Frequently Asked Questions

To share videos on social media, our Standard License (Pay-per-track or All Access Subscription plan) has you covered. However, if you're looking to amplify your reach through paid ads, you can purchase the Extended License.

While a Pay-per-track License covers one track only, our All Access Subscription plans unlock our entire music library. Enjoy unlimited downloads of tracks for an entire year, and for each track you use, download a license certificate authorizing perpetual usage (without any need for credits).

When making projects for clients, they are the final project owners and publishers. You have two options:

- You can purchase a Pay-per-track License, with your client as the License Holder.

- Or, you can opt for the flexibility of a Pay-per-track Premium License or a Premium All Access Subscription plan, covering multiple client work. With these Premium options, you have the freedom to sell an unlimited number of projects containing the licensed music track(s), to multiple clients for their commercial usage.

Absolutely! To use our music in your podcast or audiobook, you can purchase our Standard Pay-per-track License or our Standard All Access Subscription plan.

To resolve the claim, head over to our Free Music section and download the music track you used in your video. A pop-up will appear with the appropriate attribution text. Copy the entire text exactly as it appears, add it to your video description, and dispute the claim on YouTube to allow our system to clear it.

For instructions on how to download and add the attribution text, you can watch our step-by-step guide here.

For instructions on how to dispute a YouTube Copyright Claim, you can visit this page.

Please note that an attribution text is good for a single video and cannot be re-used for new videos.

When using an attribution text, it’s important to share it exactly as it appears when downloading a track. Avoid errors by copying the entire attribution text provided upon download and pasting it into your video description. You can watch our step-by-step guide here.

Also, please remember that each attribution text is good for 1 video only and cannot be reused for new videos.

To resolve the claim, re-download the music track, which will generate a new attribution text. Add the new attribution text to your video description and dispute the claim on YouTube to allow our system to clear it.

For instructions on how to dispute a YouTube Copyright Claim, you can visit this page.

When purchasing a License or a Subscription Plan, you can whitelist a number of YouTube channels to stay safe from copyright claims. You can check our Pricing Page to view the number of YouTube channels that can be whitelisted with your Pay-per-track License or All Access Subscription plan.

If you forgot to add your YouTube channel ID during checkout and have received a copyright claim, please follow these steps:

- Add your YouTube channel ID to your account by signing in, going to the Channel IDs section, and entering your channel ID.

- Contact our support team via our Contact Form with details about the claim, including the specific Bensound track used and a link to your video.

YouTube uses recognition software that scans the music in your videos to identify copyrighted material. To ensure that your YouTube videos featuring music you licensed from us are automatically cleared and free from content claims, we ask that you add your YouTube channel ID during checkout, or in your Bensound account. This process, known as "whitelisting" or "clearing" your YouTube channel, enables Bensound to recognize your channel and release any claims related to our music automatically, without requiring further action from you.

This feature is available exclusively with a pay-per-track License or an All Access Subscription plan.

When purchasing a pay-per-track License or an All Access Subscription Plan, you will be prompted to enter your YouTube channel ID at checkout. This allows us to clear your channel automatically.

If you purchased a License or a Subscription plan before January 2023 or forgot to add your YouTube channel ID at checkout, you can still add it to your account by accessing the Channel IDs section in your account panel.

To add your YouTube channel ID:

1. Sign in,

2. Go to My Account,

3. Select Channel IDs in the left panel,

4. Enter your YouTube Channel ID*,

5. Select submit.

*Please note that a channel ID is different from a channel handle. If you don’t know how to find your Channel ID, you can follow these few steps.

All our licenses are valid worldwide and forever. This applies to both our Pay-per-track Licenses and the licenses downloaded with our All Access Subscription plans.

A license is applicable to one person or company only, so:

- If you create your own videos: Absolutely!

- If you produce videos for clients: You need to obtain a license for each client or purchase one of our Premium options, which cover unlimited client work.

No, credits are optional if you own a Pay-per-track License or an All Access Subscription plan.

No, when you own a License or a Subscription plan, including an attribution text is not necessary. However, you should make sure to enter your YouTube channel ID during checkout or via your account panel so that we can clear your channel for you.

When purchasing a License or a Subscription Plan, you can whitelist a number of YouTube channels for using our tracks. You can clear:

- 1 YouTube channel with our Standard License and Standard All Access Subscription plan.

- Up to 5 YouTube channels with our Extended License and Extended All Access Subscription plan.

- An unlimited number of YouTube channels with our Premium License and Premium All Access Subscription plan, as long as you keep it reasonable.

