What is the best free music site for YouTube videos?

Whether you’re looking for royalty-free background music or copyright-safe tracks for monetized, sponsored, or branded content on your YouTube channel, several platforms claim to offer the perfect solution: from YouTube’s own Audio Library to popular creator music services like Thematic. So which free YouTube music site offers the best mix of high-quality tracks, safe licensing, and creator-friendly tools?

The YouTube Audio Library is YouTube’s built-in library of free royalty-free music and sound effects, available to all creators through YouTube Studio. It allows creators to download and use music in their videos without worrying about copyright claims. But how does it compare to modern creator-first music platforms like Thematic, which offer curated, artist-driven tracks and community features?

You’ll learn:

✅ What each platform offers
✅ How licensing and usage works
✅ Where you can use the music (YouTube, social media, commercial videos)
✅ Key differences in song selection, user experience, and copyright safety

In this guide, we’ll compare YouTube Audio Library and Thematic side-by-side to help you find the best free YouTube music site for your videos.

Table of Contents

• What is YouTube Audio Library and how does it work?
• What is Thematic and how does it help YouTube creators?
• YouTube Audio Library vs Thematic: Feature-by-Feature Comparison
  • Music Library & Song Selection
  • Music Curation for YouTube Creators
  • Playlists & Saving Songs
  • Song Filters
  • Will I get copyright claims using YouTube Audio Library or Thematic?
  • Can I use this music in sponsored or brand videos?
  • Cost
  • Which platform offers a better user experience?
  • Creator Community
  • Which platform has better free sound effects?
• 🏆 Final Verdict: Which free YouTube music site is best for creators?
• FAQs About Free Music for YouTube Videos

What is YouTube Audio Library and how does it work?

The YouTube Audio Library is a free collection of royalty-free music and sound effects available to all YouTube creators through YouTube Studio. It’s a tool provided by YouTube to help creators safely soundtrack their videos without worrying about copyright claims.

You can access the YouTube Audio Library directly at youtube.com/audiolibrary, or by navigating to the Audio Library tab in the left-side menu of your YouTube Studio dashboard.

Inside the library, you can:

• Browse by genre, mood, instrument, duration, and attribution type
• Download MP3 files to use in your video projects
• Save favorite tracks to a personal collection for quick access

Some tracks are marked Creative Commons, which require artist attribution in your video description. YouTube may also automatically display a “Music in this video” section in your video description when you use the music.

✅ If you’re part of the YouTube Partner Program, you can monetize videos that use music from the library (as long as you follow the YouTube Terms of Service).

🔑 Key features of YouTube Audio Library:

• 🎵 Free music & sound effects for all YouTube creators
• 🎧 No subscription or fees required
• 🔍 Search by genre, mood, and duration
• ✍️ Attribution details shown per track
• 💰 Monetization-friendly for YPP creators
• 🧾 Usage must comply with YouTube TOS & licensing terms

⚠️ Important: The YouTube Audio Library is not the same as YouTube Creator Music, which offers licensed commercial music for purchase or revenue sharing. You can read more about how Creator Music compares to Audio Library and Thematic in our full guide.

What is Thematic and how does it help YouTube creators?

Thematic is a free, community-driven music licensing platform designed specifically for content creators on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more. It offers a large catalog of trending, copyright-safe songs from independent artists that creators can use without fear of copyright claims or takedowns.

You can get started with Thematic for free at app.hellothematic.com – just sign up with your Google account or email. Once logged in, you can browse curated playlists, search by genre or mood, and download tracks in MP3 or high-quality WAV formats.

Every song on Thematic requires artist credit in your video description. Thematic provides the exact credit text to copy and paste, ensuring full copyright compliance and protecting creators from disputes.

✅ If you are part of the YouTube Partner Program, you can safely monetize your videos using music from Thematic. The platform also supports licensing for commercial and sponsored content across multiple social media platforms.

Thematic’s mission is to empower creators with fair access to high-quality music, fostering a safe and collaborative community that benefits both creators and musicians.

🔑 Key features of Thematic:

• 🎶 Free access to trending, copyright-safe music
• 🔎 Curated playlists by theme, genre, and mood
• 💽 Downloads available in MP3 and high-quality WAV
• ✍️ Required artist credit provided with each track
• 💰 Monetization-friendly for YouTube Partner Program creators
• 📱 Licensed for use on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and more
• 🤝 Community-driven platform supporting artists and creators
• 📄 Usage governed by Thematic’s clear Creator Agreement

YouTube Audio Library vs Thematic: Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Compare YouTube Audio Library and Thematic across key features like music selection, licensing safety, user experience, and community support. Find out which platform is the best free music site for YouTube videos based on your creator needs.

Free Music Library & Selection

YouTube Audio Library offers royalty-free production music primarily designed as background tracks. Many songs are generic or production music, with occasional contributions from known artists. YouTube updates this library twice a month.

Thematic provides a high-quality, royalty-free music catalog featuring trending independent artists like ODESZA, Fiji Blue, and Nicky Youre. Thematic adds fresh releases weekly, supporting artists by helping them get discovered.

🏆 Winner: Thematic – for superior music quality and trending artist selection.

Music Curation for YouTube Creators

YouTube Audio Library delivers the same music experience to all creators with no personalized curation or playlists.

Thematic personalizes music recommendations based on each creator’s video keywords and preferences. Creators receive weekly curated playlists called Weekly Matches, tailored to their aesthetic and video themes.

🏆 Winner: Thematic – for personalized, creator-specific music curation.

Playlists & Saving Songs

When it comes to organizing your favorite tracks for easy access, both YouTube Audio Library and Thematic offer useful (but very different) tools for creators.

YouTube Audio Library provides a simple “star” feature that lets creators mark songs as favorites. These starred songs are collected in a basic list for quick retrieval. While functional, this system is limited to saving tracks individually and does not support playlist creation or sharing options. It’s a straightforward way to keep track of useful background music but lacks the flexibility to organize songs by project, mood, or theme.

Thematic, on the other hand, offers creators much more powerful playlist management features. Creators can build fully customizable playlists, organizing songs by video projects, content themes, or personal preference. These playlists are not just private collections; they can be shared with collaborators, featured publicly, or embedded into video production workflows. This flexibility helps creators maintain a streamlined music library, save time during editing, and collaborate more effectively. Playlists on Thematic can also be continuously updated as new songs are added to the platform, keeping creators’ soundtracks fresh and relevant.

🏆 Winner: Thematic – for its flexible, user-friendly playlist creation, organization, and sharing capabilities that empower creators to efficiently manage music for multiple videos and projects.

Song Filters

YouTube Audio Library offers 5 filters: Artist Name, Song Name, Genre, Mood, and Duration.

Thematic provides 10+ advanced filters including Subgenre, Vibe, Video Keywords, Energy, BPM, Vocal Type, Instrumental Only, Language, Artist Location, Song Key, and more. Creators can combine unlimited filters for precise song discovery.

🏆 Winner: Thematic – for detailed and customizable song filtering.

Claims & Copyright Free Experience

Both YouTube Audio Library and Thematic offer fully licensed, royalty-free music that protects creators from copyright strikes and Content ID claims on YouTube and other social platforms. However, creators must ensure they adhere to the attribution requirements and platform-specific licensing terms to maintain a claim-free experience.

Whether using YouTube Audio Library’s royalty-free tracks or Thematic’s artist-licensed music, creators can confidently monetize their videos without copyright disputes. That makes both platforms reliable sources for safe, copyright-cleared music.

🤝 Winner: Tie – both platforms deliver trusted, copyright-safe music with clear licensing for creators.

Commercial Use in Sponsored or Brand Videos

When producing branded content, sponsored videos, or other commercial projects, creators need music with clear permissions for monetization and promotional use. Both YouTube Audio Library and Thematic offer music libraries that explicitly allow use in commercial, sponsored, and branded videos without additional licensing fees.

This makes both platforms excellent choices for YouTubers, influencers, and marketers seeking royalty-free music licensed for commercial purposes, ensuring full compliance with platform policies and advertiser requirements.

🤝 Winner: Tie – both support music licensing for commercial and branded video use.

Cost

Both YouTube Audio Library and Thematic provide free access to high-quality, royalty-free music for creators of all sizes. Creators can download and use music for YouTube videos and other content projects without paying licensing fees or subscriptions.

Additionally, Thematic offers an optional Premium subscription plan that unlocks advanced tools, exclusive music tracks, and enhanced features, while still allowing all creators unlimited access to their free music catalog.

🤝 Winner: Tie – both platforms deliver robust, free music libraries suitable for all creators, with Thematic offering optional paid upgrades.

Aesthetic User Experience

The YouTube Audio Library features a straightforward, text-based interface focused on function over form, providing an easy but minimalistic user experience.

In contrast, Thematic offers a visually rich, immersive platform that showcases song artwork, artist profiles, and video playlists, creating an inspiring environment for creators. This engaging UI helps creators discover music more intuitively and fosters creativity by highlighting artist stories and trending content.

🏆 Winner: Thematic – for a visually inspiring, user-friendly experience that fuels creative discovery.

YouTube Creator Community

While many creators use the YouTube Audio Library for free music, it does not offer a dedicated community or social features. Creators typically use the library as a standalone resource, with no built-in way to connect with other creators or music artists through the platform.

In contrast, Thematic has cultivated a thriving and engaged creator community designed to support collaboration, inspiration, and growth. Thematic’s platform enables creators to follow and connect with independent music artists and fellow content creators, making it easy to discover trending songs and creative trends within the community.

Creators on Thematic can explore curated creator playlists, watch featured creator videos, and get inspired by the latest music and content styles from other users. This social aspect helps creators find new music that fits their brand and connect with artists whose work they admire.

Thematic also offers an exclusive invite-only Discord server where creators and artists engage in real-time discussions, share tips, network, and support one another. This direct access to a vibrant creator ecosystem fosters meaningful relationships and opens doors for collaborations.

Additionally, creators and artists on Thematic have public profiles showcasing their popular songs, playlists, social media links, and creator achievements. This transparency helps build audience trust and promotes cross-platform growth for everyone involved.

By combining music discovery, social networking, and community support, Thematic provides a comprehensive ecosystem that empowers creators to grow their channels, stay inspired, and connect with others passionate about content creation.

🏆 Winner: Thematic – for a thriving, supportive creator and music artist community that enhances music discovery and creator collaboration.

Sound Effects

YouTube Audio Library offers a large and diverse collection of free sound effects (SFX) that creators can easily search, filter, and download directly within the platform. This extensive library covers a wide range of categories, including nature sounds, ambiance, Foley effects, and more, making it a valuable resource for YouTubers and video creators looking to add professional-quality audio enhancements to their videos without any cost.

Thematic also offers a rich selection of individual sound effects available directly on their platform. Creators can search and download these SFX to add specific audio elements to their projects. Beyond individual effects, Thematic features curated sound effect packs, which are thoughtfully grouped collections designed around particular video themes or moods. These packs provide creators with ready-to-use, cohesive sound effects collections that complement Thematic’s music library and help streamline the editing process.

🏆 Winner: YouTube Audio Library – for its larger free sound effects library accessible to all creators, while Thematic adds value with high-quality individual SFX and curated packs that enhance creative storytelling.

🏆 The Clear Winner: Thematic – The Best Free Music Website for YouTube Creators

For content creators seeking copyright-safe, trending music for YouTube videos, Thematic delivers unmatched personalized curation, an active creator community, and advanced discovery tools.

Ready to elevate your YouTube videos with fresh, copyright-safe music and join a vibrant community of creators?

👉 Sign-up for a free Thematic account today and start creating with confidence. We’re excited to see what you create.

Frequently Asked Questions About Free Music for YouTube Videos

Got questions about using free music on YouTube? Here are answers to the most common queries creators have about the YouTube Audio Library, Thematic, and royalty-free music licensing for YouTube videos.

What makes Thematic better than YouTube Audio Library for YouTube creators?

Thematic is a creator-first music platform offering trending songs from independent artists with personalized playlists and advanced search filters. Unlike YouTube Audio Library’s generic production music, Thematic provides high-quality, artist-licensed tracks with guaranteed copyright safety and a supportive creator community.

Can I use music from YouTube Audio Library and Thematic in monetized videos?

Yes. Both YouTube Audio Library and Thematic allow creators who are part of the YouTube Partner Program to monetize their videos using music from these platforms, provided they comply with each platform’s licensing and attribution rules.

Can I use YouTube Audio Library and Thematic music safely in sponsored or branded YouTube videos?

Yes. Both platforms offer music that is cleared for commercial use, meaning you can legally use tracks in branded, sponsored, and commercial videos without additional licensing fees or copyright issues.

Is it free to use music from YouTube Audio Library and Thematic?

Both platforms provide free access to royalty-free music for creators of all sizes. YouTube Audio Library is completely free, while Thematic also offers an optional Premium subscription for access to exclusive tools and tracks but keeps its core music library free.

How do I properly credit artists when using free music from YouTube Audio Library or Thematic?

For YouTube Audio Library tracks marked with Creative Commons, you must include artist attribution as specified in the track’s details, usually in your video description. Thematic provides exact artist credit text with each song, making it easy to comply with licensing requirements and avoid copyright claims.

What types of sound effects are available on YouTube Audio Library and Thematic?

YouTube Audio Library offers a large, free collection of sound effects ranging from ambient sounds to Foley effects, which creators can download directly. Thematic offers individual sound effects and curated sound effect packs tailored to video themes, available for download or purchase.

How can I discover the best music for my YouTube videos on these platforms?

YouTube Audio Library offers basic filters by genre, mood, and duration, while Thematic provides advanced, customizable filters including BPM, vibe, video keywords, and vocal types. Thematic also delivers personalized weekly playlists to match your content style and preferences.

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

“A copyright claim has been made on your video.”
“Your video has been blocked due to copyrighted content.”

Or perhaps you’ve even received a copyright email notice from YouTube like this:

These copyright claim notifications are triggered by the YouTube copyright detection system (sometimes referred to as YouTube’s Content ID) and they can affect video monetization and availability, or even affect your entire channel.

This YouTube Copyright guide will explain exactly how YouTube copyright claims work, why they happen, and how to avoid them. Whether you’re trying to:

• Understand the difference between a claim and a strike
• Use music in your YouTube videos without getting flagged
• Protect your content from being copied

… this article will help you stay compliant and creative ✅

So if you’re asking “Can I use copyrighted music on YouTube?” or “What is a copyright claim?”, you’re in the right place. Use our table of contents below to easily jump to a specific topic.

⚠️ Keep in mind: This article is not legal advice. If you have specific copyright questions, consult a legal professional.

Table of Contents:

1. Why does YouTube care about copyright?
   • Why copyright matters
2. What happens if you get copyrighted on YouTube?
   • YouTube Copyright Claims vs Copyright Strikes
   • What happens after 1, 2, or 3 strikes
3. How does YouTube detect copyrighted content?
   • What is Content ID?
   • Can private or unlisted videos get claimed?
4. Are there any exceptions to YouTube copyright rules?
   • Common YouTube Copyright Myths
     • Can I use a few seconds of a song on YouTube?
     • I gave credit in the description or said “no copyright intended”
     • If I buy the music on iTunes, can I use it for my YouTube video?
     • Can I use copyrighted music if I am not monetizing my video?
   • When Copyright Doesn’t Apply
     • You have a license or upload permission
     • Your video qualifies as Fair Use
5. How to use music in YouTube videos without getting a claim
   • Use licensed music from Thematic
   • Why stock, production, and royalty-free music isn’t always safe
   • Why creators prefer Thematic (and how to start using for free)

Why does YouTube care about Copyright?

YouTube protects copyrighted content to keep the platform safe, fair, and legally compliant. Creators are only allowed to upload videos they own or are fully licensed to use – this includes music, video clips, images, and other assets.

When you include copyrighted material in your video that you don’t have permission to use, your video will be at risk of receiving a YouTube copyright claim from the copyright holders.

If you upload content that contains copyrighted material without permission, the original copyright owner can issue a copyright claim or even a copyright strike or takedown through YouTube copyright systems.

⚠️ Keep in mind: Writing “no copyright infringement intended” or giving credit in your description does not protect you from a claim. You still need proper rights or licensing.

Why it matters:
Think about this from a creator’s perspective. If someone uploaded your original YouTube video or music without asking, you’d want control over how it’s used. That’s what copyright enforcement on YouTube allows: the ability to block, monetize, or track unauthorized use of your work.

