Quick Answer: If you want to know how to use copyrighted music on YouTube Shorts legally, the safest options are to choose music through YouTube’s built-in Shorts audio tools or secure permission from the relevant rights holder before publishing.
Music can completely change the feel of a YouTube Short, but finding a track online does not automatically mean you are free to add it to your content. Copyright still applies to Shorts, so creators need to understand where their permission comes from before publishing.
What copyrighted music means for YouTube Shorts
Copyrighted music is legally protected and controlled by one or more rights holders. In many cases, the composition and the sound recording are protected separately, so different parties may control different rights connected with the same song. These are known as Sync (composition) and Master (recording) rights.
For creators, the important point is simple. Buying a track, subscribing to a streaming service, or finding a song on another social platform does not usually permit you to include it in a video.
YouTube has licensing agreements that allow creators to use certain music through the Shorts Audio Library. When you add music from that library using YouTube’s Shorts creation tools, the use is handled through YouTube’s Shorts licensing system. Music added outside those tools can instead be subject to standard Content ID claims or copyright removal requests, which can have significant consequences unless you use the proper licensing channels.
How to use copyrighted music on YouTube Shorts legally
There is no single permission covering every song and every type of Short. The correct approach depends on where the music comes from, how you add it, and what rights have been granted.
Use Shorts Audio
For creators who aren’t as focused on earnings or editing freedom, the simplest route is to use music available directly through the Shorts Audio Library, within the app.
These tracks are supplied through YouTube’s agreements with music industry partners. It is also worth checking how much of a song YouTube allows you to use, as the available duration can vary. If a song is available inside the Shorts creation experience, you can select it there and use the available portion in line with YouTube’s rules.
This is different from downloading the same song elsewhere, adding it manually during editing, and uploading the finished video. The track may be identical, but the licensing route is not. The former protects you from Content ID claims, while the latter does not.
Once you’ve selected a song from the Audio Library, you are confined to the editing tools within YouTube Shorts.
Get a direct license
Getting a direct license for music outside of YouTube Shorts requires some investment but allows for increased freedom and earning potential. It can also be useful if the music you want is not available through YouTube’s Shorts tools. It requires getting direct permission from the relevant rights holders.
A commercially released song’s rights generally involve a songwriter, publisher, record label, and owner of the master recording, so the permissions needed depend on exactly what you are using and how.
Once secured, licensed music can be used in external or internal editing apps, allowing for increased flexibility in how it’s integrated into content.
Keep license records
Whenever you license music independently, keep clear evidence of the permission you received.
Save invoices, licence agreements, emails, and any terms attached to the track. Record the title, artist, licence provider, purchase date, and the platforms or uses covered.
Organised records make it much easier to check your rights and respond if a Content ID claim is raised. Alternatively, a licensing platform can handle claims for you.
| Music usage method | Permission/license | Best for | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shorts Audio Library | YouTube’s Shorts licensing arrangements | Trending songs and everyday Shorts | Add the track using YouTube’s Shorts tools |
| YouTube Audio Library | YouTube Audio Library licence | Background music and creator-safe audio | Check whether attribution is required |
| Directly licensed music | Permission from the relevant rights holder or provider | Campaigns and specific song choices | Confirm the licence covers YouTube |
| Original music | Rights owned or controlled by you | Creators wanting maximum control | Clear any samples or third-party elements |
Music sources for YouTube Shorts
Choosing music from a source with clear usage terms is far safer than pulling audio from a random website, another creator’s video, or a streaming platform.
YouTube Shorts Library
The In-App Shorts Audio Library is designed specifically for music used within Shorts. It contains tracks made available through YouTube’s agreements with participating music partners.
Do not confuse this with the separate YouTube Audio Library in YouTube Studio. That library contains royalty-free production music and sound effects that YouTube describes as copyright-safe. Some tracks require attribution, so check the individual licence terms.
Licensed mainstream music
Mainstream music can be used legally when an appropriate licence or platform permission exists. The key question is not whether the song is popular, but whether your particular use is authorised.
A track being used by thousands of other Shorts creators does not mean you can download it independently and use it however you like. Investigating direct licensing is the best way to get full coverage with a track and enhance your flexibility in the edit.