Yes. During checkout, you can specify the license holder in the 'License Holder' input field.

If you are making a project for a client, they should be the license holder*. You can provide their name in the 'License Holder' field during checkout.

*Unless you own a Pay-per-track Premium License or an active Premium All Access Subscription plan, as both cover multiple client work.

You can adapt the music to fit your project by making cuts (setting fade-in/fade-out points, determining the start and end points, or using only a selection of the track), loops, and adding voiceovers. However, you are not permitted to create a song, remix, or produce your own music using our tracks.

Certainly! If you wish to upgrade your License or your Subscription plan, please contact us via our Contact Form, and we will assist you further.

Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities! Our All Access Subscription plans grant you access to our entire music library for one year. With a subscription plan, you can enjoy our entire collection of tracks in high-quality mp3 and uncompressed WAV formats, accompanied by license certificates that authorize you to use the music in perpetuity without the need for credits.

Note: Our All Access Subscription plans include access to all tracks listed on our website, even the ones only available as demo files without a license. There are no ‘hidden tracks’.

Once you've purchased an All Access Subscription plan, you can easily download individual tracks and their corresponding license certificates by browsing our music library.

When signed in and with an active subscription plan, you can download any track and its license certificate by going to Browse Music and selecting the icons next to the track you wish to download. You can select the Music icon to download the track file and the License icon to download the certificate.

The subscription plan is valid for a year from the date of purchase but the license certificates you download during the subscription period are valid indefinitely.

No, your All Access Subscription plan won’t renew automatically. After the one-year period, the subscription plan will expire. You will only be charged again if you place a new order to renew your subscription.

Yes, we offer a Free License with Attribution that allows you to use our tracks available in our 'Free Music' section in your projects. However, there are a few guidelines to follow:

For online videos: The music can be used as part of an online video or live video streaming that is published and accessible free of charge.

For theatrical performances and films: The music can be used in projects meant for educational purposes only and that do not generate revenue.

All you need to do is include our single-use* attribution text (provided when downloading a track) in your video description for online videos or mention Bensound.com in your project for other authorized uses, as set out above.

If you respect all of this, you’re good to go!

*Each attribution text is valid for 1 video only. If you want to use the same track in a new video, you can download it again to receive a new attribution text.

For online videos, please copy the attribution text provided when you download a track from our 'Free Music' section and paste it into your video description. You can watch our step-by-step guide here.

Each attribution text is valid for 1 video only. If you want to use the same track in a new video, you can download it again to receive a new attribution text. If you're using several tracks in the same video, you should add an attribution text for each track.

For other authorized uses, please mention Bensound.com in your project. The attribution text is up to you. For example, “Music by Bensound.com”.

As long as you respect the licensing terms and properly credit Bensound.com, as outlined above, there's no need to seek our authorization.

Absolutely! With the Free License with Attribution, you can use our tracks from the 'Free Music' section in your YouTube videos. Simply copy the attribution text that appears when downloading a track and paste it into your video description. You can watch our step-by-step guide here.

Each attribution text is valid for 1 video only. If you want to use the same track in a new video, you can download it again to get a new attribution text. Videos that include multiple tracks should have an attribution text for each track.

No, the attribution text provided when downloading a 'Free Music' track is unique and can only be used for one video. If you want to use the same track in a new video, you can download it again to receive a new attribution text.

No, older YouTube videos are not impacted by our new attribution process.

Yes, you can monetize your YouTube videos when using our Free License with Attribution.

We accept direct online payments through credit/debit cards or PayPal.

Please note that we do not have control over the payment process. If your card is declined, we recommend trying with another card or paying with a PayPal account.

If you choose to pay by card, you will find the charge listed on your statement as "Bensound Music" or "Bens. Music".

We are required to collect VAT for buyers residing in the European Union and the United Kingdom:

- If you are a European/UK customer without a valid VAT ID, taxes will be added to your order.

- If you are a European/UK customer with a valid VAT ID, please provide your VAT number at checkout to avoid the VAT charge. We cannot refund the VAT after purchase.

You can download your invoice(s) from your account in the Invoices section.

You can download your license certificate from your account in the Single tracks downloads section.

If you forgot to fill in the License Holder field at checkout, or made an error while entering the information, please reach out to us via our Contact form, and we will assist you in making the necessary changes.

Of course! If you forgot to add your YouTube channel ID at checkout, you can still add it to your account by accessing the Channel IDs section in your account panel.

Please sign in, go to My Account, select Channel IDs in the left panel, enter your YouTube Channel ID*, and select submit.

