Can I Use Copyrighted Music on YouTube? Your Real Options
Usually not, unless you have permission. To use copyrighted music on YouTube, you need the right to use it: a license, permission from the rights holder, music you own, or a track from a source like YouTube's Audio Library. Without that, your video can get a claim, lose its revenue, or even get a strike.
This guide explains what usually happens when you use a song without permission, where to find music you can safely use, and what to check in a license. It is general information, not legal advice. For a specific contract or dispute, talk to a lawyer who knows copyright where you live.
The short answer: you need the right to use the music
Almost every song is protected by copyright. Copyright is the legal right of the people who made the music to decide who can copy and share it. Often there are two sets of rights: one for the composition (the melody and lyrics) and one for the recording (the actual audio file). Different people or companies can own each one.
Buying a song, streaming it, or owning the CD lets you listen to it. It does not let you put it in your videos. For that you need a license or permission that covers use on YouTube.
What happens if you use a song without permission
YouTube uses an automatic system called Content ID. Rights holders upload their music, and YouTube compares every new video against it. When it finds a match, the rights holder can choose what happens. Common results are:
- The video stays online, but the ad revenue goes to the rights holder instead of you.
- The video is blocked in some regions or everywhere.
- The rights holder simply tracks the video's viewing statistics.
A claim affects that one video. Read what a Content ID claim means for your channel for the details. A rights holder can also send a formal takedown request, which is more serious because it can lead to a strike. Our guide on how long copyright strikes last explains the difference and what to do.
Safe places to get music for your videos
- YouTube Audio Library. It is inside YouTube Studio and offers music and sound effects you can use in your YouTube videos. Some tracks require you to credit the artist in your description, so check each track's details.
- Properly licensed music. Music from a library or artist that gives you a written license covering YouTube and, if you earn money, commercial use.
- Music you own. Songs you wrote and recorded yourself, with no samples from other people's work.
- Commissioned music. Music someone makes for you, with a written agreement that says you can use it on YouTube.
What 'royalty-free' and 'copyright-free' really mean
These words are used loosely online, and they do not mean the same thing. The license text is what really counts.
| Term | What it usually means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Royalty-free | The music is still copyrighted. You pay once (or nothing) and do not pay per view or per use. | Whether the license covers YouTube, monetized videos and your number of videos. |
| Copyright-free / public domain | Copyright has expired or the creator gave it up. | Whether the specific recording is free too. An old composition can have a new, protected recording. |
| Creative Commons | The creator allows use under set conditions. | Whether commercial use is allowed and how to give credit. |
Be careful with uploads titled 'no copyright music' on video or file sites. The uploader may not own the track. If you cannot find the original creator and their license, do not rely on it.
What to read in a music license before you use a track
- Commercial use. If your channel is monetized, or will be, the license must allow commercial use. See the YouTube Partner Program requirements if you are working toward monetization.
- Platforms. Does it name YouTube? Does it also cover Shorts, other social platforms or client work?
- Attribution. Do you need to credit the artist, and in what exact form?
- Duration. Does the license end when a subscription ends? Find out if videos published during the subscription stay covered.
- Content ID. Does the provider register tracks in Content ID? If so, how do you clear a claim on your video?
- Limits. Some licenses forbid using the music in certain content, such as ads or political videos.
Covers, remixes and background music in vlogs
Covers. When you sing or play someone else's song, you use the composition, even if the recording is yours. Many publishers allow covers on YouTube and claim the revenue through Content ID, but some block them. There is no guarantee either way.
Remixes. A remix usually uses both the composition and the original recording. You need permission for both, which is harder to get.
Background music. Music playing in a shop, car or party while you film can still match in Content ID. The system does not know that it was an accident.
Music in Shorts: what can be different
Shorts work differently from long videos. When you create a Short in the YouTube app, you can add music from a built-in selection of songs. Those songs are offered for use in Shorts, but that does not mean you can use the same song in a long video. Revenue from Shorts is also shared differently, and the use of music can affect it. Clips from long videos turned into Shorts can also have different rules. These details change often, so check YouTube's current Shorts help pages before you rely on them.
Keep a record of every license
Claims can appear months after you upload. Proof of your rights makes disputing them much easier. For each track, save:
- The track name, artist and where you got it.
- A copy or screenshot of the license on the day you downloaded it.
- The receipt or license ID, if you paid.
- Which videos use the track.
A simple spreadsheet and one folder per channel is enough.
What to do next
Look at your next video before you upload it. Is every piece of music from YouTube's Audio Library, licensed, or yours? If not, replace it now. Then start your license spreadsheet. If a claim still appears, check it in YouTube Studio and decide whether to remove the music, dispute with your proof, or accept it. Check YouTube's help pages often, because the rules change.
Is crediting the artist enough to use their song on YouTube?
No. A credit in your description is not permission. It only counts when a license asks you to give credit, such as some Audio Library or Creative Commons tracks. Without a license, a credited song can still be claimed.
Can I use a few seconds of a copyrighted song?
There is no fixed safe length. Content ID can match very short clips, and copyright law does not give a simple time limit. If you have no license, assume even a short clip can lead to a claim.
What if music was playing in the background when I filmed?
It can still be detected and claimed, even if you did not choose it. If you can, film away from loud music, or edit the audio before upload. If a claim appears, you can often remove or replace the song in YouTube Studio.
Can I remove a song from my video after a claim?
Often yes. YouTube Studio has editing tools to trim a section, mute the song, or replace it with a track from the Audio Library. When the claimed music is removed, the claim is usually released, but check the current options in your Studio.
Can I use copyrighted music if I don't monetize the video?
Not monetizing does not give you the right to use the music. The rights holder can still claim the video, place ads on it for themselves, block it, or ask for a takedown. You still need permission.