How to Use Licensed Music on Instagram

Adding the perfect song to your Instagram Reel can be the final touch that makes it go viral, but navigating the rules of music licensing often feels like a minefield. One wrong move and your video could be muted, taken down, or worse, your account could get a copyright strike. This guide will walk you through exactly how to use licensed music on Instagram legally, so you can focus on creating great content without worrying about violations.

Understanding Why Music Licensing Matters on Instagram

Ever uploaded a Reel perfectly synced to a trending song, only for Instagram to mute it with the dreaded message "Your video is muted because it may contain music you don't have the rights to use"? This happens because record labels, artists, and publishers own the rights to their music. To use their songs in your video, you need a specific type of permission called a "synchronization license" or "sync license."

Without this license, you're committing copyright infringement. Instagram's automated system is designed to detect this and take action to protect the copyright holders (and themselves). The consequences can range from:

• Muted Audio: Your video will still be live, but the sound will be removed, often ruining the content.
• Content Deletion: Instagram may remove your Reel, Story, or video entirely.
• Account Penalties: Repeat offenses can lead to strikes against your account, shadowbans, or even permanent suspension.

The Personal vs. Business Account Music Library Difference

The single biggest point of confusion for brands and creators is why some accounts have access to every billboard hit while others are stuck with what seems like generic elevator music. It all comes down to your account type.

Personal Accounts & Creator Accounts: Instagram has agreements with major record labels that allow users on these account types to use a wide library of popular, commercial music in their Reels and Stories for personal, non-commercial use. It’s essentially a free, limited sync license for personal expression.

Business Accounts: If your account represents a business, a product, or a service (which includes most brand accounts), you are automatically switched to a more limited library. Why? Because using a popular song to market your brand is considered commercial use. The licenses Instagram has with record labels don't cover commercial activity. To solve this, Instagram provides Business accounts with the Meta Sound Collection - a library of thousands of high-quality, royalty-free songs and sound effects that are licensed for commercial use.

So, while it can feel frustrating not to have a Doja Cat or Taylor Swift song for your product Reel, Instagram is actually protecting you from serious legal liability.

Method 1: Using Instagram's Native Music Library (The Easiest Way)

For most users, the simplest and safest way to add music is directly within the Instagram app. The process is straightforward and keeps you within the platform's licensing rules.

How to Add Music to an Instagram Reel:

1. Open the Instagram app and tap the "+" icon to create a new Reel.
2. Record your video clips or upload them from your camera roll.
3. Once you have your clips in the editor, tap the music note icon to open the audio library.
4. You'll see a "For You" page with recommendations, or you can use the "Browse" tab to find music by genre or mood. You can also use the search bar to find a specific track.
5. Tap a song to preview it. Once you find one you like, you can use the scrubber bar at the bottom to select the exact 15-90 second clip you want to use.
6. Tap "Done" to add the music to your video, adjust the volume levels between the original audio and the music, and post your Reel.

Pro Tip: Remember, what you see in this music library is determined by your account type. If you have a business account, you will only see tracks from the Meta Sound Collection.

Method 2: Licensing Music From a Third-Party Service

What if the Meta Sound Collection doesn't have the vibe you're looking for? If you want more creative control and a larger selection of high-quality music for your brand, your best option is to subscribe to a royalty-free music licensing service.

These platforms offer massive libraries of music created by independent artists specifically for use in digital content. You pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee for a license that allows you to use their music in your videos on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok without fear of copyright strikes.

Popular Royalty-Free Music Services for Creators:

• Epidemic Sound: Known for its huge, high-quality catalog that's easily searchable by genre, mood, or specific instruments. Their commercial plan covers use on all social media platforms for one business.
• Artlist: Offers a meticulously curated library with a "universal license" that covers pretty much any use case imaginable, from social media ads to feature films.
• Soundstripe: Another fantastic option with a deep library, stem files (so you can edit out vocals or certain instruments), and a simple licensing structure.

How to Use Licensed Music From a Third-Party Service:

1. Choose Your Service: Research the options and select a subscription plan that fits your business needs and budget.
2. Find and Download Your Track: Search the library to find the perfect song for your video and download the MP3 or WAV file.
3. Edit Your Video Externally: This is the most important step. You use a video editing app on your phone (like CapCut or InShot) or desktop software (like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro) to combine your video clips with the music file you downloaded.
4. Upload the Final Video: Once your video is edited and the music is perfectly synced, export the final file. Then, upload this finished video directly to Instagram Reels. Since the audio is now part of the video file itself, you don't add music from Instagram's library. You're bringing your own, fully licensed track.

This method gives you ultimate creative freedom and produces a totally original piece of content that is legally secure for commercial use.

Common Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs

Copyright law is complex, and misinformation spreads fast online. Here are a few common myths and mistakes that could get your account in trouble.

Mistake #1: Using a Song from Spotify or Apple Music

Just because you bought a song on iTunes or stream it on Spotify doesn't mean you own the license to use it in your video content. In those cases, you’ve only acquired a license for personal listening. Using it in a Reel requires a separate sync license, which you don't have.

Mistake #2: Believing in the "15-Second Rule"

A persistent myth claims that you can use up to 15 seconds of a copyrighted song under "Fair Use." This is false. There is no magic number for an authorized amount of time. Using even a short snippet of a song without permission is technically infringement.

Mistake #3: Switching to a Creator Account as a Business

It's tempting for businesses to switch their account type to "Creator" to get access to the trendy music library. Don't do it. Misrepresenting your account type is a direct violation of Instagram's Terms of Service. If your account is being used to sell products or services, it should be a Business account. Gaining access to popular music isn't worth risking your account's standing, and you also lose access to business-specific features.

Mistake #4: Thinking Credit to the Artist Is Enough

Simply tagging an artist or putting their song name in your caption does nothing from a legal perspective. Crediting the creator does not grant you clearance or a usage license. Authorization from the copyright holder is what matters most, which you can get through either direct permission or payment for a license.

How Brands Can Still Participate in Trends (Safely)

Feeling left out because you can't use the song from the latest viral dance challenge? You're not alone. While you can't use the exact copyrighted track, you can still participate in trends strategically.

• Recreate the Audio Concept: Many trends aren't about the song itself, but the associated dialogue or sound effect. Record your own version of a trending voiceover.
• Find a "Sound-Alike" Track: Use your subscription licensing service to search for a song with a similar vibe. Search for keywords like "upbeat synth-pop" or "chill lo-fi beat" to find a licensable track that matches the mood of the trend.
• Embrace Original Audio: Your unique voiceover or a well-edited Reel with no music at all can stand out in a sea of sameness. Leaning into your original audio is often a powerful way to stop the scroll and let your brand's personality shine through.

Final Thoughts

Navigating music licensing on Instagram is a non-negotiable part of growing your brand safely on the platform. By sticking to Instagram's native music library for your account type or using pre-cleared music from a reputable licensing service, you can create engaging content that grows your audience without putting your account at risk.

Once you have your content strategy sorted, powerfully simple tools can make all the difference in staying consistent. That's why we built Postbase to streamline the entire social media management workflow. Because we are designed for today’s video-first world, planning your Reels and short-form videos is incredibly intuitive in our visual calendar. Instead of fighting with tools that were built for the text-and-photo era, you can easily schedule your video content - with its carefully selected licensed audio - and trust that it will go live reliably, every single time.