So don’t think of YouTube copyright claims as something that is super scary. Consider it a way for someone to protect their original content on the internet.

✅ Pro Tip: These types of content are all protected by copyright:

• TV shows, films, and YouTube videos
• Songs, sound recordings, and compositions
• Books, lectures, and scripts
• Paintings, posters, and digital designs
• Video games and software
• Stage plays and musicals

💡 Did you know?
YouTube Shorts videos can also get copyright claims. If you use music not included in YouTube’s Sounds library (or music you don’t have a license for), your Short may be flagged for copyright. To avoid this, always use licensed or cleared audio – either through YouTube’s Audio library or a licensed music provider like Thematic.

What Happens If You Get Copyrighted on YouTube?

If you use copyrighted material without permission, you risk a YouTube copyright claim or a copyright strike – two very different consequences on YouTube.

• A claim may result in the copyright owner monetizing your video or limiting it’s availability.
• A strike is a legal takedown request that removes your video and can suspend your channel.

🔹 YouTube Copyright Claims

A YouTube copyright claim means the copyright owner has detected their content in your video. They can choose to:

• Monetize the video (and take your ad revenue)
• Track the video’s views
• Block the video (globally or by region)

The copyright owner can change their policy at any time. This means your YouTube video might be monetized one day and blocked the next.

📌 Claims do not penalize your channel, but they can hurt video performance and visibility.

🔺 YouTube Copyright Strikes

A YouTube copyright strike is different than a copyright claim. A strike is a formal legal takedown request from a copyright owner. It results in:

• Your video being removed from YouTube
• A strike against your channel

After 1 strike:

• You must complete YouTube Copyright School
• You may lose monetization or live streaming privileges for 7 days

After 3 strikes:

• Your entire channel is terminated
• All videos are removed
• You can’t create new channels

❌ Deleting the video won’t remove the strike. Strikes expire after 90 days if no additional violations occur.

✅ Pro Tip:
The only way to avoid copyright strikes is to not use copyrighted content without permission. Always license your music and visuals, or use copyright-safe content libraries.

💡 Did you know?
YouTube doesn’t issue claims, copyright owners do. YouTube uses automated tools (like Content ID) to identify copyrighted material, but it’s up to the copyright holder to decide whether to block, monetize, or allow the video.

How Does YouTube Detect Copyrighted Content?

YouTube uses a tool called Content ID to automatically detect copyrighted material in videos – even if they’re set to private or unlisted.

🔎 Content ID is YouTube’s automated copyright detection system. It continuously scans uploaded videos and compares them against a massive database of music, videos, and other copyrighted assets provided by copyright owners.

If a match is found, YouTube places a copyright claim on the video.

The copyright owner can then choose to:

• Monetize the video (and keep the ad revenue)
• Track the video’s performance
• Block the video in specific countries or globally

You’ll be notified in your YouTube Studio dashboard and possibly by email (if notifications are enabled) if your video receives a YouTube copyright claim.

📌 Important Notes About Content ID

• It scans all YouTube videos, whether public, private, or unlisted
• It can detect altered content – like music that’s been slowed down, sped up, pitch-shifted, or videos that have been flipped or cropped
• A copyright claim can appear immediately during a video upload or sometimes days/weeks after the video is published
• Even if your video is private or not monetized, it can still receive a copyright claim.

📝 What About Manual Copyright Claims?

If a video isn’t detected by YouTube’s Content ID system, copyright owners can still apply a manual copyright claim it if they recognize their copyrighted works in the video.

Copyright owners have two options for making manual copyright claims on YouTube videos:

• A manual claim which results in a copyright claim on the video (where their preferred policy is applied)
• A manual takedown notice via YouTube’s legal webform which results in a copyright strike for the video uploader and the video being removed from YouTube entirely

These manual tools can be used even if the content isn’t registered in Content ID for automatic scanning.

💡 Did you know?
YouTube does not place copyright claims itself. All copyright claims (automated or manual) are made directly by copyright owners using YouTube’s content identification tools.

Are There Any Exceptions to YouTube Copyright Rules?

Yes, there are a few exceptions to YouTube’s copyright rules, but they’re limited and often misunderstood.

To legally use copyrighted content in a YouTube video, you either need:

• Permission or a license from the copyright owner, or
• A valid Fair Use claim (which applies in specific jurisdictions, such as the U.S.)

Without one of these, YouTube’s copyright rules still apply in full.

Common YouTube Copyright Myths

There’s a lot of misinformation about what you can and can’t do with copyrighted content on YouTube. Let’s clear up some of the most common myths before we dive into the actual exceptions. 👇

❌ Myth: I only used a few seconds of a song

Reality: YouTube can detect and flag even 1–2 seconds of copyrighted audio or video. There’s no minimum length that’s “safe to use.” You need permission, regardless of clip duration.

So the next time you ask yourself “can I use 5 seconds of a song on youtube?” you’ll know the answer is no.

❌ Myth: I gave credit in the description or wrote “no copyright intended”

Reality: Giving credit or disclaimers does not equal permission to use the content. Text like “no copyright intended” added to your video description doesn’t override copyright law and can still result in a copyright claim.

❌ Myth: I bought the song on iTunes, so I can use it

Reality: Buying a song gives you personal listening rights – not music licensing rights. You still need a separate sync license to use that song in a video legally.

❌ Myth: I’m not monetizing the video, so I can use copyrighted content

Reality: Copyright rules still apply, even if you are not monetizing the video. All YouTube videos (monetized or non-monetized, long-form videos or YouTube Shorts) can be claimed, blocked, or taken down if they use unlicensed material.

✅ When Copyright Won’t Apply to Your YouTube Video

Let’s explore some of the few exceptions in which YouTube’s copyright rules won’t apply to a YouTube video.

1. You Have a License or Permission

If you’ve obtained proper permission or a license from the copyright owner (such as music licensed through Thematic), your video should not receive a copyright claim.

Having full rights to use the copyrighted material means the content is authorized for use, and claims should not be issued on your video.

2. Your Use Qualifies as Fair Use (U.S. Law)

Fair Use is a U.S. legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted content without permission in specific cases like:

• Commentary or criticism
• Education or news reporting
• Parody or transformative use

In the United States, it is up to a judge to decide what is Fair Use. Courts consider four factors to decide if something is Fair Use:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes
2. The nature of the copyrighted work
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work

⚠️ Fair Use is not automatic. It depends on context and must be legally defended if challenged.

💡 Did you know?
Even if your video is unmonetized or educational, it doesn’t automatically qualify as Fair Use. Unless you’re teaching about the copyrighted material, transforming it, or adding new meaning, it’s likely not protected under Fair Use.

✅ Pro Tip:
Fair Use rules vary by country. In Canada, the U.K., and other regions, it’s known as Fair Dealing and has different standards that US Fair Use policy. Always check local copyright law or consult with a legal expert to see if your content complies with YouTube Fair Use policy.

How to Use Music in YouTube Videos Without Getting a Claim

👍 To avoid music copyright claims on YouTube, you need to either: own the music completely or have a license from the copyright owner that allows use in video content.

The best way to add music to your YouTube videos without risking copyright claims is by using platforms like Thematic, which provide pre-cleared music licenses for creators.

✅ Use Licensed Music from Thematic

Thematic gives you access to copyright-safe music from real artists, cleared for use in YouTube videos and YouTube Shorts and across social media.

Every song on Thematic includes a clear and creator-friendly global license. Just add the provided credit in your description, and you’re covered – no takedowns, no claims, no monetization loss ✌️

🚫 Why Stock Music Falls Short

Most “royalty-free” or stock music sites offer tracks that are:

• Overused across hundreds of videos
• Generic and uninspiring
• Still vulnerable to Content ID claims if the licensing terms aren’t clear

Even YouTube’s Audio Library, while safe, can be limiting in style, genre, or creative tone. That’s why so many creators end up frustrated when trying to find music that fits their vibe when using production or stock music libraries.

⚠️ Keep in mind: Many creators search for royalty-free music for YouTube, but not all royalty-free music is actually cleared for video use. Be sure to check the license terms before uploading.

🎶 Why Creators Choose Thematic

Thematic changes that. You get:

💰 Full ad revenue ownership – no monetization split with rights holders

🎧 Fresh, trending songs from emerging and established artists

✅ Clear, global licenses that protect you from claims

🧠 No guesswork – just follow the credit instructions, and you’re covered

You get trending music, total peace of mind, and keep 100% of your ad revenue.

👉 Real Example: YouTuber and Thematic creator It’s Nya shares how she avoids copyright claims in her “Avoid Copyright Claims! Where to find Copyright/Royalty Free Music” video:

🆓 Get Free Music for Videos Today

Creating a Thematic account is free and it only takes a minute.

💡 Did you know?
Top creators like Hailey Sani trust Thematic:

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

This post on How YouTube Copyright Works – A Guide to Claims & Disputes is brought to you by Thematic Co-Founder & COO Audrey Marshall

With a background in entertainment PR (via Chapman University), Audrey has led digital strategy for music artists, content creators, and brands. From brand campaigns for Macy’s, American Cancer Society, and the L’Oréal luxe family of brands, to music-driven influencer marketing campaigns for Interscope Records, Warner Music, AWAL, and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas (featuring creators such as Lexy Panterra, Blogilates, Mandy Jiroux, Matt Steffanina, and Seán Garnier), she is an expert in navigating the influencer marketing space. Audrey has also developed and managed some of the leading beauty, lifestyle, and dance channels on YouTube.

Certified across the board with YouTube, Audrey has a specific focus on digital rights management for music assets, running multiple SRAV-enabled CMS. She is passionate about working with other builders in the space for a more transparent digital rights ecosystem.

At Thematic, Audrey leads the product team and oversees operations. She has driven partnerships with leading talent and music companies, including Songtrust, Kobalt/AWAL, Select Management, BBTV, ipsy, and Black Box, and has helped the platform grow to a thriving community of 1M+ content creators who have posted 1.6M+ videos using the platform, driving 60B+ music streams and $120M+ in earned media value for independent music artists.

Dealing with a copyright claim on YouTube can be confusing for creators. This comprehensive, step-by-step guide breaks down what a YouTube copyright claim is, how it impacts your YouTube channel and video monetization, and the proven strategies to remove a claim and prevent future copyright flags ✅

Use our Table of Contents to jump directly to the section you want to explore:

1. Understanding YouTube Copyright Claims
   • What is a YouTube copyright claim?
   • What happens when your video gets a copyright claim?
   • YouTube Copyright Claim vs. Copyright Strike: What’s the Difference?
   • What are music copyright claims on YouTube?
2. How YouTube Copyright Claims Impact Your Channel & Videos
   • Should you worry about a copyright claim on YouTube?
   • Do copyright claims affect your YouTube channel status?
   • Do copyright claims affect video monetization?
   • Do copyright claims affect YouTube video views?
   • Do copyright claims affect YouTube watch time?
3. How to Fix a YouTube Copyright Claim
   • Disputing a claim with a license or permission
   • Dealing with false YouTube copyright claims
   • When your content qualifies as Fair Use
   • How to replace, erase, or mute claimed audio
   • Step-by-step: How to dispute a copyright claim on YouTube
4. How to Avoid YouTube Copyright Claims
   • Does giving credit prevent copyright claims?
   • What is a sync license and why YouTube creators need one
   • Where to find copyright-safe music for YouTube videos

Understanding YouTube Copyright Claims

Receiving a YouTube copyright claim can be confusing for creators. This section explains the fundamentals: what a copyright claim is, how it impacts your content, and its crucial differences from a YouTube copyright strike. Equip yourself with the essential knowledge to confidently manage any copyright issues on your channel 💪

What is a YouTube Copyright Claim?

A YouTube copyright claim occurs when your video contains copyrighted content (such as music, video clips, or audio) owned by someone else.

At its core, YouTube’s copyright system is designed to protect the rights and value of copyrighted works, allowing owners to manage their content effectively across the platform.

So how do copyright claims work on YouTube? YouTube’s automated system, Content ID, scans every uploaded video against a vast database of copyrighted works.

When Content ID identifies a match, it automatically issues a copyright claim and notifies the copyright owner. The owner then decides the action: they can monetize your video with ads (receiving the revenue), track its performance, or block the video from being viewed.

Receiving a copyright claim on YouTube is not a penalty, but understanding why a claim happened is key to managing it ✔️

💭 Consider this: if you took time to create a video or song, wouldn’t you want the option to control how and where other people can use it?

What Happens When Your YouTube Video Gets a Copyright Claim?

When your YouTube video receives a copyright claim, you’ll typically get an email notification from YouTube just like the one below:

[YouTube] A copyright claim was created for content in “Your Video Title”

In your YouTube Studio dashboard, the copyrighted video will show a “Copyright” status (or “Copyright +1” for multiple claims). Clicking this status reveals details about the claim: who made it, what copyrighted work was detected, and its specific timestamp in your video.

Remember, a copyright claim simply means that YouTube’s Content ID system has identified third-party copyrighted material in your content.

The copyright owner then determines the action (not YouTube). While most claims do not result in channel penalties or strikes, they can impact your video’s visibility and monetization.

📋 Actions a Copyright Owner Can Take:

• Monetize your video: Ads run on your video, and the copyright owner receives all revenue. This is the most common outcome.
• Track your video’s performance: The video remains viewable, but the copyright owner monitors its analytics.
• Block your video: Your video may be blocked entirely or in specific countries/regions.
• Mute the audio: The copyrighted audio segment is removed or muted from your video.

If your video is claimed for monetization, you, the uploader, cannot monetize that specific video. Your channel’s good standing on YouTube remains unaffected, but revenue from that video is redirected to the copyright holder.

In rare, severe cases, a copyright owner might issue a formal takedown notice, leading to a copyright strike and the video’s removal. We’ll discuss copyright strikes in detail in the next section.

⚠️ Immediate Implications of a YouTube Copyright Claim for Your Video:

• Loss of Monetization: You will likely lose the ability to monetize that specific video.
• Limited Resolution Options: To remove the claim, you must:
  • Dispute it (with proof of a license or permission)
  • Replace or mute the claimed content (for audio claims)
  • Secure proper permission or a license from the copyright owner

💡 Did you know? YouTube provides copyright owners with tools like Content ID and takedown processes to comply with global copyright laws.

YouTube Copyright Claim vs. Copyright Strike: What’s the Difference?

It’s critical to understand that a YouTube copyright claim is not the same as a YouTube copyright strike. Knowning this distinction is vital for effective YouTube channel management and avoiding unnecessary concern.

🧐 How is a copyright claim different from a copyright strike?

A copyright claim means Content ID detected copyrighted material, and the owner opted to monetize, track, or block your video. It is not a penalty on your channel.

In contrast, a copyright strike is a much more serious consequence. It results from a formal DMCA takedown request issued directly by the copyright owner to YouTube. A copyright strike leads to your video being removed from YouTube and a strike being recorded against your channel.

💡 Key Differences: YouTube Copyright Claim vs. Copyright Strike

🚨 Important Note: Accumulating three YouTube copyright strikes can result in the permanent termination of your entire channel and all associated videos. You may also be barred from creating new YouTube channels. For comprehensive details on copyright strikes, consult YouTube’s official Copyright Strike Basics.

What Are Music Copyright Claims on YouTube?

A music copyright claim on YouTube occurs when your video includes copyrighted music, even a short segment.

Music is a primary source of copyright claims due to its frequent use in video intros, background tracks, and transitions.

YouTube’s Content ID system specifically scans for copyrighted music across all YouTube videos. If a match is detected, a copyright claim is automatically issued on behalf of the music’s owner.

🎵 Who Owns a Song or Music Copyright?

Every song typically has at least two distinct copyrights:

1. Music Composition: This covers the lyrics and melody (the written song itself) and is owned by songwriters and publishers.
2. Master Recording (Sound Recording): This refers to the audio recording of the song and is usually owned by record labels, artists, producers, or distributors.

Overview of Music Copyright Ownership:

Here’s an easy way to visualize the different components of how music copyright is layered:

Every music video or art track combines two main elements: the visual footage and the music, which includes the sound recording. A single sound recording can appear in multiple videos.

Within the sound recording is the composition (the lyrics & melody of the song). The composition can be recorded in many ways (such as cover or alternate versions) so that one composition can belong to several different sound recordings.

