How to license music for video and podcast: costs, rights and quick wins

The cheapest music is the one that gets your video taken down

Every year, small businesses lose videos, ads and podcasts to copyright claims from tracks they assumed were fine to use. "I found it on YouTube" is not a license. Music rights are confusing on purpose, but the practical rules for creators are actually simple once you separate two different rights.

The two rights that matter

• The recording is owned by whoever recorded the track — often a label or the artist.
• The composition (the song itself, melody and lyrics) is owned by the songwriter or publisher.

Using a song in a video requires permission for both, typically granted through a sync license for the composition and a master license for the recording. The World Intellectual Property Organization's copyright explainer is a good primer on how these rights split. Platforms like YouTube also have their own content systems: a claim can block your video or route its ad revenue to the rights holder even when you did not intend to infringe.

Where to source music safely

• Stock and royalty-free libraries. Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Musicbed and similar services license pre-cleared tracks for a subscription. Read the terms carefully: some licenses cover YouTube but not paid ads, broadcast or podcasts, and "royalty-free" means you do not pay per use, not that it is free.
• Creative Commons and public domain. Usable, but each CC license has conditions (attribution, non-commercial use) that differ by track. Check them per track, every time.
• Custom-composed music. A composer writes an original track to your brief. More expensive, but you get exclusive, claim-proof music that fits your brand.
• Direct from the artist. Independent musicians can license their own work. Get the permission in writing, including where and how long you may use it.

What it should cost in 2026

• Subscription libraries — $15–$50/month (or ~$150–$300/year). Covers most internal and social use within each platform's terms.
• Per-track premium licenses — $50–$500. Broader rights for ads, broadcast or longer campaigns.
• Custom composition — $300–$2,000+. Exclusive music for a video, podcast theme or brand sonic identity, including a written license.

Questions to answer before you publish

• Where will this appear — social, my website, ads, YouTube, a podcast feed, broadcast?
• Do I need the music to be exclusive so competitors cannot use the same track?
• What is the license duration — one video, one campaign, or in perpetuity?
• Does the license cover the territory and the business use, or is it limited to personal content?

If you cannot point to a license that covers your exact use, you have not licensed the music. A one-page agreement is cheaper than a takedown notice.

Explore more music & audio services or browse all audio and music gigs.

Pair your track with the visuals — read what an explainer video costs or plan your podcast editing budget.