The search for suitable music for YouTube videos often leads content creators to explore options that avoid copyright claims and licensing fees. The provided sources detail several platforms offering royalty-free or copyright-free music tracks for use in video projects. These platforms provide music under specific terms, which are crucial for creators to understand to ensure compliance and avoid potential issues. The information available focuses on the licensing models, usage rights, and features of services like Mixkit, Chosic, Thematic, and Bensound. These services cater to a range of needs, from simple background music to curated playlists matched to video themes, and they operate with different attribution requirements and usage restrictions.
Mixkit offers a library of free stock music that is explicitly described as royalty-free and available without requiring sign-up or attribution. The source states that all audio clips are "royalty free and can be used with no attribution or sign up required." It clarifies that Mixkit’s music is free to use, contrasting it with typical royalty-free music that involves a one-time payment. The source also distinguishes between "royalty-free" and "copyright-free" music, noting that copyright-free music is not protected by copyright law. Mixkit’s music is intended for use as background music for videos, blogs, music videos, websites, social media platforms, podcasts, and online advertisements. However, it is not permitted for use in CDs, DVDs, video games, or TV and radio broadcasts. Attribution is appreciated but not required.
Chosic provides royalty-free music for YouTube and social media, which is free to use even commercially. The source indicates that the rights for the music tracks belong to their authors, who allow free use in exchange for crediting them in the project. It advises users to check the licence details on each track’s page. Music in the public domain does not require credit. This model differs from Mixkit’s, as it generally requires attribution unless the track is in the public domain.
Thematic is presented as a platform for finding copyright-free, trending music for videos. It emphasises that songs are from real music artists, not production sounds, and are matched to content themes. The service offers a free tier that includes free music for videos, music matched to the creator, monetisation of videos, and support for sponsored content. A premium plan offers access to trending songs, unlimited downloads, safety for podcasts, unlimited personal playlists, curated song collections, premium sound effects, and creator perks. A pro plan includes everything in premium plus unlimited YouTube channels, high-quality and instrumental versions, early access to new song drops, team member invitations, unlimited SFX and SFX packs, and all creator perks and discounts. Thematic also has an affiliate programme and a community Discord. The source states that creators can enjoy core features for free, with plans to fit every creator. It also mentions that creators vote for songs added to the site.
Bensound is referenced in the source data as providing royalty-free music, with specific tracks listed such as "Shiny Uplifting Royalty Free Music" and "Dreamy Chill Royalty Free Music." The listed tracks include details about featured instruments, like piano, synths, bass, and drums, and suggest uses like advertisements, vlogs, and wellness-related content. However, the source data provided does not include specific licensing terms or usage restrictions for Bensound, only the track titles and descriptions. Therefore, the exact terms of use cannot be determined from the available chunks.
When selecting a music source for YouTube videos, creators must consider the licensing terms carefully. Platforms like Mixkit offer a straightforward, attribution-free model but with specific usage restrictions. Chosic generally requires attribution, which is a key difference. Thematic provides a tiered service with a free option that includes monetisation, which is important for creators looking to earn revenue from their videos. The choice depends on the creator’s needs regarding attribution, commercial use, and the type of music required.
It is important to note that the provided source material does not contain information about UK-specific consumer offers, free samples, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programmes. The sources are exclusively about free music for video projects. Therefore, an article focusing on the requested topics of free samples and promotional offers cannot be written based on the provided data. The article below is a factual summary of the information available about free music sources for YouTube videos, adhering to the constraints of using only the provided source material.
Overview of Free Music Sources for Video Projects
The landscape of free music for video projects is defined by licensing terms that determine how tracks can be used. The primary sources examined here—Mixkit, Chosic, Thematic, and Bensound—each offer different models. Mixkit provides music that is free to use without attribution, but with limitations on certain media types. Chosic offers music that is free for commercial use but typically requires attribution to the artist. Thematic offers a freemium model with a free tier that includes monetisation and a match-based system for finding music. Bensound’s specific terms are not detailed in the provided data, only examples of its royalty-free tracks.
Understanding these distinctions is essential for compliance. Using music without proper licensing can lead to copyright claims on YouTube, which may result in video takedowns, demonetisation, or other penalties. The sources provided offer solutions to avoid these issues by providing tracks with clear usage rights.
Mixkit: Attribution-Free Royalty-Free Music
Mixkit’s offering is characterised by its simplicity: free, royalty-free music with no sign-up or attribution required. The source states: "All audio clips are royalty free and can be used with no attribution or sign up required." This is a significant advantage for creators who wish to avoid the administrative task of providing credit. The music is intended for a wide range of uses, including YouTube, blogs, websites, and social media. However, the source explicitly prohibits use in CDs, DVDs, video games, and TV or radio broadcasts. This restriction is important for creators working in those mediums. Mixkit also clarifies that its music is "royalty free" but not necessarily "copyright-free," meaning it is protected by copyright but the usage is granted freely under the platform’s terms.
