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On this page
- Understanding music licensing
- How to get permission to use copyrighted music
- What it costs to get permission to use a song
- How to check if a music track is copyrighted
- What happens if copyrighted content is uploaded on YouTube
- What happens if AI generated music is uploaded on YouTube
- How to dispute a copyright claim on YouTube
- Popular alternatives to using copyrighted music
The right audio can quickly enhance any video but not all background audio tracks are copyright-free and free to use on YouTube. Music licensing can be confusing for new YouTube creators, so it's good to learn the rules about adding background melodies, intro jingles, and sound effects to avoid getting videos mutes, deleted, or demonetized.
This guide breaks down the basics of music licensing and shares how creators can get permission to use songs on YouTube the right way. Learn how to use music tracks legally, as well as explore free alternatives like the audio library in the Clipchamp video editor.
Understanding music licensing
Music licensing is the legal process of obtaining permission from copyright owners to use their music in projects. At its core, music licensing ensures that creators and owners of musical works are fairly compensated for their use. Understanding the basics of music licensing can help creators avoid potential legal issues and copyright infringement claims.
Copyright ownership
Copyright laws protect music, and copyright owners hold exclusive rights to publicly use, reproduce, distribute, and perform music. Copyright ownership is typically divided between the songwriter (who owns the composition) and the recording artist or label (who owns the specific recording).
Master license
This license grants permission to use a specific recorded version of a song and is obtained from the recording's copyright holder, usually a music publisher or record label.
Synchronization (sync) license
This license is required for using a piece of music in sync with visual elements in a video. Creators need it from the copyright owner of the composition. YouTubers might need to obtain a sync license depending on how they plan to use the music.
How to get permission to use copyrighted music
Step 1. Find the copyright owner
To get permission to use a copyrighted song, creators need to find the artist or owner of the song and contact them. Most of the time creators contact musicians directly, but can contact their music publishers instead. We recommend contacting any of the following music licensing companies for the USA, Australia, and UK:
APRA AMCOS (Australian users).
PRS (United Kingdom users)
Step 2. Discuss a permission agreement
Once creators have found and contacted the owner of the audio track, they should negotiate a permission agreement. The non-copyright permission agreement should include the following:
Information about the creators and the YouTube channel
Media usage (TV or YouTube)
Song title
Duration of the song
How long the creators wants to play the music
Number of expected views
Purpose of the license (commercial or non-profit)
Step 3. Obtain a written permission agreement
To use a copyrighted song, creators should obtain a written authorization agreement via email before adding the music to their video. This will help avoid future disputes as well.
What it costs to get permission to use a song
Sometimes getting permission to use a song on YouTube requires payment. Music licensing costs can vary depending on the artist's level of fame, or whether they are a small independent musician. Costs typically start at USD $100.00 for smaller creators.
Some artists and publishing companies can also charge a percentage of the revenue from the YouTube video, along with the initial authorization cost. Depending on the agreement, this can sometimes be a solo form of permission payment. Creators should sure to read all the terms and conditions, avoid payment if unsure about the contract, and determine if the price of the music is worth it when purchasing music licensing.
If paying for copyright music isn't in the video editing budget, take a look at the royalty-free stock music library in Clipchamp video editor.
How to check if a music track is copyrighted
If the music doesn’t say it’s copyright-free, assume it is copyrighted. All royalty-free and copyright-free music will be marked as safe to use without copyright infringements. These two ways can help YouTubers find out if their music track is copyright-free:
Check the video description on YouTube: YouTube music downloads usually share the audio and artist’s details, which helps check if it is free to use or not in the description.
Upload the YouTube video as private or unlisted before sharing publicly: as a test, upload the video as a private or unlisted YouTube video on the channel. YouTube’s content ID will flag if there are copyright and licensing restrictions. If the audio is copyrighted, YouTube will send an on-screen alert.
What happens if copyrighted content is uploaded on YouTube
Using copyrighted content can result in actions taken against videos or YouTube channels. YouTube processed over one billion Content ID claims in 2024, with more than 99% of these claims initiated without human input. YouTube has paid over USD$12 billion to rights holders through Content ID since its launch. At large, creators can expect this process:
Content ID claims will block, mute, or demonetize clips
YouTube uses the Content ID system, an automated tool designed to scan uploaded videos against a database of files that copyright owners have uploaded. If the system detects a match, it alerts the copyright holder, who can then decide how to proceed. In addition to the Content ID system, YouTube employs a manual copyright strike system. Here copyright owners can file claims directly against videos that they believe infringe on their copyrights.
Fewer than 1% of the over one billion Content ID claims were disputed by recipients in 2024. Content creators can dispute Content ID claims if they believe the content is misidentified or if they have the necessary rights to use the copyrighted material.
Copyright strikes for clips
YouTube employs a manual copyright strike system where copyright owners can file claims directly against videos that they believe infringe on their copyrights. Channels that accrue multiple strikes can face severe penalties, including temporary restrictions on uploading new videos or permanent removal from YouTube. It can also monetize the video by adding ads, with the revenue going to the copyright owner rather than the video uploader.
