How to Know If a Song Has Copyright on YouTube (Guide)

Uploading videos to YouTube with background music became a bit complicated due to to copyright.Keeping your YouTube channel free of lawsuits is essential if you want to stay standing. Therefore, in this guide, I am going to explain how to know if a song is copyrighted and all the existing solutions.

Table of Contents

Music allowed for use on YouTubeSolution #1: Music with Creative CommonsSolution #2: Public domain songsSolution #3: Free music royaltiesAlternative: Cheaper solution for YouTubers

Final thoughts

Copyright is a set of rights that is assigned to the author of a work. When an author creates a song, it automatically belongs to the owner of the work. The composition rights belong to him, and the recording rights belong to the record company (if I use one). Now, the author can allow others to use his music, or not.

So, how do you know if a song is copyrighted?

All musical songs are copyrighted, as they are the authors’ own rights. However, some authors may allow you to use their music without issuing demands on your YouTube channel.

So, YouTube knows that all songs are copyrighted. But… in order to receive a copyright claim on your video, the song has to be registered with Content ID.

Content ID is a technology that automatically identifies the songs in your videos and demonetizes them.

When a song has Content ID, you get the famous “copyright claim” on YouTube.

This means that you cannot monetize your videos, and in some cases… they may even block you.

What songs have content ID?

Of the songs you like and listen to every day, practically all of them use Content ID. There is not much of a loophole. Everyone uses Content ID to generate income from the playback of their music. Unfortunately, there is no system where revenue is divided between the audio owner and the video owner. With the Content ID everything goes to the copyright owner. But, there are plenty of solutions to find “copyright-free music,” which is actually music that doesn’t claim Content ID.

How to be sure that a song has Content ID?

Well, if you have doubts if the song has Content ID, you can upload the video to YouTube privately, wait a few days and see if the copyright claim comes or not. It is an effective method to make sure that your videos are free of lawsuits. If you want me to tell you the end… almost all famous music (and not famous too) has Content ID.

Music allowed to be used on YouTube

So, if you are determined to continue uploading videos to YouTube but do not want to receive copyright lawsuits, you need to find alternatives. There are three music solutions that will not sue you for copyright with Content ID on YouTube.

Solution #1: Music with Creative Commons

Creative Commons are a type of license that allows you to use songs if you simply give credit.

Great, right?

The author only expects you to give him credit that it is his music (via a predetermined format) and you can use it.

But, there are different types of Creative Commons licenses, since some allow you to monetize and others do not. Always read the license details very carefully to be sure if you will be able to monetize them or not. On YouTube, you can search for music with creative commons by putting “Creative Commons Music” or try “No Copyright Music”. There are many channels that bring together this type of music, but… you have to check the details carefully.

Solution #2: Public Domain Songs

Public domain works are the second alternative to finding music free of copyright claims.

It is generally very old music, since most countries agree that after 50 years of the author’s death it is considered public domain.

Like for example, the famous hymn Amazing Grace. However, some artists (who do covers) may put content ID on the song for recording rights. It is not music that you are going to use regularly on your YouTube channel, but it is good to keep it in mind for some occasions.

Solution #3: Royalty-free music

And as a third option, if you want to make sure that you do not receive any copyright claims, you can use royalty-free music. In English it is known as “Royalty Free Music”.

It is called “royalty-free” because after purchasing, you can freely use it in your videos commercially. That is, without giving royalties to the author.

Some sites like AundioJungle or Pond5 sell royalty-free music. There is all types of music on these sites, from instrumental to pop or EDM. Once you purchase the song, you have the complete right to use the song in any of your projects.Of course, these sites sell individual songs, so it is a bit expensive to buy so many songs for your videos.

Alternative: Cheaper solution for YouTubers

Now, you’re probably thinking: “if I have to pay for every royalty-free music song, I’ll go bankrupt after uploading 5 videos.”

And yes, it is totally true.

Therefore, there is a cheaper solution to use a lot of music without having copyright claims.

The solution is called Epidemic Sound.

This site offers more than 12,000 royalty-free songs and 60,000 effects to use in your YouTube videos, with a monthly membership of $15. That is, it is a company that brings together a lot of music from different artists (and making contracts with them ) to allow you to create a monthly music subscription for YouTubers.

All plans (including the so-called “Personal”) allow monetization and an unlimited number of subscribers on the channel.

With this service, you will ensure that you have the right to use all the music on your YouTube channel, and thus avoid any type of claim.

It has all kinds of music and of excellent quality. Lofi, Pop, electronic, acoustic, instrumental, etc. If you regularly upload videos on your YouTube channel and want varied music, then you should consider this option.

Final thoughts

So, when asked “how do you know if a song has copyright on YouTube?”, we saw that they all have.

The motto is in the Content ID, which is the technology that identifies all the songs. On the positive side, there are some authors who allow the use of their songs through different licenses such as Creative Commons or Public Domain. A safe method is to use royalty-free music with a subscription service like Epidemic Sound.