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The license allows you, as a content creator, to “sync” the music to your video content. When producers want to add songs to commercials, TV shows, movies, or YouTube videos, they need a sync license. Royalty-free and sync licenseĪ royalty is a fee you pay one time for the right to use a song in your broadcast.
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In the United States, any musical work created before 1925 is automatically in the public domain. Popular Christmas carols such as “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells” are in the public domain. How do you know if a song is in the public domain, or if you have to pay a royalty to use it? Songs in the public domain are available for anyone and everyone to use whenever they want. When you want to add music to your live stream, you have three options: Therefore, even if you paid for the song, you still need permission to play it on your live stream. Purchasing a song gives you a license for personal use playing it on a live stream is considered public use. Many streamers mistakenly think that if they purchased a song or have access to it via a streaming subscription service, they have the right to play it on their streams. Copyright infringement can get your stream shut down and get you in real trouble. The only downside is ensuring you add music you have the right to play. Your live stream has endless opportunities for adding music. If you have guests, you can assign them a “theme song” for when they first appear. Add music when you display your stream screen, before your broadcast starts, to set a mood for the rest of your stream.
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How can you use music during a live broadcast? Playing a jingle at the beginning of your stream as an intro helps cement your brand in viewers’ minds. Even if you or your guests are extremely engaging speakers, the right music will put your live stream over the edge. When added at the right moments, music adds another layer to your broadcast. An upbeat pop song can create excitement, a slow piano solo can invoke sadness, and some EDM will make your viewers feel ready to party. If you want your viewers to feel a certain emotion while watching your stream, music is the easiest way to evoke it. Viewers pay more attention to broadcasts with music, and you can set a tone for your stream with music. Music ups the production value of your live stream. 🎶 Why you need music in your live streams In this guide to using music in live streams, we’ll cover why your live stream needs music, how to tell if a song is copyrighted or not, music requirements for specific live streaming platforms, and the best places to find royalty-free music for your live stream. Great choice! Before you start browsing through the albums and playlists of your favorite artists to find the perfect track for a live stream, you should understand the legal requirements for using someone else’s music. As a new live streamer, you’ve decided you want to play music during your streams.
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