🎶 Examples of Music Copyright Ownership:

Let’s illustrate how music copyrights work:

Scenario 1: Independent Creation

If Joe and Emma write a song together called “Triangle” and Emma funds the recording of the song herself:

• Emma & Joe share the composition rights (for the lyrics + melody).
• Emma records the track in a studio with her own money. She owns the master recording, aka the sound recording.

Scenario 2: Label Deal

If Emma signs with a record label and the label funds her new song that she co-wrote with Joe (“Square”):

• Joe and Emma still share the composition rights.
• However, the record label typically owns the master recording due to their investment in production, mastering, and distribution (terms vary depending on the label deal).

Scenario 3: Independent Distribution

If Emma writes another song with Joe (“Circle”) and releases the song through a music distributor (such as DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby):

• Joe and Emma still share the song’s composition rights.
• Emma retains ownership of the master recording,
• The distributor helps administer the sound recording and may issue Content ID claims to protect it on YouTube. They do not take any ownership of the song’s copyright.

⚠️ Why You Might Get a Music Copyright Claim on YouTube

Your video is at risk of receiving a music copyright claim if it contains copyrighted music, whether as background music or a short intro.

Most music claims are made by:

• Record labels (such as: UMG, Sony, Warner)
• Music distributors (such as: DistroKid, TuneCore, or FUGA)
• Rights management platforms acting on behalf of artists

✅ Pro Tip to Avoid Music Copyright Claims: Always use properly licensed music. Thematic offers claim-free music specifically curated for creators, ensuring your videos remain copyright-free and stress-free 🎶

How YouTube Copyright Claims Impact Your Channel and Videos

Understanding the impact of copyright claims on your YouTube channel and video performance is crucial for creators. While a copyright claim doesn’t directly penalize your channel’s standing, it can significantly affect your videos’ monetization, visibility, and audience engagement.

This section details the specific ways a YouTube copyright claim may influence your content and what to expect when one occurs.

Should YouTube Creators Worry About Copyright Claims?

Not necessarily. While receiving a YouTube copyright claim can be initially alarming, it’s important to understand its precise meaning for your videos and YouTube channel.

If your YouTube video contains copyrighted material you don’t have permission to use (such as unlicensed music or video clips), receiving a copyright claim is a normal part of YouTube’s content protection system. A claim is not a penalty or strike against your entire YouTube channel; it’s how the copyright owner protects their work.

However, YouTube copyright claims can impact your video’s performance, potentially affecting monetization, views, and watch time. Let’s explore these specific impacts.

💡 Do YouTube Copyright Claims Affect My Channel Status?

No, a YouTube copyright claim does not harm your overall channel status or result in a strike. The claim specifically applies to the individual video where the copyrighted content was detected.

When your YouTube video receives a copyright claim:

• Your YouTube channel remains in good standing, even with multiple claims across various videos.
• Your eligibility for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is unaffected. While the claimed video itself may not be monetizable by you, your general YPP status is maintained.
• Your videos generally remain discoverable on YouTube and are not demoted in YouTube’s search and discovery algorithms due to a claim.

📌 Key takeaway: Consider a YouTube copyright claim as a flag on a single video, not a penalty against your entire channel.

💰 Do YouTube Copyright Claims Affect Video Monetization?

Yes, a YouTube copyright claim directly impacts the monetization of that specific video.

YouTube’s policies mandate that you either own or have the proper licenses for all content in your videos. Therefore, a claimed video means you cannot monetize it yourself.

When a copyright claim is placed on a video:

• The copyright owner gains the ability to monetize your video by running ads.
• You, as the original uploader, will not receive any ad revenue from that video.

📌 Key takeaway: Even a few seconds of unlicensed copyrighted music can trigger a YouTube copyright claim, resulting in all ad revenue being redirected to the rights holder, regardless of the originality of the rest of your content.

📉 Do YouTube Copyright Claims Affect Video Views?

Yes, YouTube copyright claims can negatively impact your video’s views. This is primarily due to potential playback restrictions imposed by the copyright owner.

When a video receives a copyright claim, the copyright owner may opt to:

• Restrict playback on mobile devices or embedded websites.
• Block your video in specific countries or regions.

If your target audience is located in these restricted territories, or if your video is frequently viewed via embedded players on blogs or other websites, you can expect a noticeable decline in views for that claimed video.

⏱️ Do YouTube Copyright Claims Affect Watch Time?

Yes, YouTube copyright claims can indirectly affect your video’s watch time.

If a copyright claim leads to a video being blocked in certain territories or on specific devices, the resulting decrease in available views will naturally lead to a reduction in watch time for that particular video.

Important Considerations for Watch Time:

• Any watch time accumulated on the claimed video before or outside of restrictions still contributes to your overall channel’s total watch time.
• A copyright claim itself does not disqualify the watch time generated from that video for your monetization eligibility (such as YouTube Partner Program requirements).

✅ Quick Summary: Impact of YouTube Copyright Claims

Here’s a quick overview of how YouTube copyright claims can impact different aspects of your channel and videos:

🎶 Recommendation: To consistently avoid YouTube music copyright claims, utilize licensed music specifically designed for creators and safe for YouTube, such as the claim-free music offered by Thematic.

How to Fix a YouTube Copyright Claim

Received a YouTube copyright claim? Don’t panic. You have several effective options to resolve a copyright claim on YouTube, tailored to your specific situation.

📋 First steps:

1. Review the Claim Details: In YouTube Studio, thoroughly examine the claim to identify the specific copyrighted content flagged in your video.
2. Determine Your Scenario: Based on the claim details, identify which of the following common scenarios applies to your video.

If none of these scenarios fit, and you lack permission to use the claimed content, consider accepting the claim or re-uploading your video with properly licensed or original content.

👉 Learn how to prevent future YouTube music copyright claims and ensure your content is cleared.

✅ Scenario 1: You Have a License or Permission for the Claimed Content

If you have a valid license or explicit permission to use the copyrighted content (such as a music license) that triggered the YouTube copyright claim, you should absolutely dispute the claim.

It can be frustrating when YouTube’s Content ID system flags content you’ve legally licensed. This often occurs because the automated system doesn’t recognize your pre-existing agreement.

Action Steps to Dispute with a License:

1. Initiate Dispute via YouTube Studio: Follow the detailed instructions below to submit a copyright dispute directly through your YouTube Studio dashboard.
2. Reference Your License Clearly: In your dispute explanation, explicitly state you have permission and reference your license agreement or permission document.
3. Notify the Licensor: Contact the platform, record label, distributor, sync service, or the copyright owner who granted your license. Inform them about the Content ID claim and your ongoing dispute.

A successful dispute will lead to the copyright claim being released, and your video’s monetization will be restored. Any ad revenue accrued during the dispute period will be paid out to you.

✅ Pro Tip: Always verify your music license terms. Many music licenses are single-use only. If you’re re-uploading a video with the same track, confirm your license permits multiple uses.

🚩 Scenario 2: You Received a False YouTube Copyright Claim

If the content referenced in the copyright claim genuinely does not appear in your video, or if you are the sole owner of that content, you have received a false or abusive copyright claim. In such cases, you must dispute the claim.

For example, if you created 100% of your video’s audio and receive a claim for a song not present, it’s likely a mistaken claim by the copyright owner.

How to Handle a False Copyright Claim:

1. Review Claim in YouTube Studio: Access your YouTube Studio dashboard, navigate to the Copyright notice, and carefully check the timestamps and detailed information about the claimed content.
2. File a Dispute: If the claimed material is indeed absent from your video, file a dispute on YouTube and clearly explain the claim’s invalidity.
3. Provide Direct Evidence: Be explicit. State that the claimed material does not exist in your video. Provide context, such as confirming you created all the content yourself or used only royalty-free assets.

While encountering a false copyright claim can be frustrating, YouTube provides tools to challenge them. Your video may be a victim of Content ID abuse, and the claim should be removed.

✅ Pro Tip: YouTube displays exact timestamps for claimed content. Always double-check this information to definitively confirm whether the copyright claim is accurate or clearly false.

⚖️ Scenario 3: Your YouTube Video May Qualify as Fair Use

If your YouTube video incorporates copyrighted material for transformative purposes such as commentary, education, criticism, or parody, it might fall under Fair Use.

Fair Use is a legal doctrine permitting limited use of copyrighted content without explicit permission from the copyright owner. However, Fair Use is a highly complex legal area, assessed case-by-case, and determining what qualifies can be challenging.

Helpful Resources to Understand Fair Use on YouTube:

• YouTube’s Guide to Fair Use
• Interactive Fair Use Checklist (The Ohio State University’s Health Sciences Library)
• Printable Fair Use Checklist (Columbia University Libraries’ Copyright Advisory Office)

⚠️ Note: This information is not legal advice. If you are uncertain whether your video qualifies as Fair Use, always consult with a qualified legal professional.

🎧 Scenario 4: Replace, Erase, or Mute Claimed Music (Audio-Specific Claims)

For YouTube videos that receive a music copyright claim, YouTube often provides built-in tools within YouTube Studio to resolve the issue without needing to remove or re-upload your entire video. These tools allow you to directly edit the claimed audio segment.

Available Options in YouTube Studio for Audio Claims:

1. Replace the Song: Swap the claimed music track with a free song from YouTube’s Audio Library. (Note: You cannot upload a custom song from your computer.)
2. Mute the Song: This option mutes all audio within the claimed section, including any voiceovers or ambient sounds. This is often a last resort when other solutions aren’t viable.
3. Trim Out the Claimed Segment: This removes the entire claimed section (both video and audio) from your video.
4. Erase Song (Beta): This feature specifically removes only the music while preserving other audio elements like dialogue or sound effects. It works best when the music is distinct and not heavily mixed with other sounds.

Implementing any of these options will typically result in the copyright claim being removed. Subsequently, your video may regain its eligibility for monetization, depending on your channel’s current status.

Step-by-Step: How to Dispute a YouTube Copyright Claim

If you believe a YouTube copyright claim is incorrect, or if you have the necessary permission or license to use the content, you can directly file a dispute through your YouTube Studio dashboard.

Detailed Steps to File a YouTube Copyright Dispute:

1. Go to YouTube Studio: Log in to your YouTube Studio account
2. Navigate to Content: Click on “Content” in the left-hand menu
3. Locate Claimed Video: Find the specific video that has received a copyright claim
4. Access Claim Details: In the “Restrictions” column for that video, click “Copyright,” then “See Details”
5. Initiate Dispute: Click “Take Action,” then select “Dispute,” and follow the on-screen prompts

The Copyright pop-up will provide all essential information about the claim, including:

• The specific content being claimed
• The copyright owner who issued the claim
• How the claim impacts your video’s monetization and visibility
• The exact timestamps where the claimed content appears in your video

✅ Pro Tip for Disputes: Be highly specific in your dispute explanation. Include all relevant proof, such as your license agreement, evidence of original creation, or a detailed explanation of why your use falls under Fair Use. Precision significantly increases your chances of a successful dispute resolution.

How to Avoid YouTube Copyright Claims

The most effective way to prevent and avoid YouTube copyright claims entirely is by strictly using content you either own outright or for which you possess the proper licenses.

Understanding the basics of how copyright claims work is your crucial first step. Once equipped with this knowledge, you can implement practical strategies to safeguard your videos and ensure your YouTube channel operates smoothly, free from interruptions or lost monetization.

❌ Does Giving Credit Prevent YouTube Copyright Issues?

No, simply giving credit in your video description does NOT protect you from YouTube copyright claims or legal consequences.

Even if an artist verbally states, “you can use my song,” this permission is not legally valid unless:

• They own 100% of the song’s copyrights (covering both the composition and master recording), AND
• You have a written license agreement from them (or their authorized representative like a label, manager, or rights holder).

💡 Important Reminder: Most songs have multiple copyright owners, including songwriters, producers, publishers, and record labels. To legally use a copyrighted song in your videos, you typically need explicit permission or a license from all relevant copyright holders.

🎯 What Is a Sync License (and Why Do YouTube Creators Need One)?

To legally use music in your YouTube videos, you specifically need a synchronization license, commonly known as a sync license. This contractual agreement grants you explicit permission to “sync” a song with visual media, such as your video content.

A standard sync license agreement typically outlines:

• The specific song and the permitted ways you can use it
• Identification of who owns the rights to the music
• The terms of use, detailing what you are allowed to do and where the music can appear
• What you are providing in return (e.g., a licensing fee or promotional credit)

Here’s a link to a sample sync license for reference.

The Challenge of Manual Sync Licensing:

Manually obtaining a sync license can be a highly complex, time-consuming, and often very expensive process. You typically need to:

• Contact multiple copyright holders for a single song
• Negotiate specific terms for usage rights
• Draft and sign legally binding agreements
• Wait weeks or even months for approvals

Only after successfully navigating this extensive process can you confidently upload your video without risking a YouTube copyright claim.

✅ The Easiest Way to Avoid Music Copyright Claims: Use Thematic

“This whole license process sounds like a lot of work.”

It is. We understand the frustrations: the endless back-and-forths with managers, artists, labels, and publishers; the often exorbitant license fees; and the disheartening experience of receiving copyright claims even when you thought you had permission. This process is, frankly, terrible.

This is precisely why Thematic exists – to simplify music licensing for YouTube creators. Platforms like Thematic handle the entire sync licensing process for you, offering a curated library of pre-cleared music that significantly reduces your risk of YouTube copyright claims.

At Thematic, we’ve made finding copyright-safe music for YouTube videos simple, secure, and free for creators. Thematic provides an extensive selection of trending and claim-free music for creators to use in their videos at no cost.

With Thematic, YouTube Creators Get:

• 🎵 Access to high-quality music from emerging and trending artists
• ✅ Full protection from YouTube copyright claims and strikes
• ⚡ A seamless, claim-free workflow with no paperwork or legal hassle

How Thematic Simplifies Licensing: Thematic directly manages all the sync licensing for you. You no longer need to worry about tracking down and corresponding with numerous copyright owners (also known as copyright holders). We believe your time is best spent creating and sharing exceptional content, not drowning in legal paperwork.

Thematic Guarantees Claim-Free Usage: Our platform ensures your videos remain claim-free and copyright-free. Seriously. As long as you include the provided artist promotion in your video description, you’re fully covered.

Free for Creators: We believe in empowering creators, not burdening them with outdated, expensive fees for using music in their videos. By showcasing artists, you provide valuable exposure and reach, which is exactly what many emerging artists seek.

With Thematic, you gain access to a wide selection of songs from the best new music artists, eliminating concerns about YouTube copyright claims, disputes, or strikes against your videos.

Other Claim-Free Music Options for YouTube Videos

If Thematic isn’t precisely your style, you can explore other avenues for claim-free music for your YouTube videos:

• Public Domain Music: This music is no longer protected by copyright and can be used freely by anyone.
• Creative Commons Music (CC): Artists share this music with specific conditions for reuse, typically requiring attribution.
• YouTube Audio Library: A collection of royalty-free production music provided directly by YouTube, making it copyright-safe for video creators.

⚠️ Crucial Note: Always thoroughly check the specific license terms for any music you choose. Some Creative Commons tracks, for example, may restrict commercial use or require direct links back to the original creator.

Ready to Use Music Without the YouTube Copyright Risk?

If you want to integrate music into your YouTube videos without the constant worry of copyright claims, strikes, or takedowns, join Thematic today to access our library of claim-free, creator-friendly tracks.

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

This post on How to Fix Copyright Claims: The Ultimate Guide is brought to you by Thematic Co-Founder & COO Audrey Marshall

With a background in entertainment PR (via Chapman University), Audrey has led digital strategy for music artists, content creators, and brands. From brand campaigns for Macy’s, American Cancer Society, and the L’Oréal luxe family of brands, to music-driven influencer marketing campaigns for Interscope Records, Warner Music, AWAL, and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas (featuring creators such as Lexy Panterra, Blogilates, Mandy Jiroux, Matt Steffanina, and Seán Garnier), she is an expert in navigating the influencer marketing space. Audrey has also developed and managed some of the leading beauty, lifestyle, and dance channels on YouTube.

Certified across the board with YouTube, Audrey has a specific focus on digital rights management for music assets, running multiple SRAV-enabled CMS. She is passionate about working with other builders in the space for a more transparent digital rights ecosystem.

At Thematic, Audrey leads the product team and oversees operations. She has driven partnerships with leading talent and music companies, including Songtrust, Kobalt/AWAL, Select Management, BBTV, ipsy, and Black Box, and has helped the platform grow to a thriving community of 1M+ content creators who have posted 1.6M+ videos using the platform, driving 60B+ music streams and $120M+ in earned media value for independent music artists.

