Royalty Free Christmas Music: Where to Find It and Use It
Royalty free Christmas music comes from free libraries, public domain carols you record yourself, or tracks you make. Here's where to look and how to use it.
Royalty free Christmas music is music you can use in videos, podcasts and streams without paying a royalty every time it plays. The quickest free sources are the YouTube Audio Library, Creative Commons libraries like Incompetech and Free Music Archive, and public domain carols such as “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells,” as long as the specific recording is also licensed. If you want something nobody else is using, you can record or make an original holiday track.
What is royalty free music?
Royalty free music is music licensed once, for free or a flat fee, so you don't owe ongoing payments each time your video or episode is played. It is not the same as copyright free. The composer or label still owns the music, and the license tells you what you can and can't do with it.
Three terms get mixed up constantly:
- Royalty free: someone owns it, but their license lets you use it without per-play fees. Conditions often include credit, non-commercial use only, or a ban on reselling the track.
- Public domain: copyright has expired or never existed, so anyone can use the work. Many old carols fall here, but newer recordings of them usually don't.
- Creative Commons: a family of free licenses. CC BY means free with credit, CC BY-NC means free for non-commercial use only, and CC BY-ND means no edits.
The practical takeaway is that “royalty free” is a promise about payment, not about freedom. Always read the license line under the track before you download it.
Which Christmas songs are public domain?
In the US, works published in 1930 or earlier are in the public domain as of 2026, so most traditional carols are free to perform and record. Most of the famous mid-century Christmas pop songs are still under copyright. The table below shows common examples by their original publication year.
| Song | First published (approx.) | US status in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Joy to the World | Words 1719, tune arranged 1839 | Public domain |
| Silent Night | 1818 (English words 1859) | Public domain |
| O Holy Night | 1847 | Public domain |
| Jingle Bells | 1857 | Public domain |
| Deck the Halls (English words) | 1862 | Public domain |
| Up on the Housetop | 1864 | Public domain |
| Winter Wonderland | 1934 | Protected |
| Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town | 1934 | Protected |
| White Christmas | 1942 | Protected |
| Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | 1949 | Protected |
| Jingle Bell Rock | 1957 | Protected |
| All I Want for Christmas Is You | 1994 | Protected |
Classical holiday pieces work the same way. Handel's Messiah (1742) and Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker (1892) are public domain as compositions. That makes them useful for a festive or elegant background without lyrics.
The catch: the recording has its own copyright
A song has two separate rights: the composition (melody and words) and the sound recording. A 2019 orchestral recording of “Silent Night” is protected even though the 1818 carol isn't. In the US, only very old recordings, roughly from the mid-1920s and earlier, are public domain.
Watch for two more traps. Modern arrangements and new translations can be copyrighted on their own, and some well-known versions of “traditional” songs use a newer copyrighted arrangement. If you record a carol yourself, work from an old printed source or plain sheet music, not a recent hit version.
For exact terms, see the US Copyright Office's circular on duration of copyright. Canada uses rules based mainly on when the author died, so a song's status can differ there; check with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. This is general information, not legal advice.
Where can you find free royalty free Christmas music?
The best free options are the YouTube Audio Library, Incompetech, Free Music Archive and public domain classical recordings. Each has different credit and commercial-use rules, so match the source to where your video or podcast will live.
YouTube Audio Library
The Audio Library is built into YouTube Studio and is free for creators. It is the safest pick if your video is going only to YouTube.
- Open YouTube Studio and click Audio Library in the left menu.
- Type “Christmas,” “holiday” or “sleigh” in the search bar.
- Use the filters for genre, mood, duration and Attribution not required if you don't want to write credits.
- Check the license note on each track and copy any required credit into your description.
YouTube explains the terms on its help page for using music from the Audio Library. Read those terms before using a track off YouTube, because the library is designed for YouTube videos.
Incompetech
Incompetech is composer Kevin MacLeod's library, and it is one of the oldest free music sites around. Tracks are released under Creative Commons Attribution, so they're free to use with a credit, and you can buy a standard license if you'd rather not credit. You can search by genre and feel, and it includes some holiday pieces alongside its electronic, cinematic and comedy music.
