The common question of content creators is how to know if a song is copyrighted, as receiving a copyright strike for a song or background music is one of the worst experiences.

You put in a lot of effort, hoping your content goes viral, only to have it removed because of copyrighted music. Often, creators don’t know the music is copyrighted until platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok take action against it.

Music can greatly improve the viewer’s and listener’s experience, but using copyrighted music without permission can lead to serious problems, like copyright claims, content removal, and even legal issues. Content creators must understand and follow music copyright laws to protect their work and reputation.

What is copyrighted music?

A copyrighted song protects the creator’s intellectual property by giving them exclusive rights to use their work however they choose. Anyone else who wants to use the song needs to get permission or a license from the copyright holder, usually for a fee.

Why is it important to check the copyright of music?

Here’s why it’s important to check a song’s copyright status:

Protecting your reputation

It takes years to build your reputation as a quality content creator. Unintentionally using copyrighted music can ruin it quickly. This could mean:

Unprofessional image: It makes you seem unprofessional and disrespectful to artists and copyright owners. This not only harms your reputation but also discourages possible collaborations.

Losing community trust: As an artist, you put in a lot of effort to build trust with your audience. Using only copyright-free or royalty-free music shows that you respect artists and helps your audience feel confident in your work.

To avoid copyright infringement.

Using copyrighted music can lead to legal issues and restrictions. It may result in:

Platform takedowns: Platforms like YouTube automatically flag content for copyright issues and remove it if you don’t respond properly to the warning. This means all your hard work could be lost, leaving you frustrated.

Channel strikes: If you get repeated copyright claims, the platform can remove your channel, erasing all your work, views, and audience.

Legal issues: Copyright infringement is a serious issue that can lead to heavy fines and lawsuits, even if the mistake is unintentional. That’s why it’s important to check if a song is copyrighted or not.

How to check if a song is copyrighted

Here are some ways how to check if a song is copyrighted, as well as to check the copyright status and find out who owns the copyright to a specific song or music track.

1. Check the public domain

Founded in 1986, PD Info is a project that offers information about public-domain music. It provides researched lists of public domain music titles, sheet music reprints, and books. While it’s one of the best resources for checking public-domain music, it doesn’t cover everything.

2. Check Creative Commons licenses

You can also check the Creative Commons site to see if musicians have made their music available for free. This allows you to use their songs with permission or sometimes with no rules at all.

3. Manual Search

If you have a song in mind for your video and you’re not sure about its copyright status, you can try doing some research yourself. A quick Google or Wikipedia search can help you find the original artist and current copyright owner.

You can look for the song on YouTube and check if it’s in the “Music” section of the video description. This can tell you if YouTube recognizes the song and provides copyright details.

4. Upload your video to YouTube and see what happens

Although we wouldn’t recommend this method if you’re concerned about getting a strike or having your channel taken down, YouTube does have a copyright search tool as part of its upload process, and the YouTube Music Copyright Checker can help identify potential copyright issues with your content.

When you upload videos to YouTube, the platform checks its database and usually tells you if your video violates any copyrights. If it does, you’ll either need to keep your video private or be informed about any limitations that may apply if you decide to make it public.

5. Check the Song’s Licensing Terms

Check the Song’s Licensing Terms means looking at the rules and permissions that come with using the song, which helps answer the question ‘how do I know if music is copyrighted,’ including understanding if you need to pay for the song, if you can use it in certain ways (like for a video, performance, etc.), and if there are any restrictions (such as where or how you can share it), so you can always make sure you’re allowed to use the song in the way you want.

Tools and Resources to Check if a Song is Copyrighted

In addition to the methods mentioned above, there are many tools to check if a song is copyrighted or not. These tools can help you find out if a song or music is copyrighted. There are also bonus tools that can help you create original, copyright-free music.

Easy Song

Easy Song is a song copyright checker that helps you get copyright details for songs. You can search music by popularity, industry work ID, composer, and arranger. It also offers expert services for copyright research and helps artists, musicians, and content creators get custom licenses and authenticity seals. In addition to copyright research, it assists with music publishing and copyright management.

ASCAP ACE Repertory

The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) ACE repertory offers a large database of copyrighted music, acting as a music copyright checker where you can search by title, music snippets, and artists to find licensing details and copyright holders.

What will happen if I use music that is copyrighted without permission?

It’s not just about whether a song is copyrighted, but about understanding the copyright rules, like how strict they are, and knowing how to know if a song is copyrighted. For example, Instagram shows restrictions, such as if the video is blocked in certain countries, and copyright owners can update their rules and remove videos using their music. This means you could receive a copyright strike if you use copyrighted music without permission.

Instagram may block your video or mute the music, and you might see a message like, ‘This video has audio not approved by copyright owners. The audio is disabled.’ If you have permission to use the music but still see this message, you can appeal through your Instagram settings.

 Another limitation when using copyrighted music is that you can’t make money from the video. The copyright owner may place ads and earn money from your video instead. This means you could lose out on earnings from views and plays. That’s why using licensed royalty-free music is often the easiest and safest choice.

Conclusion:

Whether you’re a musician, content creator, video producer, or podcaster, copyright claims and strikes can hurt your reputation. So, it’s important to always check if a song is copyrighted before using it.

Incorporate tools like copyright checkers and AI music generators, such as Beatoven.ai, into your workflow to have more creative freedom and create without worries.

Nothing beats having an original song or music to support your creative visuals, but if you’re wondering how to know if a song is copyrighted, it’s important to check and ensure you create ethically and responsibly.

FAQ

How to check if a song has a copyright?

To check if music is copyrighted, look for its registration with copyright authorities, check streaming platforms for licensing information, or use tools like Content ID on YouTube for detection.

What songs are copyright free?

Copyright-free songs typically fall under the public domain or have a Creative Commons license. Examples include classical music or tracks explicitly marked as royalty-free by the creator or platform.

How do I make sure my song is copyrighted?

To ensure your song is copyrighted, automatically copyright it when you create it. For extra protection, register it with the relevant copyright office, like the U.S. Copyright Office.

What makes a song copyrighted? 

A song becomes copyrighted when it’s original, fixed in a tangible form (written, recorded), and created by a specific author. Copyright protects the song’s melody, lyrics, and arrangement.