Choosing the right music for your project is an exciting part of the creative process, but first, it’s important to have a solid understanding of music licensing and why it matters. A music license is a legal agreement that permits you to use a piece of music in a specific way. Licensing outlines the terms under which you’re allowed to use the music, and can vary in scope and price.
Copyright-licensed music is owned by an individual or company and typically requires a fee to use, while non-copyright or royalty-free music is available for public use without the same legal restrictions.
Music licenses are particularly crucial when using music in online videos, advertising, TV shows, films, and social media. Without the proper license, your content could be taken down, and you could even face legal consequences. In this article, we’ll break down what are the different types of music licenses and how creators can use that knowledge to make informed and hassle-free choices for their projects.
Free public domain
Public domain music refers to music that is not regulated by intellectual property laws and is available for anyone’s use. Essentially, it’s copyright-free music. This music can be quite old if the music copyright license has expired if it is the case. In the United States and the EU, music enters the public domain 70 years after the creator’s death or 95 years after its publication (anyone who wants to use Gershwin’s Rapsody in Blue, have at it). Canada requires that 50 years pass before a work enters its public domain, so depending on where you are, the rules could apply differently.
Music can also enter the public domain if those who owned the rights put it there (more on that later) or no rights existed before. The latter typically happens with music made before copyright laws, in the time before licensed music. Sometimes artists will gift their music to the public, but the options are scarce, and you’re unlikely to have a lot of great choices. Nonetheless, with a tight budget, you can find some compositions on an open-source website or elsewhere. The biggest upside is that you won’t have to worry that anyone will come knocking on your door for payment!
Why music licenses matter for content creators
Avoid copyright strikes
Using unlicensed music can trigger copyright strikes, which can lead to content removal or even channel suspension. A copyright strike is a formal warning issued by a platform like YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook when copyrighted material is used in your content without proper authorization or licensing. This isn’t limited to music; it includes video clips, images, artwork, voiceovers, and more.
Prevent DMCA takedowns
A DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) notice can force your content offline, but proper music licensing helps you steer clear of these legal interruptions.
Protect monetization
If your content is monetized, using copyrighted music without a license can result in lost ad revenue or redirected earnings to the rights holder.
Maintain professional credibility
Licensing music legally shows you respect intellectual property and operate professionally. This is important for creators who want to build a trustworthy brand.
Ensure your content stays live
Without the right music license, your video or campaign might be taken down suddenly. Licensing ensures your content remains accessible to your audience.
The different types of music licenses
When a musician creates and copyrights a song, it becomes their intellectual property, meaning others need permission (via licenses) to use it legally. These licenses define how and where the music can be used, which helps artists earn income from their work. Below, we break down the six major types of music licenses:
Sync license (synchronization license)
This type of license allows music to be paired with visual content and is often used in films, YouTube videos, commercials, ads, and TV shows.
Mechanical license
This allows for the reproduction and distribution of a musical composition, and is often needed when releasing music on CDs, vinyl, or digital platforms, or when recording a cover song.
Public performance license
This license grants permission to play music publicly, whether live or recorded. It’s most often used by radio stations, restaurants, bars, concert venues, and streaming services, and managed by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.
Master use license
This allows the use of a specific recorded version (the “master”) of a song, and is required when using an artist’s actual studio recording in a video or commercial. This is often paired with a sync license.
Print license
This gives the right to reproduce sheet music or musical notation and is used by music publishers, schools, and performers printing sheet music.
Theatrical license
This license is required when using music in a live stage performance, such as for plays, musicals, and other live theatrical productions featuring copyrighted music.
Blanket license
This license provides access to an entire library or catalog of music for a flat fee. It’s used by TV networks, radio stations, gyms, or businesses that play a wide variety of music regularly.
Royalty-free license
This allows music to be used without paying royalties per use, with a one-time payment or subscription paid instead. This is ideal for YouTubers, podcasters, and social media creators who need affordable, rights-cleared music for their videos and content.
Artlist offers a royalty-free subscription model where creators have unlimited access to high-quality music for commercial and personal use. There’s no risk of legal issues or takedowns, so you can focus on creating without limits.
How to license music for a project
Licensing music for a project will ensure you’re using songs legally, supporting artists, and protecting your own content from copyright issues. Whether you’re creating a short film, YouTube video, podcast, or social media content, the right music license all depends on how and where you plan to use the track.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to licensing music for your project:
Every platform is different, so YouTube varies from Instagram, and podcasts vary from film festivals. Each has specific rules about music usage, so understanding where your content will live helps determine the kind of license you’ll need.
Different licensing laws apply to personal or commercial use, so ask yourself if your project will be used for personal enjoyment, or if it’ll be tied to a business, monetization, or brand promotion. Commercial use will often require more specific licensing rights than personal use.
A custom license is individually negotiated with the rights holder (artist, label, publisher) for a specific project. You can negotiate a custom license directly with the artist or rights holder (which is often expensive and time-consuming).
A royalty-free license is a license you pay for once (or via subscription) to access and use music without paying ongoing royalties for each use. You can use royalty-free music platforms, which offer pre-cleared music under broad, flexible terms — ideal for quick, affordable use.
Royalty-free services like Artlist make licensing fast and stress-free. With a single subscription, you get unlimited access to high-quality music that’s already cleared for both personal and commercial use across platforms used by creators, so it’s perfect for YouTubers, content creators, small businesses, marketers, podcasters, and indie filmmakers.
Why Artlist makes music licensing easy
Artlist makes licensing simple for creators, brands, and filmmakers to find and use music. By streamlining the entire music licensing process, creators can share their content without the worry of legal headaches. Artlist has one universal license that covers both personal and commercial projects, so you won’t have to juggle multiple licenses for different uses or platforms.
Artlist gives creators unlimited downloads so you can experiment freely to find the right track for your project and use as many tracks as you need without extra costs. In Artlist’s library, you’ll find scores of genres and moods, from cinematic to upbeat, fast-paced to reflective. Plus, Artlist has a huge catalog of sound effects, stock footage, and AI creative tools, so you have all your content assets in one place. Without leaving the platform, you’ll have access to everything you need to complete your project, including music, SFX, templates, and AI tools including voiceovers, and the Artlist AI image & video generator.
If you’re looking for simplicity, flexibility, and creative freedom in one easy-to-use license, then sign up to Artlist today.
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