Why Free Music Websites Matter for Creators

Music has the power to make or break your video. Whether you’re sharing a vlog, gaming stream, tutorial, or TikTok clip, the soundtrack sets the mood and keeps viewers engaged. A perfectly chosen track can boost watch time, trigger emotion, and even make your video more memorable.

But here’s the problem: using copyrighted music without permission can ruin your channel. Strikes, muted videos, demonetization, and legal takedowns happen every day to creators who don’t source music responsibly.

That’s why free music websites are a game-changer. They give creators safe, royalty-free tracks they can use without fear – often for free.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best free music websites for 2025, including their features, pros, cons, and tips for choosing the right one. By the end, you’ll know exactly where to find copyright-safe songs for your YouTube videos, TikToks, or brand projects.

Table of Contents

• What to Look for in a Free Music Website
• Top 5 Free Music Websites for Creators:
  1. Thematic
  2. YouTube Audio Library
  3. Free Music Archive (FMA)
  4. Incompetech
  5. Bensound
• Free Music Website Comparison Table
• Tips for Using Free Music Safely
• FAQs about Free Music Websites
• Final Thoughts

What to Look for in a Free Music Website

Before diving into the best options, it’s important to know what separates a great free music website from an average one. Not all free sources are created equal, and using the wrong one could leave you with low-quality audio – or worse, copyright problems.

Here’s what creators should look for:

🎵 Music Variety
A good platform should offer a wide selection of genres, moods, and tempos. Whether you’re editing a cinematic travel vlog, a chill study video, or a high-energy gaming stream, you want tracks that match your style.

✅ Clear Licensing
Complicated licenses can trip up even experienced creators. Look for platforms that make their usage rights obvious – can you monetize? Do you need to credit? Can you use the music in brand deals?

⚡ Ease of Use
Time is everything when editing. A well-designed site with playlists, mood filters, and a clean interface saves hours compared to clunky archives.

🎚️ Professional Quality
“Free” shouldn’t mean low quality. The best free music websites deliver polished, production-ready audio that makes your content sound professional.

💸 True Free Access
Watch out for hidden restrictions. Some sites advertise free music but limit downloads or lock tracks behind subscriptions.

With these factors in mind, let’s explore the best free music websites for YouTube creators, and see how they stack up in our side-by-side comparison scorecard.

Top 5 Free Music Websites for YouTube Video Creators

Here are the five best free music sites trusted by video creators worldwide and where many YouTubers get their music 🎵

1. Thematic

Best for: YouTube & TikTok creators who want trending, copyright-safe songs.

Thematic isn’t just another royalty-free library – it’s built by creators, for creators. Unlike production music archives, Thematic offers songs from real artists, giving your videos a modern and authentic feel.

🔑 Key Features:

• Curated playlists (by vibe, genre, or video type)
• Easy attribution and licensing
• Safe for monetization on YouTube & TikTok
• Community-driven with discovery opportunities

✅ Pros:

• High-quality songs from real music artists
• Easy-to-understand licensing
• Free to use with credit
• Helps artists get discovered by new fans

👎 Cons:

• Free plan has download limits (expandable by engagement or subscription)
• Requires sign-up

📋 How to Use Thematic:

• Sign up for a free account with Google or email.
• Browse curated playlists or filter by mood, genre, or keyword.
• Download your chosen song.
• Paste the auto-generated credit link into your video description.

2. YouTube Audio Library

Best for: Beginners looking for native YouTube-safe tracks.

If you want zero hassle, the YouTube Audio Library is the easiest option. Accessible directly in YouTube Studio, it’s a simple way to add free background music or sound effects.

✅ Pros:

• No copyright risk on YouTube
• Large selection of background tracks
• Completely free

👎 Cons:

• Generic, often overused songs
• Limited variety compared to other platforms
• Some tracks still require attribution

📋 How to Use YouTube Audio Library:

• Log into YouTube Studio.
• Navigate to “Audio Library.”
• Filter by genre, mood, or instrument.
• Download directly to your computer.

3. Free Music Archive (FMA)

Best for: Indie or experimental creators.

FMA is a community-driven archive of Creative Commons music. While the interface is dated, its variety is unmatched.

✅ Pros:

• Huge catalog across all genres
• Many unique, indie tracks
• Free to download

👎 Cons:

• Most songs require attribution
• Licensing terms can be confusing
• Outdated interface makes browsing harder

📋 How to Use Free Music Archive:

• Search or filter tracks by genre or mood.
• Check the license (some allow commercial use, others don’t).
• Download and credit if required.

4. Incompetech

Best for: Simple background music for projects.

Created by composer Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech has been a go-to for creators for years. While its design is dated, it remains a reliable source of royalty-free tracks.

✅ Pros:

• Hundreds of tracks across genres
• Simple licensing terms
• Trusted by many creators

👎 Cons:

• Requires attribution
• Music isn’t updated often
• Limited search functionality

📋 How to Use Free Music Archive:

• Browse the catalog by genre.
• Download your chosen song.
• Add attribution in your video description.

5. Bensound

Best for: Vlogs, corporate videos, and polished projects.

Bensound offers a smaller but professional collection of free royalty-free tracks.

✅ Pros:

• Polished, professional-quality audio
• Easy to browse by mood/genre
• Clear licensing

👎 Cons:

• Limited free selection
• Free tracks require credit
• Many popular songs are overused

📋 How to Use Free Music Archive:

• Visit Bensound.com.
• Filter by style or mood.
• Download free tracks (with credit) or upgrade for premium use.

Free Music Website Comparison

🏆 Why Thematic Wins:

• Specifically built for YouTube and TikTok creators who want trending, aesthetic music
• Every song is cleared for monetization (no copyright claims)
• Curated, trending playlists by vibe, genre, and video type
• Auto-attribution makes compliance effortless
• Free to use, no complex licensing jargon

Thematic is more than a music library – it’s a creator-powered ecosystem.

Tips for Using Free Music in Your YouTube Videos

Using royalty-free music is a great move – but to get the most out of it (and stay strike-free), keep these pro tips in mind:

✅ Always Read the License
Even “free” music can come with conditions. Some of the music on these free music websites, while others may restrict use in sponsored content or across certain video platforms. Always check the license details before you publish to avoid copyright flags or monetization issues.

🎯 Match the Music to Your Video’s Vibe
The right track should enhance your content, not distract from it. Whether you’re sharing a chill day-in-the-life vlog or a high-energy tutorial, your soundtrack should match the tone and keep your audience engaged and grow your channel.

👉 Bonus tip: by choosing trending music (not production), you can become a music tastemaker by introducing your audience to great new songs from up-and-coming music artists.

✂️ Edit Your Track for Flow
Trim the song. Loop it. Lower the volume under voiceover. Don’t be afraid to customize your music to fit your video’s pace and emotional beats. Great editing = a better viewer experience.

FAQs About Free Music Websites

We know music licensing can be confusing, especially when it comes to free tracks and YouTube monetization. To make things easier, here are answers to some of the most common questions creators ask about using free music safely and effectively.

Can I use free music on YouTube and still monetize my videos?

Yes, but only if the music is royalty-free and cleared for monetization. Sites like Thematic guarantee monetization-safe tracks.

Do I always need to credit the artist?

Most free tracks require attribution, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Always check the license.

What’s the difference between royalty-free and copyright-free music?

• Royalty-free: You can use the track without paying ongoing royalties, but the music is still copyrighted.
• Copyright-free: Rare. Usually means the track is in the public domain.

Which free music website is best for beginners?

YouTube Audio Library is easiest, but Thematic gives better quality songs for creators who want to stand out.

Are free music websites safe for sponsored videos?

Depends on the license. Thematic and Bensound allow use in branded content, while some Creative Commons tracks may restrict it.

Final Thoughts

Music is more than background noise – it’s a creative tool that helps shape your brand, vibe, and storytelling. Choosing the right free music website ensures your videos sound professional, stand out from the crowd, and stay copyright-safe.

If you want trending songs that feel authentic and monetization-safe, Thematic is our top pick. But it’s worth exploring the others to see what fits your creative style.

👉 Start with Thematic or try any of these free music websites today, and elevate your next video with the perfect soundtrack.

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

You already know that using trending music in your videos makes your videos that much better. Defaulting to low-quality production music or avoiding music altogether just seems like a bummer, so how is it possible to use great music legally, without copyright, and for free?

Well, we’re here to answer all your burning questions about using copyrighted music on YouTube. We’ll cover everything from the differences between copyrighted and non-copyrighted music, the best places to find music you can use in YouTube videos safely without copyright claims, and answer your most frequently asked questions and myths about copyright on YouTube. Let’s dig in!

1. Copyrighted vs non-copyrighted music
2. How copyrighted music works on YouTube
3. How to use copyrighted music on YouTube (legally)
4. FAQs about using copyrighted music in videos

Copyrighted vs non-copyrighted music

First things first, let’s get on the same page about copyright and what exactly it means for music.

What is copyright music?

Simply put, a copyrighted song is one that is protected by copyright law. This means that there is an owner of the song who can control how and where it is used. The copyright owners are most typically the creators of the song (like the music artist and songwriters) or a record label.

What is non copyrighted music?

Now that you know what copyrighted music is, it’s pretty easy to give a definition for non-copyright music.

Non-copyrighted music is music that has no current owner. This can happen if the legal copyright of the song has expired (and the song goes into the public domain) or if the owners of the song have decided to release their ownership rights to the music (such as put it on a Creative Commons license).

How copyrighted music works on YouTube

Ok, so by now you’ve got the concept that copyrighted = has owner and non copyrighted = no owner. But how does this all work with YouTube? Why do some songs give copyright claims while others don’t? And what rights do I have when using non-copyrighted music? It’s complicated, so let’s break it down.

How does copyright work on YouTube?

YouTube has developed tools, like Content ID, to provide copyright owners ways to track, protect, and manage their copyrighted works across the site 🔎

For example, Content ID allows copyright owners to both:

• See all of the videos posted to YouTube where their songs have been used
• Decide what to do with the videos that use their songs

Through copyright claims, copyright owners can choose to:

• Track (or monitor) these videos and see how they perform in different territories and with different demographics
• Block these videos from being seen (either worldwide or in specific countries)
• Monetize these videos through copyright claims

💡 Did you know? Copyright claims are simply a match or connection between a copyright owner’s work or IP (like a song) and a video posted to YouTube.

For a deeper look on this topic, check out our guide to how copyright works on YouTube.

Why do some songs give copyright claims on YouTube and others don’t?

Valid question! Some videos can escape copyright claims for a couple different reasons. We’ll review these in detail below.

Not all copyrighted works have been registered in Content ID

Let’s walk through this with an example. An artist may release a song by sharing it online through social media, but may not have registered it for Content ID scanning through their distributor. This means that although the song has copyright and is copyrighted, it is not currently being enforced on YouTube.

For creators, this means that they may not initially receive a copyright claim when using this music in videos. However, that’s not to say the artist or copyright owner won’t register it at a later date. Once added to Content ID, your previously “safe” video may now receive copyright claims for the music used.

Content ID is not 100% perfect

YouTube is one of the largest sites in the world and has developed powerful tools for copyright management. However, nothing is absolutely perfect. 

While Content ID can identify alternate versions of copyrighted material (like sped up, slowed down, remixed, or even cover versions of songs), there are instances where it may not identify all usages of a song. As such, some videos may not receive copyright claims when using popular, copyrighted songs. However, this does not mean that the creator gets a “free pass” for using the music.

YouTube implements updates to Content ID constantly, and new tools from third-party providers help fill in the gaps for identifying usages of copyrighted content across the web. This means that although some videos don’t initially get flagged for copyright infringement, it’s likely they will as the scanning technologies improve.

The use of music is considered Fair Use

Fair Use is probably the most complex and misunderstood topic when it comes to using copyrighted music on YouTube.

Legally speaking, “Fair use is a legal doctrine that says use of copyright-protected material under certain circumstances is allowed without permission from the copyright holder.” (thanks to YouTube Help for this textbook definition).

At the end of the day, cases of Fair Use (in the United States) come down to a decision by a judge. The factors they consider when deciding if something is Fair Use are:

1. The purpose and character of the use (including whether such use is of commercial nature or for nonprofit educational purposes)
2. The nature of the copyrighted work
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used relative to the entire copyrighted work
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work

It is rare (and when we say rare, we mean really rare) to find that someone’s usage of copyrighted material is Fair Use. But it does happen. And maybe the video you’ve just watched that uses copyrighted material but does not have a copyright claim qualified for this elusive concept of Fair Use, but more likely that not, it was one of the previous exceptions we covered.

Regardless, we recommend doing your own research or consulting legal counsel when it comes to Fair Use on YouTube.

No Copyright, Copyright-Free, and Copyright-Safe Music on YouTube

Now that you’ve grasped the concept of copyright and how it applies to YouTube videos, let’s get into the nuances of the world of no copyright, copyright-free, and copyright-safe music as it applies to YouTube.

In recent years, artists and sites have started using terms like no copyright, copyright-free, and copyright-safe to label music that will not cause copyright claims on YouTube.

Now what’s interesting here, is that these songs may still in fact have a copyright owner 🤯 This can happen when the copyright owner has decided to either make the song freely available for use or will allow creators to use it in videos according to specific terms they have set. A bit confusing, right?

Well, we’re here to help and make sure you’re equipped with all the knowledge you need to ensure you avoid copyright claims (now or in the future) when using music on YouTube, no matter how it is labeled.

How to use copyrighted music on YouTube (legally)

It’s time to explore the best places to find music for YouTube videos legally and without copyright claims.

1. Get Permission from the Copyright Owners

This is by far the safest option to get permission to use copyrighted music on YouTube 🤝 It can also be the most time-consuming and expensive option.

When you get direct permission from a song’s copyright owners through what is called a sync license, you are getting first-hand legal contracts to ensure you have the necessary rights to use the music legally.

With this process, you will need to make sure you get clearance from all of the copyright owners and rights holders involved – everyone from the record label to the music artist to all of the individual songwriters and publishers who have ownership of the song. This can be one person, a few people, or sometimes even 10+ different entities where you will need to get licenses.

The price of getting direct permission to use a song can also widely vary depending on the rates set by the copyright owners. There are no standardized rates, so for some artists’ music it can be free to use, while other artists may ask for hundreds or thousands of dollars. These licensing rates can also be for limited time use, with the licenses expiring regularly, meaning that you may need to renew or pay the license fee every year.

If you’re looking for absolute peace of mind in clearing copyrighted music for your videos, this option may be your best solution. Just keep in mind that it can require a lot of administrative work and legal counsel, take a long time to negotiate and track down all copyright owners, and become expensive depending on the artist and song.

But if you’re a newer creator with limited time and budget, there are more creator-friendly and affordable options, so keep reading.

2. Hire a musician to create original music made just for you

One ingenious way to absolutely guarantee avoiding music copyright claims on YouTube is to become the copyright owner of the music yourself 🎵

Hiring a musician to create and record a custom song made just for you and for your YouTube videos will give you original music you can use without worrying about copyright claims.

How would you go about this? Consider using freelancer sites like UpWork or Fiverr to hire musicians (if you don’t know anyone personally). This option can become time-consuming  and widely vary in terms of cost or budget depending on who you decide to hire and how many songs you have commissioned.

If you don’t care too much about using trending or relevant music in your videos and just want to make sure you avoid copyright issues, this may be the solution for you.

But if you prefer to use new music from real music artists as it creates a better soundtrack for your videos, stay with us, we’re getting to the good stuff next.

3. Use platforms like Thematic to get copyrighted music for videos

Thematic is the best place for creators to find and use copyrighted music on YouTube. Period ✌️

Developed by a creator herself (Michelle Phan), Thematic was built to connect music artists and creators and make it easy for creators to discover, download and use trending music from real artists in YouTube videos and across social media and podcasts.

When using Thematic, creators are directly supporting independent music artists to get their songs discovered by new audiences (which is pretty cool if you ask us). Artists like Fiji Blue, Nicky Youre, JP Saxe, and countless others have seen their songs take off, trending on TikTok and even getting played on the radio, after launching their songs on Thematic.

Whether you’re creating your first YouTube video or are one of the most subscribed to channels in the world, Thematic has the best music options to suit your needs – with songs from every genre and curated playlists to match your channel’s content themes. Whether you’re creating lifestyle vlogs, gaming videos, travel videos, or computer tutorials, Thematic has the songs you want to use.

