reading to learn how, or watch the video below for a visual guide!

1. Don’t Just Borrow Clips — Build a Storyline

The simplest way to dodge copyright claims is to 

 with the clips you've gathered. Bring your educational insight or perspective 

, then use copyrighted content to support your views.

“Is the video revolving around you and not the copyrighted content? If the video is revolving around the copyrighted content, that is not adding value,” Noah says.

For example, taking a video from one channel and posting it to another with a few edits isn't fair use. The creator would have to add 

Some copyrighted content is more risky to use than others. These sources include:

Sports broadcasts (Formula One, Premiere League, NFL)

Video licensing agencies (such as ViralHog)

These entities have lawyers and a system for tracking theft, so you’ll get in trouble pretty quickly for using their content.

, like bodycam footage, public domain works, news clips, and documentaries used for educational purposes. It’s also safer to find user-generated content, i.e., someone who recorded cellphone footage of a “copyrighted event" (the Super Bowl, for example).

Some creators think their videos are more likely to get demonetized if they use several copyrighted clips. But, according to Noah, it’s the other way around. Sourcing a variety of materials, instead of one, is the safest option on YouTube.

“Let's say you want to add stock footage, animations, podcast clips, and news clips; the more different types of footage you use in your YouTube video, the less likely it is for YouTube to detect that copyrighted footage,” Noah says.

If you’re going to use a copyrighted clip, make sure it isn't 

 of the original work. That increases the likelihood of a copyright claim because you’re using the heart of a story — not the supporting pieces. Typically, the heart of the story is significant, impactful, and easy for YouTube or the copyright holder to spot.

For example, it’s a good idea to avoid plot twists that made a movie "famous" overnight. Or a scene that everyone references from a popular TV show. If it's well-known, try to pick something else.

It’s always wise to use shorter clips when it comes to copyrighted material. There’s no set duration to ward off YouTube claims or strikes, but it's harder to detect a three-second clip versus a 10-second one, according to Noah.

of another creator’s work, and you’ll have a better success rate.

Once you have a bunch of clips to use, try mixing them up as best as you can. Use 10 seconds of someone else's content, then switch to 10 seconds of yourself talking or another piece of original content. Then keep alternating like that for the rest of the video. This makes it harder for YouTube to realize you're using copyrighted content.

7. Ask Yourself: Am I Stealing Attention from the Copyright Holder?

One way to get demonetized is to use someone else's work in a way that outshines them. 

A good example of this is using copyrighted clips to make compilation videos on YouTube. These montages rarely offer a new perspective, and they tend to rely on 

 copyrighted source, which is dangerous in itself.

For example, imagine that you want to create a montage of the funniest scenes in the movie 

a comedy, one could argue that collecting the funniest moments reveals too much of the movie. And what happens if more people decide to watch the compilation rather than buy the film? That hurts the copyright holder 

 their business, which may lead to a copyright strike.

Some creators may feel like automated channels have no place on YouTube. But those channels, for whatever reason, are thriving on YouTube. Why not study them and learn how to automate your content in a safe, monetizable way?

If that sounds like fun, here's a step-by-step guide to building a faceless channel!

This post is an overview of how copyright works on YouTube. Please consult a lawyer if you need advice on a specific case.

A hooded man surrounded by money with his face covered by the YouTube logo

Using other people’s content is frowned upon, but somehow, automated channels are still getting monetized on YouTube. Here's how they do it.

YouTube Automation: How to Avoid Copyright Claims on Faceless Channels

In the world of copyright, most disputes aren't as straightforward as someone claiming you used their content. There can be a number of complicated moving parts when it comes to digital rights management and your responsibilities and obligations as a YouTube creator.

As a content creator or viewer on YouTube, you must have come across the terms 'copyright claim' and 'copyright strike.' They are both related to copyright infringement, but there are some significant differences between the two. Today, we'll discuss how they are different but let's start from the basics.

 This post is an overview of how copyright works on YouTube. Please consult a lawyer if you need advice on a specific case.

 is a legal right that grants creators of original work exclusive rights to use and distribute their creations. This right applies to various types of creative works, including music, videos, images, and literary works. In simpler terms, it means that the creator has the right to control how their work is used, distributed, and monetized.

