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The Ultimate Guide for Creators (And Why Metadata Might Matter More Than Your Mic)

🎵 Free & No Copyright Music: The Ultimate Guide for Creators (And Why Metadata Might Matter More Than Your Mic)

Welcome to the music industry in 2025, where everyone’s a creator, everyone’s a curator, and everyone’s just one upload away from the next viral hit. Whether you’re making TikToks, streaming games, launching a podcast, or uploading tracks to Spotify, there’s one thing you’re definitely using — music.

But here’s the thing nobody warns you about: using the wrong music, or using it the wrong way, can land you in some real trouble — content strikes, demonetization, takedowns, and in some cases, legal drama you just don’t need.

At FanRaizd, we’re here to help creators rise smart. We want you to focus on building, performing, vibing — not worrying about licenses and rights. That’s why we’ve put together this guide. It’s the full rundown on:

• What “free” and “no copyright” music actually means
• Where to find legit, safe-to-use tracks
• The do’s and don’ts that can save your content (and your income)
• What happens when you use copyrighted music
• And why metadata might be the most underrated tool in your creator toolkit

So plug in. Let’s break it all down.

🎧 What Do People Mean by “Free” or “No Copyright” Music?

Let’s start with the basics, because this gets confusing fast. When people say “no copyright music”, what they usually mean is music that you can use without getting sued, flagged, or demonetized. But here’s the truth:

All music is copyrighted by default.

That’s right — from the moment a track is recorded or written down, the creator automatically owns the rights. There’s no such thing as truly “uncopyrighted” music, unless it’s been legally released into the public domain.

So when we talk about free or no copyright music, we’re really talking about music that the creator has made available for use under specific conditions. These might include:

• Creative Commons Licenses – Allowing certain uses with or without attribution
• Public Domain (CC0) – No rights reserved; you can use it however you like
• Royalty-Free Music – Music you can use after paying once (or sometimes even for free), with no ongoing royalties

But remember: free doesn’t mean unrestricted. Every “free” track has its own rules. And if you break them, even by accident, the consequences can be real.

🧠 The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Free Copyright Music

There’s a lot of grey area out there — so here’s how to stay in the clear.

✅ DO:

• Always read the license terms. Don’t just click “Download” and go. Check if you’re allowed to use the music for commercial projects, and if you need to credit the creator.
• Use music from trusted sources. There are great platforms (we’ll list them below) where you can get free music without worrying about sketchy uploads or stolen tracks.
• Keep track of where you got the music. Save the download page, grab a screenshot of the license, or keep a document with your project files. If something ever comes up, you’ll have proof.
• Check for platform-specific rules. Some music might be free for YouTube use but restricted elsewhere. Always verify.

❌ DON’T:

• Don’t assume “royalty-free” means “do anything you want.” Some royalty-free tracks still have limits — like no use in TV, games, or advertising.
• Don’t skip attribution if it’s required. Even if it’s a 10-second beat in the background of a vlog, if the license says “credit required,” then give credit.
• Don’t rip music from YouTube or TikTok and expect to use it legally. Just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s free.
• Don’t modify, remix, or sample unless the license explicitly says you can. Otherwise, you’re stepping into infringement territory.

📂 Where to Actually Find Free and Legal Music Online

Ready to find your next background track, theme song, or beat? These platforms have legit libraries of music that you can use safely — as long as you follow the rules.

Before downloading, always check:

• What the license allows
• Whether credit is needed
• If you’re allowed to modify or remix

🎤 What If I Want to Cover a Song?

This is where it gets interesting — and a lot of creators get it wrong.

If you’re recording a cover of a copyrighted song and uploading it to a streaming platform (like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music), here’s the great news:

You do NOT need to get a license yourself.

Platforms like FanRaizd, DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby automatically handle the mechanical licenses on your behalf and make sure the original songwriters get paid.

But (and this is huge)...

You MUST Fill Out the Publishing Metadata Correctly.

This means when you're uploading your cover, you need to input:

• The original songwriter(s)
• The composer(s)
• Publisher information, if available
• Clarify that you’re the performer, not the original writer
• And any relevant ISRC or ownership details

If you skip this or mess it up, a few things can happen:

• Your release might get rejected
• You might miss out on royalties
• The platform might block the track or freeze your earnings

Covers are allowed — but they still belong to someone else. And the system needs to know exactly who that is.

💿 Physical Sales? Totally Different Ball Game

Let’s say you want to take your cover (or even original track using a sampled beat) and:

• Put it on a CD
• Release it on vinyl
• Sell it as a download on your website
• Drop it on a limited edition USB
• Bundle it in merch packs

Once you move into physical distribution or direct digital sales, the platform won’t handle licensing for you anymore. You need to:

• Get a mechanical license
• Possibly clear the master and publishing rights
• Get explicit permission if you’re sampling someone else’s work

It’s more paperwork — but it’s how pros keep it legit.

🧬 Metadata: The Secret Weapon You Didn’t Know You Needed

Think of metadata as your music’s digital identity. Every stream, download, or play generates a signal. And metadata tells the system who owns what and who gets paid.

Here’s what you should always include (especially if you're distributing):

• Track title
• Artist name
• Featured artists
• Composer(s)
• Producer(s)
• Songwriter(s)
• Publisher (if applicable)
• ISRC (International Standard Recording Code)

Why does it matter? Because if metadata is missing or wrong:

• Your royalties might go to someone else
• Your track might get misidentified
• You could lose credit, income, or even legal rights

And that’s a disaster you can 100% avoid.

🚀 The FanRaizd Takeaway

At FanRaizd, we’re building the future of creator-powered music culture. That means giving artists and content creators the tools to rise — and rise smart.

Using free or “no copyright” music is a powerful way to level up your content without breaking your budget. But you’ve got to know the rules, respect the creators, and own your data if you want to keep climbing.

Because in this game, it’s not just about how loud you are — it’s about how right you play it.

So go ahead:
🎙️ Drop your next cover.
🎥 Edit your next video.
📀 Sell your next single.
Just make sure the music is cleared, the metadata is clean, and your rights are protected.

FanRaizd has your back.