If you haven’t heard already, Thematic is free for creators to use. That’s right, free. And if that’s not enough, you can use the music in sponsored videos, as many times as you want. Creators must include a specified credit link in their video description when featuring the music from Thematic in videos, which helps to support the music artist while protecting your videos from copyright claims (we consider that a win-win).

It’s clear to us that Thematic is the best option for creators looking to use copyrighted music on YouTube and avoid copyright claims. And with over 800,000 creators already using Thematic, it just makes sense ✅

But hey, why not try it for yourself to see if it’s a good fit. After all, it’s free to use:

4. Other Paid Music Licensing sites

In recent years, many new music licensing sites have emerged to help creators find and use copyrighted music on YouTube and across social media and podcasts. Even YouTube launched their own marketplace for music for creators. A simple search for “music for creators” will uncover for you the many options at your disposal.

However, many of these “creator friendly” music sites have hidden rules and restrictions on how and when you can use the music buried into their user agreements and song contracts.

We’ve included below some of the most common restrictions to consider when using these music licensing sites:

Single-Use Licenses: Some music licensing sites require that you pay each time you use the song in a video 💰 This is considered a single-use license and they can become very costly when you’re paying anywhere from $10 to $100 each time you use a song. Like each time in each individual video. This doesn’t really make sense for creators who are posting videos consistently.

No Sponsorship or Brand Deals Allowed: Other sites may have content restrictions when using the music. A common example of this is that these sites restrict your ability to include brands or sponsorships in your video when using their music. This would really only make sense for creators who are posting videos for fun (and not hoping to grow an audience and make money).

Restrictions on Video Content Themes: Other music licensing sites will even restrict the topic of your video! (If you didn’t hear it, our jaw just hit the floor). We’ve seen some sites that do not allow their music to be used in videos that talk about charities, religion, or even feminine products! (seriously, but I wish we were kidding).

If you want the freedom to create the types of videos that you want to make (and be able to take sponsorships in those videos), always be sure to read the terms of these music licenses carefully. 

Limited Monetization: If that wasn’t enough, there may also be a time limitation for the music licenses from some sites. For example, you may be able to use the music in your video copyright-free for a limited number of days (like 6 months or 1 year) or until your video reaches a view milestone (like 100,000 views… I mean, shouldn’t this be a celebration, and not a penalty?) 🤷‍♂️

After that date or milestone, the company may be able to demonetize or copyright your video with a copyright claim. Honestly, that just sounds like a scam to us (especially if you’ve paid for a license for the music), but if it makes sense for you, we advise you to just be aware of the sync license terms.

That being said, we suggest you explore your options in this category to see if there is a music licensing site that best fits your needs. Just always read the fine print.

5. Use production or stock music libraries

Sites like Epidemic Sound offer creators paid subscription plans to access production music for their videos. This can be a good option for creators who don’t care about supporting artists directly and simply need background music for their videos. If you’ve reached a level of monetization where you have a dedicated music budget each month, this can be an option for you (as these subscriptions can set you back $15/month or more monthly… 🤕 ouch).

Production music sites have often been met with criticism for having or creating “fake artists.” Often, these companies hire various musicians to create music specific to their requests, and then repackage these songs under newly created artist names. Ultimately, these production libraries own the rights and not the musicians themselves, so you can see how that can become a problem with the independent artist community. Not so… cool 🫠

6. Explore Creative Commons or Free Music from YouTube

If none of the previous options seemed to be a fit for you, you might want to consider starting off with some basic free YouTube music library options, like YouTube Audio Library or Creative Commons music.

Creative Commons Music

There are many websites like FreeMusicArchive.org or FreeSound.org that provide creators with Creative Commons music options for videos. Just be sure to check each song’s licensing terms, as the Creative Commons license may require you provide attribution or a link back to the song. Like we’ve said earlier, always check the licensing terms to make sure your bases are covered.

YouTube Audio Library

New creators often start with free music sites like YouTube Audio Library to find music to use in YouTube videos. 

Since this music library is built directly into the YouTube Creator Studio, it makes a lot of sense for creators who are just getting started and don’t yet have the time, knowledge or resources to license music for their video projects.

However, it may not be a good fit for more serious creators who are looking to add higher quality music to their videos. I mean, don’t get us wrong, but wouldn’t you want to use more relevant music and be a tastemaker for the music in your videos? 🙃

FAQs about using copyrighted music on YouTube

Still have questions about using copyrighted music on YouTube? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions about using music in videos on YouTube.

What happens when you use copyrighted music without permission

You get in trouble, most likely in the form of a copyright claim. Since you do not have permission or a license for the music, your video may receive a copyright notice from the copyright owner and they can decide what to do with your video – simply monitor it, monetize it with ads, or block it entirely. In worse cases, they can choose to remove your video from YouTube through a copyright strike (or takedown notice). 

For help navigate copyright claims, we recommend you take a look at our guide to fixing copyright claims here.

Can I use copyrighted music if I give credit?

The short answer is no. Providing credit in your video description does not automatically grant you permission to use the song. While crediting artists is very nice of you (and something we always recommend), this does not provide you with an actual license to use the song.

Your video may still be at risk of copyright infringement unless you get a sync license for it (via one of the methods listed in this post).

How many seconds can you use of a copyrighted song on YouTube?

Zero seconds if we’re being honest. Any use of a copyrighted song without a license or permission can result in a copyright claim or notice. See everything above for how and why this is.

How can I monetize YouTube videos with copyrighted music

Great question, we’re glad you asked. Simply pick your favorite method of getting music for your YouTube video from our list of options above (getting direct permission, securing a license, or using Creative Commons music, for example), and you’ll be able to monetize your video while using copyrighted music.

Does royalty-free music have copyright?

Royalty-free music does have copyright protection and a copyright owner. Royalty-free is more specifically a type of music licensing. Royalty-free simply indicates that no royalties will be paid for using the music. It’s a bit complicated, so we recommend you take a deeper dive into our guide to royalty free music if you’re interested in this topic.

Let’s Wrap It Up

You’ve made it to the end and are hopefully on your way to using copyrighted music on YouTube without worry! Or maybe we’ve scared you off and now you plan to avoid music on YouTube entirely (we honestly hope not).

Using copyrighted music and avoiding copyright claims is not as difficult or mysterious as it may have initially seemed. You have quite a few options depending on your situation as a creator and your specific resources or budget availability.

We hope we’ll see you creating videos featuring music from Thematic in the near future. We’d love to support you on your content creation journey!

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

This post on How to Use Copyrighted Music on YouTube & Avoid Copyright Claims is brought to you by Thematic Co-Founder & COO Audrey Marshall

With a background in entertainment PR (via Chapman University), Audrey has led digital strategy for music artists, content creators, and brands. From brand campaigns for Macy’s, American Cancer Society, and the L’Oréal luxe family of brands, to music-driven influencer marketing campaigns for Interscope Records, Warner Music, AWAL, and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas (featuring creators such as Lexy Panterra, Blogilates, Mandy Jiroux, Matt Steffanina, and Seán Garnier), she is an expert in navigating the influencer marketing space. Audrey has also developed and managed some of the leading beauty, lifestyle, and dance channels on YouTube.

Certified across the board with YouTube, Audrey has a specific focus on digital rights management for music assets, running multiple SRAV-enabled CMS. She is passionate about working with other builders in the space for a more transparent digital rights ecosystem.

At Thematic, Audrey leads the product team and oversees operations. She has driven partnerships with leading talent and music companies, including Songtrust, Kobalt/AWAL, Select Management, BBTV, ipsy, and Black Box, and has helped the platform grow to a thriving community of 1M+ content creators who have posted 1.6M+ videos using the platform, driving 60B+ music streams and $120M+ in earned media value for independent music artists.

Learn how to add music to YouTube videos the right way (before or after upload) without getting hit by copyright claims or strikes. This step-by-step covers everything from how to add music using the top video editing apps to sourcing music from YouTube’s built-in audio library, and even how to swap out copyrighted songs after your video is live.

And if you’re looking for copyright-safe music that won’t trigger takedowns, Thematic is a free music platform made for YouTube creators. You’ll find real songs from real artists – all cleared for use with no licensing headaches.

Here’s what this guide will cover:

✔️ How to add music using editing apps (iMovie, CapCut, InShot, Canva, DaVinci Resolve, or Adobe Premiere)
✔️ How to add or swap music inside YouTube Studio
✔️ Where to get copyright-safe music for your YouTube videos
✔️ Best practices for exporting video with music

Use the table of contents below to jump to the section you need:

• How to Add Music to YouTube Videos using Editing Apps
  • Quick Guide
  • Detailed Step-by-Step Guide
    • Guides for using popular editing apps (iMovie, Premiere, InShot, CapCut, & more)
    • Where to find copyright-free music for YouTube videos
    • Recommended YouTube export settings
    • Tips for crediting music in YouTube video descriptions
• How to Edit or Add Music to YouTube Videos After Upload
  • Add music using YouTube’s video editor
  • Replace the music in a copyrighted YouTube video
  • Video tutorial of adding music using YouTube’s video editor
• Conclusion: Master How to Add Music to YouTube Videos with Confidence

How to Add Music to YouTube Videos Using Editing Apps (iMovie, CapCut, Premiere & More)

To add music to YouTube videos using an editing app, you’ll first edit the video and sync it with music, then export your video and upload it to YouTube.

This method gives you full control over how the music fits with your footage. And you can do it with a variety of popular editing tools, like iMovie, CapCut, InShot, and Adobe Premiere.

Quick Guide: Add to YouTube videos using editing apps:

Want to add music to your video before uploading it to YouTube? This quick guide will show you how to add music to YouTube videos using popular editing apps like iMovie, CapCut, and Premiere.

1. Record your video footage.
2. Find copyright-safe music you can legally use on YouTube. Platforms like Thematic offer free music from real artists that won’t trigger copyright claims.
3. Import your footage and music into your favorite video editing app (e.g., iMovie, CapCut, InShot, Premiere).
4. Sync your video with the music track – adjust volume, trim and align clips to fit the audio.
5. Export your final video in MP4 or MOV format, using YouTube’s recommended export settings.
6. Upload the video to YouTube, add your title/description, and include proper music credits (if required).
7. Publish your video and double-check for copyright warnings in YouTube Studio.

✅ Pro Tip: Want to avoid copyright strikes? Try Thematic for free music made for creators.

Detailed guide: Add music to YouTube videos with editing software

Ready for a step-by-step walkthrough? This detailed guide will show you how to add music to YouTube videos with editing software step-by-step.

1. Record the video content for your YouTube video

Before you can add music to YouTube videos, you need the video itself. This can be original footage recorded with your phone or camera, screen recordings, animations, or even still images.

Import your visuals into the video editing app of your choice – like iMovie, Adobe Premiere Pro, CapCut, or InShot.

🛠️ Need help importing your clips? Check out our app-specific guides:

• How to Add Music to CapCut
• How to Add Music to iMovie
• How to Add Music to InShot
• How to Add Music to Edits (Instagram App)
• How to Add Music to Adobe Premiere Pro & Rush
• How to Add Music to DaVinci Resolve

2. Choose copyright-free music for your YouTube video

Music plays a huge role in how your YouTube video feels. The right track can add emotion, energy, and polish to your content – whether you’re making a vlog, tutorial, short film, or product review. But before you hit play on just any song, there’s one critical thing to understand:

When you want to add music to YouTube videos, it’s essential to pick copyright-free or licensed music from trusted sources to avoid getting copyright claims.

🎧 Why You Can’t Use Popular Songs in Your Videos (Even If You Credit the Artist)

Many creators assume that as long as they credit the artist or use a small portion of a song, it’s okay to add it to a YouTube video. That’s a common copyright myth.

In reality, using copyrighted music without permission can result in:

• Content ID claims (which may cause ads to appear on your video and loss of monetization)
• Copyright strikes (which remove your video and impact your channel’s standing)
• Blocked videos (where your video is limited in certain countries or on mobile devices)

For a full breakdown of how copyright works on YouTube and what happens when you use music without a license, check out our full guide: 👉 How Copyright Works on YouTube

✅ What Kind of Music Can You Use on YouTube?

To stay safe and compliant, always use:

• Royalty-free music
• Creative Commons music with proper attribution
• Music from a licensing platform like Thematic that grants you usage rights
• Tracks from the YouTube Audio Library, which are pre-cleared by YouTube

These options ensure your videos won’t get flagged and will remain monetizable (if you’re part of the YouTube Partner Program).

🔥 Where to Find Copyright-Free Music for YouTube Videos

There are a lot of music libraries out there, but not all are truly “free” or safe to use. Here are our top picks for creators:

🎵 Thematic – Free Music for YouTube with No Copyright Claims

Thematic is a music licensing platform built specifically for content creators. You get access to trending songs from real music artists, and everything is fully cleared for use on YouTube and other social media platforms.

✅ Why creators love Thematic:

• Music from real artists (not stock)
• 100% copyright-safe for YouTube
• Free for creators
• No Content ID claims or takedowns

To use music from Thematic, you simply:

1. Sign up for a free account
2. Find a song and copy the license link
3. Paste that link into your video description when you upload

If you’re ready to level-up your videos with great copyright-free music and join a collaborative and thriving community of creators, click here to sign-up for a free Thematic account today.

🎶 YouTube Audio Library: Songs for YouTube

YouTube’s Audio Library is available inside your YouTube Studio dashboard. It offers free music and sound effects that are safe to use in monetized videos. You can filter by mood, genre, length, and attribution requirements.

✅ Pro Tip: For more copyright-free music options for YouTube videos, check out the top free music platforms in our guide: 👉 Best Free Music Websites for YouTube Videos

📝 A Quick Note on Attribution

Even with copyright-free or royalty-free music, always double-check whether the song requires attribution (a credit in your video description). Many platforms (including Thematic) provide a license link or specific credit language you’ll need to copy/paste into your description. We cover exactly how to do that in the How to Credit Music section below.

3. Import your footage and music into your editing app

Once you’ve chosen your music track, download it to your device. Next, open your preferred video editing app (whether it’s iMovie, CapCut, Premiere, InShot, or another) and import both your footage and the music to your editing app to add music to YouTube videos effectively.

👉 Need help importing? Use our editing guides linked above in Step 1.

Now the fun begins! This is where you start shaping your video by syncing your visuals with your chosen music. Watch your creative vision come alive as you combine these elements seamlessly.

A few tips to make your music work for your video:

• Consider placing a powerful or catchy song right at the intro to grab your audience’s attention instantly.
• If your video includes voiceover or talking directly to the camera, use instrumental versions of songs during those sections so the vocals don’t clash or distract.

Keep in mind, this editing stage can take time, especially if your video is longer or the edit is more complex. Be patient and experiment until you feel your video truly reflects the story or mood you want to share with your viewers.

4. Sync your video with the music track

This is where the creative magic happens. Arrange your clips on the timeline and edit your footage to match the rhythm, mood, and beats of the music.

A few editing tips:

• Use cuts or transitions on the beat to make your video feel polished and intentional.
• Place high-energy moments during choruses or instrumental drops.
• If your video includes dialogue or voiceover, use instrumental versions of songs or lower the music volume during speech.

Don’t rush this step! It takes time to get it right, but the payoff in video quality is worth it.

5. Export your video

You want your video to look as best as it can be when shared on YouTube. Thankfully, YouTube has recommendations on how to best format and export your video so that it looks and sounds great for viewers. Below are the best practices and recommended settings to use when exporting videos for YouTube.

Recommended YouTube Video Export Settings

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080) is standard, but 4K is ideal
• File Format: .MP4 (H.264 video codec, AAC audio codec)
• Frame Rate: Use the same as your recorded footage (typically 24, 30, or 60fps)
• Audio: Stereo, 48kHz or 96kHz sample rate

👉 Advanced details on the encoded settings can be found in YouTube’s help center.

Before uploading, preview your final file to confirm everything looks and sounds great. Double-check sync, audio levels, and quality.

6. Upload your video to YouTube

You’re ready to share your video to your YouTube channel and subscribers! If you haven’t set-up your YouTube channel yet, you can follow the steps in 👉 this guide to create your YouTube Channel.

