Posting videos on Facebook can be a great way to share moments and connect with friends and family. However, it’s important to be mindful of copyright laws when using music in your videos. Getting hit with a copyright claim or strike can lead to your video being muted, blocked or even removed from Facebook. Thankfully, there are a few simple things you can do to post videos with music legally and avoid any issues.
What causes copyright problems on Facebook?
Copyright problems most often occur when you use a popular song without permission or proper licensing. Even if you purchased the song yourself, that doesn’t give you the rights to use it in a video. The actual copyright is held by the record label or artist. Using just a short clip or snippet of a popular song can still result in a claim or takedown notice. This is because Facebook’s automated systems scan for unauthorized uses of copyrighted music.
How to avoid copyright issues
Here are some tips to legally use music on Facebook:
- Use music you created yourself. As the copyright holder, you have full rights to use it.
- Use music marked explicitly as copyright or royalty free. Always double check the license terms.
- Use music from Creative Commons sources that allow reuse and modifications.
- Use music from Facebook’s Sound Collection which provides free, rights-cleared music.
- Purchase a license directly from the artist or label for commercial use of the song.
If you want to play it extra safe, you can also mute the audio completely and add text captions or commentary instead.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these steps to legally add music when posting videos on Facebook:
Find Copyright Free Music
Search for royalty free music on sites like:
- YouTube Audio Library
- Free Music Archive
- Incompetech
- SoundCloud
- Facebook Sound Collection
Look for songs that explicitly allow commercial use and modifications. Always check the license terms first.
Download the Song File
Once you find a suitable song, download the audio file to your computer. Common formats include MP3 and WAV. Having the file locally will make it easier to add to your video editing software.
Add the Music to Your Video
Import your video clip and music file into video editing software like Adobe Premier, iMovie, etc. Shorten or loop the music as needed to match the length of your video. Adjust audio levels so the music blends well.
Render and Export
Render the completed video out with the music into a new file. Choose a common shareable format like MP4 or MOV.
Upload to Facebook
Go to Facebook and create a new post. Attach the completed video file. Add any caption, tags or description as desired and post it!
The music you added should now play properly when people view or listen to your video. As long as you followed the licensing terms, you shouldn’t have to worry about copyright issues.
Top Music Sources for Facebook Videos
Here are some great royalty free music sites to use for Facebook videos:
Facebook Sound Collection
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Completely free to download and use | – Smaller selection of songs |
| – Curated specifically for video creators | – Must credit Facebook |
| – No need to worried about copyright claims |
Facebook’s official free library of songs and tracks you can use without copyright issues. All music is pre-cleared for commercial use.
YouTube Audio Library
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Free high-quality music | – Credit required in description |
| – Large catalog of songs | – Primarily intended for YouTube |
| – Various genres and moods |
YouTube’s free stock music library. Can also be used for Facebook but you must credit YouTube as the source.
Free Music Archive
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Completely free to download and use | – Registration required |
| – Has over 120,000 tracks | – Lower audio quality |
| – Many genres and moods |
Large library of free Creative Commons licensed music. Requires a quick sign up to access songs.
Incompetech
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Completely free | – Smaller selection of songs |
| – Great for background scores | – Credit required |
| – Can modify and remix |
Royalty free music by composer Kevin MacLeod. Provides cinematic scores for free with attribution.
Safe Alternatives to Copyrighted Music
If you don’t want to hassle with finding royalty free tracks, here are some other ideas:
Use Audio from Other Public Domain Sources
You can legally use audio clips from:
– Old movies/shows
– Speeches
– Interviews
– Historical recordings
Just ensure the content is in the public domain and not still under copyright.
Feature a Podcast or Radio Show
Rather than background music, include a short clip from a podcast episode or radio program. Most shows allow sharing small segments.
Create Your Own Music
You can make custom tunes easily with apps like:
– Garageband (Mac)
– FL Studio (Windows)
– Logic Pro (Mac)
As the creator, you own full rights to use this music however you like.
Use Environmental Sounds
Consider ambient noises like:
– City sounds
– Nature sounds
– Household sounds
These can set a mood without needing copyrighted music.
Opt for Silence
You can always just leave the audio muted and allow the video to speak for itself. Add text overlays to make it more engaging.
What to Do if You Receive a Copyright Claim
If you do end up with a copyright claim on Facebook, here’s what to do:
Double Check Your Use Qualifies as Fair Use
There are cases where you may be able to dispute a claim under fair use, such as if you:
– Used a very small portion of the song (less than 10 seconds)
– Altered the work significantly
– Used it for educational/commentary purposes
If you have a strong fair use rationale, you can contest the claim.
Edit and Re-Upload the Video
The easiest option is often to just remove the flagged music and upload a new version of the video without it. This is the fastest way to get the block removed.
Mute the Audio
You can also mute just the segment with the flagged music. While not ideal, it allows the video to remain up while removing the infringement.
Seek Licensing Permission
Contact the rights holder directly to ask about properly licensing the music for your video. There is often a fees involved, but this makes the use 100% legal.
Dispute Invalid Claims
If you’re positive the music is royalty free or properly licensed, contest the claim as invalid. Provide details on where you obtained the music from.
Conclusion
Adding great music can take your Facebook videos to the next level. Just be mindful of copyrights and make sure any music you use is:
– Owned by you
– Licensed from the copyright holder
– Explicitly royalty free
Sources like Facebook Sound Collection and YouTube Audio Library make it easy to find legal music. With the right music, you can freely share videos without worrying about infringements or blocks. Just take a moment to check the licensing requirements and respect artists’ copyrights. This simple step goes a long way in creating great content people love while staying on the right side of the law.