Lofi music has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people turning to it as a way to relax and unwind. But is lofi music copyright free?
As a general rule, lofi songs and lofi music are not free of copyright. Unless the lofi music is in the public domain or declared as copyright free by the original copyright holder, lofi music is not automatically copyright free.
In this article, I will explore the world of lofi music, what it is and the copyright issues surrounding this music type, covering:
- Are lofi songs copyright free?
- What is lofi music?
- What is lofi chill music?
- Where can I stream or download lofi music legally?
- Why is lofi music so good?
Are Lofi Songs Copyright Free?
Lofi music refers to the audio quality of a tune and, just like regular hifi music, most lofi music is copyrighted.
You can still legally use lofi copyrighted music if you get permission from the musical artist or find a lofi royalty free music supplier or creative commons music license option.
Because lofi music lacks a “glossy commercial sound”, many think that such music is not copyrighted, but this is not true.
Any modern recorded piece of music will have copyright attached to it.
To find safe to use copyrighted lofi songs, search any of the following online.
- Royalty free music suppliers of lofi music, (like coya music)
- Search for lofi songs which can be used legally under creative commons.
A musical artist may declare their music as “no-copyright music” but this depends on the musical artist.
When it comes to using lofi song in your content that is not supplied by a good royalty-free music library or under creative commons, it is best to check with the individual artist or record label to ensure that you are legally able to use the music.
What Is Lofi Music?
Lofi actually stands for “low fidelity”, which means the audio production is not top-notch or “polished” like those glossy top ten POP songs you typically get in the top 40 chart.
Therefore, any recorded piece of music that has sound imperfections such as noise, a hum, crackle, or other flaw is actually lofi music.
So you could have Lofi POP, Rock, Synthwave, or any other music genre that could be classified as lofi music.
What Is Lofi Chill?
Lofi chill is a music genre that many argue is a subcategory of lofi music.
You could describe lofi chill as chill out, slow beat music with audio imperfections or hum which gives an analog or unique vibe.
Lofi chill music sounds warm and relaxing.
LoFi chill is so popular that many think that the term lofi music only refers to this type of music, however, this is not the case.
Lofi chill is one of the most popular areas of lofi music alongside lofi beats.
Where Can I Stream Or Download Lofi Music Legally?
You can stream and download the following lofi music legally to use as background music in your game streams, YouTube videos, or other content.
Check out the following list of free to download and stream lofi music.
If you want to listen to this music or have it playing in your Twitch game streams, it is available on all major platforms, including Spotify.
Is Lofi On Spotify Copyright Free?
Typically, the music on Spotify is not copyright free, however, if you are looking for free to use music on Spotify that is safe to use as background music in your content, this does exist if you know where to look.
I have covered this topic is greater detail in my article, “Is There Royalty Free Music On Spotify?”
Why Is Lofi Music So Good?
Lofi music is so good, because the soft analog tones, acoustic imperfections and often used “white noise” effects give an authentic sound which sounds natural to our ears.
When I first started producing music for a living, in the early days I was obsessed with hifi music, which is the complete opposite of lofi music.
Everything I recorded had to be done perfectly, with no noise, mistakes, hum or buzz. My music was a clinical and polished production.
In order to compete with the highly produced commercial songs I heard on the radio, I thought the only way I could produce music was in this overly processed way.
I only recently discovered the power of lofi music (within the last year) and I wish I had identified the pure art that lofi music is years ago!
Many people, myself included, love lofi for the creative freedom it gives musical artists. It harks back to the early days of a band making a rough DIY demo at home.
Yes, a well-trained music professional will identify a poor-quality DIY recording, but often these lofi recordings capture something special. Pure art.
In truly authentic lofi music, we can hear a musical artist expressing themselves and not worrying about mistakes, noise, or audible imperfections.
Today, lofi music has gone from something that was once seen as an amateur bedroom recording to a sought after sound.
Professional recording artists and studios are deliberately adding effects and noise to give a lofi sound.
I love lofi music so much because it captures music and feelings in a raw state, with all its recording blemishes.
In this modern world of cold and sterile, overly produced music, lofi music is like a warm audible hug for your brain.
Final Thoughts
Lofi music is a genre of music that has seen a recent resurgence in popularity. This type of music is characterised by its soft analog tones, acoustic imperfections, and “white noise” effects.
Lofi music is so popular because it sounds warm and relaxing, and provides an authentic sound that our ears find appealing. Professional recording artists are now deliberately adding effects and noise to give their tracks a lofi sound.
I love lofi music for the creative freedom it gives musical artists, as well as the raw emotion that can be heard on each track.