Log into your YouTube channel and click the Upload icon (or “Create” → “Upload videos” from YouTube Studio). Then follow these easy steps:

1. Select your video file
2. Add a title, description, tags, and thumbnail
3. Set your audience targeting and visibility settings
4. Add optional elements like subtitles, end screens, or cards
5. Run a copyright check
6. Click Save

Your video will now begin uploading. You can monitor its progress from the YouTube Studio dashboard.

✅ Pro Tip: See our best practices on how to optimize videos for YouTube here.

7. Publish your video

Once processing finishes, your video is ready to go live! Watch it once in full via the YouTube player to make sure everything works as expected.

If you used copyright-free music (like from Thematic), your video should stay claim-free. But if you do run into any issues, check out our guide on how to fix YouTube copyright claims.

How to credit music in your video description

Always check the specific license terms for any music you use in your YouTube videos. Some music providers or licenses require you to include a clear credit (such as the song title, artist name, and a license link) in your video description.

For example, if you use music from Thematic, you must include the provided license link and credit in your description. This step is essential to activate your music license and protect your video from copyright claims.

Even if the music you use doesn’t legally require credit, it’s still a good practice to include it. Viewers often want to know more about the songs featured, and giving credit is a respectful nod to the artists who created the music.

Here are some best practices:

• Do include the full song title and artist name.
• Do add any required license links or attribution provided by the music source.
• Don’t skip the credit if the license specifically asks for it—this activates your music license and helps keep your video copyright-safe.
• Do credit music even when it’s not required; viewers appreciate knowing the song details.

Example credit format:

Song: “[Song Name]” by [Music Artist] – [Link to Spotify/YouTube Video]

✅ Pro Tip: Including a credit in your description doesn’t automatically grant you permission or a license to use the song. Your video may still be subject to copyright claims. Learn more about this and other common copyright myths here.

How to Edit or Add Music to YouTube Videos After Upload

If you want to add or change music on a video you’ve already uploaded to YouTube, this guide will walk you through using YouTube’s built-in tools and audio library to replace your current music with royalty-free tracks.

How to Add Music to YouTube videos Using YouTube’s Video Editor

YouTube’s Audio Library lets you add music to YouTube videos that have already been uploaded right from your YouTube Studio dashboard. Here’s how:

1. Go to YouTube Studio and open the Content tab.
2. Click the edit icon (pencil) on the video you want to edit.
3. In the left menu, select Editor, then click Get Started.
4. Click the Audio tab to browse YouTube’s Audio Library.
5. Search or filter to find the song you want.
6. Hover over the song and click Add to place it on your video timeline.
7. Adjust the song’s start and stop points and mix level to fit your video.
8. If you change your mind, click the three-dot menu to Remove the song.
9. Click Save to apply your edits.

✅ Pro Tip: You can only use songs from YouTube’s Audio Library for this method. For other music sources, use a video editing app to add music before uploading to YouTube.

Screenshots: How to Add Music to YouTube Videos using YouTube’s Video Editor

Once you’ve adjusted the songs and your video is looking & sounding great, simply click Save in the top right corner to apply your video edits. There may be a processing time to finalize your edits, but YouTube will let you know once this is completed.

How to Replace Music to Remove a Copyright Song or Copyright Claim

In the case that you’ve uploaded a video to YouTube and received a copyright claim, YouTube may provide you with an option to replace the copyrighted song in your video. Replacing the copyrighted song will remove and fix the copyright claim on your video immediately.

Here’s how to replace the music in your uploaded YouTube video:

1. In YouTube Studio, go to Content and find the video with the copyright claim.
2. Hover over the Copyright restriction message and click See Details.
3. In the pop-up, click the three-dot Actions menu next to the claimed song.
4. You’ll see several options to handle the claim:
   Trim out segment – Remove the entire portion of the video containing the copyrighted music (including the video footage).
   Mute song – Fully mute the copyrighted song’s audio.
   Replace song – Swap out the copyrighted song with a track from YouTube’s Audio Library.
   Erase song – emove only the copyrighted song, keeping other audio like voiceover or sound effects.
   Dispute – Challenge the claim if you believe it’s incorrect or if you have rights to use the music.
5. Select Replace song to enter the editor.
6. Browse YouTube’s Audio Library, pick a replacement song, and click Add.
7. Adjust the new song’s start and stop timing to fit your video.
8. Click Save to apply your changes and clear the copyright claim.

Screenshots: How to Replace Music to Remove a Copyright Claim

Video Tutorial: Add Music to YouTube Videos Using YouTube’s Video Editor

For a step-by-step walkthrough, check out Thematic creator Ben Truong‘s tutorial on using YouTube’s video editor to add music to YouTube videos:

✅ Pro Tip: Need help adding music to YouTube Shorts? See our dedicated guide here.

Conclusion: Master How to Add Music to YouTube Videos with Confidence

Adding the perfect soundtrack can transform your YouTube videos from good to great. Whether you’re just starting out or editing a video you’ve already uploaded, knowing how to add music to YouTube videos the right way is essential to avoid copyright claims and keep your content safe.

From choosing copyright-free music to using popular editing apps or YouTube’s built-in editor, this guide on how to add music to YouTube videos has walked you through every step of the process. Remember to always check the licensing terms and give proper credit when required – it’s both respectful to artists and important for your channel’s protection.

By mastering these techniques, you can confidently enhance your videos with music that fits your style and engages your audience, all while staying copyright compliant.

Start applying these tips today and see how learning to add music to YouTube videos can elevate your content and grow your channel!

We hope you find this guide on how to add music to YouTube videos super helpful. You’re on your way to creating awesome videos for your YouTube channel and we can’t wait to watch them!

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

Every creator wants to know one thing 👉 How do I get YouTube subscribers?

You’ve probably already optimized thumbnails, tested titles, and tried to crack the YouTube algorithm. But one of the most underrated ways to grow a channel and build loyal subscribers is through music – a strategy that consistently helps creators get YouTube subscribers faster.

Music does more than fill silence – it sets the tone, creates emotional connection, keeps viewers watching, and makes your channel memorable. In fact, many top creators treat music as a secret growth hack.

This guide will show you exactly how music helps you get YouTube subscribers, plus how to use copyright-safe tracks to monetize your videos without worry.

Table of Contents

• Why Music Matters
• 7 Ways Music Helps You Get YouTube Subscribers
• How to Use Music Strategically
• Music Mistakes to Avoid
• FAQs about Using Music to Get YouTube Subscribers
• Final Thoughts

Why Music Matters When You’re Trying to Get YouTube Subscribers

When you’re competing with millions of other creators, standing out isn’t just about visuals – it’s about creating a complete sensory experience. That’s where music comes in. Mastering music not only makes your content more engaging but also helps you get YouTube subscribers more effectively.

Here’s why music is such a powerful tool for growing subscribers:

• First impressions count: Viewers form an opinion in the first 10 seconds. Music instantly sets the mood and hooks them.
• Emotional connection: Music triggers emotions, and emotions drive engagement. Subscribers are more likely to stick with creators who make them feel something.
• Increased watch time: Strategic use of music keeps people engaged longer, which YouTube rewards in its recommendations algorithm.
• Brand building: Consistent music choices create a recognizable style that keeps viewers coming back.

If you’re still not convinced, watch this video edit where a song edit completely flips the vibe of an iconic movie scene, showing how music alone can transform perception.

In short: if you want to get YouTube subscribers, music isn’t optional – it’s essential.

7 Ways Music Helps You Get Subscribers on YouTube

Music isn’t just background noise – it shapes how viewers feel, keeps them watching, and makes your channel memorable. Here are seven ways the right soundtrack can help you grow your YouTube subscribers.

1. Music Sets the Tone for Your Content

By setting the right tone, your videos are instantly more appealing, and more likely to get YouTube subscribers who resonate with your style.

Think about the last viral video you watched. Chances are, the music immediately told you whether the vibe was fun, dramatic, motivational, or relaxing.

Creators who match music with content style have a huge advantage:

• Educational channels often use calm, ambient music to keep viewers focused.
• Fitness creators use high-energy beats to pump up their workouts.
• Travel vloggers lean on cinematic soundtracks to make viewers feel like they’re on the journey too.

Filmmaker and YouTube creator David Le sums it up perfectly.

“The music pieces things together more than anything else in the video. The sound brings the video to life. It grabs them by their ears and pulls them in with their eyes.”

He notes that “music is an essential part of what I create” and we couldn’t agree more.

By setting the right tone, your videos are instantly more appealing – and more likely to get YouTube subscribers.

2. Music Builds Emotional Connections

Emotional connections make viewers more likely to comment, share, and get YouTube subscribers invested in your content.

If you want people to subscribe, you need more than views – you need connection. Music taps into emotions that visuals alone can’t achieve.

• A nostalgic song can trigger memories that make viewers feel closer to you.
• An uplifting track can make your success story more inspiring.
• A dramatic score can make your cliffhanger ending more intense.

Think of themed musical experiences, like the Stagecoach Festival or Warped Tour. These events brought huge communities together around a shared love of music – Stagecoach celebrated country music, while Warped Tour embraced all forms of rock. Music shaped the culture, lifestyle, and emotional experience of these events.

Similarly, music brings communities together on YouTube. It’s a major reason why viewers connect with and follow certain creators.

Music makes it easy for viewers to connect with your content. It’s why people often say, “I don’t know why, but I just love this creator.” Emotional connections lead to more comments, shares, and subscribers.

✅ Pro Tip: If you’re just starting, experiment with different types of music to see what fits your content and community. Once you find the right sound, you’ll grow through stronger engagement and more subscribers. 📈

3. Music Keeps Viewers Watching Longer

YouTube favors watch time above all. The longer viewers stay engaged, the more likely your content will be recommended (and the more subscribers you’ll get).

Music is a powerful tool to hold attention. It influences pacing, sets emotional beats, and prevents your videos from feeling flat or boring. When used strategically, music gives your video rhythm, helping viewers move seamlessly from one segment to the next.

How music impacts viewer retention:

• Intro hooks: A high-energy or emotionally compelling track in the first 10–15 seconds grabs attention, reducing the chance that viewers click away.
• Transitions & montages: Unique beats or thematic tracks can signal changes in your video, keeping the audience engaged and guiding them through your story.
• Climactic moments: A well-placed track can heighten suspense or excitement, making viewers stick around until the end.
• Outro & call-to-action: Music can make your outro more memorable, reinforcing your brand identity and nudging viewers to subscribe.

Real-world example 👉 Travel vloggers often pair cinematic scores with scenic montages. The music slows down or ramps up to match the visuals, making viewers feel like they’re on the journey themselves. This immersive experience keeps audiences watching until the end and encourages them to subscribe for future adventures.

✅ Pro Tip: Use music as a pacing tool. Map out each video segment and choose tracks that build interest or excitement. Over time, this boosts watch time and accelerates subscriber growth.

4. Music Makes Your Channel Memorable

Music defines the vibe of your channel, making viewers feel at home and more likely to get YouTube subscribers who return for every video.

Subscribers want more than random videos – they want a recognizable brand. Music is one of the easiest ways to create a unique identity.

Examples of memorable music branding:

• Michelle Phan, co-founder of Thematic, became known for the Magic Hour Radio aesthetic with chill, lo-fi-inspired music. This perfectly complements her ASMR-style makeup tutorials 💄 and creates a calming, immersive experience for viewers.
• Jeremy Ethier, who built one of the largest fitness and workout channels 🏋️‍♀️ on YouTube, consistently soundtracks his videos with hip-hop music. This sound aligns with his content and reinforces his overall branding.

By maintaining a consistent music aesthetic, these creators make it clear what their channel represents and what type of community they’re building. Music defines the vibe of the channel, making viewers feel at home, and more likely to subscribe.

Why it matters for subscribers:

• Familiarity breeds loyalty. When viewers recognize your “sound,” they feel at home and are more likely to subscribe.
• A distinct music style differentiates you from competitors, giving viewers a reason to choose your channel over others.
• Music-driven branding enhances emotional engagement, which drives comments, shares, and subscriber growth.

✅ Pro Tip: Establish a consistent music style. Whether energetic, cinematic, chill, or quirky, maintain a recognizable sound while matching each video’s mood. Over time, this helps you get YouTube subscribers.

5. Music Establishes You as a Tastemaker

Curating great music not only elevates your content but also helps you get YouTube subscribers who trust your taste and return for more.

New creators often rely on basic stock music, which doesn’t stand out. Successful channels pair great production with carefully selected music to differentiate themselves.

Real-world example 👉 YouTube creator Backpacker Humpback shows how the right music transforms content from “just OK” to engaging, improving pacing, tone, and feel, which keeps viewers watching and subscribing.

Top influencers curate music for their audience, building credibility and establishing themselves as tastemakers. Subscribers return not just for content but to discover new music.

Why it matters for subscribers:

• Being a tastemaker signals quality and professionalism, making viewers more likely to subscribe.
• Music curation strengthens your brand identity and differentiates you from competitors.
• Introducing viewers to new tracks increases engagement and reinforces community loyalty.

✅ Pro Tip: Don’t settle for uninspiring stock music. Use high-quality, copyright-safe music from real artists – creator music platforms like Thematic make it easy to access music that elevates your videos, helps your channel stand out, and grows YouTube subscribers.

6. How Copyright-Safe Music Helps You Monetize YouTube Videos

Here’s a subscriber growth tip most people overlook: your channel can’t grow if it gets demonetized or blocked.

Using copyrighted music puts your videos at risk of:

• Being muted
• Losing monetization
• Getting a copyright strike
• Being taken down completely

That’s why smart creators use copyright-safe music platforms like Thematic. Thematic gives creators free access to real music from real artists – safe to use on YouTube and monetized videos.

With Thematic, you’ll get the benefits of:

• A wide selection of songs from artists like Fiji Blue, Naomi, frumhere, and Elli Moore
• No copyright claims or disputes
• 100% of ad revenue stays with you

The best part? Creating an account on Thematic is totally free. If you’re ready to grow your channel with great music and zero copyright headaches, sign-up for a free Thematic account today ✅

7. Music Differentiates You From Other Creators

When your videos stand out with unique music, it’s easier to get YouTube subscribers who value originality.

Let’s be real: YouTube is crowded. Viewers have endless options, so if your videos don’t stand out, they’ll move on. To get YouTube subscribers, you need something that makes your channel feel unique. Music is one of the fastest ways to create that signature identity.

Top strategies to use music to get YouTube subscribers:

• Use rare or undiscovered tracks. Thematic specializes in surfacing hidden gems from real artists (not the same overused background tracks your viewers have heard a hundred times).
• Build a recognizable style around your sound. Just like an intro sequence or editing style, your music choices can become part of your brand. When subscribers recognize your vibe the moment your video starts, they’re more likely to stick around.
• Create an emotional hook. Music can shape how your audience feels when they watch your content – whether that’s inspired, motivated, nostalgic, or just vibing. That emotional connection makes your channel more memorable.
• Give viewers a reason to subscribe. When your videos feel different and fresh, people notice. A unique music style makes your channel feel curated, intentional, and worth hitting “subscribe” to experience again.

And here’s the best part 👉 with Thematic specifically, you can access free, copyright-safe music from real artists that isn’t saturated across YouTube. That means your content sounds different – because it is different.

How to Use Music Strategically to Get YouTube Subscribers

Music is a tool, but like any tool, it’s only effective when used correctly. Follow these step-by-step strategies to select and implement tracks that maximize subscriber growth.

Step 1: Define Your Channel’s Vibe

Before choosing any track, take a step back and think about your overall brand. How do you want viewers to feel after watching your videos? Energized and ready to take action? Calm and comforted? Motivated to chase their goals? Your music should reinforce that emotional tone.

👉 For example, a fitness channel might lean on upbeat, high-BPM tracks that push intensity, while a cozy lifestyle vlogger might prefer mellow, acoustic sounds.

This step sets the foundation – when you know your vibe, you’ll naturally filter out songs that don’t fit.

Step 2: Match Songs to Video Segments

Don’t just pick one track and play it all the way through. Think of your video as a story with distinct parts, and let the music highlight each section:

• Intro: A punchy, high-energy track that immediately grabs attention. Viewers decide in seconds whether to keep watching, so this is where you make an impression.
• Body: A steady background track that supports the content without overpowering your voice or visuals. Think of it as the glue that holds your video together.
• Transitions: Short musical cues or shifts in tempo that signal a change. This keeps the pacing dynamic and prevents monotony.
• Outro: A track that feels like a “signature” sound for your channel. Ideally, it’s catchy or emotional enough that viewers associate it with your content and look forward to hearing it again.

