Where to get royalty free music for YouTube videos?

Finding background music for video has become a big struggle for video makers since the inception of YouTube content ID system. Indeed, for many years, a lot or simply the vast majority of video creators on YouTube was using copyrighted music without the site or its users paying any royalties to copyright owners. Witnessing this, the music industry has battled with rage to force YouTube to take care of copyright infringement by its users: either the videos have to be taken down or someone has to pay royalties to music writers and publishers. To respond to this, YouTube, relying on its content ID system, has then decided to simply remove audios from videos using music illegally or literally take them down. Of course, you, as a video maker, could try to get an authorization of use directly from the copyright owners’ of a song (songwriters, publishers) but the process is not easy and most probably, you’ll get a negative answer. So the only secure way not to have problems with YouTube is to use royalty free music for your video, film, documentary… The only remaining question is then: where to get quality royalty free music for YouTube videos?

1. Get it on YouTube directly
Since last year, YouTube has launched its own royalty free Audio library where you can find music to use with your videos. About 150 tracks in different music genres are available for download (format: 320 kbps MP3 files). You can monetize your videos and will never get any claim through YouTube Content ID. This is quite awesome, the choice is wide but the overall quality is mixed…

2. Get it on Beats websites
The other option to get quality music and avoid any copyright infringement from YouTube is to go on Beats websites. While most of these sites are only focused on selling music to singers or rappers, Beats Avenue also welcomes video makers. On there, you’ll find royalty free music produced by top producers. Tracks can be searched by music genre (Pop, Hip-Hop, Dubstep, R&B beats and even Gospel instrumentals…), by similar artist, by mood or even by instrument. The Sync license will allow you to use the track with your video and monetize it on YouTube or any other video websites (Dailymotion…). And in case YouTube requires you to provide additional information about your rights to use the music in a commercial way, you’ll just have to send them the named license you got! Isn’t it cool?

No more pressure for you, you can free your mind and devote your time to creating videos!
Lately, YouTube has also made efforts to make copyright clearer for everybody (read: http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/6386034/youtube-makes-copyright-clearer). So let’s stay positive!

Author:
Steve C. has been in the music business as a manager for artists and music producers for more than 10 years. He’s always happy to help artists by sharing tips about the music business.