Royalty Free Background Music for YouTube: Where to Get It
Get royalty free background music for YouTube from the YouTube Audio Library, Creative Commons sites, stock libraries or AI tools. Here's how to avoid claims.
The safest royalty free background music for YouTube comes from the free YouTube Audio Library in YouTube Studio, because its tracks are cleared for YouTube videos, including monetized ones. You can also use Creative Commons tracks (following each license), a paid stock music subscription, AI-made music from a plan that includes a commercial license, or music you make yourself. Whatever you choose, save proof of the license, because that's what gets copyright claims released.
What does royalty free background music for YouTube actually mean?
Royalty free means you don't pay a fee every time the music is used or streamed. It does not mean copyright free. Someone still owns the track, and the license sets the rules you have to follow.
Those rules usually cover attribution (crediting the artist), commercial use (whether monetized videos are allowed), and where you can publish. People searching for 'copyright free' or 'non copyright' background music for YouTube usually mean royalty free music they can use without trouble. Truly copyright-free music is much rarer.
| Term | What it means | Can you monetize? | Credit needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty free | One payment or free, no per-use fees, owner keeps copyright | Depends on the license | Depends on the license |
| Public domain / CC0 | No copyright restrictions on that recording | Yes | No |
| Creative Commons BY | Free to use if you credit the creator | Yes | Yes, in the format the license asks for |
| Creative Commons BY-NC | Free for non-commercial use with credit | Risky; monetized videos are generally treated as commercial | Yes |
| Copyrighted commercial song | A release from a label or artist | Usually no, or revenue goes to the rights holder | Credit doesn't make it legal |
One more trap: an old composition can be in the public domain while a specific recording of it is not. A modern orchestra's recording of a classical piece is protected even if the music itself is centuries old.
Where can you get free background music for YouTube videos?
The best free source is the YouTube Audio Library, followed by Creative Commons music sites where you check each track's license. Here are the main free options:
- YouTube Audio Library: built into YouTube Studio, free, and cleared for monetized YouTube videos.
- Free Music Archive: a large Creative Commons catalog where the license changes track by track.
- Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod): hundreds of tracks under CC BY, so you must credit him unless you buy a no-attribution license.
- Pixabay Music: free tracks under Pixabay's own content license, usually with no credit required.
- Your own music: anything you write and record yourself, with no license to track.
How do you use the YouTube Audio Library?
Open YouTube Studio on desktop and click Audio Library in the left menu. Filter by genre, mood, instrument, duration and the attribution column, then download the track and add it in your editor. YouTube explains the terms on its Audio Library help page, including which tracks need credit.
If a track says attribution is required, copy the exact credit text YouTube gives you into your video description. Filtering for 'Attribution not required' saves that step. The trade-off is that these tracks are popular, so your video may sound like thousands of others.
Which source of background music for YouTube is best?
For most beginners, the YouTube Audio Library is best because it's free and low-risk. Growing channels often move to a paid library or custom music for a more distinct sound. This comparison shows the trade-offs:
| Source | Cost | Credit needed | OK for monetized videos | Claim risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Audio Library | Free | Some tracks | Yes, on YouTube | Low | Beginners, any genre |
| Creative Commons sites | Free | Usually | Only if the license isn't NC | Medium; some tracks are registered for Content ID | Niche sounds, tight budgets |
| Free stock sites (e.g., Pixabay) | Free | Usually not | Generally yes; read the terms | Medium | Quick vlogs and Shorts |
| Paid stock subscriptions (e.g., Epidemic Sound, Artlist) | Monthly or yearly fee; check current pricing | No | Yes, under the plan's terms | Low once your channel is registered with them | Regular uploaders |
| AI music tools with a commercial plan | Subscription | Check the terms | Yes, on plans that include a commercial license | Low to medium | Custom length, mood and style |
| Make it yourself | Free to low | No | Yes | Lowest | Musicians, signature channel sound |
One subscription detail to check before you buy: whether videos published while you were subscribed stay covered after you cancel. Terms vary by company, so read the license page rather than relying on a sales page.
How do you use background music for YouTube videos without copyright claims?
Use music with a clear license, follow its terms exactly, and keep proof so you can dispute any wrong claim. YouTube's Content ID system automatically matches audio against files that rights holders have uploaded, and a match triggers a claim. You can read how matching works on YouTube's Content ID help page.
- Read the license before downloading. Look for commercial use, attribution, and any platform limits.
- Save proof. Keep the license certificate, receipt or a dated screenshot of the track page in a folder for each video.
- Add credit exactly as asked. For CC BY, that usually means title, artist, source link and license name.
- Register your channel with any paid library that offers channel clearance, so claims don't appear in the first place.