By aligning music to structure, you create a natural rhythm that makes your videos easier (and more enjoyable) to watch.

Step 3: Use Copyright-Safe Music Sources

Even the best soundtrack can cause problems if it isn’t licensed properly. Copyrighted music can lead to videos being muted, demonetized, or even removed. That’s why creators turn to platforms designed specifically for YouTube-safe music. With Thematic, for example, you can:

• Access songs from popular indie artists that your audience won’t hear on every other channel.
• Use the tracks for free as long as you credit the artist, keeping things simple and transparent.
• Avoid copyright claims entirely, so your videos stay monetized and your revenue is safe.

This step isn’t just about avoiding headaches – it’s about building trust with your viewers and protecting your brand long-term.

Step 4: Stay Consistent

Think about the biggest YouTubers you follow. Chances are, they have a recognizable “sound” you could identify even with your eyes closed. Consistency in music creates familiarity, and familiarity builds loyalty.

When subscribers know they can expect a certain mood or style each time they click play, they’re more likely to return. That doesn’t mean you should use the same exact song in every video – but sticking to a similar genre, vibe, or even artist pool can help make your channel feel cohesive.

Over time, music becomes part of your identity, not just background noise – helping you get YouTube subscribers who identify with your channel’s unique style 💪

Common Mistakes Creators Make With Music (and How to Avoid Them)

Even experienced creators can stumble when it comes to music. Choosing the wrong track, using it incorrectly, or ignoring licensing rules can hurt your channel’s growth. Here are the most common mistakes (and how to avoid them).

1. Using copyrighted music without permission

Grabbing a trending song without permission might seem harmless, but it can cost you big. Platforms like YouTube will flag or block your video, strip away monetization, or even issue copyright strikes that threaten your channel.

✔️ Instead, use music you have the rights to – whether through royalty-free sources, direct licensing, or creator-friendly platforms like Thematic.

2. Overpowering the dialogue

Even the perfect song can ruin a video if it’s too loud. Music should support your message, not compete with it.

✔️ Always balance your audio levels so your voice or dialogue remains clear and easy to follow, with music sitting just underneath as emotional reinforcement.

3. Inconsistent music choices

Jumping from EDM in one video to acoustic folk in the next can confuse your audience and weaken your brand identity. Viewers often connect with your channel through its vibe as much as its content.

✔️ Stick to a consistent music style or theme that matches your personality and niche to strengthen recognition and retention.

4. Not crediting properly

Even with licensed music, many agreements require attribution. Forgetting to credit can put you out of compliance and risk losing your license.

✔️ Always double-check the crediting instructions for the music you use and include them in your video description or credits section.

FAQs About Using Music to Get YouTube Subscribers

Even if you understand the basics of adding music to your videos, creators often have questions about strategy, licensing, and audience impact. This FAQ answers the most common questions about how to use music effectively to grow your channel and get YouTube subscribers.

Can music really help me get YouTube subscribers?

Yes. Music shapes tone, builds emotional connection, increases watch time, and makes your content more memorable – all of which influence YouTube subscriber growth. When viewers feel connected and entertained, they are more likely to comment, share, and hit the subscribe button.

Music also makes your content more memorable, helping your channel stand out from competitors and encouraging viewers to return. Strategically using music is a simple yet powerful way to influence subscriber growth on YouTube.

What’s the best place to find copyright-safe music?

The safest option is to use platforms built for creators, like Thematic, which offers free music from real artists that’s cleared for monetized videos. Other options include royalty-free libraries or direct licensing deals.

Using music from these sources protects your channel from copyright strikes, monetization issues, or video takedowns, ensuring your growth isn’t interrupted.

How do I know what music fits my channel?

Start by defining your brand personality and the mood you want your videos to convey. Then experiment with different genres, tempos, and styles until you find a consistent “sound” that complements your content.

For example, fitness channels often benefit from high-energy tracks, while lifestyle or educational creators may prefer chill, ambient, or cinematic music. Over time, your audience will recognize your music style as part of your channel’s identity, helping you retain and get YouTube subscribers.

Can I use trending songs from Spotify or TikTok?

Not unless you have proper licensing. Using copyrighted tracks without permission can result in muted videos, demonetization, or copyright strikes.

Stick to copyright-safe music libraries and platforms to avoid risk. If you want trending songs, look for licensed remix versions or contact the rights holder directly.

The key is to ensure that your content remains monetized and compliant while still sounding fresh and engaging.

How often should I update my channel’s music style?

Consistency is crucial, but that doesn’t mean you can’t evolve.

Refresh your music selections gradually to match changes in your content, audience preferences, or overall brand growth. Avoid abrupt shifts that confuse your viewers; instead, introduce new tracks while maintaining your recognizable channel vibe.

This balance helps keep content fresh while reinforcing your identity and subscriber loyalty.

Final Thoughts: Use Music as a Subscriber Growth Strategy

If you’re trying to figure out how to get YouTube subscribers, don’t overlook music. Music is the hidden layer that transforms casual viewers into loyal fans and helps you get YouTube subscribers faster than relying on thumbnails or titles alone.

By setting the tone, creating emotional connection, boosting watch time, and establishing your brand identity, music becomes one of the most effective tools for subscriber growth.

And with platforms like Thematic, you can access copyright-safe tracks from real artists – helping you grow, monetize, and stand out from the competition.

👉 Ready to get started? Discover music for your YouTube channel with Thematic access copyright-safe tracks from real artists, and grow your subscribers without risking strikes or demonetization.

We hope you find this guide on how to get YouTube subscribers and grow a YouTube channel through music helpful. These tips and insights will help you on your way to growing your brand, increasing your YouTube subscribers, and taking your channel to the next level.

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

This Guide to Using Music to Get YouTube Subscribers is brought to you by Thematic Director of Partnerships, Stephanie Leyva

Stephanie Leyva sits at the intersection of music artists and content creators. As the Director of Partnerships at Thematic, Stephanie has worked extensively with the artist and creator community on the site to ensure success digitally, on the platform, and support their initiatives.

Over the past few years, she has led numerous trending music-driven influencer marketing campaigns for “Glitter” and “Supalonely (feat. Gus Dapperton” by BENEE, “Loneliness for Love” by Lovelytheband, “Checklist (feat. Chromeo)” by MAX and so many more. She’s worked alongside various labels such as Casablanca Records, Republic Records and Sony Music. Focused on empowering connections between content creators and music artists, Stephanie continues to lead the charge in innovative music discovery through social.

Stephanie is also the creator of the Bloom In Progress podcast – a podcast about personal growth, relationships and navigating life in your 20’s.

During the Made on YouTube Event on September 20, 2022, YouTube announced several big updates to the platform, including new Shorts monetization opportunities and a revamp to its YouTube Partner Program eligibility rules (hint: you now have multiple ways to get partner status).

The big news, however, was the reveal of Creator Music – a new marketplace where creators can license songs for YouTube videos directly within YouTube.

Creator Music is a new destination in YouTube Studio that offers creators in the YouTube Partner Program “easy access to an ever-growing catalogue of music” for their YouTube videos. Creators will be able to access Creator Music directly from their Creator Studio dashboard within YouTube.

Creators will be able to license music from YouTube Creator Music through either the purchase of a single-use license of a song, or through a revshare deal with the music artists and record labels.

With the launch of Creator Music, YouTube has acknowledged that finding and licensing music for YouTube videos can be a difficult process and confusing for creators, and has presented a new solution for creators to use quality music in their videos. They hope “to build a bridge between the music industry and creators on our platform” and “[evolve] the soundtrack of YouTube.”

1. What is YouTube Creator Music?
   • Free song licenses
   • Paid song licenses
   • Revshare song licenses
2. The Benefits of Creator Music
   • Copyright compliance
   • Large music selection
   • Growing YouTube audience
3. Is YouTube Creator Music the best option for creators?
   • Ease of use
     • Song curation
     • Song filters
     • Song license rules & restrictions
   • Penalties for achieving success
     • License price depends on channel size
     • Sponsored video restrictions
     • License expiration and copyright claims
   • Considerations for creators
     • Production costs
     • YouTube Partner Program requirement
     • License management
4. Creator Music FAQs
5. The Top Benefits of Thematic over Creator Music

What is YouTube Creator Music?

Creator Music is not exactly the first time that YouTube has offered its creators access to music for their YouTube Videos.

In 2013, YouTube launched the YouTube Audio Library – a royalty-free music library for video creators. The Audio Library is available to all creators on YouTube and is accessed from the YouTube Studio dashboard. YouTube Audio Library features a large selection of free production music and sound effects which can be filtered by genre, mood, and title, and is copyright-safe for YouTube videos.

The production music from YouTube Audio Library is best suited for background music, though, and many creators end up feeling limited by the selection of music offered from the unknown music artists providing these songs.

Creators want to use music from artists they know and love, while still being able to monetize their videos. Which brings us to YouTube Creator Music!

YouTube Creator Music brings creators the opportunity to license music directly from music artists and feature great songs in YouTube videos, without the complexities of licensing the music themselves.

In Creator Music, creators can discover songs that are trending on YouTube, and sort and filter the music by mood, genre, vocals, BPM, duration, and price. YouTube will also feature collections of popular songs (as curated by YouTube).

Once a creator finds a song they’d like to use, they can save the song to their YouTube Creator Music library (similar to bookmarking it) or download a preview of the song before purchasing the license.

When ready to license a song for a YouTube video, creators will want to check out the license type available for the music.

✅ Pro Tip:
Keep in mind that all of the song licenses from YouTube Creator Music are for single videos only (they are single-use licenses). This means that the license purchased from Creator Music will only apply to one YouTube video. To use the same song in multiple videos, creators will need to purchase a separate license for the song for each video. Songs from YouTube Audio Library are OK to use in multiple videos.

Check out the different types of licenses available in Creator Music below:

Keep in mind that the song licenses purchased in Creator Music may have an expiration date. This means that your video may be copyright claimed after a certain period of time, even if you paid for the song license. When this happens, the creator’s video may become demonetized and/or be restricted from being viewable in certain countries or on certain devices.

✅ Pro Tip (this is a big one):
All of the music licensed from Creator Music can not be used in sponsored or branded content. This means that creators can not use songs from Creator in videos where “the creator has been paid by a brand or service to make content that’s primarily dedicated to endorsing or promoting that brand or service.” This is important to keep in mind since many creators in the YouTube Partner program rely on including sponsored content when monetizing their channel.

As you can see, there are many options for creators with Creator Music. Creators will be able to find a song for their video and then figure out which license makes sense for their videos.

💡 Note: All of the songs in Creator Music are available for use in YouTube videos only. The licenses purchased from Creator Music will not apply to videos posted on other platforms, so be careful when sharing and promoting your YouTube videos on other sites.

Unfortunately, brands are not allowed to use songs from Creator Music in their brand-specific YouTube channels. So if you’re a commercial brand, we recommend you just steer clear of Creator Music altogether.

The Benefits of YouTube Creator Music

YouTube Creator Music is a huge win for content creators on YouTube. Creators now have another solution to license music for YouTube videos.

Here are the 3 biggest benefits of using Creator Music for YouTube videos:

• Using music from Creator Music ensures that a creator’s videos and channel will always be copyright compliant 👍
  Creators put so much time and effort into making great videos for their channel, it’s a huge bummer when their videos are demonetized due to copyright claims for the music. Creator Music provides a solution so that creators can keep their channel monetized, while still using music in their videos.

• Creator Music provides creators with a vast selection of music for their videos 👍
  Creators are no longer limited to just using boring production music for their videos. While this music is great as background music, this type of royalty-free music (like those in the YouTube Audio Library), just doesn’t add much sparkle or life to the video. With Creator Music, YouTube creators get access to real songs from real artists they know and love.

• Music is a huge part of creating high quality videos and growing a YouTube audience 👍
  It brings a video to life and allows creators to enhance their storytelling. YouTube Creator Music provides creators with the option to continue using great music in their videos without risking demonetization or copyright claims.

Is YouTube Creator Music really the best option for Creators and YouTubers?

While we’re excited about the launch of YouTube Creator Music, is it really the best music option for YouTube creators? There are a ton of existing solutions for YouTube creators when it comes to finding and using great music in YouTube videos. Let’s look at some areas where we think Creator Music misses the mark:

1. (Not So) Easy to use 😐

2. Creators are penalized for achieving success and subscribers 🚩

3. Not designed for the everyday creator 👩🏻‍💻

YouTube Creator Music FAQs 💬

Let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions creators have about Creator Music!

What is Creator Music?

According to YouTube, Creator Music is a catalog of music that creators can use in YouTube videos. Some of the songs can be licensed for an upfront fee, allowing creators to monetize their videos (either temporarily or for perpetuity). Other songs may be eligible for a revshare with the song’s rights holders.

How do you use YouTube Creator Music?

Creators who are part of the YouTube Partner Program can access YouTube Creator Music from their YouTube Studio dashboard. Simply sign into your YouTube Studio and select Creator Music from the left menu. Creators can browse and license songs directly from this page.

What is Creator Music great for?

Creator Music is a great option for creators who are looking to license songs for their YouTube videos. Songs in Creator Music are available to Youtube Partners to license for YouTube videos either for an upfront fee or on a rev-share deal (where the video earnings are split between the creator and the music rights holders).

Does YouTube provide music for creators?

YouTube provides music for creators in both the YouTube Audio Library and in YouTube Creator Music. All creators can access the songs in YouTube Audio Library for free. These songs are primarily Creative Commons songs and are available to use everywhere. US-based creators in the YouTube Partner Program can also access YouTube Creator Music. Creator Music provides creators with music for YouTube videos for either an upfront fee or through a revenue-share with the music rights holders.

Where do YouTube creators get their music?

YouTube creators have many options to get music for their videos. Creators can access free music for YouTube videos through the YouTube Audio Library or from sites like Thematic, where you can get trending music from real music artists. Creators may also pay to license songs for their videos from YouTube Creator Music or other production music or stock music sites.

How do YouTubers get free music?

YouTube creators can download free music for YouTube videos from the YouTube Audio Library or from other free YouTube music websites like Thematic, where creators get access to trending music from real music artists.

What music can you use on YouTube without copyright?

Creators can get copyright-free music for YouTube videos from YouTube Audio Library, sites like Thematic where creators can licenses for free in exchange for artist promotion, or by purchasing licenses for songs from production and stock music libraries.

What is a YouTube creator?

A YouTube creator is someone who uploads videos to YouTube. YouTube creators are able to post and share videos for free while growing their YouTube audience (also called subscribers). YouTube creators are able to monetize their videos through advertisements, merchandise sales, and brand sponsorships.

⚡️ Top 7 benefits of Thematic over YouTube Creator Music

So how does YouTube Creator Music compare to Thematic, one of the most popular ways for creators to find music for YouTube videos? Let’s dive into the differences between YouTube Creator Music and Thematic and explore the benefits of each music licensing solution:

Use Thematic for free music for YouTube videos ✌️

While we’re excited about the launch of YouTube Creator Music and new ways for content creators to easily use music in YouTube videos, Thematic is clearly the better choice for creators who want to use great music in their YouTube videos.

At Thematic, we believe that all content creators should have fair access to quality music for their videos. This means that any size creator can get access to free music for YouTube videos without being penalized for their success, while still providing a fair value and exchange for music artists.

Thematic is also the only creator-first music solution for video creators. Co-founded by beauty creator and entrepreneur Michelle Phan, Thematic was built by creators and with creators, for the best creator experience possible.

Thematic provides the hottest songs from the best new music artists to creators and makes it insanely easy to use the music in YouTube videos. Creators don’t have to worry about licenses expiring or having to share revenue when using Thematic music. We keep it simple. You’re set for a copyright-safe and claim-free experience when using Thematic to find the best trending music for YouTube videos.

Thematic’s curation algorithm ensures that creators are instantly matched to the perfect songs for their videos, taking into consideration your video content themes, favorite types of music, personal aesthetic, and the creators and music artists you already follow and love.

So if you’re ready to level-up your video soundtrack and join a collaborative and thriving community of creators, sign-up for a free Thematic account today.

We’re excited to see what you create.

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

Our comprehensive guide on how to add music to YouTube Shorts (and avoid copyright claims on your video)!

YouTube Shorts videos are exploding in popularity as a new way for video creators to share content, reach new viewers, and grow their YouTube channels. If you’re already creating content for YouTube, but not yet posting Shorts, we recommend adding these types of videos to your content strategy for maximum discovery opportunities!

