What is Copyright-free Music? – A Guide for Content Creators

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In content creation, visuals and narratives interlace to create a symphony of storytelling, and music acts as the silent maestro, enhancing that storytelling and driving the emotions.

This is why content creators spend hours finding that perfect background music.

While finding the perfect music is challenging, things get more complicated when creators also have to worry about copyright regulations.

This is where copyright-free music becomes a life-savior for filmmakers, podcast creators, YouTubers, and game creators. It provides a convenient and cost-effective way to use quality music for your projects without additional costs and licensing agreements.

What does copyright-free music mean?

Copyright-free music is the type creators use in their content without legal implications or copyright infringement. It does not require you to pay ongoing royalties or license fees for using it in your content every time.

Copyright-free music does not mean that it is entirely free to use. It rather means that the owner has granted certain usage rights to the public. Every copyright-free music has a licensing that specifies the terms of use for the music. The music licenses issued vary, and you should read them carefully to understand the scope of music usage before using them.

For example, some licenses may only allow the use of the music for personal use, while others might permit it commercially. Some might allow you to modify the music or even for redistribution. As a creator, you must ensure that your intention of using the music aligns with the owner’s terms outlined in the music license agreement.

Why is copyright-free music important?

If you are a content creator, we bet you have come across this at least once in your life 👇

Hurts, doesn’t it?

Copyright-free music saves you from copyright suits that cost a fortune.

Here’s why copyright-free music is the need of the hour:

  • Simplifies Legal Issues: Copyright-free music has clear licensing terms that outline the ways to use the music. This simplifies how to use the music, avoiding legal issues and copyright infringement. It also helps you avoid any kind of copyright claims and content takedowns, especially for platforms like YouTube, social media, podcasts, or any other platform.

  • Simplifies Usage: Copyright-free music eliminates the licensing process and negotiations, making it easy to use in your next content.

  • Cost-effective: Traditional music licensing is expensive, especially for independent content creators. For example, the Mad Men by Beatles license cost $250,000. Copyright-free music offers an affordable alternative to having high-quality music without spending a fortune.

  • No royalty payments: In traditional music, licensing often involves ongoing royalty payments based on usage. Copyright-free music only requires a one-time purchase and sometimes no payments at all.

    • How do content creators use copyright-free music?

    Taylor Swift is one of the most followed celebrities on Instagram, a famous singer, pop artist, and whatnot! People use her music for reels, shorts, TikTok videos, and other forms of social content.

    But is her music copyright-free? Well, no.

    The platforms will take down your content anytime if she claims copyright on the music you use.

    The mindful and better way to create content is to find yourself a source of copyright-free music. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Find a reliable platform for copyright-free music: Find sources that give you access to high-quality, genuine music free from copyrights.

  • Read the licensing terms carefully: Review the terms with each piece of music. This is crucial because different music can have additional licensing terms regarding their use and modification, and you must adhere to them. If the usage term restricts specific uses or modifications in the music, make sure that you adhere to those

  • Give credit to the artist: While some copyright-free music requires attribution, some don’t. You must give the artist credit if it is outlined in the music license. If not, acknowledging the artist and the music source used in your content is also considered good practice.

  • Keep documentation: Maintain a record of necessary attributions and licensing agreements. These will be helpful in case of any disputes or if you ever have to provide evidence of your legal use of the music.

  • Use AI tools: Use AI-based tools like Beatoven.ai to create royalty-free music and avoid legal issues.

    • Copyright-free music vs. Royalty-free music – What are the differences?

    While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are different from each other. Let’s understand how.

    Royalty-free music is the type of music for which you won’t have to pay ongoing royalty to the artist every time it is played. This type of music requires a one-time payment, like a license fee, and that’s it.

    The difference

  • Copyright-free music is not protected by copyright; anyone can use it without restrictions, adhering to the terms of use.
  • On the other hand, royalty-free music has a copyright. It can be free or have a one-time payment but does not involve continuous royalty or ongoing fees.

    • Read this to end the Copyright-free vs. Royalty-free dilemma

    Myths related to copyright-free music

    There are a few misconceptions about copyright-free music in the global creator’s community. Let’s bust these myths and get to the reality of it.

