At its core, music licensing is about getting permission to use music in a way that’s fair to the creators and legally protected for the people using it. What Is Music Licensing? Music licensing is the process of obtaining legal permission to use a piece of music in a specific way. This could include using music in a video, streaming it publicly, playing it in a business, using it in an advertisement, or distributing it as part of a larger project. When you license music, you’re essentially paying for the right to use it under a defined set of terms. Those terms typically include where the music can be used, how long it can be used, and what type of project it will appear in. Music licensing exists to protect the people who create music and to ensure the people using music have clear permission and legal coverage. Because multiple parties may be involved, licensing a popular commercial song can require approvals from more than one organization. This is one reason production music libraries exist: they simplify licensing by offering music that is pre-cleared and easy to use. Sync licensing applies to things like commercials, films, trailers, TV, YouTube videos, social media campaigns, and branded content. Any time music is used in a visual project, sync rights are typically required. What Is A Master Use License? A master use license gives you permission to use a specific recording of a song. This is the license that covers the master rights. If you’re licensing a well-known song, you typically need both a sync license for the composition and a master use license for the recording. In production music and music library licensing, these rights are often handled together, which makes the process much faster and easier. What Is A Mechanical License? A mechanical license covers the reproduction and distribution of a song. Traditionally, this applied to physical media like CDs or vinyl. Today, it can also apply to digital distribution and downloads. Mechanical licensing is commonly discussed in the music industry when artists release cover songs or distribute recordings of existing compositions. For media producers and editors, mechanical licenses are not always the main focus, but they are an important part of the overall licensing landscape. What Are Performing Rights? Performance rights relate to the public performance of music. This includes when music is played publicly through broadcast or public venues. Performance royalties can be generated through television broadcasts, radio, streaming platforms, live venues, restaurants, retail spaces, events and public presentations. What Is A Cue Sheet? Cue sheets are commonly required for television programming, film, and certain streaming productions. They help ensure the correct composers and publishers receive credit and are paid properly through performance royalties. Cue sheets are not always used in advertising, but they are an important part of professional production workflows. Royalty-free does not mean copyright-free, and it does not mean the music is free. It generally means that once you purchase a license, you can use the track without paying ongoing royalties for that usage. However, royalty-free licenses can still come with restrictions. Some royalty-free music is limited by term length, territory, platform usage, paid advertising exclusions and broadcast restrictions. That’s why it’s always important to understand what your license covers, even if the music is labeled royalty-free. What Is Public Domain Music? Public domain music refers to music that is no longer protected by copyright. In many cases, this applies to older compositions whose copyright term has expired. However, it’s important to understand that even if a composition is public domain, the recording of that composition may still be copyrighted. For example, a classical piece written centuries ago may be public domain, but a modern orchestra recording of that piece may still requires licensing. Public domain music can be useful in some projects, but it still requires careful consideration. This is a common misconception. Giving credit does not replace licensing. Even if you include the artist name or song title in your description, you still need the proper rights to use copyrighted music legally. Credit may be appreciated, but it does not grant permission. Another common myth is that using a short clip of a song is automatically allowed. There is no universal rule that says using 5 seconds or 10 seconds is legally safe. In many cases, even a short portion of a song can still trigger copyright claims, especially on platforms like YouTube and social media. If a piece of music is copyrighted, the length of the clip does not guarantee protection. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok use automated detection systems that scan videos for copyrighted audio. If the system recognizes a track, it may flag the content automatically. This can result in copyright claims, monetization being redirected, videos being muted, content being blocked in certain regions, and account restrictions in extreme cases. Even if you have a license, automated systems may still flag the content. That’s why it’s important to use properly licensed music and keep documentation in case you need to dispute a claim. Broadcast, Digital, & Social Music licensing often depends on where the content will be distributed. Broadcast usage typically refers to traditional television and cable distribution. Digital usage generally refers to online platforms such as websites, streaming ads, and YouTube. Social usage refers to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and other social channels. Some licenses cover all platforms, while others may be limited to digital-only or social-only use. It’s also common for a campaign to start as digital and later expand into broadcast, so confirming usage rights early can prevent problems later. Short-term licensing can make sense for campaigns that will run for a limited time. But if your video will live on a website, YouTube channel, or long-term brand platform, licensing in perpetuity can help avoid future takedown issues and eliminate the need to renew later. Blanket licensing can reduce paperwork and simplify coverage across multiple projects. The cost of a needle drop license can vary depending on factors like the length of the campaign, the platforms where the content will run, and whether the usage includes broadcast or paid advertising. Needle drop licensing is popular because it allows you to license exactly what you need without committing to a broader agreement. Production music libraries simplify the licensing process by offering music that is pre-cleared and available through a single source. This makes it easier to obtain the proper rights without negotiating with multiple parties. Music licensing doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require understanding the basics. Knowing the difference between publishing rights and master rights, understanding what sync licensing covers, and knowing how territory and term length work can help you make smarter decisions and avoid unnecessary problems. For a deeper dive into licensing specific to production music (like commercials and trailers), see our Production Music Licensing Explained guide. If you have questions about licensing, we are always available and want to be a helpful resource. Get in touch.