Unsurprisingly, YouTube serious about copyright infringement. The platform has 

 that match copyright policies in the U.S. (and presumably beyond), and it states very clearly that:

“Creators should only upload videos that they have made or that they’re authorized to use. Users should not upload videos that they didn’t make or use content in videos that someone else owns without necessary authorizations."

So, with that warning in mind, let's take a more detailed look at claims and strikes.

What Does Copyright Claim Mean on YouTube?

A copyright claim is a notification sent by YouTube's Content ID system. It occurs when a portion of a channel owner's video matches another copyrighted work. That creator can then decide whether to make a claim, depending on whether the video falls under 

, instead of submitting a copyright takedown notice. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

A YouTube copyright claim will not adversely affect your channel.

The rights holder can claim the revenue on your video if you have used their content.

The copyright holder can place ads on your video to generate that revenue.

The copyright holder can restrict your video in some countries or regions.

The copyright holder may also choose to take no action (but absolutely don’t rely on that!)

Copyright claims are a part of Copyright Law.

They only apply to the videos flagged and not the entire channel

A claim can be proven false depending upon if you really own the content that is being claimed by someone else.

How to Remove YouTube Copyright Claims From Your Videos

As a general rule, copyright claims on YouTube are made against video clips, audio, and other content that qualifies as owned media and hasn’t been available for publication. Claims are issued to creators if they don't own the TV or music clips, music, or other copyrighted media.

The rights owners have full control of their Content ID policy. Some creators and media publishers always opt to stop certain content from being uploaded to YouTube, like TV clips or music videos. Others allow their content to remain published on the uploader’s channel but only if some or all of the advertising revenue is funneled back to the copyright owners as compensation.

That all sounds a little confusing, so let’s break it down.

ContentID claims come with a monetization, tracking, or viewing restriction rule. For the latter, the video may only remain live in certain countries or regions at the rightsholder’s discretion. The owner can also decide to:

Block the entire video from being viewed on YouTube.

Monetize the video by placing ads against it - this might come with the option of a potential revenue share with the uploader.

The rights owner takes 100% of the revenue share from ads. The creator can still keep the video up but they won’t generate any revenue from that upload.

Track the video’s viewership stats which disables any monetization and lets the owner see how well your video is performing in case they choose to claim any revenue in the future.

YouTube itself has a handy guide for the options 

 Not everyone can access the Content ID feature. YouTube has very specific criteria for rights owners who want to track their content. Find out 

What to Do if There's a Copyright Claim on Your Video

In order to resolve and remove a copyright claim, the uploader will need to dispute it. Once the claim has been formally disputed by the uploader, the rights owner then has 

 to that appeal with the option of either:

Releasing the claim if they find evidence that the uploader does in fact have permission to use the material (as is often the case when a creator uses a music track licensed through a third party like 

Rejecting the dispute and upholding the claim because they believe they still have a strong and valid case

Receiving a copyright claim takedown request can lead to a copyright strike against a YouTube channel. Even if the ownership of the video is being disputed, it can still make money, which will be stored in a separate account until the disagreement is settled.

The rights owner has 30 days to respond to the dispute. They can choose to release their claim, take down the video, or set up a delayed takedown. The uploader then has 7 days to retract their appeal.

Here is Rob, YouTuber-in-residence at vidIQ, explaining how to deal with copyright claims:

A YouTube copyright strike, also known as a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) strike, is a warning issued by YouTube to a channel owner for violating the platform's copyright policy. It occurs when a creator notifies YouTube that their content has been used without their permission. The copyright owner can request that the video be removed, or they can choose to monetize it.

PSA: You do NOT want to attract any copyright strikes against your channel!

A copyright strike is issued when a rights owner requests the legal removal of a video on YouTube because the uploader didn’t have permission to use their images, audio, or video clips. As you can see from the image above (

), a strike differs significantly from a claim.

Copyright strikes are manual and are activated when a rights owner files a DMCA takedown request. The owner must supply YouTube with specific information regarding the takedown which includes:

The rightsholder’s contact information.

A thorough description of the material the owner wants to protect.

A sworn statement of good faith belief that the material (a video clip, a gif, an image, etc.) has been used without express permission.

After a DMCA takedown notice request is filed by the rights owner, YouTube has to remove the video in question from the uploader’s channel. That creator is notified, and they can either file a counter-notice or accept the takedown decision.