- Check after uploading. In YouTube Studio, open Content and look at the restrictions column before you publish.
- Dispute wrong claims with your license as evidence, or contact the library, which can often release the claim faster.
A claim is not the same as a copyright strike. A claim usually means the rights holder takes the ad revenue or limits where the video plays, while a strike is a formal takedown that counts against your channel. This is general information, not legal advice.
Hear your idea as a finished song
Describe a song or paste your lyrics. Remixy writes the music, sings it and makes the cover art. New accounts get 150 free credits, about 3 songs.
Make a song freeWhat's the best background music for YouTube videos?
The best background music for YouTube is usually instrumental, steady in energy, and matched to the mood of the video so it supports your voice instead of competing with it. Vocals under speech make both harder to follow. The table below gives starting points; the tempo ranges are rough estimates, not rules.
| Video type | Genre that tends to fit | Tempo (estimate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorials and how-tos | Lo-fi, soft electronic | 70–90 BPM | Simple loops that won't distract |
| Daily vlogs | Acoustic pop, indie | 100–120 BPM | Warm and upbeat, few big changes |
| Gaming | EDM, synthwave, trap beats | 120–140 BPM | Keep it lower when you're commentating |
| Cooking | Light jazz, acoustic guitar | 90–110 BPM | Leave room for sizzle and chopping sounds |
| Tech reviews | Minimal electronic, ambient | 90–110 BPM | Clean, sparse arrangements |
| Travel montages | Cinematic, indie rock, house | 110–128 BPM | Music can lead here, since there's less talking |
| Podcast intros and talking heads | Ambient, soft piano | 60–90 BPM | Short intro, then fade low or out |
What makes good background music for YouTube videos?
- No vocals under talking. Save songs with singing for intros, outros and montages.
- Steady energy. Sudden drops and big builds pull attention away from what you're saying.
- Clean loops. Tracks that repeat smoothly are easier to stretch across a 12-minute video.
- Space for the voice. Speech lives mostly between about 1 and 4 kHz, so busy guitars or synths in that range clash with it. A gentle EQ dip there on the music helps.
- A matching mood. A cheerful ukulele under a serious topic feels off, even if viewers can't say why.
If you like the lo-fi sound that works under so many tutorials and study videos, this guide on how to make lofi music walks through chords, drums and mixing.
How loud should background music be under talking?
As a rule of thumb, keep music about 15 to 20 dB quieter than your voice while you're talking, and bring it up during pauses or B-roll. These numbers are common starting points, not standards, so trust your ears on phone speakers and earbuds. If viewers have to strain to hear you, the music is too loud.
- Use ducking. Auto-ducking lowers the music whenever speech is detected. Premiere Pro has it in the Essential Sound panel, and DaVinci Resolve can do it with sidechain ducking in the Fairlight page.
- Fade, don't cut. A 1–2 second fade at the start and end sounds far more polished.
- Check the overall level. YouTube normalizes playback to roughly -14 LUFS, so a mix around that level won't get turned down much.
- Cut on the beat. Lining up edits with the music's downbeats makes a video feel tighter with no extra effort.
What about background music for YouTube Shorts?
For Shorts, you can pick a sound inside the YouTube app's Shorts camera or add royalty free background music in your editor before uploading. Sounds from the in-app library are licensed for Shorts, but that permission doesn't carry over to long-form videos. Free background music for YouTube Shorts comes from the same sources as regular videos: the Audio Library, Creative Commons sites and your own tracks.
Money works differently too. Under YouTube's Shorts revenue sharing, part of the revenue from Shorts that use licensed music goes to music rights holders. Royalty free or self-made music avoids that split, though it doesn't guarantee any earnings.
- Start strong. Shorts can run up to 3 minutes, but the first second decides whether people keep watching, so pick a track with an immediate beat or hook.
- Match the loop. Many Shorts replay automatically, so music that loops cleanly makes the replay feel natural.
- Keep voice clear. On phone speakers, music masks speech even faster, so lower it more than you would on a long video.
- Add captions. Many people watch with sound off, so the music should support the video, not carry it.
Can you use AI-generated background music on YouTube?
Yes, as long as the plan you use includes a license for commercial use and you follow its terms. Many free tiers are personal or non-commercial only, which rules out monetized channels and sponsored videos. Read the license, not just the feature list.
For example, Remixy's free plan is for non-commercial use and streams songs without an MP3 download, so it isn't meant for a monetized channel. The paid Premium and Pro plans include a full commercial license and 320 kbps MP3 downloads, and Pro adds lossless WAV files. You can compare what each tier covers on the plans and pricing page.