The platform’s FAQ addresses common questions about licensing, stating that Mixkit’s music is ideal for background music for videos and video editing. The tone of the source is promotional, emphasising the "astounding" quality of the music and the growing library. For UK-based creators, the key takeaway is the no-strings-attached nature of the licence, provided the usage restrictions are respected.
Chosic: Royalty-Free Music with Attribution
Chosic presents a different model where attribution is typically required. The source states: "All the rights for these music tracks belong to their authors who let their music free use in exchange for crediting them in your project." This is a common model in the royalty-free music space, where artists seek exposure in exchange for free use. The source notes that music in the public domain does not require credit. It advises users to check the licence details on each track’s page, which is a critical step to ensure compliance. The music is described as free for YouTube and social media, and free to use even commercially.
This model is suitable for creators who are comfortable providing attribution, perhaps in video descriptions or end screens. It offers a potentially broader library of artist-submitted music compared to a curated platform like Mixkit. The requirement to check individual track licences adds a layer of diligence for the user.
Thematic: Trending Music with a Freemium Model
Thematic positions itself as a platform for trending, copyright-free music from real artists. Its key differentiator is the matching system: "Songs are instantly matched to your content themes" and "Weekly Matches with songs selected just for you." This personalised approach aims to save creators time in finding the right track. The service operates on a freemium model. The free tier includes "free music for your videos," "music matched to you," "monetise your videos," and "OK for sponsored content." This is a notable feature, as some free music platforms do not allow monetisation or use in sponsored content.
The premium plan adds "access to Premium trending songs," "unlimited downloads," "safe for podcasts," "unlimited personal playlists," "100s of Curated song collections," "Premium SFX & Creator Perks," and "Premium access to our Discord." The pro plan builds on this with unlimited YouTube channels, high-quality and instrumental versions, early access, team features, and more. Thematic also highlights community features like a Discord server and an affiliate program. For creators who value curated, trending music and are willing to potentially upgrade for more features, Thematic offers a structured path.
Bensound: Example Royalty-Free Tracks
The provided data for Bensound consists primarily of track listings and descriptions. Examples include "Shiny Uplifting Royalty Free Music," "Dreamy Chill Royalty Free Music," "Happy Organ Royalty Free Music," "Joyful Party Royalty Free Music," "Slow Nostalgic Royalty Free Music," "Shiny Lo-fi Royalty Free Music," "Emotional Hopeful Royalty Free Music," "Positive Energetic Royalty Free Music," "Deep Chillout Royalty Free Music," "Chillout Mysterious Royalty Free Music," "Dark Ambient Royalty Free Music," "Dreamy Lo-Fi Royalty Free Music," "Touching Folk Royalty Free Music," "Lo-Fi Relaxing Royalty Free Music," "Calm Warm Royalty Free Music," and "Cinematic Fantasy Royalty Free Music." These descriptions often include featured instruments and suggested uses, such as "Perfect for vlogs" or "Perfect for wellness related content."
However, the source data does not provide Bensound’s specific licence terms, attribution requirements, or usage restrictions. Therefore, while the track examples are listed, the exact conditions for their use cannot be determined from the available information. Creators interested in Bensound would need to consult the official website for the licence details, which is beyond the scope of the provided chunks.
Comparison and Considerations for Creators
When choosing a source, creators should evaluate several factors based on the available information:
- Attribution Requirement: Mixkit requires no attribution, while Chosic typically does. Thematic’s free tier does not mention a requirement, but its terms should be checked.
- Usage Rights: Mixkit explicitly prohibits use in CDs, DVDs, video games, and TV/radio. Chosic and Thematic’s terms for these uses are not specified in the provided data.
- Monetisation: Thematic’s free tier explicitly allows monetisation and sponsored content. The other sources do not specify this in the provided chunks.
- Music Selection: Thematic offers a matching system and trending music. Mixkit and Chosic appear to offer search-based libraries. Bensound offers specific genre and mood-based tracks.
- Additional Features: Thematic offers community features, SFX, and creator perks, especially in its premium plans. Mixkit and Chosic focus on the music library itself.
For UK-based creators, the key is to select a platform whose licence terms align with their project’s distribution plans (e.g., avoiding platforms that prohibit TV broadcast if that is a goal) and their preference for attribution. The freemium model of Thematic is particularly relevant for creators who are growing their channels and may need more features over time.
Conclusion
The provided sources detail four distinct platforms for obtaining free music for YouTube videos: Mixkit, Chosic, Thematic, and Bensound. Mixkit offers a simple, attribution-free licence with specific usage restrictions. Chosic provides royalty-free music that typically requires attribution to the artist. Thematic offers a freemium service with a free tier that includes monetisation and music matching, plus premium features for a subscription. Bensound is shown through example tracks but its full licence terms are not provided in the source data. Creators must carefully review the licence terms of any platform they use to ensure compliance with copyright law and platform-specific rules. The choice depends on individual needs regarding attribution, monetisation, music style, and additional creator tools.