Music Copyright for Vloggers: A Complete Overview
As a vlogger, you know that music is an essential component of your videos. Music sets the tone and mood of your content, and it can help you connect with your audience on an emotional level. However, using music in your videos can also be a legal minefield. If you’re not careful, you could find yourself facing copyright infringement claims and hefty fines. In this article, we’ll give you a complete overview of music copyright for vloggers so you can avoid legal trouble and keep creating great content.
What is Music Copyright?
Music copyright is a form of legal protection that gives the owner of a musical work the exclusive right to use, distribute, and profit from that work. In the United States, music copyright is governed by the Copyright Act of 1976. This law gives copyright owners the exclusive right to:
- Reproduce the work
- Distribute copies of the work
- Perform the work publicly
- Display the work publicly
- Create derivative works based on the original work
These rights apply to all forms of music, including songs, instrumental pieces, and sound recordings.
How Does Music Copyright Apply to Vloggers?
As a vlogger, you need to be aware of music copyright because you’re using music in your videos. If you use copyrighted music without permission, you could be infringing on the copyright owner’s exclusive rights. This could result in a copyright infringement claim, and you could be forced to pay damages, which can be very costly.
There are two types of rights you need to be aware of when it comes to music copyright: the musical work and the sound recording.The musical work refers to the underlying composition of a song, including the melody, lyrics, and chord progressions. The copyright for the musical work is usually owned by the songwriter or their publisher. Sound recording refers to the specific recording of a song, including the performance, production, and engineering. The copyright for the sound recording is usually owned by the record label or the artist who made the recording.
If you want to use a copyrighted song in your vlog, you need to get permission from both the copyright owner of the musical work and the copyright owner of the sound recording. This can be a complicated process, and it’s not always easy to get permission.
How to Get Permission to Use Copyrighted Music
There are several ways you can get permission to use copyrighted music in your vlog:
License the Music
One way to get permission to use copyrighted music is to license it. This means you pay a fee to the copyright owner in exchange for the right to use their music in your vlog. There are several companies that offer music licensing services, including Epidemic Sound, AudioJungle, and PremiumBeat.
Use Royalty-Free Music
Another way to use music legally in your vlog is to use royalty-free music. Royalty-free music is a type of music that can be used without paying royalties or license fees. There are several websites that offer royalty-free music, including YouTube Audio Library, AudioJungle, and PremiumBeat.
Use Creative Commons Music
Creative Commons is a type of license that allows creators to share their work with the public while retaining some rights. If you use Creative Commons music in your vlog, you need to make sure you follow the terms of the license. There are several websites that offer Creative Commons music, including Free Music Archive and Jamendo.
Create Your Own Music
If you’re musically inclined, you can create your own music to use in your vlog. This way, you don’t have to worry about copyright infringement, and you can create music that perfectly fits your content.
Key Takeaways
- Music copyright is a form of legal protection that gives the owner of a musical work the exclusive right to use, distribute, and profit from that work.
- As a vlogger, you need to be aware of music copyright because you’re using music in your videos.
- If you use copyrighted music without permission, you could be infringing on the copyright owner’s exclusive rights.
- There are several ways you can get permission to use copyrighted music in your vlog, including licensing the music, using royalty-free music, using Creative Commons music, or creating your own music.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the music industry, it’s important to have a solid understanding of music copyright. Whether you’re a musician, a producer, or a music business professional, understanding music copyright will help you protect your creative work and avoid legal trouble. If you’re interested in learning more about the music industry, consider taking the NYU x Billboard | Music Industry Essentials online course and certificate program.
In conclusion, music copyright is an important topic for vloggers to understand. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can use music legally in your vlogs and avoid copyright infringement claims. Remember, when it comes to music copyright, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
