Question 1

Why Use SoundMarket?

Accepted Answer

We hand-pick the best artists, composers, and producers from around the world, including Grammy and Emmy winners. Their music has powered top TV shows, major games, and global brands, and now our highly curated catalog of thousands of tracks is available to every creator, giving your projects the same quality and impact.

Question 2

Who is SoundMarket for?

Accepted Answer

SoundMarket is designed for all content creators: YouTubers, TikTokers, Instagram creators, podcasters, and video producers. It's especially valuable for creators who are just starting out and need high-quality, professional music without barriers.

Question 3

Can I monetize using SoundMarket music?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can monetize your content on YouTube, social media, and other platforms with any paid subscription. For broadcast use (TV, commercials, streaming services like Netflix), simply submit a cue sheet to your performing rights society, at no extra cost to you. The music remains royalty-free for all your creative projects.

Question 4

Is SoundMarket music royalty-free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all music in our catalog is royalty-free. You only pay your monthly subscription price (or nothing on the free plan), and there are no additional costs when you publish or monetize your content. However, if the music is used for TV, commercials, major streaming platforms (e.g., Netflix, Disney), or any other broadcast, a cue sheet must be submitted to your local performing rights organization (e.g., ASCAP or BMI) and sent to us. There is no extra cost to you: broadcasters pay the royalties.

Please note that while the music is royalty-free, it is not copyright-free. You do not own the music; we grant you the right to use it according to your subscription or license type.

Question 5

Can I use SoundMarket music in paid ads?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but only with Professional or Enterprise plans. The Creator and Creator Plus plans do not include commercial advertising rights. Professional covers paid online ads, while Enterprise includes broadcast TV and all advertising formats.

Question 6

Are there any restrictions on the use of the music?

Accepted Answer

Our music is intended to accompany your video or podcast. You cannot:

• Upload our music to streaming platforms (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music)
• Use our music on sample platforms or in sample packs
• Use our music as audio-only content (aside from podcasts)
• Use our music in content containing extreme violence, pornography, or illegal activity

Question 7

Can I use SoundMarket music for commercial purposes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but you'll need the Professional or Enterprise plans. The Creator and Creator Plus plans are for personal and non-commercial content only. The Professional and Enterprise plans cover commercial use including paid online ads, client work, and freelance projects. Enterprise is for broadcast TV, streaming VOD, and fully customized licensing.

Question 8

What platforms can I use SoundMarket music on?

Accepted Answer

All plans cover YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Creator Plus and Professional also include podcasts, websites, and any online platform. Enterprise adds broadcast TV, commercial streaming VOD, in-app usage, and software/games. The platform coverage expands with each tier.

Question 9

Can I use the music for client work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Professional plan covers individual creatives, including creators working with clients, for commercial content used online. If you or your client make over $1 million USD per year, you'll need an Enterprise license.

Question 10

Can I use SoundMarket music in TV shows or broadcast commercials?

Accepted Answer

Our Enterprise plan is built for films, TV, advertising, and top game studios. Get in touch and tell us what you're working on. We'd love to help.

Question 11

Do artists retain their rights with SoundMarket?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Unlike our competitors, our artists retain 100% of their writers' share of royalties. When you use our music, you are helping professional, human artists, not AI-generated ones, be fairly compensated for their work, which allows us to continue offering high-quality music.

Question 12

Can I edit or modify the music?

Accepted Answer

You can trim, loop, or adjust the music to fit your video. However, you cannot create new music, add vocals to, or release any music using our tracks.

Question 13

Can I create my own music using SoundMarket tracks?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot create, add vocals to, or release any music using our tracks. The music is licensed for use as background music in your content, not as a foundation for new musical works.

Question 14

Do I need to give credit to artists?

Accepted Answer

For our Creator plan, attribution “Music by SoundMarket.io” is required. For all plans, we appreciate full credit whenever possible:

Music by: [Artist's Name]
SoundMarket.io

Question 15

Will I get a copyright claim if I use SoundMarket music?

Accepted Answer

If you're on the free Creator plan, yes, and that's by design. When you use SoundMarket music on YouTube, YouTube's Content ID system places a copyright claim (Content ID claim) on your video. This is how we protect our artists' music from misuse.

The claim won't hurt your channel. No action is needed, your video stays live, and we won't remove it, mute it, or issue a copyright strike. One exception: don't dispute the claim. Disputing it violates the free plan terms and can result in a copyright strike.

While the claim is active, the video's ad revenue goes to the music rights holder. This only matters if your channel is in the YouTube Partner Program, since only those channels earn YouTube ad revenue.

To remove the claim, choose a paid plan and add your YouTube channel. Claims then clear automatically, usually within minutes.

Question 16

What's the difference between a copyright claim and a copyright strike?

