Music plays a central role in modern social media content. It enhances storytelling, increases engagement, and helps creators establish a recognizable style. However, using music correctly on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube is not always straightforward. Each platform applies its own copyright rules, and these rules can vary significantly depending on whether the account is personal, creator, or business.
A track that is available on TikTok may not be permitted on Instagram for business use. A popular sound used in a Reel may trigger a YouTube Content ID claim when uploaded there.
This guide outlines the legal ways to use music across the three major platforms, explains the limitations for each account type, and highlights the most common copyright issues.
- Why Music Copyright Matters More Than Ever?
- How Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Allow (or Restrict) the Use of Popular Songs
- What are Legal Ways to Use Music on Social Media
- Common Copyright Mistakes Creators Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Why Music Copyright Matters More Than Ever?
Copyright protects the people who create music: the composers, producers, songwriters, and rights-holders behind the scenes. Any time you use a song in your video, you are using someone else’s intellectual property.
YouTube’s Content ID system is the largest audio-fingerprinting database in the world. It scans every upload against millions of copyrighted tracks, and more than 99% of copyright actions come from automated detection. Since launch, Content ID has paid over $12 billion to rights-holders, which explains why enforcement is so strict.
Short-form content has accelerated this further. YouTube Shorts alone reports more than 2 billion monthly logged-in users, and research shows short-form videos generate 2.5× more engagement than long-form formats. According to IFPI, global recorded music revenues reached $29.6 billion in 2024, with 752 million paid subscribers, growth driven largely by streaming and social platforms.
Copyright violations may result in muted audio, blocked videos, lost monetization, or account restrictions. For businesses, rules are even tighter: platforms separate personal use from commercial use, and commercial use typically requires a proper license. Understanding these requirements is essential not only for compliance but also for maintaining consistent visibility and protecting long-term content strategies.
Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Allow (or Restrict) the Use of Popular Songs
Using popular commercial songs on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube is not as simple as adding a track to your video. Each platform has its own licensing agreements, and the rules differ depending on whether you use a personal, creator, or business account. Below is a unified breakdown of how each platform handles copyrighted music across all account types.
Instagram Music Rules for Popular and Commercial Songs
Instagram distinguishes between personal content and commercial use, and this determines which music you can legally use.
Personal & Creator Accounts
Users with personal or creator profiles can access most trending, charting, and commercial songs available in Instagram’s main Music Library. These tracks are licensed for non-commercial, user-generated content. However, if the content appears promotional or involves a paid partnership, restrictions may apply even without switching to a business account.
Business Accounts
Business accounts cannot use mainstream or trending songs. They are limited to Instagram’s Commercial Music Library (CML), which contains copyright-safe tracks cleared for commercial use. Using commercial music outside this library may result in muted audio, blocked Reels, or reduced visibility.
TikTok Music Rules for Trending and Viral Sound
TikTok is built around audio trends, but its rules differ significantly for personal and business accounts.
Personal & Creator Accounts
Personal and creator accounts can use trending tracks, viral sounds, and popular commercial songs in their videos. This is permitted only for non-commercial, personal content that falls under TikTok’s user-generated content licensing.
Business Accounts
Business profiles cannot use copyrighted or trending audio. They must rely on TikTok’s Commercial Sounds Library, which includes tracks approved for commercial and advertising use. Using copyrighted music in business or promotional content may lead to muted videos, upload restrictions, or rejected ads.
YouTube Music Rules and Content ID Enforcement
YouTube applies the strictest copyright enforcement of any social platform due to its Content ID system.
Copyright Detection and Consequences
YouTube detects copyrighted audio instantly. Using commercial songs without permission typically results in copyright claims, which may remove monetisation or block the video in certain regions. Repeated or serious infringements can escalate to copyright strikes, which may limit channel features or lead to account removal.
What You Can Use Safely on YouTube
To avoid Content ID issues, creators should use licensed, royalty-free, or PRO-free music, tracks obtained directly from rights-holders, YouTube’s Audio Library, or original music. Uploading audio from Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok sounds, movies, or other copyrighted sources is not permitted, even in very short clips.
Summary of Platform Restrictions
- Instagram & TikTok: Personal and creator accounts can use popular songs for non-commercial content, while business accounts must rely on commercial-safe libraries.
- YouTube: No account type can freely use commercial music without a license due to strict Content ID enforcement.
- Best Practice for All Platforms: For any sponsored, monetized, commercial and branded content, use licensed, royalty-free, or PRO-free music to ensure full compliance and avoid claims or penalties.
What are Legal Ways to Use Music on Social Media
PRO-Free Music (No Performance Royalties or PRO Reporting Required)
This is a crucial distinction that brands and agencies care about.
PRO-free music means the music is not registered with any Performance Rights Organizations (e.g., ASCAP, BMI, SOCAN, PRS). As a result:
- No broadcast royalties need to be paid.
