Copyright Music Checker

Easily check if your music is copyrighted using YouTube Copyright Music Checker for safe uploads and hassle-free video publishing.

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Copyright Music Checker: How to Avoid YouTube Strikes

Remember when you would post a video on YouTube and then have the audacity to get it taken down for copyright reasons? I totally have, and it’s such a drag. You put hours in creating content, and then it gets yanked or demonetized because of some music in the background. I have seen this over and over again.

YouTube copyright rules can be harsh, at times too harsh. They do need to shield themselves, though. Having received this problem a few times the hard way, I began trying ways to see if music would trigger the copyright claims prior to uploading.

Why Copyright Matters on YouTube

YouTube takes copyright seriously. Really seriously. And for good reason. Content creators deserve credit for their work, including musicians and record labels that own music rights.

When you use copyrighted music without permission, a few things might happen. You could get a Content ID claim (which usually means ads run on your video with revenue going to the copyright holder), or worse, a copyright strike. Get three strikes, and your channel is basically toast. Not ideal if you’ve spent years building up subscribers!

I think most of us aren’t trying to steal anyone’s work – we want background music that won’t get us in trouble.

Tools to Check Music Copyright Status

After searching around for solutions, I found several tools that can help determine if music might trigger YouTube’s copyright system. These aren’t perfect (nothing is with copyright), but they’ve saved me from several potential strikes.

One tool I’ve been using lately is a Copyright Music Checker that analyzes audio against known copyright databases. It works well most of the time – you upload your audio or provide a link, and it tells you if there’s likely to be an issue.

To use it:

• Record or save the audio you want to check
• Upload it to the checker tool
• Wait for results (usually takes a minute or two)
• Review the copyright risk assessment

The tool isn’t foolproof because YouTube’s detection algorithms change sometimes, but it’s definitely helped me avoid some obvious problems.

Alternative Music Sources for YouTube Videos

If you’re like me and don’t want to deal with copyright headaches at all, there are better options than risking it with commercial music.

YouTube’s Audio Library has a decent selection of free music you can use. Some require attribution, some don’t. The quality varies – there’s some really good stuff mixed in with, well, music that sounds like it belongs in an elevator.

There are also sites like Epidemic Sound and Artlist that offer subscription services for creators. Not free, but still cheaper than a copyright lawsuit! I use a mix of these depending on the project.

What About Fair Use?

Fair use is… complicated. Many people think it provides more protection than it actually does. I’ve seen countless YouTubers claim “fair use” while clearly violating copyright, and it rarely ends well for them.

From what I understand, fair use considers factors like:

• Purpose of use (commercial vs. educational)
• Amount used (small clip vs. entire song)
• Effect on potential market value
• Nature of the copyrighted work

But here’s the thing – fair use is a defense you raise AFTER being accused of copyright infringement. It’s not a shield that prevents claims in the first place. And YouTube tends to side with copyright holders initially.

My Experience with Copyright Claims

Last year, I uploaded a vlog with about 15 seconds of a popular song playing from a car radio as I walked past. Didn’t think much of it – it was background noise, not even central to the video.

Sure enough, within hours, I got a Content ID claim. The video stayed up, but any revenue went to the music publisher. Lesson learned! Now I’m much more careful about ambient audio in my recordings.

Final Thoughts

As a musician on YouTube, copyright on music is cumbersome, but it is part of the deal as a creator. Tools such as a Copyright Music Checker can save you a lot of trouble. If you’re not sure, copyright-free music is your protective shield. It is worth getting the peace of mind to be honest. The better explanations YouTube has done over the years to clarify copyright still work in favor of copyright claimants over actual creators.

Do you handle any copyright claims on your videos? Any tips for dealing with productivity strategies? I am always on the lookout for better ways to handle this.