What happens if AI generated music is uploaded on YouTube
YouTube allows content creators to publish and monetize videos as long as they follow monetization policies and guidelines on YouTube. Creators can use AI-generated music and create AI music videos, but they need to disclose any use of AI-generated music in YouTube videos, from background music to voice cloning.
YouTube encourages AI generation tools but requires that viewers be informed about how content may have been artificially generated if it seems realistic. Disclosing content as altered or synthetic will have no impact on video reach or earning capacity. However, if creators fail to disclose AI-generated content, YouTube may permanently apply the 'altered or synthetic' label.
The AI space is always evolving, and social media platforms are constantly developing policies and guidelines for the fair and responsible use of AI music generators. The fear is AI music could breach copyright laws by too closely emulating or resembling real artist’s work. The safest route to avoid losing any potential video revenue is to use human-created royalty-free music. However, AI video editing tools like lifelike voiceover generators can be confidently used to create YouTube videos.
How to dispute a copyright claim on YouTube
If you've received a copyright claim on YouTube but believe you have the right to use the music, follow these steps to dispute the claim:
Review the claim: understand why the claim was made and which rights holder made the claim.
Gather your evidence: collect any agreements, licenses, or permissions that prove you have the right to use the music.
File a dispute through YouTube: go to the copyright notices section of the YouTube account, find the claim in question, and select file a dispute.
Wait for a response: the rights holder has thirty days to respond to the dispute.
Popular alternatives to using copyrighted music
Free music in YouTube Audio Library
YouTube Audio Library has a wide range of royalty-free music and sound effects options ready for creators to use. Search royalty-free music in the YouTube search bar to find free soundtracks other creators have made. Just download the YouTube audio to your computer and add it to your video with an easy video editor like Clipchamp.
Royalty-free music in Clipchamp
The Clipchamp video editor has a library of free and premium stock music that creators can confidently use in YouTube videos for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Original sounds cover all YouTube needs, whether creators are looking for an upbeat hip-hop track for vlogs, lo-fi music for travel videos, or cinematic music for video ads.
Tracks are also hand curated into categories for intro and outro videos, gaming, and vlogs. Explore an endless library of stock audio in Clipchamp video editor.
YouTubers can layer multiple sound effects and music to videos, easily trim unwanted media, edit the volume of music, and add a fade in and fade out to make video audio more polished and professional.
Use Creative Commons-licensed music
Creative Commons licenses (such as CC BY and CC 0) allow creators to use music freely under specific terms. CC 0 music is completely free to use without attribution, while CC BY requires crediting the original creator. Music is free to use under license terms, often requiring attribution to the original artist. Creators can find Creative Commons-licensed music on platforms like ccMixter and Free Music Archive as reliable sources for legal, free music.
YouTube Creator Music (US only)
YouTube has a music licensing service called Creator Music that allows creators to find and use original and copyrighted music for monetized YouTube content. YouTube Partner Program creators can license music from artists in two different ways: buy a license or share video revenue with the music rightsholder.
Other royalty-free music platforms
Check out SoundCloud or Premium Beat for remixed tunes if looking for a particular music track. These remixes are usually royalty-free and free to download.
Use trending TikTok sounds on YouTube
If YouTube videos receive a copyright strike no matter what you try, consider uploading the video to TikTok instead. The intuitive app fully licenses TikTok’s audio files, so creators won’t get a copyright strike if they use a trending sound. Check out the latest TikTok trends here.
For more audio editing tips, discover how to download MP3 audio only to streamline your content creation workflow.
Whether you're creating travel highlights, gaming videos, tutorials or vlogs, entertain viewers with royalty-free background music and sound effects from the Clipchamp video editor or the Microsoft Clipchamp Windows app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use copyrighted music if I don’t monetize my video?
Monetization status does not affect copyright laws. Whether a video is monetized or not, using copyrighted music without permission can lead to copyright infringement. Copyright laws are designed to protect the intellectual property rights of creators regardless of the user's intent to earn money from their content.
Can I use a song if I credit the artist in my video description?
Merely crediting the artist does not grant the legal right to use their music. Copyright law requires obtaining permission or a proper license to use the music, regardless of whether credit is given.
What is the difference between copyright-free and royalty-free music?
Copyright-free music refers to music that is in the public domain, meaning its copyright has expired or it was released without copyright intentions. Anyone can use it without permission. Royalty-free music involves music that, once licensed, can be used without paying ongoing royalties. However, an initial fee or license purchase might be required.
What is Fair Use, and can I claim it for using copyrighted music on YouTube?
Fair Use is a legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without needing permission from rights holders. However, claiming fair use for copyrighted music on YouTube is complex and often subjective, involving factors like the purpose of use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount used, and its effect on market value. It's advisable to seek legal counsel when claiming fair use, as misinterpretation can lead to copyright infringement claims.
