Music can complete the atmosphere of your video — but navigating the world of music licensing can be confusing for a creator. While we are unable to provide legal advice, we can let you know about some strategies in choosing music while respecting copyright laws. However, for specific questions regarding the application of music to your particular use case, we’d recommend seeking the advice of a legal counsel.
Ultimately, as the video creator, you are responsible for securing the rights to use third party works such as a particular piece of music in your video on Vimeo OTT. If we receive a copyright takedown request by a music provider, we are required to take down the content, as stated in our copyright policy. Also see our copyright FAQ.
Public performance license
Generally speaking, you will need the artist’s permission, or a license, in order to use a piece of music publicly (e.g., radio or TV broadcasts, and via the Internet) if such piece of music isn’t in the public domain. Purchasing a song on a platform like Apple Music doesn’t make it OK for you to use the song; a purchase on one of those platforms only allows for personal, non-commercial use.
However, for the purposes of using a song for your live or on-demand video, you need to acquire a public performance license by getting in contact with a performance rights organization. Here are the top three in the United States:
- American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
- Broadcast Music Inc (BMI)
- SESAC Performing Rights
If you have agreements in place with those groups, though, you should be covered (at least within the US). Outside of the United States, you will need to contact the local performing rights society.
Creative Commons license
There are also a number of platforms that will license music under a Creative Commons license. These licenses have restrictions in place, though, that require the music be used in creative works, so certain types of commercial content (such as fitness videos, etc.) might not apply. Make sure you carefully review those restrictions on each of the platforms.
To read more about Creative Commons, check out the FAQs below — you'll find lots of information about using CC-licensed music and which kinds of licenses would work for the purposes of your video.
You can purchase music for creative uses directly from the following partners:
- Filmstro (FAQs)
- Musicbed (FAQs)
- Marmoset (FAQs)
- Song Freedom (FAQs)
- Free Music Archive (FAQs)
- Audiosocket (FAQs)
- SmartSound (FAQs)