Playing music during a Facebook Live stream can be a great way to engage your audience and create an entertaining atmosphere. However, it’s important to be aware of Facebook’s rules around copyrighted music to avoid having your video blocked or restricted.
Why you may get blocked for playing music on Facebook Live
Facebook has deals with major record labels and music publishers to allow the use of their music in certain cases. However, if you play copyrighted music in your Facebook Live videos without proper licensing, your video can be blocked or muted.
This is because Facebook abides by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and they have an obligation to take down videos that infringe on copyrights when they receive a valid takedown notice.
Record labels, music publishers, and other rights holders actively monitor Facebook for unlicensed use of their music. When they find videos using their content without permission, they can submit a DMCA takedown notice to Facebook.
Once Facebook receives the notice, they are required by law to take action. This usually means muting or blocking the video, and in some cases removing it entirely.
How to legally play music on Facebook Live
There are a few ways you can legally play music during your Facebook Live streams without worrying about copyright infringement:
Use music from Facebook’s Sound Collection
Facebook provides a library of free-to-use, copyright-free music and sound effects called the Facebook Sound Collection. This music can be used in any Facebook videos, including Facebook Live, without the risk of being blocked.
To access the Sound Collection, go to the Creator Studio and click “Sound Collection” in the left menu. You can browse or search for tracks by mood, genre, instrument, duration, and more. Once you’ve found music to use, you can add it to your Facebook videos.
Use music licensed through a distributor
Many distributors like AdRev, Soundstripe, Artlist, and others offer licenses that specifically cover Facebook Live videos. For a monthly subscription fee, you get access to a catalog of music that you can legally use in your Facebook Live streams.
The license terms vary by distributor, but they generally allow unlimited use of the music on Facebook as long as your videos are non-monetized. This can be a cost-effective way to get music for your Facebook Lives compared to licensing each track individually.
Directly license music through artists/labels
You can reach out to artists, record labels, or music publishers directly to license their music for your Facebook videos. They may offer a synchronized license granting you permission to use their song in your video in exchange for a fee.
The rates can vary greatly depending on factors like the popularity of the song, length of use, size of your audience, and whether your video is monetized. But if you plan to use the same music repeatedly, it may be worth licensing directly from the rights holders.
Use music platforms like Soundstripe and Artlist
There are online music licensing platforms like Soundstripe and Artlist that offer subscriptions granting you access to their catalog of songs to use in your videos. This gives you a selection of music that is pre-cleared for use on sites like Facebook.
These platforms offer different subscription tiers based on factors like number of videos, video monetization, and download access. Look for one that fits your budget and Facebook Live usage needs.
Use royalty-free production music
Royalty-free production music or stock music can also be used without needing to license each track. Sites like AudioJungle, Pond5, and PremiumBeat offer these royalty-free tracks that you can purchase and use within their terms.
Just be sure to read the specific license terms to confirm the music can be used on Facebook without attribution. Some tracks require crediting the artist or only allow non-monetized videos.
Use music released under Creative Commons licenses
Some artists release their music under Creative Commons licenses, which allow others to use their songs in certain ways without needing direct permission. This includes licenses like:
- CC BY – credit the artist
- CC BY-SA – credit the artist and share alike
- CC BY-ND – credit the artist and no derivatives
- CC BY-NC – credit the artist and non-commercial use only
You can find this Commons-licensed music on sites like Jamendo, Free Music Archive, and ccMixter. Just be sure to provide attribution based on the specific Creative Commons terms.
Best practices for legally using music on Facebook Live
Here are some best practices when using music during your Facebook Live streams:
- Research whether a song is licensed for your intended use before including it in your video.
- Credit artists properly and follow the terms of any music licenses.
- Mute licensed music during any VOD playback of your video if the license only covers live streaming.
- Keep lengths of licensed music clips short, such as background music.
- Consider hiring composers to create original, custom music for your brand.
- Use music and content that aligns with your brand identity and audience.
What happens if your Facebook Live video gets blocked
If you do receive a notification that your Facebook Live video has been blocked or restricted due to music copyright, here is what typically happens:
- The video will be blocked from playback on Facebook. You will see a message saying the video is unavailable due to a copyright claim.
- The video’s audio will be muted, but video footage will still be visible.
- You may get a strike on your Facebook account for copyright infringement after repeat offenses.
- Facebook may remove your access to live streaming and issuing warnings if you repeatedly stream copyrighted content.
Keep in mind that Facebook has algorithms in place to automatically detect unauthorized use of copyrighted music. So you may get caught even if no manual reports are submitted.
Appealing blocked Facebook Live videos
If your Facebook Live video does get blocked, you can submit an appeal if you believe it was done in error or you have permission to use the music. Here’s how:
- Go to the Copyright tab in your Page Settings.
- Click “Appeal block.”
- Select the video you want to appeal.
- Explain why you have the rights to use the flagged content.
- Provide details like licenses, permission evidence, dispute claims, etc.
- Submit your appeal and wait for Facebook’s response.
However, appeals are not always successful. So it’s best to be cautious about unlicensed music use upfront to avoid blocks in the first place.
Other tips for using music legally on Facebook Live
Here are some other tips for smoothly incorporating music into your Facebook Live streams:
- Stick to short snippets of songs, such as playing just the chorus.
- Focus on lesser-known indie artists and bands.
- Prominently credit any music you use and link to the artists.
- Have a music-free backup plan in case muting occurs mid-stream.
- Use music only when it enhances your video and brand.
- Mute archive/VOD versions of your video if music was only cleared for live.
Conclusion
With all the rules around copyrighted music, playing songs on Facebook Live may seem tricky. But luckily there are plenty of licensing options and resources to help you use music without issues.
Spending the effort upfront to ensure your music use is legal and properly licensed will save you headaches in the long run. This allows you to incorporate great tunes into your live streams without worrying about disruptive blocks or muting.
Just be attentive to Facebook’s guidelines, display any required credits, mute archived videos if necessary, and appeal blocks politely if they occur by mistake. With some music licensing savvy and best practices, you can take your Facebook Live content to the next level.