SnipMusic Licensing
Plain-English answers about using SnipSound's music in your videos. There are two types of tracks on SnipSound — read the section that applies to the track you're using.
1. Royalty-Free Classical Tracks RF
Performances by Musopen, Paul Pitman, and other public-domain contributors of works by Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Pachelbel, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, and others. The underlying compositions are public domain; the recordings are released under Creative Commons Zero (CC0) or Public Domain Mark.
You can RF
| Use anywhere | YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, websites, podcasts, games, films, ads |
| Commercial use | Yes — including paid promotions, branded content, sponsored videos |
| Modify the track | Trim, loop, layer, remix — whatever you want |
| Attribution | Not required, but appreciated. If you credit, mention the performer + Musopen / SnipSound |
| Monetize | Yes — including YouTube monetization, sponsorships, paid courses |
| Content ID risk | Effectively zero. These recordings aren't registered with Content ID |
2. Social Media Free SMF
Original tracks composed and performed by Marc Pfeiffer. Free for use in your content with credit — including monetized and sponsored content. The tracks are also available on 25+ streaming and social platforms (full list below) so viewers who like the music can find more.
You can SMF
| Use in UGC | YouTube videos & Shorts, Instagram Reels & posts, TikTok, Facebook videos, X/Twitter, podcasts |
| Monetize | Yes — standard ad revenue on YouTube and any other platform monetization |
| Commercial / branded content | Yes, with credit. Sponsored videos, brand partnerships, paid courses, product videos are all OK as long as you credit the artist |
| Modify the track | Cut, trim, loop, layer, fade — use the Snip Editor or any video software |
| Required credit | Add to your video description:Music: "[Track Title]" by Marc Pfeiffer(Automatic on Instagram Reels / TikTok when using the in-app audio — no manual credit needed in that case.) |
You cannot SMF
| Sell or transfer the track | Don't redistribute, resell, sublicense, or give away the audio file |
| Claim ownership | Don't list the track on a streaming service or claim authorship, even if you edit it |
| Paid Meta ads | For paid Facebook / Instagram ads (not organic posts), Meta requires music to come from their Commercial Music Library or have a separate sync license. Contact Marc if you need this for a campaign. |
| AI training | Don't use the tracks to train, fine-tune, or develop AI / ML music-generation models |
| Illegal or hateful content | Don't pair with content promoting illegal activity, hate, discrimination, or violence |
Why "Use on Instagram" is the recommended path for Reels
The tracks are uploaded to Instagram's audio library. When you open a track's Instagram audio page and save it to your account, the audio appears in your Reels music selector. Using it from there gives you:
- Full original-quality audio. The previews on this site are shortened web-friendly versions. The Instagram version is the full, untrimmed, original-quality recording.
- Automatic artist credit. Instagram displays the artist on your Reel automatically — no manual attribution needed.
- Your Reel joins the audio's trend page. Reels using the same audio cluster together, which can boost discovery for both you and the artist.
- No friction. Built-in to Instagram's official music library — the way Instagram intended.
For YouTube, Facebook video, podcasts, and other platforms without a native audio-attribution feature: use the Snip Editor's video export, then add the credit line to your video description.
Where else viewers can find the music
Marc's music is available on these streaming and social platforms. If a viewer hears one of your videos and wants to find the artist:
"Just search Marc Pfeiffer + the track title on any of these services."
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- iTunes
- Instagram & Facebook
- TikTok & ByteDance stores
- YouTube Music
- Amazon
- Pandora
- Deezer
- Tidal
- iHeartRadio
- Qobuz
- Saavn
- Boomplay
- Anghami
- NetEase & Tencent
- Claro Música
- Joox
- Kuack Media
- Adaptr
- Flo
- MediaNet
- Snapchat
- Roblox (beta)
Heads up: copyright-match systems
These tracks may be enrolled in YouTube Content ID and Meta Rights Manager in the future. If you see an automated content match on a video that uses one of these tracks, that's not a copyright strike — it's just automated rights identification. Your video stays up, you can still monetize, and you don't need to do anything.
This is the same mechanic used by music from Instagram's audio library, NCS, and most major free-music platforms. It's not a problem; it's how the platforms know who made the track.
Commercial & branded content
Most commercial uses are OK with credit. Sponsored videos, branded content on YouTube/IG/TikTok/Facebook, paid courses, product videos, podcast episodes — all fine as long as you credit the artist.
The exceptions:
- Paid Meta ads (Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads as paid promotion, not organic posts) — Meta requires music in paid ads to come from their Commercial Music Library or a separate sync license. Marc's tracks aren't currently in Meta's commercial-ad library, so you'd need a sync license for that specific use. Contact via the homepage for terms.
- Public broadcast, film & TV sync — reach out for a sync license.
- Stage performance for paying audiences — covered by performance rights organizations (PROs); ASCAP/BMI/SESAC handle this automatically if the venue is licensed.
The royalty-free classical tracks are commercially-usable without restriction (no credit required either).
How does this compare to other free-music sites?
For reference, here's how SnipSound's Social Media Free terms compare to the most popular free-music platforms:
| Site | Free tier | Credit required? | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|
| SnipSound (Marc's tracks) | All UGC use | Yes — in description, or automatic via Instagram | Contact for commercial license |
| NCS (NoCopyrightSounds) | All YouTube/social use | Yes — required | Paid sync license |
| Bensound (free tier) | Personal/UGC only | Yes | Paid subscription ($5–$15/mo) |
| Uppbeat (free tier) | 3 downloads/month | Yes | Paid subscription ($5.59–$13.99/mo) |
| Free To Use (free tier) | Personal/UGC | Yes | Paid license |
| Pixabay | Unlimited, all uses | Optional (CC0-style) | Allowed |
| Epidemic Sound / Artlist | None — paid only | N/A | Included in subscription ($$$) |
SnipSound's terms are roughly aligned with NCS, Free To Use, and Bensound's free tiers — standard "free with attribution" model. The differentiators: direct Instagram audio integration (auto-credit on Reels), the integrated Snip Editor for in-browser video previews, and the free audio tools suite.
Will this licensing change?
The general approach won't change — SnipSound's mission is to make great music freely usable for creators. Specific terms may evolve as platforms change their systems. Major changes will be announced.
Questions?
If a use case isn't covered above, or you're not sure which license applies, reach out via the contact options on the SnipSound homepage before publishing. Better to ask than guess.