Whether you’re producing a commercial, editing a trailer, launching a podcast, or creating content for social media, understanding the basics helps you avoid copyright issues and make sure your project has the right coverage. In this guide, we’ll break down music licensing fundamentals in a simple, practical way so you can understand what rights you need and why they matter.
Why Music Licensing Exists
Music is intellectual property. Similar to a book, a photograph, or a piece of software, music belongs to the people who created it and the companies that represent it. Most music is protected by copyright, which means you cannot legally use it in a commercial project without proper licensing.
Music licensing exists because there are usually multiple parties involved in the ownership of a song, and those rights need to be respected and properly cleared.
Who Owns The Rights To A Song?
Music rights are often split between different parties. In many cases, a song involves both creative owndership and business ownership. The rights may be owned by songwriters, publishers, artists, record labels, production companies, music libraries, and additional rights holders, depending on the agreement.
Two Main Types Of Music Copyright
Most music licensing revolves around two separate copyrights:
Composition Rights (Publishing) - refer to the underlying song itself. This includes the melody, chords, and lyrics. These rights are typically owned by the songwriter and publisher. Even if someone records a new version of a song, the composition rights still belong to the original writers and publishers.
Master Rights (Sound Recording) - refer efer to the actual recording of the song. This is the version you hear when you stream a track. Master rights are typically owned by a record label or the artist. In most cases, using music legally requires clearing both publishing and master rights.“Music licensing is the legal permission that allows copyrighted music to be used in a project — defining how, where, and for how long a piece of music can be used.”
What Is A Sync License?
A sync license (short for synchronization license) is the right to sync music to visual media. If you are placing music into a video, you are synchronizing the music to picture.
These royalties are typically collected by Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRS, and others depending on the country. In many cases, broadcasters and venues handle performance royalty payments through blanket agreements with PROs.
A cue sheet is a document that lists all music used in a production. It includes details such as track title, composer, publisher, duration, and usage type.“When you license a song, you’re negotiating rights with the copyright owners so your project is legally protected and the creators are fairly compensated.”
What Does "Royalty-Free" Actually Mean?
Can You Use Music If You Give Credit?
Can You Use Music If You Only Use A Few Seconds?
Why Copyright Claims Happen On YouTube And Social Media
Territory (Worldwide Vs. U.S. Only)
Territory refers to where your content is allowed to be distributed geographically. Some licenses cover the United States only, while others cover worldwide distribution. If a project is going to be used internationally, or published online where it can be viewed globally, worldwide territory coverage is often the safest option. Territory is an important detail to confirm early, especially for ad campaigns and brand content that may be repurposed later.
Term Length (1 Year, 3 Years, In Perpetuity)
Term length refers to how long your license is valid. Some licenses cover a specific period such as one year or three years, while others may be granted in perpetuity.
What Is A Blanket License?
A blanket license is a licensing agreement that allows a company, agency, or production team to use music under a broad set of terms, usually over a defined period of time. Instead of licensing music track-by-track, blanket licenses provide broader access and are commonly used in television production, large-scale content workflows, and agencies that license music frequently.
What Is A Needle Drop License?
A needle drop license is a licensing model where you pay for music on a per-track basis, based on how and where it will be used. It’s commonly used for commercials, trailers, brand films, and other one-off projects where the music is tied to a specific campaign or deliverable.
How Production Music Fits Into Music Licensing
Production music is a category of music that was created specifically for media production. It is designed to be licensed quickly and used in projects like commercials, trailers, TV, film, and branded content.
The Most Common Music Licensing Mistakes
Some of the most common mistakes include assuming music is free because it’s online, assuming credit is enough, or using music outside the scope of the license. It’s also common for projects to expand beyond their original plan. A video might start as a social post and later become a paid campaign. Or a digital-only campaign might later run on broadcast television. This is why it’s important to clarify usage early and ensure your license covers the full scope of distribution.
Knowing The Basics
Regardless of what type of media you are using, the right licensing coverage ensures your content is protected and your music usage is legally cleared.