*Please note that a channel ID is different from a channel handle. If you don’t know how to find your Channel ID, you can follow these few steps.

If you have not reached the maximum number of authorized YouTube channels for your pay-per-track License or All Access Subscription plan, you can add a new YouTube channel ID to your account in the Channel IDs section of your account panel.

Please sign in, go to My Account, select Channel IDs in the left panel, enter your YouTube Channel ID*, and select submit.

*Please note that a channel ID is different from a channel handle. If you don’t know how to find your Channel ID, you can follow these few steps.

With our Premium All Access Subscription plan, you can clear an unlimited number of channels for you and your clients, as long as you keep it reasonable.

To clear a new YouTube channel, please sign in to your account, go to My Account, select Channel IDs in the left panel, enter your client's YouTube Channel ID*, and select submit.

*Please note that a channel ID is different from a channel handle. If your client does not know how to find their Channel ID, they can follow these few steps.

Yes, you can use our music in your social media videos!

To share videos on social media, our Standard License (Pay-per-track or All Access Subscription plan) or our Free License with Attribution (available for certain tracks only) have you covered.

Otherwise, if you're looking to amplify your reach through paid advertising on social media platforms, you can purchase the Pay-per-track Extended License or the Extended All Access Subscription plan.

However, you cannot register these videos to the Facebook/Instagram Rights Manager Service or any similar social media service.

Yes, our music can be used in TikTok videos. However, due to TikTok's rules, we recommend using music for only up to 60 seconds per video. 

The number of YouTube channels you can use our track(s) on depends on the license or subscription plan you have. You can clear:

- 1 YouTube channel with our Pay-per-track Standard License and Standard All Access Subscription plan.

- Up to 5 YouTube channels with our Pay-per-track Extended License and Extended All Access Subscription plan.

- An unlimited number of YouTube channels with our Pay-per-track Premium License and Premium All Access Subscription plan, as long as you keep it reasonable.

You can whitelist your YouTube channel ID by providing it at checkout when purchasing a pay-per-track License or an All Access Subscription plan. Alternatively, you can add it later after purchase, in your account's Channel IDs section.

Simply sign in, go to My Account, select Channel IDs in the left panel, enter your YouTube Channel ID, and select submit. Please note that a channel ID is different from a channel handle. If you don’t know how to find your Channel ID, you can follow these few steps.

No, our music is intended for multimedia projects such as videos and web applications. Creating songs, remixes, or using our music for music production is strictly prohibited.

Our music can be used in podcasts and audiobooks with our paid licenses and subscription plans.

However, using our music for other audio-only projects, such as meditation soundtracks or song creation, is not permitted with any license or subscription plan.

We do not allow the use of our music for audio-only projects, including videos with still images as backgrounds on soundtrack channels. Additionally, if our music is the main subject of a video primarily featuring stock images/footage, it is not allowed.

We do not allow the use of our music for projects containing sexual activity or sexual-oriented nudity.

No, our licenses do not include the use of our music in NFTs.

Yes, Bensound.com is accepting Artist submissions! To apply, please visit our Artists page.
Please note that due to the high volume of submission requests we receive, we will get in touch with you only if you are accepted.

We are not currently composing original music.

For help with YouTube Copyright Notices, please see our YouTube Copyright Claims section above.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, and similar platforms use recognition software that scans the music in your video to see if you used copyrighted material.

If you respected the Free License Terms (including giving attribution) or purchased the correct licensing option, you shouldn't receive a copyright claim when using our music on social media or other video and streaming platforms. However, you may receive claims due to these platforms' policies.

If you received a copyright claim, please do the following:

- Contest/dispute/appeal the claim! Do not remove your video.

- Contact us with details about the claim: tell us what Bensound track you were using and on what platform, and send us a screenshot of the copyright claim or as much detailed information about the track identified by the ID system as possible (track title, artist’s name and alleged copyright owners/distributor). This way, we can do something from our side.

Here are some of the rules that these platforms enforce when it comes to the use of music:

TikTok:

Videos can contain music for up to 60 seconds only. 

Facebook/Instagram:

* Music in stories is permitted.
* The greater the number of full-length recorded tracks in a video, the more likely it may be limited.
* Shorter clips of music are recommended.
* Your video should have a visual component, and the audio should not be the primary purpose of the video.
* Certain regions are not serviced so if your video includes music, it may be blocked/muted in those locations.

If you receive a warning from Facebook/Instagram saying that your video is muted because you may be using copyrighted content, please click on "Restore Audio" or select the "Appeal" button on the notification.