Can You Legally Use Copyright Music On YouTube?

A simple question: Can You Use Copyrighted Music On Your YouTube Videos? It has a somewhat complicated answer.

⏱️Timestamps:
0:00 Intro - Can You Use Copyrighted Music On Your YouTube Videos?
1:00 How to check if you can use a copyrighted song?
1:43 What is YouTube content id?
2:22 What happens if you can't use the copyrighted song?
2:46 How Copyright rules can change on existing videos?
3:25 Why are we using a copyrighted song in this video?
3:51 What happens in the Creator Studio when you use copyrighted music?
4:10 Should you use copyrighted music on YouTube?

IMPORTANT UPDATE:
The Music Policy Directory will be going away with Creator Studio Classic.

As you've probably heard, we’re in the process of moving over to the new and improved Studio. As a result, we're focused on migrating and building features where we see healthy usage with impact on creators’ goals.

This one unfortunately didn’t make the cut. We introduced this Music Policies tool years ago to help creators proactively avoid copyright issues with music in their video. But it’s seen low usage and would need substantial work to be migrated and improved. Moreover, we’ve found that creators are addressing this need by uploading their videos as private or unlisted in order to spot any issues before publishing videos, which we plan to build a better experience around in the new Studio.

As always, if you need free and safe music and sound effects for your videos, check out our Audio Library. We add new music every month!

It's always tempting to use copyrighted music on your videos, but generally speaking, you shouldn't. But what if you are determined to use copyrighted music on your video? Well you can check to see if you can use copyrighted songs and know exactly what will happen if you do use that copyrighted song on your video.

Resources:

In this video we will explain how to check if you can use copyrighted music in your YouTube video, what will happen if you do, how the copyright rules can change in the future if you use copyrighted music on your videos, what happens in the creator studio when you do this.

Disclaimer: Please not this is not legal advice on whether you can and should use copyrighted music on YouTube. We are educating you on the tools and support YouTube provides. None of this applies 'off platform'. If you are still in doubt, be safe and don't use copyrighted music.

🔎vidIQ provides on-the-spot analytical video data, research tools and management features for your YouTube channel. For a full guide read this:

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[vidIQ]

The Music Policy Directory will be going away with Creator Studio Classic.

As you've probably heard, we’re in the process of moving over to the new and improved Studio. As a result, we're focused on migrating and building features where we see healthy usage with impact on creators’ goals.

This one unfortunately didn’t make the cut. We introduced this Music Policies tool years ago to help creators proactively avoid copyright issues with music in their video. But it’s seen low usage and would need substantial work to be migrated and improved. Moreover, we’ve found that creators are addressing this need by uploading their videos as private or unlisted in order to spot any issues before publishing videos, which we plan to build a better experience around in the new Studio.

As always, if you need free and safe music and sound effects for your videos, check out our Audio Library. We add new music every month!

[JasonNation]

1:00 Youtube must've taken down their music policy directory because when I type it in the web browser, it says the page is not available.

[morpheusasmr]

If you purchase music from Adobe Stock audio how do you use that in a youtube video? Is there some information that you have to give youtube to be able to monetize the video?

[HannahMayor]

You literally spent all your hardwork and money just to explain us about this? That's really so good of you. 😭😭😭 You will always be the best 👏👏👏

[itsnaddzz]

Is it just me .... but I still don’t know what to do

[MikeMoonnight]

All that want to use my songs dm me because I authorize it 🔥

[SEANTSEANT]

this is important for youtubers to know: if you see "free" next to an instrumental on youtube, it just means its free for non-profit. if you use that song, your video will more than likely get a content ID claim from the producer still. I suggest just reaching out before hand to producers and ask for them if they would release the claim (or whitelist your channel from the songs) in exchange for a shout out. or you can just buy a lease and use the song forever in your videos! :)

[Guitartom-rhzm]

As a musician I find this really frustrating, I want to do covers to boost my channel but worried about getting a strike

[sergiothee]

So nobody is gonna talk about how this Man is a hero for not making a 10 minute-long video about it?

[coolmasterishaanplayz]

When i started youtube, i got many copyright music claims. But im still here, so i’ll try to explain
Using copyrighted music cant affect your channel like deleting your channel or deleting a video, it just doesnt let you get monetized for that one video and the video can be blocked in some territories
Just try giving credit to the owner in the desc by giving a link to the song and telling them who the artist is and what its called.

[Almanaquex]

The high traffic from my channel starts at 6pm with the peak at 8pm. What time do you recommend posting the videos?

[shanesubanstudio]

I think you're okay as long as its not defamatory to the copywriter

Essentially ad revenue on your video will go to the copyrighted owner anyway. You're Essentially helping the artist get streams which is a lowkey favor.

[doingyourmomlikeaboss]

what if a song isn’t listed when u look it up?

[Andres-mfrc]

YouTube removed their music policies page for “low usage”. How unfortunate.

[WendellLive]

I have been making cover videos for about 2 years using backing tracks. Since I’m doing this for fun and my own learning about video editing, I’m ok without monetizing. I’m thinking of possibly changing to a new channel with a new focus in the future, but for now I’m enjoying creating my music videos.

[Crazytrain]

Title: *Can You Use Copyrighted Music On Your YouTube Videos?*
VidIQ: _Puts a copyrighted song in the vid_

[dominik.spoljaric]

When he said “dangerous game”, I gave up...

[emilyandrews]

For this video, I have a question: for the channels that don't monetize, but have some copyrighted work in their content, are they hurting anybody specifically?

[nickzikry]

I hope, everyone please appreciated this person for making this great video. Please do not skip ads for him.. he can put the ads in the middle of this video, but because of his honesty he did not do that..

[BrainLoft]

When I saw the description box, I saw that even this video has got a copy right claim 😂