If the video is taken down following a manual claim, the creator’s channel will receive a copyright strike. Oh, and deleting the offending video will not resolve the strike. The first strike can have a negative impact on channel features like live streaming and monetization. However, creators have the opportunity to redeem themselves by completing YouTube's Copyright School within 90 days.

If you receive a second strike before the first one expires, your account will remain out of good standing for another 90 days. If you receive a third strike before the first two expire, your account will be terminated, and all uploaded videos will be removed. Additionally, you may face legal challenges and be required to pay legal fees and fines if you lose the case.

 is someone asserting that you have used their content, whether that be a video clip, an image, or a piece of audio. A 

 is much more serious for a YouTube creator, and your channel can be suspended for repeated copyright offenses.

The difference between copyright takedowns and Content ID claims

The legal issues all YouTube creators need to know about

The expert's guide to Fair Use & copyright on YouTube

How to get royalty-free music for your YouTube videos

YouTube logo and statue of a woman balancing scales

YouTubers, do you know the difference between a copyright claim and a copyright strike? If not, find out right now.

Copyright claims and the effect they have on your ability to monetize your content on YouTube is one of the most asked questions we receive at vidIQ. And I think the reason for that is because YouTube itself doesn’t provide a definitive answer.

Also, if you apply for the YouTube Partner Program and are rejected, YouTube doesn’t give you a thorough enough explanation as to why which also adds to the confusion, if in fact, you do have a strike or claim against one of your videos.

When a creator uses content without the permission of the owner of that content, the creator runs the risk of violating copyright laws.

Now, fair use aside (read more about that defence in the 

expert's guide to fair use & copyright on YouTube

), let's just say you are guilty of using another person's work. YouTube handles this in two different ways: copyright claims and copyright strikes.

When you receive a copyright claim, YouTube, as a third party, is basically saying that you the creator, can use the copyright owner’s content, but the owner of that copyrighted content has the right to place adverts on your video and earn income from it.

In this case, you the creator are not punished for uploading the content that doesn’t belong to you, but you won’t generate any revenue from that upload.

A copyright claim is a lot better than receiving a copyright strike. A strike means the owner of the I.P. you are using (whether that’s a video clip, an image, or audio) isn't playing ball at all. If the owner asserts their rights to their own content, your video will be removed from your channel and you will also receive a copyright strike.

Three copyright strikes and your channel will be terminated. And it might not end there either. In extreme cases, you could find yourself in legal hot water and have to defend yourself in court.

Copyright laws are complicated. To quickly get up to speed on the basics, take time to watch the video below. It’s old in YouTube years but is still one of the very best explanations we’ve seen on the subject:

There are a few more things to clarify. Your channel doesn’t have to be monetized in order to receive copyright claims and copyright strikes.

Even if you have zero subscribers, zero views and it's your very first video, if you have used copyrighted content belongs to another creator, you could get a claim or a strike.

Also, there is no guidebook or directory that's going to tell you whether or not you will get a copyright claim or a copyright strike. You need to use your common sense.

The YouTube copyright system isn't something that you can hack, and it's not a game to be played with. If your mindset is, I know the risks, I'm going to use somebody else’s content anyway because I just want to monetize some of mine, then you're probably going to run into problems.

Having said that, there are many creators who’ve probably use copyrighted content unintentionally and now they're worried about whether or not their entire channel is going to be affected when it comes to applying for monetization. So let's look at what YouTube does tell us about applying for the 

The first one being the review process. If you just needed 

1000 subscribers and 4000 hours of Watch Time

, all of this will be very simple. But to monetize your channel, you also need to comply with YouTube's community guidelines, Terms of Service, copyright guidelines, and Google's ad policies.

Now that's a lot of complicated stuff and requires human input which is why each channel that applies for the YouTube Partner Program must be assessed by a human reviewer, as the platform makes clear:

Not to give humankind a bad rap here but we're not perfect, were rarely consistent and we can't do absolutely everything all at once. Now, of course, a human is going to follow a set of guidelines and protocols from YouTube, and they look something like this:

It's not a complete list of everything that YouTube will review on your channel, but when it comes to the question of copyright affecting your application, ‘

’ are probably the two biggest red flags.

For example, let's say you've made 10 videos on your channel and just one of those videos has a copyright claim but that single video accounts for 60% of your Watch Time because it went viral, thanks to the copyright content within that video.