Monetization and Content ID Factors
Using copyrighted music does not automatically mean a Short cannot earn revenue. However, Shorts monetization works differently from standard long-form YouTube videos.
Shorts Revenue Sharing
For monetizing creators who have accepted the Shorts Monetization Module, eligible Shorts Feed advertising revenue is pooled. Part of that pool is used to cover music licensing costs (if you choose to use the in-app library), and creators receive 45% of the revenue allocated to them from the Creator Pool.
However, if you choose to license music through an external library and then use it in your Shorts, you can receive 100% of the earnings from those videos.
Content ID matching
Content ID is YouTube’s automated system for identifying copyrighted material uploaded to the platform. A Content ID claim is not the same as a copyright strike. Depending on the rights holder’s settings and the type of content, a match can affect monetization, visibility, or availability.
YouTube also states that Shorts longer than one minute with an active Content ID claim are blocked, regardless of the claim policy.
What happens if you use copyrighted music without permission
After a Content ID claim, the rights holder may monetize the content, restrict where it is available, or block it. The most common result of a claim is that all the revenue from the video goes directly to the rights holder of the song.
In more serious cases, a copyright owner can submit a removal request, which can result in the video being removed and may lead to a copyright strike. Three strikes in 90 days will result in your channel and all accounts being removed and banned.
Mistakes to avoid when adding music to Shorts
One of the biggest mistakes is assuming that giving credit to the artist makes an unlicensed use legal in monetized content. Attribution and permission are not the same thing. Credit may be required by some licences, but it does not create a licence where none exists.
Never assume that purchasing a song gives you video usage rights. Buying a download generally gives you access for listening, not permission to synchronise the recording with a YouTube video.
Another common mistake is taking audio from another platform, like TikTok or Instagram, and reusing it in a Short. Music rights can be platform-specific, so permission that exists in one app does not automatically transfer to YouTube.
How to build a licensed music workflow for YouTube Shorts
Start by deciding whether the Short needs a recognisable commercial song or whether creator-safe production music would work just as well.
If you want commercial music, use an external licensed music library or search the Shorts Library.
If you need external music, check the licence before editing your video. Confirm that YouTube use is covered, whether commercial use is permitted, whether attribution is required, and whether there are limits relating to territories or duration.
Keep all licensing evidence in one place.
Before publishing, review the final edit to make sure no extra music has slipped in through background audio, templates, stock footage, or reused clips.
Conclusion
Copyrighted music can absolutely be part of a YouTube Shorts strategy, but it needs to be used through a legitimate licensing route.
The in-app YouTube Audio Library is useful for copyright-safe production tracks, while direct licensing makes sense to maximize earning potential and flexibility. The latter option gives you full licensing rights to each track you use, while also ensuring you get 100% of the Shorts earnings.
The key is to know where your permission comes from before publishing. If you cannot identify the licence, platform permission, or rights you are relying on, check before the Short goes live.
To learn more about mainstream music licensing, visit our website today. We’ve connected thousands of creators to millions of songs over the years, protecting their earnings and managing any claims to ensure they can have the best possible experience with full-length videos and YouTube Shorts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play copyrighted music on YouTube Shorts?
Yes, provided you have permission to use it.
Can I use any copyrighted song on YouTube Shorts?
No. You can only use a song when your use is covered by YouTube’s licensing arrangements, your own licence, another valid permission, or an applicable legal exception.
Can I monetize YouTube Shorts with copyrighted music?
Potentially, yes. Eligible creators can earn through YouTube’s Shorts revenue-sharing model, which accounts for music licensing costs. Otherwise, you can externally license music to get the most from your monetization.
Do I need a license to use copyrighted music on YouTube Shorts?
You need a valid legal basis for using copyrighted music. Music sourced independently may need its own licence. When you select eligible music through the Shorts Audio Library, YouTube’s platform licensing arrangements cover that use within the applicable Shorts rules.
Can I use copyrighted music if I give credit to the artist?
Not by credit alone. Naming the artist does not replace permission. Attribution only helps when the relevant licence specifically allows the use and requires or accepts credit as part of its terms.