Accepted Answer

A copyright claim (YouTube Content ID claim) indicates that copyrighted music has been detected in your video. It doesn't penalize your channel and your video stays live; only channels in the YouTube Partner Program lose ad revenue from the claimed video while the claim is active.

A copyright strike is a formal takedown request that can lead to channel penalties. SoundMarket will never issue copyright strikes against creators using our music properly.

Question 17

How do I remove a Content ID claim?

Accepted Answer

To remove a Content ID claim, upgrade to a paid subscription and add your YouTube channel to your account (sometimes called channel whitelisting). Claims on SoundMarket music then clear automatically, usually within minutes. Only channels in the YouTube Partner Program earn ad revenue. If yours does, a claimed video's ad revenue goes to the music rights holder until the claim clears, so with your channel added you keep 100% of it. Either way, your channel isn't penalized: no strike, and the video stays live.

Question 18

What if I receive a claim I wasn't expecting?

Accepted Answer

If you receive a Content ID claim from SoundMarket and you have an active paid subscription with your YouTube channel added, the claim should clear automatically within a few minutes. If the claim persists, contact our support team with a link to your video and we'll resolve it promptly.

Question 19

How long does it take to clear a claim?

Accepted Answer

For paid subscribers who have added their YouTube channel, claims typically clear within minutes. For free users, claims are intentional and remain on videos.

Question 20

Can I dispute a SoundMarket claim?

Accepted Answer

If you're on the Creator plan (free plan), there's no need to dispute claims, this is how we protect our copyright while still giving you access to high-quality free music. If you're a paid subscriber and claims aren't clearing automatically, please contact support instead of disputing through YouTube.

Question 21

How does the free Creator plan work?

Accepted Answer

The Creator plan is available only for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. It is intended for non-monetized content. If you receive a YouTube Content ID claim, it will not negatively affect your channel or video. No action is required, and your video will remain accessible to viewers. We will not remove your video, mute it, or submit a copyright strike. If your YouTube channel earns ad revenue, a claimed video's revenue goes to the music rights holder. However, if you upgrade your plan and add your channel, then the revenue goes to you. This free plan provides access to MP3-quality tracks only and is limited to 10 downloads per month. To get 24-bit WAV files and unlimited downloads, upgrade to one of our paid plans.

Question 22

What happens when I reach my download limit on the Creator plan?

Accepted Answer

On the free Creator plan, you get 10 downloads per month. If you reach this limit, you can either upgrade to Creator Plus for unlimited downloads, or wait until your limit resets at the start of the next month. Professional and Enterprise include unlimited downloads.

Question 23

Who is the Creator plan for?

Accepted Answer

This plan is for a single user creating content for their own channels. Each account is for individual use only: it cannot be shared with others or used on behalf of a company or agency.

Question 24

Who is the Creator Plus plan for?

Accepted Answer

This plan is for a single user creating content for their own channels. Each account is for individual use only: it cannot be shared with others or used on behalf of a company or agency. You can boost your own content, but it is not designed for client work or paid advertising for a company or brand. It includes the full catalog, including premium tracks.

Question 25

Who is the Professional plan for?

Accepted Answer

This plan is for a single user — an individual creative or freelancer — and their clients, for commercial projects published online. Each account is for individual use only and cannot be shared across a team. Organizations, agencies, and creatives or clients with annual revenue over $1 million USD require an Enterprise license.

Question 26

Who is the Enterprise plan for?

Accepted Answer

Enterprise is ideal for creative teams, agencies, broadcast productions, and anyone needing custom licensing terms. It includes broadcast TV rights, commercial streaming VOD, multiple user accounts, custom playlists, and a dedicated account manager. Contact our team to discuss custom pricing.

Question 27

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can change your plan at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately, and you'll be charged a prorated amount for the remainder of your billing period. Downgrades will take effect at the end of your current billing cycle.

Question 28

Can I cancel anytime?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our plans have no long-term contracts. You can cancel anytime, and you'll have access until your current billing period ends. Any music you've already downloaded and published can remain in your content according to your license terms. Refunds are only issued if no music has been downloaded from the site.

Question 29

What happens to my content after canceling a subscription?

Accepted Answer

The content you created during an active subscription is valid forever. However, content uploaded after the subscription ends may get a Content ID claim: the video stays live, but its ad revenue goes to the rights holder unless you're on a paid plan with the channel added.

Question 30

Do you offer refunds?

Accepted Answer

Refunds are only issued if no music has been downloaded from the site.

Question 31

How many tracks does SoundMarket have?

Accepted Answer

Our catalog grows every month with highly curated tracks in all genres. No fluff. We currently have over 20,000 tracks. The Professional (paid tier) also includes multiple versions of nearly all tracks: 15/30/60-second cuts, instrument-only mixes, and stems (just the drums, or just the bass), plus Alt Mixes designed to sit under dialogue.

Question 32

What genres are available?

