How to Find Royalty-Free Music on Instagram

Finding the perfect song for your Instagram video only to have the sound removed feels deflating. Navigating the world of music licensing can seem complicated, but it doesn't have to be. This guide will walk you through exactly how to find royalty-free music that keeps your content safe from copyright flags, whether you're using Instagram's built-in libraries or looking for unique tracks elsewhere.

Why You Can't Just Use Any Song on Instagram

Ever wonder why that viral Reel you made was suddenly muted? The answer is music copyright, a legal framework designed to protect the creators of music - the artists, songwriters, record labels, and publishers. When you use a popular song without permission, you're essentially using someone else's property without paying for it. Instagram's automated Content ID system is designed to detect this and take action.

For brands and creators, the stakes are even higher. Ignoring copyright can lead to more than just muted audio. It can result in:

• Video Takedowns: Instagram might remove your post entirely.
• Account Strikes: Repeat offenses can lead to penalties against your account, reducing your reach or features.
• Legal Action: In serious cases, particularly with commercial use, a copyright holder could pursue legal damages.

This is why Instagram provides different music libraries depending on your account type. A personal account sharing a vacation clip has different licensing needs than a business promoting a product. Understanding which library to use - and when to look for music outside the app - is the first step to posting worry-free.

Method 1: Using Instagram's Own Music Library (The Right Way)

Instagram has a massive, built-in library of music. However, what you can access and how you can use it varies significantly between account types.

For Personal and Creator Accounts

If you're running a personal or creator account, you get access to the jackpot: millions of popular songs from today's biggest artists. This is because the licensing agreements are meant for personal, non-commercial expression.

Here’s how to find and use it:

1. Create a new Reel or Story.
2. Tap the musical note icon to open the Music library.
3. Use the ‘For You’ page for algorithm-driven recommendations or hit the ‘Browse’ tab to find playlists sorted by genre, mood, or what’s trending.
4. Use the search bar at the top to find a specific artist or song title.
5. Once you've selected a track, you can scrub through the song to select the exact clip you want to use.

A Quick Warning for Creators: Even with a Creator Account, be mindful when creating sponsored content. A post that promotes a brand or product is considered commercial. Using a popular, licensed track in a branded post could still put you in a legal grey area, as the license is primarily for non-commercial use. The safest bet for any paid partnership is to use commercially licensed music.

For Business Accounts: The Instagram Sound Collection

If you have a Business Account, you’ve probably noticed your music library is… different. It’s filled with songs you've likely never heard of, from artists you don't know. This is intentional. The Instagram Sound Collection is a library of royalty-free tracks that Meta has licensed specifically for commercial use. Using a song from this library protects your business from copyright infringement claims.

While it may feel limiting, it’s a valuable shield. To get the most out of it:

• Search by Mood, Not Artist: Instead of searching for "Drake," try searching for keywords that describe the vibe you want, like "upbeat," "energetic," "chill," or "corporate." The results are often surprisingly fitting.
• Explore the ‘Browse’ Tab: Instagram organizes this collection into helpful categories like genre (Pop, Hip-Hop, Electronic) and mood (Bright, Dramatic, Romantic). Spending a few minutes here can uncover some great options.
• Save Your Favorites: When you find a track you like, tap the bookmark icon next to it. This adds it to your ‘Saved’ audio, making it easy to find and reuse later. Building a personal library of go-to sounds saves a ton of time.

Embracing the Sound Collection means you never have to worry about your ad's audio getting muted or receiving a takedown notice. For any content that directly promotes a product or service, this is the safest in-app option.

Method 2: Finding Royalty-Free Music Outside of Instagram

For ultimate creative freedom and bulletproof legal protection, sourcing your music from outside of Instagram is the best path forward. This is especially true for businesses, agencies, and creators who want unique, high-quality audio that sets their brand apart.

Free Royalty-Free Music Libraries

If your budget is tight, several platforms offer free-to-use music. Just be sure to always read the licensing terms for each track - some may require you to give credit (attribution) to the artist in your description.

Top Free Resources:

• YouTube Audio Library: Found within your YouTube Studio, this is a massive and high-quality library of free music and sound effects. You can filter by genre, mood, duration, and attribution requirements. It’s a goldmine if you’re willing to spend some time searching.
• Pixabay Music: User-friendly and quick, Pixabay offers a large collection of royalty-free tracks that are safe for commercial use without attribution. The quality can vary, but it's a great spot for finding background music quickly.
• Mixkit: Known for its great selection of stock video and sound effects, Mixkit also has a well-curated library of royalty-free music. Everything is organized into clean genres and moods, making it easy to find what you need.

When giving attribution, it's as simple as adding something like, “Music: [Song Title] by [Artist Name] via [Platform Name]” to the bottom of your Instagram caption.

Paid Royalty-Free Music Subscription Services

For brands and creators who are serious about their video content, a subscription service is a worthwhile investment. These platforms offer broadcast-quality music tracks from professional musicians, along with simple global licenses that cover all social media use and paid advertising.

Top Paid Platforms:

• Epidemic Sound: A fan-favorite among creators. For a monthly fee, you get unlimited access to a massive library of tracks and sound effects. Their search function is excellent, and you can even download song "stems" (e.g., just the drum track or the guitar track) for advanced editing.
• Artlist: Known for its highly curated library of music from indie artists. An annual subscription grants you lifetime access to any track you download, even if you cancel your plan later. Its licensing is straightforward and covers almost everything.
• Soundstripe: Similar to Epidemic Sound, Soundstripe offers a huge catalog of high-quality music and sound effects. They also have helpful integrations with tools like Adobe Premiere Pro and Frame.io, streamlining the editing process.

Tips for Choosing and Using Music Effectively on Instagram

Finding the right track is only half the battle. How you use it matters just as much.

• Match the Mood: The music should amplify the feeling of your video. An inspiring tutorial needs an uplifting track, while a dramatic product reveal calls for something with more tension and impact.
• Sync to the Beat: Aligning video cuts and transitions with the beat of the music creates a polished, professional feel that keeps viewers engaged. Most video editing apps (like CapCut) have an "auto-beat" function to help with this.
• Use Trending Audio Strategically: Participating in trends can boost your visibility, but for brands, it can be risky if the audio is a popular commercial song. A safer approach is to find Reels using "Original Audio" from another creator that is trending. That way, you're tapping into the trend without infringing on a major artist's copyright.
• Let the Audio Drive the Story: Sometimes, it’s easier to find a track first and build your video concept around it. A song with a clear emotional arc - a slow build, a big drop, and a quiet finish - can provide a natural narrative structure for your Reel.
• Don't Forget About Sound Effects: Adding subtle sound effects - a whoosh on a transition, a click on a button press, or ambient B-roll sound - can make your videos feel much more dynamic and immersive. Most paid royalty-free sites include these with a subscription.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your way around music licensing is an essential skill for anyone creating content on Instagram today. By using Instagram's provided Sound Collection for business purposes or sourcing your tracks from trusted royalty-free libraries, you can build a library of legally safe and impactful audio that elevates your Reels and Stories without putting your account at risk.

Once you've found the perfect soundtrack, the next challenge is to get your video scheduled and published efficiently. At Postbase, we designed our platform to handle the realities of modern social media, where short-form video is everything. We let you upload your content once to our visual calendar and reliably schedule it across all your platforms - Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and more. Our goal is to make social media management feel simple and reliable again, so you can spend less time wrestling with clunky tools and more time creating.