There's also a copyright wrinkle. The U.S. Copyright Office has said that material generated by AI without enough human authorship can't be registered, as explained on its copyright and artificial intelligence page. In practice, you may be able to use an AI track but not own exclusive rights to it, so don't register AI-made background music in Content ID systems; this is not legal advice, so check that source or a lawyer for your situation.
How do you describe background music to an AI generator?
Describe the use, the mood, the instruments and what to leave out. 'No vocals' and 'steady energy' matter more for background music than clever genre names. A few prompts you can adapt:
- 'Calm lo-fi hip-hop instrumental, 80 BPM, soft piano and vinyl crackle, no vocals, steady beat for a study tutorial.'
- 'Upbeat acoustic pop instrumental, 110 BPM, ukulele and claps, bright and friendly, no big drops, for a travel vlog.'
- 'Minimal electronic background track, 100 BPM, light synths and soft kick, clean and modern, for a tech review.'
- 'Gentle jazz trio instrumental, brushed drums and upright bass, relaxed, for a cooking video.'
You can try prompts like these in an AI instrumental and background music generator or a dedicated AI lo-fi beat generator. For more prompt technique, see this guide to AI music generation from text. New Remixy accounts get 150 free starter credits, about 3 songs with no card needed, which is enough to test prompts before deciding on a commercial plan.
Want to hear what different moods sound like first? Browse songs people made, sorted by genre and mood, then borrow the descriptions that fit your channel.
Should you make your own background music for YouTube?
Making your own music is the lowest-risk option and gives your channel a sound nobody else has, but it takes time to learn. A simple 8-bar loop with drums, bass and two or three chords is enough for most talking-head videos. You don't need theory to start.
- GarageBand: free on Mac and iPhone, with loops and virtual instruments.
- Reaper: a full recording program with a free evaluation period and a low-cost personal license.
- Audacity: free audio editor for trimming, fading and looping tracks.
The trade-off is speed. A weekly uploader may spend more time on music than on the video, which is why many creators mix approaches: a custom intro theme they own, plus library or AI tracks for the rest.
What mistakes should you avoid with YouTube background music?
Most problems come from myths about copyright, not from bad intentions. Avoid these:
- 'I only used 10 seconds.' There's no safe number of seconds; short clips still get matched and claimed.
- 'No copyright intended' disclaimers. They don't grant permission and don't stop claims.
- Assuming fair use. Fair use is a narrow legal defense decided case by case, and using a song as a backing track rarely fits it.
- Using CC BY-NC music on a monetized channel. Ads, sponsorships and affiliate links generally make a video commercial.
- Forgetting the credit line. Missing attribution can break the license even if the music is free.
- Reusing Shorts sounds in long videos. The in-app Shorts license doesn't cover your full-length uploads.
- Not saving the license. Without proof, a wrong claim is much harder to dispute months later.
Pick one reliable source, keep a simple license folder, and mix the music below your voice. That covers almost every situation a small channel runs into.
Frequently asked questions
Is the YouTube Audio Library really free for monetized videos?+
Yes. Tracks in the YouTube Audio Library are free to use in your YouTube videos, including monetized ones. Some tracks require attribution, so copy the exact credit text into your video description when the library asks for it.
What's the difference between royalty free and copyright free music?+
Royalty free music is still owned by someone, but you don't pay per-use fees; the license sets the rules. Copyright free music, such as public domain or CC0 recordings, has no copyright restrictions. Most music marketed as copyright free for YouTube is actually royalty free.
Can I use a popular song as background music if I give credit?+
Generally no. Crediting the artist doesn't give you permission, and Content ID will usually claim the video, sending ad revenue to the rights holder or blocking it in some countries. Use licensed or royalty free music instead.
Why did my royalty free music get a copyright claim?+
Some royalty free tracks are registered in Content ID by their creators or distributors, so matches trigger claims automatically. If you have a valid license, dispute the claim in YouTube Studio with your proof, or contact the music library to release it.
Where can I find free background music for YouTube Shorts?+
You can pick a sound from the Shorts library inside the YouTube app, or use tracks from the YouTube Audio Library and Creative Commons sites in your editor. Sounds licensed through the Shorts library are only for Shorts, not long-form videos.
Is AI-generated music safe to use on YouTube?+
It can be, if the plan you use includes a commercial license and you follow its terms. Free tiers are often non-commercial only. Note that the U.S. Copyright Office says purely AI-generated material without enough human authorship can't be registered for copyright.
How loud should background music be compared to my voice?+
A common starting point is 15 to 20 dB quieter than your voice while you're speaking, with the music rising during pauses. Use auto-ducking in your editor and check the mix on phone speakers.
Written by
Remixy TeamWe build Remixy, an AI music studio that turns a text idea or your own lyrics into a finished song. We write about songwriting, music production and making music with AI — what works, what doesn't, and how to get a result you're proud of.