Accepted Answer

We offer the most common genres, including Pop, Rock, Country, Hip Hop, EDM, Chillhop, Trailer Tracks, and more. We are also adding hundreds of new tracks every month. Use our filtering tools to narrow down by genre, mood, tempo, and instrumentation. We provide hundreds of curated playlists to help you get started.

Question 33

Who creates the music?

Accepted Answer

Our team of more than 500 artists, composers, and producers includes Grammy and Emmy winners. Their music has been featured in hit TV series and in work for some of the world's largest brands, such as Disney, the NBA, Epic Games (Fortnite), Google, HBO, and Microsoft.

Question 34

Is the music AI-generated?

Accepted Answer

No. SoundMarket is committed to supporting human creativity. All music in our catalog is created by real human artists. We believe in fair compensation for composers and supporting the human element in music creation.

Question 35

How often is new music added?

Accepted Answer

We add hundreds of new tracks regularly to keep our catalog fresh and relevant.

Question 36

Do you produce custom music?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our artists and composers have produced countless hours of custom music for top TV shows and brands. We would love to work on your project. Please contact us.

Question 37

How do I search for music?

Accepted Answer

SoundMarket offers a simple search that allows you to find music by keyword, mood, genre, tempo, and more. You can also browse curated playlists organized by theme and use case.

Question 38

What audio formats are available for download?

Accepted Answer

The free Creator plan provides access to MP3-quality tracks only. Paid subscriptions include access to 24-bit WAV files for professional-quality audio.

Question 39

Do you offer any additional services?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Beyond our subscription plans, we offer:

• Single Track Licenses
• Post-Production Mixing
• Voice Over Recording
• Music Supervision
• Music Clearance
• Sound Design
• Cover Songs
• Sonic Branding

Contact us to learn more about these services.

Question 40

How do I contact support?

Accepted Answer

You can reach our support team on our contact page.

Question 41

I have a copyright claim issue. Who do I contact?

Accepted Answer

For Content ID claim issues, email contact@soundmarket.io with a link to your video and your account email address. For paid subscribers, claims should clear automatically. If they don't, we'll resolve it promptly.

Question 42

Frequently Asked Questions

Categories

Getting Started

Why Use SoundMarket?

Why Use SoundMarket?

Who is SoundMarket for?

Who is SoundMarket for?

Can I monetize using SoundMarket music?

Can I monetize using SoundMarket music?

Licensing & Copyright

Is SoundMarket music royalty-free?

Is SoundMarket music royalty-free?

Can I use SoundMarket music in paid ads?

Can I use SoundMarket music in paid ads?

Are there any restrictions on the use of the music?

Are there any restrictions on the use of the music?

Can I use SoundMarket music for commercial purposes?

Can I use SoundMarket music for commercial purposes?

What platforms can I use SoundMarket music on?

What platforms can I use SoundMarket music on?

Can I use the music for client work?

Can I use the music for client work?

Can I use SoundMarket music in TV shows or broadcast commercials?

Can I use SoundMarket music in TV shows or broadcast commercials?

Do artists retain their rights with SoundMarket?

Do artists retain their rights with SoundMarket?

Can I edit or modify the music?

Can I edit or modify the music?

Can I create my own music using SoundMarket tracks?

Can I create my own music using SoundMarket tracks?

Do I need to give credit to artists?

Do I need to give credit to artists?

Content ID & Copyright Claims

Will I get a copyright claim if I use SoundMarket music?

Will I get a copyright claim if I use SoundMarket music?

What's the difference between a copyright claim and a copyright strike?

What's the difference between a copyright claim and a copyright strike?

How do I remove a Content ID claim?

How do I remove a Content ID claim?

What if I receive a claim I wasn't expecting?

What if I receive a claim I wasn't expecting?

How long does it take to clear a claim?

How long does it take to clear a claim?

Can I dispute a SoundMarket claim?

Can I dispute a SoundMarket claim?

Plans & Pricing

How does the free Creator plan work?

How does the free Creator plan work?

What happens when I reach my download limit on the Creator plan?

What happens when I reach my download limit on the Creator plan?

Who is the Creator plan for?

Who is the Creator plan for?

Who is the Creator Plus plan for?

Who is the Creator Plus plan for?

Who is the Professional plan for?

Who is the Professional plan for?

Who is the Enterprise plan for?

Who is the Enterprise plan for?

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Can I cancel anytime?

Can I cancel anytime?

What happens to my content after canceling a subscription?

What happens to my content after canceling a subscription?

Do you offer refunds?

Do you offer refunds?

Music Catalog

How many tracks does SoundMarket have?

How many tracks does SoundMarket have?

What genres are available?

What genres are available?

Who creates the music?

Who creates the music?

Is the music AI-generated?

Is the music AI-generated?

How often is new music added?

How often is new music added?

Do you produce custom music?

Do you produce custom music?

Using the Platform