Free Music Archive
Free Music Archive hosts independent artists, and every track has its own license. Some allow commercial use with credit, others are non-commercial only. If your channel is monetized, filter for licenses without “NC” in the name.
Public domain classical recordings
Sites like Musopen offer recordings of public domain classical works, including pieces you'd hear at a holiday concert. Check the license on each recording, since recordings can carry different terms from the composition. These work well for elegant gift videos, holiday sales clips and calm podcast beds.
Record a carol yourself
If you play piano, guitar or ukulele, recording a public domain carol gives you a track you fully control. A simple “Silent Night” or “Jingle Bells” on one instrument, recorded on your phone in a quiet room, is often enough for a background. You own your performance, so there is no license to track down.
Royalty free music libraries compared
Free libraries cost nothing but come with credit rules and the same tracks everyone else uses. Paid or self-made music costs money or time but sounds more like you. Here is how the main options compare.
| Source | Cost | Credit needed? | Commercial use | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Audio Library | Free | Some tracks | Yes in YouTube videos; check terms elsewhere | YouTube creators |
| Incompetech | Free with credit, or paid license | Yes, on the free license | Yes | Videos, podcasts, streams |
| Free Music Archive | Free | Usually | Only on licenses without NC | Unusual indie styles |
| Public domain classical recordings | Free or low cost | Check each recording | Varies by recording | Classical holiday moods |
| Paid stock subscription | Monthly or yearly fee | Usually no | Yes; check if it survives canceling | Channels posting weekly |
| Record a carol yourself | Your time | No | Yes | Personal, acoustic sound |
| Make an original track with AI | Depends on plan | Usually no | Only on plans with a commercial license | Custom length, style and lyrics |
One question to ask any paid library: if you cancel, are videos you already published still covered? Some licenses cover published work for good, others only cover what you made while subscribed.
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 freeHow do you use Christmas music on YouTube without copyright claims?
Use a track with a clear license, save proof of that license, and be ready to dispute the odd automated claim. Christmas is a claim-heavy season because thousands of recordings of the same carols are registered in YouTube's Content ID system.
A few habits prevent most problems:
- Save the license. Take a screenshot or download the license page with the date, track name and URL.
- Paste the credit exactly. If attribution is required, use the wording the library gives you in the video description.
- Don't use commercial covers. A pop star's recording of a public domain carol is still their recording.
- Know a claim from a strike. A Content ID claim usually blocks the video or sends ad money to the claimant. A copyright strike is a formal takedown and counts against your channel.
- Dispute with evidence. If a licensed track gets claimed, use the dispute option in YouTube Studio and cite your license.
For a deeper look at YouTube-specific sources, see our guide to royalty free background music for YouTube.
What makes good royalty free background music for videos and podcasts?
Good background music stays out of the way of the voice. That usually means instrumental tracks, a steady tempo and no big melody jumping in while someone is talking.
For videos
- Skip lyrics under speech. Sung words fight with spoken words. Save vocal Christmas songs for montages and intros.
- Pick the tempo for the edit. Around 70 to 90 BPM suits cozy vlogs and gift unboxings; 110 to 130 BPM suits fast cuts and holiday sales.
- Lower the music under voice. A common starting point is setting music roughly 15 to 20 dB below dialogue, then adjusting by ear.
- Check loops. If the track is shorter than your video, find a clean loop point at the end of a phrase.
For podcasts
- Confirm podcast use. Some licenses mention video only. Make sure yours covers audio distribution on podcast apps.
- Keep intros short. A 10 to 20 second sting for a holiday episode is plenty.
- Credit in show notes. If the license needs attribution, put it in the episode description on every platform.
- Plan for re-airs. A seasonal episode may run every December, so pick a license that doesn't expire.
Can you make your own royalty free Christmas song?
Yes, and it's often the cleanest option because you start with an original song instead of a shared library track. You can record a public domain carol, write your own holiday song, or generate one with an AI song maker.
