Free Music Archive music in YouTube videos
Only some of it. Each track has its own Creative Commons licence. BY and BY-SA tracks can go in a video, NC tracks cannot be used commercially, and ND tracks cannot be put in a video at all.
Not completely safe. Music from Free Music Archive can still get a copyright claim. For music with full protection, use the safest options.
- Type
- Free library
- Cost
- Free
- Credit
- Required in the description
- Copyright claims
- Claims happen
- How a claim clears
- Contact the artist or provider
- Monetised videos
- Only on licences that allow commercial use
- Platforms named
- YouTube Shorts
What it is
Free Music Archive is a library of tracks that artists have released under Creative Commons licences. The site says it "cannot and does not license music". The artist sets the licence, and the licence differs from track to track. So the question is never "is FMA safe" but "what does this track's licence allow".
Which licences work in a video
| Licence | In a YouTube video |
|---|---|
| CC BY | Yes, with credit |
| CC BY-SA | Yes, with credit, and your video must carry the same licence |
| Any NC licence | Not if the video earns ad revenue |
| Any ND licence | No |
The ND rule surprises people. The licence guide says "Syncing a track to video/moving images constitutes a derivative work, which is prohibited by this licence." The video FAQ adds that you would need written permission from the artist.
The credit
Free Music Archive asks for more than most sources. Its FAQ says "Proper attribution in a video requires that this credit appears in the video as well as in any written blurb that accompanies the work." The credit lists the title, the author, the source and the licence.
The catch
If a track gets a Content ID claim, the site cannot help. Its FAQ says "FMA cannot address Content ID claims directly."
Its advice is to contact the artist. For a new creator that means a claim on a Free Music Archive track can sit on a video until a stranger answers an email. Check the licence badge before you download, keep a note of the track page, and prefer CC BY tracks from artists who are easy to reach.
The guide to Creative Commons music in YouTube videos explains each licence letter in more detail.
Common questions
Can Free Music Archive remove a Content ID claim?
No. Its FAQ says "FMA cannot address Content ID claims directly" and tells you to reach out to the artist.
Can you use a NonCommercial track in a monetised video?
Free Music Archive says no. Its FAQ asks whether advertising revenue factors into your project and says that if so, you can only use music that allows commercial use.
Sources
- Free Music Archive FAQfreemusicarchive.org
- Free Music Archive licence guidefreemusicarchive.org
- Free Music Archive FAQ for videosfreemusicarchive.org
Facts checked against the sources below on . Licences and prices change, so read the provider's own page before you rely on one.