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Music for YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts is one of the fastest-growing formats on the platform – and the music you use matters just as much as it does in long-form content. The right track makes a Short worth watching twice. The wrong audio choice, or an unlicensed one, can get your video flagged and your revenue redirected before it even picks up views.

Yes, Lickd covers YouTube Shorts. Every track you license through music licensing for YouTube is claims-managed for both long-form videos and Shorts – so you can use the mainstream music your audience recognizes and keep every dollar of revenue your content earns.

And the music makes a measurable difference. Creators using recognizable mainstream tracks see 35% longer watch time and 200% more views on average. In Shorts, where the algorithm rewards loop plays and completion rate, that uplift is even more direct – familiar music hooks viewers in the first two seconds and keeps them watching.

Can You Use Copyrighted Music on YouTube Shorts?

Yes – but only if you have a license. YouTube Shorts use the same Content ID system as regular videos. If you use copyrighted music in a Short without a license, the rights holder can claim that video’s revenue. You won’t necessarily get a strike, but you will lose the money your Short earns.

With a Lickd license, that changes. Every track is cleared before you upload, and any copyright claim that comes through is managed by our team. You use the music your Short actually needs – popular, recognizable tracks from the world’s biggest labels – and your revenue stays yours.

How to Add Music to YouTube Shorts

Adding licensed music to your Shorts is straightforward with Lickd. Here’s how it works:

1. Find your track

Search Lickd’s catalog of 1.4M+ tracks by mood, genre, tempo, or trending sound. Every track in the catalog is available for YouTube Shorts – the same license covers both formats.

2. License it in a few clicks

Add your track to your cart and check out. Your license is issued instantly. Most subscriptions include track credits so you can license chart music at no extra cost beyond your monthly plan.

3. Download the MP3

Download your licensed track as an MP3 file ready to drop straight into your editing workflow.

4. Add to your Short and upload

Add the track in CapCut, YouTube Studio, or whichever editor you use. Upload your Short as normal. Lickd’s system communicates with YouTube’s Content ID on your behalf – any claim that comes through is handled, and your revenue stays protected.

Popular Music for YouTube Shorts

Shorts are judged differently to long-form videos. Completion rate and loop plays are the key signals the algorithm uses to decide whether to push a Short to more viewers – and music is one of the biggest factors in whether someone watches to the end and loops back around.

Familiar music creates an instant emotional response. Your audience connects with it in the first two seconds – before they’ve even processed what they’re watching. Creators using mainstream chart music through Lickd see 35% longer watch time and 200% more views on average. In a format built on those metrics, that’s the difference between a Short that breaks through and one that doesn’t.

Lickd’s catalog gives Shorts creators access to:

  • Pop, hip hop, electronic, R&B, and indie tracks from major labels
  • Trending sounds and current chart music updated monthly
  • Music searchable by mood, energy level, and genre – so the right track for your specific Short is never far away
  • Over 1.4 million tracks in total, from emerging artists to global names

New tracks are added every month – so your catalog keeps pace with the charts, and you always have access to the sounds driving views right now.

YouTube Shorts Copyright Rules - What You Need to Know

YouTube Shorts are subject to the same copyright rules as long-form videos. Content ID scans every upload – including Shorts – and identifies any music that has been claimed by a rights holder. If your Short contains unlicensed music:

  • The rights holder may claim the revenue your Short earns
  • In some cases, the Short may be removed or blocked in certain regions
  • Repeated violations can affect your channel’s standing in the YouTube Partner Program

When you license music through Lickd, those risks go away. Every track is cleared with YouTube’s Content ID before you upload. Your Short plays with the music it needs, your revenue stays yours, and your channel stays in good standing.

Music and Copyright on YouTube Shorts - Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can you use copyrighted music on YouTube Shorts?

    Yes, with a license. YouTube Shorts use the same Content ID system as regular videos, which means unlicensed music can trigger a claim and redirect your revenue to the rights holder. With a Lickd license, every track is claims-managed - so you can use popular, mainstream music in your Shorts and keep what you earn.

  • Does Lickd cover YouTube Shorts?

    Yes. Every Lickd license covers both long-form YouTube videos and YouTube Shorts. There's no separate plan or additional fee for Shorts - the same subscription that covers your regular uploads covers your Shorts too.

  • How do I add music to a YouTube Short without copyright issues?

    License your track through Lickd before you upload. Browse the catalog, license the track in a few clicks, download the MP3, and add it to your Short in your editing app of choice. Lickd manages any copyright claim that comes through - you upload, we handle the rest.

  • What happens if you use copyrighted music on YouTube Shorts?

    If you use unlicensed copyrighted music in a YouTube Short, the rights holder can claim the revenue that Short earns through YouTube's Content ID system. In some cases the Short may be taken down or blocked in certain regions. Licensing the music through Lickd before you upload avoids this entirely.

  • Can I get a copyright strike on YouTube Shorts?

    Copyright strikes on Shorts are less common than revenue claims, but they do happen - particularly if you upload content that directly reproduces a copyrighted work. Using music licensed through Lickd means your upload is cleared before it goes live, significantly reducing that risk.

  • What is the best music for YouTube Shorts?

    The music that performs best in Shorts is recognizable and emotionally immediate - tracks your audience already has a connection with. Familiar music drives completion rate and loop plays, which are the key signals the YouTube Shorts algorithm uses to push content to more viewers. Lickd's catalog of 1.4M+ mainstream tracks lets you find music by mood, genre, and energy level to match exactly what your Short needs.

  • Is Lickd music available for YouTube Shorts?

    Yes. All music licensed through Lickd is available for use in YouTube Shorts. The same license that covers a long-form video covers a Short - there's no difference in how claims are managed or what tracks you can access.

    Browse music for YouTube Shorts

    1.4M+ chart tracks. Claims-managed for Shorts and long-form. Revenue always yours. From $22.99/month.

    Start Using Popular Music in Your Shorts