In that case, have you really reached 4000 hours of Watch Time within the spirit of the YouTube monetization program?

On the other hand, let's say a creator has hundreds of videos on their channel and four or five of them have copyright claims but those videos account for just 20 to 30 hours of the channels total Watch Time. The human reviewer at YouTube is probably going to recognize that as nothing to be too concerned about.

__And just to be clear, this is hypothetical, I'm not saying this as fact, I'm just putting myself in YouTube shoes. __

Now some may argue what's wrong with using copyrighted content on my channel. I'm not monetized, but it allows you to put adverts on my videos so that YouTube earns money from it. While in the short term that may be true and it will earn YouTube a few extra bucks, in the long term it degrades the credibility of the platform.

So if you have a copyright claim or a copyright strike on your channel, will you be rejected for monetization? No, but bear in mind copyright strikes are serious offenses.

If your channel has no copyright claims, and no copyright strikes, you'll automatically be accepted into the YouTube Partner Program. Again, no because you've also got to consider all of the other community guidelines you need to adhere to.

As always, when it comes to YouTube, it's never a black or white answer, but let's fast forward to the worst-case scenario. You know, you've got copyright claims on your channel, you apply for monetization and you're rejected. What happens next?

Well, there is a silver lining. You can reapply, but it gets awkward. If you use someone else's content enough to annoy YouTube, they will reject your application via email with the headline reason of either duplication or reuse content.

The frustrating problem from the creator’s point of view is that YouTube won't tell you specifically what's wrong with your channel. They will list a certain video that needs to be removed or tell you that you need to get rid of some copyright claimed videos. You have to work it out. And then 30 days after you were rejected, you can reapply.

If you want to more insights into YouTube then make sure to download vidIQ. Over 1 million creators use vidIQ to help with keyword and competitor research, channel audits, and so much more. 

And if you’re serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

. Learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

If you have a copyright claim or a copyright strike against any of your videos, will you still be able to apply for the YouTube Partner Program and monetize your content? Find out now.

Can I Still Monetize My YouTube Channel If I have a Copyright Claim?

YouTube copyright claims are discouraging but necessary. These alerts, which are extremely common, let you know when you’ve used someone else's content in your video. Before the consequences get serious, it’s good to know when you’ve overstepped your bounds as a creator.

The violations that trip up some creators are quite common. Content that includes video clips, images, or audio you haven’t produced yourself will likely spark a copyright claim. Fortunately, you can remove these alerts. All you have to do is substitute copyrighted content for original content you own.

, which means the copyright owner submitted a legal takedown request for the video. Collecting three strikes is serious. At that point, YouTube will terminate your channel and bar you from creating another one.

Copyright claims aren’t as devastating as strikes, but they do feel like a speed bump in the YouTube journey. That’s because...

You can lose monetization for your video.

YouTube may restrict viewing to certain countries. 

Want to reduce the number of copyright claims on your channel? YouTube just gave creators the best gift ever. It’s a feature that warns you, before publishing a video, that a copyright match was found.

How to Check a YouTube Video for Copyright Claims

Uploading a YouTube video requires several steps. Before your content goes live, you'll give it a title, thumbnail, description, keywords, and other elements to help people find and watch the video.

an extra step that happens automatically.

 YouTube will inspect your content to see if it contains copyrighted material. This happens when you reach the 

This is a game-changer. YouTube’s copyright checker tells you how long the process will take, and it reports copyright matches before you hit publish. At that point, you can choose the best course of action. That may be disputing the claim or taking steps to remove it.

On the same upload page, you can view the impact a copyright claim has on your channel. Click 

Here's what you may see after expanding the details

Restrict people from viewing the video in certain countries

Make the video ineligible for monetization

the copyright holder can monetize the video

 for their financial gain. Ads may appear on the video, but the revenue goes to the copyright holder – not us. That's the price of using someone else's content. Still, it’s better than receiving copyright strikes and nearly losing a channel that took years to grow.

Removing or Disputing a YouTube Copyright Claim

If you decide to move forward and upload the video, you can remove or dispute its copyright claim.

Two questions will appear: “Remove claimed content?” or “Do you have rights to this content?” Beneath the first question, you’ll see options for fixing the copyright claim. If your video contains copyrighted music, for example, you can 

Are you tired of getting YouTube copyright claims? With this simple guide, you can remove or even prevent them from appearing on your channel.

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