Music is a core part of making your Short captivating. When you consider that you have just a split second or two to capture your viewer’s attention (before they might swipe to the next video), you realize that starting your video off with sound and music is super critical to keeping them engaged.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through all the ways to add music to Shorts videos. Whether you’re creating content directly in the YouTube app or editing videos and then uploading them to YouTube, we’ll walk you through how to add music to your video in just a few steps. You’ll be on you way to creating captivating Shorts in no time!

Rushed for time? Use our How to Add Music to YouTube Shorts table of contents to jump directly to your preferred section:

• Add music using the Shorts Creation Tools in the YouTube app
• Add music to YouTube Shorts videos not created in the app
• Video tutorial of how to add music to YouTube Shorts using Adobe Premiere
• Where to find copyright-free music for Shorts

How to Add Music to YouTube Shorts videos

YouTube makes it easy to add music to YouTube Shorts videos. Let’s review all the ways you can easily do this to add music to your Shorts videos!

How to add music to YouTube Shorts from the Shorts Creation Tool

You’ll first need to download and install the YouTube app on your phone. Once logged into your YouTube account, click the + icon from the bottom navigation menu.

The Shorts video creation tool will appear where you can record video, add sound, and make edits to your video. If you’ve ever created a TikTok video, it will be a very similar experience.

Click on the Add sound button at the top of the screen to browse and select a song from YouTube’s Shorts music library.

You’ll find songs recommended for you, trending songs, and have the option to search and filter for a specific sound.

Once you’ve found a song you’d like to use in your Short, click on the song and tap the blue arrow to add it to your video. Now simply record your video and add any edits, filters, or text you’d like to include.

After you’ve finished your edit, go ahead and click next to add your video details and upload the Short to your YouTube channel!

👉 Pro Tip: You may not be able to monetize your Short fully in the case that you select copyrighted music from YouTube’s Shorts music library. Also keep in mind that music selected from YouTube’s Shorts library is not eligible for sponsored or commercial videos.

How to add music to YouTube Shorts videos not created in the app

Sometimes you may want to record and edit a video to upload as a YouTube Short that is not created using YouTube’s Shorts in-app editing tools. This may be the case if you edited your video in different editing software (like on iMovie, CapCut, InShot, or Premiere) and want to upload it directly as a YouTube Short without making any additional edits.

If this sounds like you, read on!

You’ll first want to record and edit your YouTube Short like you would any other YouTube video. You can check out our guide on how to add music to YouTube videos here first if you’d like more detail on editing music in YouTube videos.

After you’ve exported your video file and have it ready to upload, go ahead and open the YouTube app on your device and click the + item from the bottom menu bar.

Instead of using the app’s editing tools, you’ll want to click the Add button from the lower left corner of the screen.

This will open a page where you can browse the videos saved to your device and select the one you’d like to upload.

Once selected, you can make minor edits to your video, including adjusting the start and stop times of your video. Click Done once it’s edited how you like it.

You will return to the regular Shorts video editor where you can add on to your selected video clip, as needed. If you have no further edits, go ahead and click the check in the lower right corner. You will now have the option to add any additional sound, text, voiceover, or filters to your video. Click Next when you’re done editing.

As the last step, add your video details, like caption and visibility status, then go ahead and Upload Short to share it to your channel. If your music requires any crediting, please remember to include that in your Shorts video description as required (see how to add a description to Shorts videos here).

Video tutorial of how to add music to YouTube Shorts using Adobe Premiere:

Thematic creator L.A. LIVIN’ has a great tutorial on how to easily add music to YouTube Shorts video using Adobe Premiere Pro in her “Five Minute Quick Step By Step Tutorial on How to Make YouTube Shorts in Premier Pro” video:

Best Copyright-Free Music for Shorts

The best place to find trending and copyright-free music for YouTube Shorts videos is Thematic ✌️

Thematic is totally free to use and keeps your videos claim-free and safe from copyright claims.

You can use the music from Thematic royalty-free and in sponsored or branded content with no problems! I’ll link for you here some of the best music to use in YouTube Shorts videos here to get you started.

Creating an account on Thematic is totally free and you get to keep 100% of your ad revenue with our claim-free experience. Just click the button below to sign-up and start downloading songs for free.

Now that you know how to add music to Shorts, dive into our guide on how to maximize your YouTube Shorts views here 📈

We hope you find this guide on how to add music to YouTube Shorts super helpful. You’re on your way to creating awesome content for your YouTube channel and we can’t wait to check it out!

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.

Creator Laura Medley talks about the different sites she uses to find music for YouTube videos

Two of the most popular music platforms for YouTube creators are Thematic and Epidemic Sound. Both music sites provide creators with music for YouTube videos, social media, and podcasts, and as a result some might consider these two options as alternatives or competitors to one another.

Creators will find similarities between the two music sites, including a selection of quality music for videos, an easy-to-use and copyright claim-free experience, and a music library that are trusted by the biggest creators in the world. However, there are some key differences to consider when comparing the two platforms.

1. What is Thematic?
2. What is Epidemic Sound?
3. Is Thematic or Epidemic Sound better for video creators?
   • Type of creator
   • Music selection
   • Song filters
   • Creator community
   • Which is creator-first?
   • Using Thematic and Epidemic together
   • Winner of best site for video creators
4. Is Thematic or Epidemic Sound better for music artists?
   • Benefits of Thematic for music artists
   • Benefits of Epidemic Sound for music artists
   • Comparison of Features for Music Artists
   • Winner of best site for music artists
5. Epidemic Sound FAQs
   • Can I use Epidemic Sound for free?
   • Is Epidemic Sound worth it?
   • Is Epidemic Sound legal?
   • What is Epidemic Sound used for?

Let’s dive into the differences between Thematic and Epidemic Sound:

What is Thematic?

Thematic is a community-driven platform where creators can license trending songs from music artists in exchange for promotion. Creators can access unlimited royalty-free music and sound effects from Thematic to make their content creation easier.

Thematic’s mission is to bring creatives together and empower them to achieve their full potential through a fair, safe and collaborative exchange. Thematic believes that all content creators should have fair access to quality music for their videos.

Thematic has a freemium business model where all creators can download free music for videos. The paid Premium subscription (starting at $8.99/month) unlocks additional songs and features, and the Pro subscription provides tools and advanced features for professional creators. The music from Thematic can be used in YouTube videos, across social media platforms (like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitch), and in podcasts..

The music from Thematic is from trending, independent music artists. These are real music artists you can find on Instagram and TikTok who are looking to get their songs discovered by new audiences. 

Some of the artists featured on Thematic have gone on to have massively successful careers, including: Fiji Blue (who signed to Virgin Records), Nicky Youre (whose song “Sunroof” was the top trending song on TikTok), EVAN GIIA (who signed to Astralwerks), and JP Saxe (who was nominated for a Grammy and signed to Arista).

Thematic is a marketing engine and launching pad for the next big thing in music. Creators using the music from Thematic get the opportunity to use the music from these artists and be part of their success story.

What is Epidemic Sound?

Epidemic Sound is a production music library providing royalty free background music and sound effects for videos. Creators get unlimited downloads of the music and SFX when using the Epidemic sound library.

Epidemic’s mission is to empower creativity and soundtrack the world. They aim to enrich the creative process and enable creators to elevate their content through the music and SFX.

Epidemic Sound has a subscription business model (starting at $9.99/month for digital platforms). Their subscription plans have a free trial period, but there is no free plan option. The music from Epidemic can be used on a variety of web platforms, depending on the tier selected.

The music available on Epidemic Sound is from a variety of composers, production music artists, and independent music artists. Some of the artists on Epidemic are actual artists you might find on Instagram, and some of the artists are pseudonyms (groups of works from composers under different, made-up artist names).

Is Thematic or Epidemic Sound better for video creators?

Both Thematic and Epidemic Sound are designed to help creators elevate their content and produce great videos. Creators can find quality royalty-free music for YouTube videos and sound effects on both platforms.

Let’s explore some of the key differences between these two sites for providing music for creators.

Are you a new or established creator?

You may have different needs for music depending on whether you’re a brand new creator, who is just getting started with their channel, or an established creator, who creates content as their full-time job.

Music for new creators

For creators just getting started, Thematic provides the best option as it has a free subscription for creators. Epidemic Sound does not have any free subscriptions available on its site.

Thematic allows any creator, even if they’re making their very first video, to get access to high quality music for their videos for free. Creators no longer need to wait to get a lot of subscribers or to become eligible for video monetization to get access to the best music for YouTube videos. They can use Thematic from day one to start making amazing videos with great music from real independent artists.

Music for established & full-time creators

On both Thematic and Epidemic Sound, full-time content creators and video creators with established audiences can find great music options for their videos. Each site has a subscription option available for creators who are looking for the widest selection of songs for all of their video needs.

For example, both Thematic and Epidemic provide subscription plans that allow creators to clear music for multiple YouTube channels, for client accounts, and for use in digital ads.

On Thematic’s Pro subscription, established creators can also invite their video editors to help find music for their channel (without sharing login info).

Music Library on Epidemic Sound vs Thematic

Thematic’s music selection is curated and matched to each creator based on their personal aesthetic, video content, and favorite types of music. In fact, many creators find Thematic to be the best site to get aesthetic music for YouTube videos.

Creators on Thematic get curated Weekly Matches every Friday and their own personalized mix of songs and curated playlists matched to the creator’s aesthetic. This ensures a fast and easy way for creators to find the perfect song to enhance their video.

Thematic has also recently added an AI-powered music search called Trackmatic where creators can describe their videos to get song recommendations matched to their content.

Epidemic has a large production music library that creators can browse and filter through. They have over 40,000 songs that creators can search to find a song that fits their YouTube video.

Epidemic Music provides playlists for creators that match different genres and moods. Creators can explore these different playlists by clicking through their featured pages and finding a playlist they enjoy.

Song Filters to find the right music

When searching on both Thematic and Epidemic, creators can use song filters to find specific songs for their videos. Both platforms allow creators to search by keyword and filter by mood or vibe, genre, instrumental only, song duration, and BPM. Thematic also allows creators to filter by the video keyword, song energy, featured instrument, explicit songs, vocal types, and song key.

Epidemic’s search results include sound effects, songs, and editorial playlists. Thematic’s search results include songs, editorial playlists, playlists from the community, music artists, and other creators using the site.

Creator Community

One of the things that creators love most about using Thematic is the creative community. Thematic helps to connect the creators and music artists in a collaborative way.

For example, Thematic features YouTube videos from its creators throughout the site. Many creators like to watch these videos to see what songs to use or what types of videos to create.

Creators can also follow other creators and music artists on Thematic. This allows a creator to see all of the songs their favorite influencers feature in their YouTube videos, the achievements they’ve earned on the site, similar creators, links to their social media platforms, and their shared music playlists. Likewise, they can see the latest songs from their favorite music artists.

Also, Thematic has both an Affiliate Squad and private community Discord server where the creators and music artists on the site can connect directly, collaborate, and refer friends to join the Thematic community. Some of the music artists have ended up working on new music together and meeting up in person because of their connection in this community.

Epidemic Sound’s community program is an affiliate loyalty program that encourages creators to invite other creators to use Epidemic Sound. Creators can register to join the community to get their referral link.

Which is Creator-First?

Thematic is the only music licensing platform that was developed by a YouTube creator. Co-founded by the premier beauty influencer and entrepreneur, Michelle Phan, Thematic was built to solve the issue of connecting music artists and creators from a creator-first perspective.

Epidemic Sound was created in 2009 by Swedish entrepreneurs from the TV and music industries.

Using Thematic and Epidemic Together

Often, creators use both platforms to soundtrack their videos. For example, a creator will use a hot new song from Thematic in their video intro and montages to set the vibe of their video, then feature Epidemic music in other parts of their video, like during voiceovers.

Below is a great example from creator Yoora Jung. The song featured during her video intro (“Pretty Blue Jeans & Me” by nodisco.) is a perfect fit for Yoora’s aesthetic and helps to capture the viewers’ attention. The song from Epidemic Sound played later (during the car part of the video at 2:50) was a great chill background song to keep the video flowing. Check it out here:

As you can see in Yoora’s video, the music from Thematic helped to set the overall tone and feeling of the video (which is key to making videos successful and growing a YouTube audience).

Winner of best site for video creators

While we find that Thematic and Epidemic are complementary music solutions for creators, Thematic is the clear winner as it provides a music solution for all levels of creators (and not just full-time creators). All creators can start using Thematic for free without a paid subscription.

In terms of music quality and differences, Thematic has more aesthetic and trending music from real artists and songs you’ll want to add to your Spotify playlists. Epidemic Sound is a great source production background music and sfx.

You’ll find that many serious content creators tend to use both platforms to provide the perfect soundtrack for their YouTube videos.

Is Thematic or Epidemic Sound better for musicians and music artists?

Thematic and Epidemic Sound provide different values for music artists. Let’s compare the differences between the two sites from the perspective of music artists.

What are the benefits of Thematic for music artists?

Thematic provides independent music artists with song promotion and influencer marketing for their music. Thematic offers music artists a way to get their music discovered by new audiences – driving new fans, more Spotify streams, and higher social engagement. It is completely free for music artists to launch a song campaign to Thematic.

What value and royalties do musicians receive on Thematic?

The creators using music from Thematic are required to promote the song and artist in their videos.

Thematic provides their music artists with a full performance dashboard of how and where their music is being featured on YouTube, including Earned Media Value (the estimated cost that the artist would likely have to spend through paid marketing efforts to achieve the same exposure and engagement they are receiving organically through Thematic).

The music artist keeps full control and ownership of their music and can opt their songs out at any time. Thematic admins the songs in YouTube Content ID while the music is available on Thematic and pays out 80% of all collected revenues to the music artist. Thematic does not take any of the music artist’s streaming royalties.

What are the benefits of Epidemic Sound for music artists?

Epidemic Sound provides composers and music artists with a way to sell their music for an upfront fee. Epidemic purchases songs from music artists for an agreed-upon amount. As a result, Epidemic fully owns the music on its site and controls the exclusive rights to the music. The music by Epidemic Sound is owned by Epidemic Sound (not the artists).

What value and royalties do musicians receive on Epidemic Sound?

The creators using Epidemic music licensing are not required to promote the song or artist in their videos.

Epidemic pays out 50% of the collected streaming revenue from the songs with the music artist.

Comparison of Features for Music Artists

Winner of best site for music artists

As you can see, there is a clear difference of value for the music artist when looking at the two platforms. Music artists who are looking to grow their fans and take their career to the next level, while also monetizing their copyrights, would find most success on Thematic. Music artists or composers who are looking to sell their music copyrights in exchange for royalties should consider making music for Epidemic Sound.

Epidemic Sound FAQs

Let’s answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Epidemic Sound!

Can I use Epidemic Sound for free?

Epidemic Sound does not have a free plan available for creators. Their personal subscription plans start at $9/month (when billed annually) and they may offer a free trial for these plans (although it is not guaranteed).

Is Epidemic Sound worth it?

Epidemic Sound is one of many providers for royalty free music for videos, so it really depends on what you’re looking for. If using popular music from real or trending artists is not a priority or if you need tons of regular background music for all of your videos, Epidemic Sound may be worth it for your needs. Their subscription plans are relatively inexpensive (starting at $9/month for social media platforms) and they provide many tracks for creators.

However, if you would like more of a curated library with trending songs, or if you need free music for videos, Epidemic Sound may not be worth it. We recommend considering all of the royalty free music options available to you before making a decision.

Is Epidemic Sound legal?

Yes! Epidemic Sound is a legal way to get royalty free music for videos. They are a trusted company and provide creators with different subscriptions to get music for videos. Creators will just want to make sure that they are on the appropriate subscription to make sure they are in compliance with Epidemic’s terms of service and licensing regulations.

What is Epidemic Sound used for?

Epidemic Sound is used by creators, freelancers, agencies, and businesses to get royalty free music for videos and podcasts. They provide songs and sound effects (SFX) that can be used in both personal or commercial video projects (based on your subscription type) across social media and online platforms (like podcasts or company websites).

We hope you found this guide to the differences between Thematic and Epidemic Sound helpful. As you can see in our comparison of the two platforms, creators can find value from both platforms in different ways and both provide creators with great music for YouTube videos.

Ready to get started with Thematic? Sign-up for free Thematic to find music for YouTube videos.

Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.