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

We all want to use the latest commercial music or a track from our favorite artist in our YouTube videos. But we also want to do it the right way, without fear of attracting any copyright strikes.

So how do you do that? Someone who knows everything there is to know about the music industry and YouTube is the Founder and CEO of Lickd, Paul Sampson. 

 is a chart-music licensing platform for video creators and Paul has spent over 15 years creating revenue with music licensing. In this episode of TubeTalk you will learn:


The differences between royalty-free vs copyright claims-free vs production music vs commercial music

How the YouTube copyright system actually works from a brand's point of view

Who gets the money if your video is claimed

Why you should NEVER use Royalty-free music from Soundcloud

How to legally use your favorite artist's track in your next video

 for the very latest news around copyright & music.

Want to Know More About Copyright Issues?

Can you take somebody else's music and use it in the background of your video as long as you credit them in the description? Do you really know your rights when it comes to your content and what you can and cannot do? 

Find out more about the wonderful world of copyright in 

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

is one of the most respected and listened to podcasts in the online video industry

. Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to TubeTalk on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode!

You can also find the complete list of all the 

 Hands up who wants to use a track from their favorite artist in their YouTube video but doesn't want a copyright strike? Find out how to use copyrighted music legally in this episode of TubeTalk.

How to Use Copyright Music on YouTube Completely Legally

Millions of creators on TikTok are used to lip-synching or dancing to any song they choose as background without any legal consequences (

). But using other people’s music in a YouTube video can have serious repercussions. Like getting your channel terminated serious.

YouTube recently confirmed again their policy around using cover songs in your video content with the very clear message that:

If you're singing to, or humming along to, or drumming over a copyrighted melody, then the uploader is wide open to receive a copyright takedown.

Cover Songs on YouTube: What Creators Need to Know

 team from YouTube released a video that breaks down the issues around using other people’s music, including Content ID and copyright claims around cover songs, remixes, and accidental or intentional use of licensed musical compositions. You can watch the video below but here are the main takeaways:

#1 You Can Get a Copyright Claim Just By Humming a Copyrighted Tune!

YouTube confirms that for every song or musical composition there are two sets of copyright: one belongs to the songwriter or the songwriting team behind the melody, the ones that wrote the music and created the lyrics.

The second copyright protection is for the artist and covers the recording and performance of that song. If you upload a video that features you, or anyone else, humming along to a copyrighted melody that you haven’t sought permission for you are infringing on that copyright and may receive a copyright takedown for doing so.

#2 Creating a Lyric Video Can Also Attract a Copyright Claim

Adding lyrics over a background image to a licensed song without permission is also a big no. They could be claimed by the music publisher, that’s the entity that usually owns the copyright to a composition. The publisher protects the songwriter and that includes the use of the music or lyrics on YouTube.

#3 How About Just Playing an Instrument Over a Song?

A recognisable version of a melody is usually referred to as a ‘Master Recording,’ and copyright covers that tangible asset. If, as a creator, you use clips from that master without seeking written permission, then you may attract a copyright takedown. This includes using snippets in a remix, or singing or playing an instrument over it.

#4 But I Played All the Instruments Myself!

Creators will often dispute a copyright takedown by arguing that they recreated the song by playing all the instruments themselves, or recorded a new voice track. But if the musical composition was used then the publisher or songwriter has a valid claim.

#5 What Cover Music Can be Claimed by the Rights Holder?

The copyright team at YouTube confirmed the following actions by a creator can leave them vulnerable to a copyright claim if the music and lyrics belong to a rights holder (i.e. not in the public domain):

Any use of the master recording in a remix/mash-up

#6 Fair Use and Parodies of Licensed Songs

Fair Use is a very complicated topic but a judge will use the following when considering any claims:

The amount and substantiality of the portion taken

The effect of the use upon the potential market

If a video creator uses a song or changes the lyrics in a way that either provides commentary or ridicules the original, there may be an argument for Fair Use. But Fair Use is not a guarantee and depends entirely on how the creator has interpreted the composition. So, parodies can absolutely be subject to claim.