Remixy makes complete songs, with vocals, instruments and lyrics, from a text description or your own lyrics, and it adds AI cover art. You can make music from a text description when you only know the mood, or turn your own lyrics into a sung song for a family carol or a gift. For video and podcast beds, the instrumental and background music generator skips vocals entirely.
Specific prompts work better than “Christmas song.” A few to try:
- “Cozy acoustic Christmas instrumental, fingerpicked guitar, soft sleigh bells, 80 BPM, warm and slow”
- “Big band holiday swing, brass section, walking bass, upbeat, no vocals”
- “Gentle piano lullaby for Christmas Eve, music box, light strings”
- “Funny country Christmas song about burning the cookies, female vocals, fiddle and banjo”
More prompt tips are in our guide to the AI music generator from text. If you're writing your own words, our guide on how to write a chorus helps you build a hook people remember.
Two rules keep homemade tracks clean. Don't paste lyrics from a protected song, and if you want carol words, use the old public domain text. The US Copyright Office also has guidance on copyright and AI-generated material, which matters if you plan to register a song; this is general information, not legal advice.
What the plans allow
Remixy gives new accounts 150 free starter credits, about 3 songs, with no card needed. The free plan is for non-commercial use only and streams songs without an MP3 download, which works for a personal gift or a family listen. For a monetized channel, a sponsored podcast or a client video, the paid Premium and Pro plans include a full commercial license and 320 kbps MP3 downloads, and Pro adds lossless WAV; details are on the plans and pricing page.
What about cyberpunk and neon electronic royalty free music?
The same sources work, you just search different words. Try “synthwave,” “retrowave,” “dark electronic,” “cyberpunk” or “80s synth” in the YouTube Audio Library, Free Music Archive and Incompetech, which has a deep electronic catalog under its genre filters.
This style also works for the holidays. A “neon Christmas” track, with arpeggiated synths, gated drums and a “Jingle Bells” or “Deck the Halls” melody, stands out from sleigh-bell stock music for gaming streams, tech reviews and New Year's videos. If you want to generate one, the EDM and dance track generator handles synth-heavy styles; try a prompt like “synthwave Christmas instrumental, neon city at night, 100 BPM, retro drum machine.”
What should you check before you publish?
Run through this list for every track, every time. It takes two minutes and saves hours of disputes.
- Composition: is the song itself public domain, licensed or original?
- Recording: do you have rights to this specific recording, not just the song?
- License type: does it allow commercial use if your channel, podcast or client earns money?
- Credit: does it require attribution, and have you pasted the exact wording?
- Platform: does the license cover where you're posting, such as YouTube, podcast apps, social video or ads?
- Proof: have you saved the license page or receipt with the date?
- Duration: will the license still cover you next December if the video stays up?
If any answer is “not sure,” pick a different track or make your own. Holiday content gets reposted year after year, so a clean license now pays off every season.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free royalty free Christmas music?+
Yes. The YouTube Audio Library, Incompetech and Free Music Archive all have free holiday or festive tracks. Many are free only with credit, and some are limited to non-commercial use, so check each license.
Are Christmas carols copyright free?+
Many traditional carols, such as Silent Night, Jingle Bells, O Holy Night and Joy to the World, are public domain in the US. Recordings and modern arrangements of those carols are usually still protected, so you need a licensed recording or your own performance.
Can I use All I Want for Christmas Is You or White Christmas in my YouTube video?+
Not without a license. Both songs and their well-known recordings are under copyright, and they are commonly claimed by Content ID. Use a public domain carol or a licensed royalty free track instead.
What is the difference between royalty free and copyright free music?+
Royalty free music is still owned by someone, but the license lets you use it without per-play payments. Copyright free usually means public domain, where no one holds the rights anymore. Royalty free tracks often still require credit or limit commercial use.
Can I use royalty free music in a monetized YouTube channel or podcast?+
Yes, if the license allows commercial use. Avoid tracks marked non-commercial, such as Creative Commons NC licenses, and keep a copy of the license in case a track is claimed.
Why did my royalty free Christmas track get a copyright claim?+
Content ID sometimes matches licensed or public domain music, especially at Christmas when many versions of the same carols are registered. If you have a valid license, dispute the claim in YouTube Studio and cite your license.
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.
