Music is an important part of social media, nowadays. It helps set the mood and get your content in front of a wide range of audiences. Usually, creators can use social media platforms’ music libraries to pick and choose the best music for their content. However, as we have seen with the TikTok/UMG saga, that can be unreliable.
And if you are using a social media management tool, like Nuelink, to crosspost content, it’s important to make sure that your music choices can be used across platforms.
This is why copyright-free music can be a great alternative for content creators and businesses who want to add just the right tune to their content. In today’s blog post, we will cover everything you need to know about copyright-free music and the best places to get your hands on the best songs. We will go over:
1. What’s Copyright-free Music?
2. How Does Copyright-free Music Differ from Other Types of Music?
3. Why is Copyright-free Music Important for Social Media?
4. How Can You Avoid Copyright Claims on Social Media?
5. Best Sites for Copyright-free Music
1. What’s Copyright-free Music?
Copyright is a legal safeguard for creators, granting them exclusive intellectual property rights over their work. This protection applies automatically to a piece of work, be it a painting, photograph, book, or song, making the creator the rightful copyright holder. The essence of copyright lies in preventing the unauthorized use of the work without the creator's consent.
In the context of the music industry, if you wish to use a song or a tune, seeking permission from the creator and providing sources are common practices.
Some creators have specific formats for attribution, typically including the artist's name and a link to their website. This practice extends to certain copyright-free and royalty-free music platforms, where you can use music without cost, provided you include attribution.
Even when there isn't a prescribed format, including attribution is a precaution against potential copyright claims and a demonstration of respect for the creator's artistry. With over 729 million copyright claims being filed on YouTube alone every year, it can be detrimental to your content and channels if you don’t use the right type of music.
2. How Does Copyright-free Music Differ from Other Types of Music?
In essence, copyright laws protect an artist's work, making it challenging to use their music without permission. Licensing fees, known as royalties, are required for such use, ensuring the artist and their label are compensated. This holds even when you encounter a song in a film or TV show.
However, royalty licenses come with a caveat, a lifetime license confines the use to the initially licensed content, requiring a new license for other uses.
Royalty-free music emerges as a solution, allowing multiple uses after a one-time or recurring fee. Services like Epidemic Sound or SoundCloud offer access to extensive music libraries, providing flexibility without continuous payments.
On the flip side, copyright-free music, found in the public domain due to expired copyrights or the copyright holder’s generosity, allows you to use the music without fees or royalties. In a nutshell: Royalty-Free music isn't free, while Copyright-Free music is genuinely free.
3. Why is Copyright-free Music Important for Social Media?
Copyright-free music is crucial for social media for several reasons. Firstly, it helps creators enhance their posts without worrying about breaking copyright laws. This makes the creative process smoother.
In the visual and auditory world of social media, copyright-free music adds creativity to content, making posts more engaging and distinctive.
One key advantage is the flexibility it offers. Creators can use copyright-free music across various platforms without restrictions or free of having their content taken down, which can affect your views and your ad revenue.
Financially, copyright-free music is a cost-effective alternative. Acquiring licenses for popular copyrighted music can be expensive, making copyright-free options accessible for creators on a budget.
Beyond cost, copyright-free music platforms often build communities of artists and creators, fostering collaboration in the social media space. For businesses, using copyright-free music ensures consistent branding without the risk of copyright issues.
4. How Can You Avoid Copyright Claims on Social Media?
Here are seven essential tips, with a focus on music copyrights, to help you navigate social media without running into copyright issues:
Tip 1: Create Original Content
The most straightforward way to avoid copyright problems, especially with music, is by generating your original content. Whether it's a blog post, image, or video, ensure you own the copyright. If you incorporate music into your content, consider creating your own or using royalty-free music that grants you the necessary permissions.
Tip 2: Read the Terms of Service
Familiarize yourself with the terms of service on each social media platform, specifically regarding music usage. These guidelines detail the rules for content, including copyrighted music. Violations can result in removal or account suspension. Some platforms offer tools or libraries of licensed music that you can use without worrying about copyright issues.
Tip 3: Use Music the Right Way
Numerous websites offer royalty-free and copyright-free music that is available for use without paying royalty fees. Ensure that you adhere to the terms of the licensing agreement to avoid any potential legal issues. Similarly, when using someone else's work, always give proper credit. This holds true for both images and music.
Tip 4: Give Credit Where It’s Due
When using someone else's music, proper attribution is crucial. This can be achieved by tagging the artist, mentioning their name, or linking to their website or social media page. This, however, doesn't replace the need for permission, especially when it comes to music copyrights.
Tip 5: Understand Fair Use
Understand the fair use, especially concerning music copyrights. This legal principle allows the use of copyrighted material without permission under specific circumstances. While fair use can apply to criticism, commentary, or teaching, it's essential to recognize the complexity of fair use, particularly when dealing with music. Be cautious and ensure to protect yourself and your platforms.
Tip 6: Understand the Impact of Copyright Infringement
Whether intentional or unintentional, it can seriously harm your reputation and brand. Copyright infringement is illegal and can lead to hefty fines or worse. Know what copyright infringement entails, and identify ownership of materials.
Tip 7: Opt for Public Domain Materials
Some creators intentionally designate their work for public use. Other instances include works not covered by copyright protection, expired copyrights, or instances where copyright renewal rules were not followed.
5. Best Sites for Copyright-free Music
Discovering the ideal soundtrack for your project shouldn't drain your budget. So, we've curated a list of platforms where you can find the perfect music without breaking the bank.
1. YouTube Audio Library
YouTube allows access to its Audio Library, offering diverse music genres. You can use any track freely in your video content, a mix of public domain works and Creative Commons. You can look up content by mood or track duration filters for a seamless fit with your content length.
2. Free Music Archive
Managed by U.S. radio station WFMU, the Free Music Archive (FMA) features tracks with various licenses, primarily under Creative Commons. Licensing terms sometimes include non-commercial use or attribution requirements, so make sure to check beforehand. While you won't find chart-topping hits, FMA offers great music that can fit your content nicely.
3. SoundCloud
A platform for amateur musicians and DJs, SoundCloud is a valuable source for marketing video music. Social features allow you to gauge a track's popularity through likes, this is a great feature for choosing the best music.
4. Epidemic Sound
Offering a re-imagined approach to royalty-free music, Epidemic Sound simplifies music licensing complexities. Epidemic Sound provides a comprehensive license, unlike other libraries, eliminating the need for reporting and performance royalties. However, this comes at a price, $6 a month to be exact.
5. Envato Elements
Envato Elements offers both free and paid options, including royalty-free music, video effects, stock footage... It gives you access to over 116,000 royalty-free music tracks with unlimited downloads for subscribers and use across social media channels.
Whether you're a content creator or a business, integrating copyright-free music strategically unlocks creative possibilities while mitigating risks associated with copyright claims.