- No cue sheets, reporting, or PRO filings are required.
- The music can be used freely across broadcast, online, commercial, and global distributions without triggering additional fees.
Royalty-Free Music
This is the most flexible, universal solution. A royalty-free license allows you to use music across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and commercial content without worrying about claims. This is why many brands and creators rely on libraries like Bensound, the music is cleared for global use and works everywhere.
Platform Commercial Libraries
- Instagram’s Commercial Music Library
- TikTok’s Commercial Sounds Library
These are safe for business accounts but limited creatively.
YouTube Audio Library
The YouTube Audio Library provides free, copyright-safe tracks and sound effects that creators can use directly on the platform without triggering Content ID issues. It is a practical solution for basic needs such as tutorials, vlogs, or simple background music on YouTube. However, its catalog is limited in terms of musical diversity, production quality, and stylistic range. Because the library is not curated for professional commercial use, many tracks sound generic and are widely reused across creators, making it difficult to build a distinctive audio identity. In addition, the licensing is primarily intended for YouTube itself, meaning these tracks are not always suitable for Instagram, TikTok, or broader commercial campaigns. For creators, brands, and agencies that need higher-quality compositions or a more varied catalog, specialised royalty-free libraries like Bensound offer a more robust and professional alternative.
Licensed Music From Rights-Holders
Works perfectly if you can afford it.
But licensing a popular song can cost thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Original Music
Creating original music, or commissioning a composer, gives you full ownership of the soundtrack and complete control over where and how it is used. This eliminates copyright risks entirely and is suitable for long-term brand identity or high-end campaigns. However, producing custom music can be costly and time-consuming, which makes it less practical for creators or businesses that need frequent content.
Common Copyright Mistakes Creators Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Even experienced creators misunderstand copyright rules on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Many mistakes are so widespread that users don’t realize they are violating copyright until their videos are muted or taken down. Below are the most frequent misconceptions, and how to avoid them.
1. Believing “a few seconds” of a song is safe
Many creators assume that using 3, 5, or 10 seconds of a copyrighted track is acceptable.
This is incorrect.
Platforms rely on audio-fingerprinting technology, not timing thresholds, meaning even a brief clip can trigger a copyright claim.
How to avoid it:
Use only music you have explicit permission to use.
2. Thinking crediting the artist makes it legal
Adding “I do not own the rights” or tagging the musician does not grant usage rights.
Copyright is based on licensing, not attribution.
How to avoid it:
Choose licensed, royalty-free, or platform-approved music.
3. Using Spotify or Apple Music tracks in videos
Buying or streaming a song does not include rights to use it in video content.
These files are for personal listening only.
How to avoid it:
Never extract or upload audio from streaming platforms.
4. Assuming personal accounts can always use popular music
Personal accounts have more flexibility, but only for non-commercial content.
If a post appears promotional, it may violate licensing rules—even without a business account.
How to avoid it:
Avoid mainstream music in any content connected to advertising or sponsorships.
5. Ignoring the difference between a claim and a strike on YouTube
A copyright claim may remove monetisation or restrict viewing.
A copyright strike is more serious and can lead to the removal of your channel if repeated.
How to avoid it:
Use copyright-safe music to prevent claims and protect long-term monetization.
6. Using TikTok or Instagram trending sounds on YouTube
Popular sounds often include copyrighted music.
YouTube’s Content ID will detect them automatically—even when the audio is altered.
How to avoid it:
Avoid importing platform sounds into YouTube; use licensed or original audio instead.
7. Posting sponsored content with popular music
Many creators forget that sponsored content is classified as commercial use.
Popular songs available to personal accounts are not licensed for advertising.
How to avoid it:
Use commercial-safe, royalty-free, or PRO-free tracks in any paid partnership.
8. Confusing “royalty-free music” with “free music”
Royalty-free means the creator has a valid license.
Free music online may still require rights clearance and can lead to claims.
How to avoid it:
Verify licensing terms before using music labeled as “free.”
9. Downloading “copyright-free” music from random channels
Many YouTube uploads incorrectly label music as copyright-free.
Using these tracks can result in unexpected claims or takedowns.
How to avoid it:
Use reputable music libraries with clear licensing terms.
Music is one of the most powerful ingredients in social media content. It sets the tone, drives engagement, and can make an ordinary clip feel memorable. But with platforms tightening their copyright systems every year, creators and brands can’t afford to rely on outdated assumptions or vague “rules of thumb.”
Whether you’re posting a casual Reel, making TikTok content for a business, or building a monetized YouTube channel, the safest approach is always the same:
Use music you actually have the rights to.
That can be royalty-free tracks, platform-approved libraries, or music you’ve licensed yourself.
When you choose music the right way, you protect your content, your reach, and your brand. And you also give yourself one less thing to worry about — so you can focus on creating videos that people love to watch.
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