Did you know that 90% of adverts with a strong musical connection are more likely to stick in viewers’ minds? That’s because music boosts emotional engagement and helps with memory retention, especially when it complements a storyline or triggers certain emotions.
A great soundtrack is crucial to the success of your creative project, but it’s important to be aware of the licensing laws around music. Using legal music in commercial content will protect both your work and your brand. Without the proper licenses, you risk facing copyright infringement claims, takedowns, or even legal action, all of which can be time-consuming, stressful, and costly.
Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok actively enforce copyright laws through systems like YouTube’s Content ID, which flags or removes unauthorized music. Even if you find “free” music tracks online, they can still be subject to licensing restrictions and be a potential violation.
Creators often find the licensing world confusing, especially with so many usage terms, rights, and types available. By choosing the right music with clear licensing, you can avoid scary mishaps and just focus on creating without limits.
What is commercial use?
So what is commercial use? ‘Commercial use’ refers to using music in projects intended to generate revenue, such as advertisements, videos, or products, and that includes YouTube monetized content, client videos, ads, podcast introductions, e-commerce promos, and more.
If you’re monetizing content or sharing it through a business or corporate account, it’s important to follow copyright laws and use music that’s licensed for commercial use. Even if you’re not directly selling a product or service, you’ll still need permission to use copyrighted music or find royalty-free tracks. To be safe, you should buy music for commercial use to ensure you’re compliant.
The jingle you hear at the beginning of your favorite podcast, the rock music playing over that video game, the background track in how-to YouTube guides — is all music for commercial use.
When it comes to music licensing, the distinction between intent and revenue is key. A common misconception is that you only need to worry about licensing if you’re directly making money from a project, but even if your project is “free” or non-profit, it can still be considered commercial if it’s tied to a brand or business, or any form of promotion.
For example, video content by an influencer is still seen as commercial because it’s indirectly linked to business goals, like growing a brand or attracting customers. So if your project has any commercial intent — regardless of whether that generates immediate revenue — you’ll still need the appropriate music licenses to stay on the right side of copyright laws.
Using music without the proper license can lead to takedowns or legal complications, but it’s not difficult to navigate if you know where to look. You just need to use royalty-free music for a safe, straightforward solution guaranteed to avoid these issues.
Personal vs commercial use of music
Music for personal use refers to using music for private, non-commercial purposes, like in-home videos or personal portfolios, where there’s no intention to make money or share the content publicly.
But as soon as any of this content is shared publicly, it becomes music for commercial use — even if it’s to a small number of followers on social media — and it could cause legal problems.
Music that’s safe for commercial use will either be licensed for a specific project or available as royalty-free, which anyone can use. Securing a commercial music licence for a song can be time-consuming and costly, and is typically a route taken by large brands with big budgets and bigger legal teams. For example, Pepsi would have negotiated the rights to use “Bassline” by Allister X in their advert.
Where to find music for commercial use
Luckily, there are easier ways to find music for commercial use. Royalty-free music for content creators is a hassle-free solution, and Artlist is one such platform. We offer a wide selection of high-quality, royalty-free music and sound effects, giving subscribers unlimited access to use in their projects without the high costs and complexities of traditional music licensing.
An Artlist subscription covers global commercial use with no need for attribution, so you can rest assured you won’t get any angry calls from anyone’s legal team. Our intuitive search filters let you easily browse by mood, genre, or use case, so you can find the perfect track for your content quickly, and Artlist’s catalog is constantly curated and updated, so you’ll never run out of fresh options.
With Artlist, content creators have access to high-quality music and unlimited downloads across our extensive catalog that spans just about every genre, mood, and vibe.
Beyond music, Artlist offers a range of other assets and AI tools, including a powerful AI video generator, sound effects, footage, templates, and voiceovers, and we offer multiple plans to fit your creative needs. Whether you’re a filmmaker, TikTok influencer, or entrepreneur, we have you covered. And if you’re in need of music licensing for businesses, our Enterprise plan will power your business with the best creative assets.
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Where to find sound effects for commercial use
Looking to enhance your audio? Artlist also provides royalty-free sound effects, ideal for filmmakers and video editors looking for high-quality SFX with simple licensing. With your Artlist subscription, you’ll gain access to thousands of sounds, including whooshes, impacts, foley, and ambient effects, all without having to worry about copyright or licensing issues. Each sound effect on Artlist is crafted by professional sound designers, and the license covers all uses, including for commercial projects.
Wrapping up
It’s never been more important to understand music licensing. With the rise of content creation across so many platforms, and the growing complexity of copyright laws, using properly licensed music is crucial to avoid legal risks, takedowns, and potential financial consequences.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, influencer, marketer, or content creator, having access to music that’s both high-quality and legally safe is essential for your success. And that’s where Artlist comes in. With our extensive royalty-free catalog, you can access a wide range of music, sound effects, and other creative assets, all covered by one simple and easy-to-use license. So sign up today and start creating without limits.
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