Music licensing is legally securing permission to use someone else’s copyrighted music in your videos, podcasts, or streams. Without a license, you risk copyright claims, takedowns, and legal penalties.

Common options include royalty-free, Creative Commons, and rights-managed licenses. Each comes with its own rules, fees, and usage limits.

Royalty-free means you pay once for ongoing use under certain conditions; copyright-free means the work is in the public domain or fully released by the creator.

Check the licensing terms carefully. If it requires a license or has restrictions, follow the rules. When in doubt, obtain explicit permission or use pre-cleared music from trusted libraries.

Your content could be taken down, you may receive copyright strikes, lose monetization, or even face legal action and financial penalties

Use reputable royalty-free music platforms, Creative Commons databases (while respecting terms), or commission custom music for exclusive use.

A sync license allows you to pair music with visuals (like video, ads, or YouTube projects). It’s the most common license type for creators making audio-visual content.

Some licenses (like many Creative Commons types) require attribution. Always follow the license details—credit when required to stay compliant.

Identify the rights holders—often the music publisher and record label. Contact them directly or use a clearance service to negotiate and obtain a written license agreement specifying your usage terms.