    Myth: All copyright-free music is free of charge
    Some copyright-free music is free of charge, but not all. There can be a one-time fee, subscription fee, platform fee, or any indirect charge.

    Myth: Copyright-free music is low in quality
    Many copyright-free music stock music libraries offer high-quality music from talented artists.

    Myth: All copyright-free music can be used for commercial purposes
    The licensing term defines whether the music is free for commercial use. This means that not all copyright-free music can be used for commercial purposes.

    Myth: Attribution is never required for copyright-free music
    Copyright-free music, like Public Domain and Creative Commons, often does not require attribution. A piece of music listed under the public domain is free for anyone to use, regardless of purpose. Creative Commons are licenses provided by non-profit organizations that allow content creators to use the music as per their needs. The critical difference between public domains and creative commons is that public domains don’t require permission from the music creator. In contrast, creative commons sometimes require attribution from the creators.

    Pros and Cons of using copyright-free music

    Copyright-free music has both pros and cons for creators. It is essential to be mindful of these when looking for awesome background music for your content.

    Pros

  • Copyright-free music is an affordable option for content creators to stay at bay from any copyright issues
  • It is readily available for use and saves you time and effort
  • It does not require you to pay any ongoing payments or royalties
  • You get a wide range of genres to choose music that suits your content’s mood

    • Cons

  • Limited exclusivity as it is available for everyone to use
  • The quality of music may vary depending on the source
  • Some copyright-free music comes with restrictions. You need to carefully read the terms before using the music
  • Because these are free to use, popular and good tracks will be widely used, giving away the uniqueness of it
  • Misinterpretation of licensing terms can lead to copyright infringement.

    • Where can content creators find copyright-free music?

    A great place to find copyright-free music is – YouTube Audio Library. This channel is dedicated to assisting creators with copyright-free and royalty-free music. This channel has specific terms and conditions like:

  • Creators must provide credits in the video description
  • They cannot claim the music to be their own
  • Creators cannot sell or remix the music

    • If a creator violates any of these terms and conditions, they would be subjected to copyright claims.

    How do you know if the music is copyright-free?

    To avoid any last-minute hassle, always download copyright-free music from reputable sources and use these tips to find out if the music is copyright-free:

  • Review the licensing information carefully. Authentic sources will provide details about how music can be used, any restrictions, and if attribution is required.
  • Check the Public Domain status and ensure that it is clearly stated before using
  • Check the copyright mark on the file name and information
  • Check the video description on YouTube to find who owns the music license in case you know the track you want to use
  • Upload the music as unlisted or private on YouTube. The YouTube Content ID will check the YouTube library and alert you if it is licensed.

    • Conclusion

    As we have seen, finding copyright-free music is tricky, but avoiding legal consequences is worth the effort. Copyright-free music liberates content creators from the constraints of legal licensing and gives you access to music without breaking the bank.

    However, you should choose royalty-free music when finding unique, high-quality music.

    But wait, you don’t have to scroll through tons of music when you have Beatoven.ai to help you create your music.

    Beatoven.ai is an AI music generator platform that allows you to create your music compositions and gives you royalty-free usage. The platform works with renowned artists to generate original royalty-free music for content creators.

    All you have to do is:

  • Describe your emotion, scene, situation, mood
  • Click compose
  • Once the composition is ready, you get editable 4 options to choose from
  • Click download, and your royalty-free, high-quality music is ready to use

    • You can set the tone, mood, tempo, and style, change the instruments, and create music you like.

    Go try it out now!

    Other FAQs

    How can I find copyright-free music?

    You can find copyright-free music on websites that exclusively offer copyright-free music. You can also create royalty-free music using an AI music generator like Beatoven.ai.

    What music has no copyright?

    The music marked as public domain is free to use without licensing and has clear terms of use stating it is copyright-free.

    Is it okay to use no-copyright music?

    Yes, it is okay to use no-copyright music as it allows you to use it without fearing copyright infringement and being taken down by the platform due to copyright issues.