If you are performing a copyrighted song on YouTube, and are in the partner program, the platform has the ability to share revenue between the publisher and the creator who uploaded the video. That’s known as a cover rev share, even though the new version may not necessarily be a straightforward cover. YouTube wanted to find a way to reward creators by allowing them a monetization option, as long as the rightsholder is in agreement.

If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level and 

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Join over 1 million other users and use vidIQ to help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps 

Thinking of using someone else’s music in your YouTube video? Here’s what you need to know to avoid a copyright strike.

The Truth About Using Cover Songs in Your YouTube Videos

, Fortnite is one of the most popular and most influential Battle Royale games in the world. Now, Epic Games has just released its 12.0 update which finally adds an option to mute potentially copyrighted audio clips.

In a Tweet, Epic confirmed that the update will allow gamers to mute licenced emote audio, a feature that will help solve the copyright strikes gamers have been experiencing as they stream or upload Fortnite to YouTube:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PC Players: In the 12.00 update, we&#39;ve added the ability to mute Licensed Emote Audio. This option is available in the game&#39;s Audio settings. <a href="https://t.co/UHGYAlXKgH">pic.twitter.com/UHGYAlXKgH</a></p>&mdash; Fortnite Status (@FortniteStatus) <a href="https://twitter.com/FortniteStatus/status/1230163848088428544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2020</a></blockquote>

Fortnite and Copyright Claims: Why Muting Audio is a Big Deal

The ability to mute certain audio clips will be a huge benefit to creators who upload Fortnite gameplay content to YouTube. There have been a number of gamers who have been hit 

 from music publishers for using licensed music from the game, albeit unintentionally.

YouTube’s ContentID system can easily identify any audio files protected by those publishers, triggering a claim against any creator who uses even a few seconds of the track in their content. Many gamers on YouTube have monetized their gameplay content, so to be hit with a copyright strike can be a devastating blow.

Did you know that while Epic Games has licensed any audio featured in the game itself, those licenses only cover the playing of that song or backing track within the game itself. It doesn’t extend to any streaming or uploads of the game on social video platforms like YouTube.

Gamers who publish video content about Fortnite that feature any audio leave themselves wide open to claims from the original rights holder, and that’s why so many videos have been flagged.

New Fortnite Rickroll Emote: Famous Meme Can be Silenced

In the ever-changing Fortnite eco-system, new features are constantly being introduced, and very recently, players were blessed with a brand new emote inspired by the legendary Rickrolling meme. The in-game character dances along to the Rick Astley banger “

” just like Rick himself, and is available from Fortnite for 500 V-Bucks (around $5).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I liked a video on YouTube: Watch How This Bear Made The Unlikeliest Of Friends <a href="https://t.co/iQDd9tB0e9">https://t.co/iQDd9tB0e9</a></p>&mdash; Fortnite (@FortniteGame) <a href="https://twitter.com/FortniteGame/status/1228468970208088064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2020</a></blockquote>

The new emote is one of the first to incorporate such a famous song, and Epic has ensured full licensing rights around its usage within the game. But that didn’t stop the first wave of gamers from getting hit with copyright claims from the start.

The good news is that Epic has released a patch to PC users which allows those gamers to mute the Astley track before publishing or streaming any gameplay content that features it online. The 12.00 patch allows creators to mute the emote, this avoiding potentially revenue-hitting copyright claims.

# How to Mute Copyrighted Music on Fortnite

With the new patch, players should click on the "Licensed Emote Audio" option within their settings, then either confirm the option to mute all copyrighted music, or just mute other players who are using it.

This new setting isn’t just aimed at silencing the new meme-inspired emote though. Epic confirmed that it will give players the ability to mute all licensed audio going forward.

Right now the patch is only available to PC users, but Epic has promised to (Rick) roll-out the feature to consoles soon.

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

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

Gamers who upload or stream Fortnite content to YouTube have been having issues with copyright claims over licensed music within the game. Now Epic has a solution that could tackle that tricky issue.

Posts tagged with “Music Copyright”

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Fortnite to Allow Gamers to Mute Emotes to Avoid Copyright Strikes

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Fortnite to Allow Gamers to Mute Emotes to Avoid Copyright Strikes

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Fortnite to Allow Gamers to Mute Emotes to Avoid Copyright Strikes

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