Royalty-free music is a valuable resource for content creators, particularly those looking to monetise their content.
When talking about royalty-free music for commercial use, the term “commercial use” refers to the usage of copyrighted material for commercial purposes. This means that the material is used to generate profits or other forms of revenue, such as advertising.
It can include a wide range of activities, from creating advertisements for products to using music in a monetised YouTube video.
With royalty-free music, commercial use usually means that the content creator can use the song in any project they choose, regardless of how they will distribute or monetise it.
As a general rule, royalty-free music from a professional music library can be used for commercial use, however, every music library will have its own terms and conditions so ensure you confirm the music is cleared for commercial use before using it in your projects.
In this article, I will dig deeper into what you need to look out for as a creator looking for royalty-free music for commercial or revenue-generating projects, covering:
- Can I use royalty-free music for commercial use?
- How to license royalty-free music for commercial use.
- What music can I use for commercial use?
- Where can I download free music for commercial use?
Can I Use Royalty Free Music For Commercial Use?
As a whole, the term “music for commercial use” is using music in a business or associated with a brand where the product being produced makes money. If you are making any sort of profit from your content, then this counts as commercial use.
Often “music for commercial use” is associated with money-making projects only, however, if you are a business start-up and not making any profit right now, you still need to clear the music for commercial use if you intend to make a profit.
Finding royalty-free music for commercial use is very easy.
If you are in any doubt about how you can use royalty-free music in a commercial project, just ask your music provider.
All good royalty-free music libraries will answer this question up-front, probably on their license page, as it is a very common concern for music providers.
Restrictions On Using Music For Commercial Use
“Music for commercial use” is music that you can use as background music to assist your business, professional content or money-making projects.
It is important to understand that you cannot profit directly from the music.
There are often some restrictions on using royalty-free music for any project, from personal to commercial use, and these restrictions will depend on the licence terms of the music library that is supplying your music.
For example, Coya Music provides royalty-free music for commercial use and this royalty-free music has a list of restrictions that you can find here.
These restrictions are unique to Coya Music, so may differ from other music libraries. However, they are very common music use restrictions you will find across the music industry.
How To License Royalty Free Music For Commercial Use
To get the most from your royalty-free music and ensure it is correct for your use, ensure your music ticks the following boxes.
1. Use A Trusted Music Site Or Music Supplier
I appreciate that there are a lot of royalty-free music suppliers out there and it can be very difficult to separate a high-end professional site from a less reputable one.
That said, there are a few things you can do to establish the trustworthiness of a music supplier.
First, check their contact page and ask them a question. A fast and well-answered reply will show that the supplier is not just an empty library but that there are real humans behind the music, prepared to answer questions about it.
Look for an about page. Sometimes this may be hidden, but a legitimate music supplier will have a story – if nothing else, they should explain how they came into existence.
2. Ensure They Allow Commercial Use
Music for commercial use is such a common search for music users, many royalty-free music libraries will list the music as “OK for commercial use”, straight up on their licence page.
However, if you are ever in doubt, just ask your music provider. All good music providers will tell you instantly if their music is cleared for commercial use.
3. Ensure They Provide A Written Music Licence Agreement
When using royalty-free music in your content, always ensure your music supplier has provided you with a written music licence, which proves you have the right to use the music.
All good royalty-free music libraries will provide you with a written music licence agreement and proof of purchase so you can prove that you have the correct rights to use the music to anyone who may ask
This is important for everyone, but it is essential for business and professional music users.
Without the correct music licence clearance, your content could be taken down because of misused background music.
For more serious causes, copyright infringement can be taken to the courts, which is a situation all responsible business owners will want to avoid.
Having a written music licence agreement from your music supplier will protect your content in the present and for many years to come.
4. Check If Attribution Is Required
Attribution is giving music credit to the music composer. It basically announces who the musical artist is.
Many music artists require music attribution as a music credit, which can be in your content description, end credits, or on your website.
I have found that when people give the artists’ music credit, it helps the music spread as others will find the artist’s website.
Many users of music for commercial projects dislike having to give credit and seek “non-attribution” music. Perhaps they don’t want their competitors to see how much they have paid for their music?
Either way, you should always check with your music supplier if attribution is required as if so, you will need to find a place to put this.
What Music Can I Use For Commercial Use?
Understandably, it’s difficult to find free music for commercial use, as most artists will ask for a fee from profit-making organisations or individuals.
That said, some artists’ libraries, like Coya Music, will ask for attribution as a music credit or link back to their website in return for the free use of music.
The following table shows the most common requirements that come with free commercial music. These conditions will vary depending on your music provider, so always check what the conditions of free music are:
| Examples of Typical Conditions of Free Commercial Music |
| Attribution required Depending on the music supplier, you must let people know where you download the free music from or promote the artist |
| MP3 Only Sometimes, you can only download MP3 files and if you want a higher-quality WAV file, you pay. |
| Limited Use Sometimes you can use the song only once, but some music suppliers will allow you to use the music in multiple videos |
| Restricted Use You will always find restricted use. Artists do this to protect their music. Examples of restricted use could include terms such as – you cannot remix the music, you cannot sample the music to make a new song, you cannot add lyrics, or use the music in music-only YouTube videos. |
Where Can I Download Free Music For Commercial Use?
You can download free music which you can use in money-making projects from Coya Music.
In return for free music, Coya Music asks that you link back to their website and give them a music credit in your content.
Be sure to read the music license terms of this free music on the music license page to ensure that this free music is OK for you to use in your content.
Final Thoughts
Finding free music for commercial use can really help your business or project get off to the best start.
You need a music licence that is cleared for commercial use for any project using music that is profit-driven.
In today’s internet world and YouTube monetisation, it has become more important than ever that content creators know that “commercial use” means any project that is profit-generating.
Therefore, you don’t have to be a registered business to need a commercial use music licence.
If your content is generating an income for you, then the music that you use in that content needs to cover “commercial use” to be on the safe side.
You can find great free music for commercial use online with some fantastic free music resources out there. You just need to ensure that you follow each music supplier’s requirements to benefit from their free music.
For example, most musical suppliers (like Coya Music) will ask for a music credit or attribution, in return for free music. This means you get free music and music libraries have more traffic to their website and people listening to their music.
Whether you are a new venture or a seasoned professional trying to keep costs down, having a good source of free music for commercial use to hand is really important.
Happy producing!
