Can You Use Music in a Crowdfunding Video in the UK?

Yes, you can use music in a UK crowdfunding video when you have the necessary rights for the song and recording. Those permissions must cover how you publish and promote the campaign, including paid adverts where relevant.

Choosing crowdfunding video music involves more than finding a track that suits your message. A charity appeal, community fundraiser or business launch can need the same copyright permissions as other promotional films.

Start with what the licence allows, then choose music that fits both your campaign and your budget.

Key Takeaways

• An existing recording usually needs permission for both the underlying song and the recorded performance.
• Commissioned, royalty-free and free-to-use music can offer simpler options, but each comes with its own terms.
• Your permission needs to cover the campaign page, social clips, paid promotion and other planned distribution.

Keep the licence alongside your video files. Credit requirements, expiry dates and restrictions still matter after the fundraiser closes, especially if the video remains publicly available.

The Two Music Rights Your Video Usually Needs

A recorded song contains two distinct layers of copyright. Different people or organisations may control them, so permission from one owner may leave the other right uncleared.

Sync permission for the composition

The composition is the underlying music and, where applicable, lyrics. A synchronisation licence, usually called a sync licence, authorises pairing that work with your video.

The songwriter or music publisher commonly controls this permission. Where several writers or publishers share ownership, clearance must account for the relevant interests.

The Intellectual Property Office explains this relationship in its guidance on synchronisation licensing.

Your request should describe the fundraiser and how the music will appear. Background music beneath an interview still forms part of the video, even when the dialogue is louder.

Master-use permission for the recording

A master-use licence covers the particular recording you want to include. Its owner might be a record label, an independent artist or another recording-rights holder.

Identify the exact version. A studio release, live performance and remix can involve different recordings and permissions.

Recording your own cover avoids using the original master, but it doesn’t remove the composition question. Likewise, an artist’s agreement isn’t enough if a publisher, label or co-writer controls rights they cannot grant.

One agreement can cover both layers where the licensor controls them. Separate documents aren’t always necessary, but both permissions must be present.

Charity Status and Short Clips Don’t Remove Copyright

A charitable purpose doesn’t create a general exemption for campaign soundtracks. A rights holder can offer reduced fees or free permission, but that remains a licensing decision.

Our guide to music licensing for charity videos covers the distinction between fundraising activity and permission to use music.

There is also no general UK rule allowing a copyrighted song simply because you use fewer than 10, 15 or 30 seconds. A brief, recognisable extract can still require clearance.

UK copyright exceptions include fair dealing for purposes such as criticism, review and quotation, subject to conditions. Music chosen mainly to create atmosphere behind a fundraising appeal won’t ordinarily qualify on that basis.

Lowering the music beneath a voiceover doesn’t turn an intentional soundtrack into incidental background audio.

Credit alone doesn’t grant permission either. Attribution fulfils a licence condition when the rights holder requires it; it doesn’t replace the licence.

Similarly, an old composition and a modern recording have separate copyright histories. A public-domain melody can still appear in a protected recording.

Music Options for Different Campaign Budgets

You don’t need a famous recording to make a persuasive appeal. Clear rights and an appropriate mood often matter more than recognition.

Commission an original soundtrack

Commissioning lets a composer shape music around your narration, pacing and campaign message. However, paying for the work doesn’t automatically transfer copyright.

The agreement should identify ownership of the composition and recording, alongside your permission to use both. Include social edits, campaign updates and paid promotion if planned.

Also address third-party samples and performers’ contributions. These can introduce rights beyond the composer’s own work. The Musicians’ Union outlines relevant copyright and performers’ rights.

Use royalty-free production music

Royalty-free usually describes a licensing model, rather than music without copyright or restrictions. A fee or subscription may still apply.

Some licences cover one project; others distinguish between personal content, client work and advertising. Subscription cancellation can also affect future projects differently from previously licensed videos.

There isn’t one standard crowdfunding music price. Direct clearance fees depend on the recording, rights owners and requested use, while production music follows its published licence tiers. Choose the permission package before committing to the edit.

Choose music offered with creator permissions

We offer original music inspired by Britain for videos and other creative projects, with credit to Restorm and restormuk.com. Our free music licence sets out our creator-use offer.

You can also browse Free Music for ideas that suit your campaign’s tone.

Free access doesn’t transfer copyright ownership. Keep the applicable permission with your project files, and place the required credit where viewers can find it.

Match the Licence to the Whole Campaign

A fundraiser rarely stays on a single page. The same film may become a social post, a short advert or a progress update.

Separate organic posts from paid promotion

Describe all intended outlets in the licensing request: the crowdfunding page, your website, video hosting and social accounts. Include partners’ accounts if they will upload their own copies.

Paid adverts, boosted posts and sponsored content can fall outside permission for ordinary social posting. The same applies to client or agency work where the licence only covers the purchaser’s own projects.

Platform music libraries also have defined scopes. Permission inside one service doesn’t automatically authorise exporting the soundtrack for another platform. A successful upload is no substitute for documented rights.

Account for territory, duration and extra versions

A UK-based fundraiser can attract international viewers. Worldwide online use therefore needs appropriate territorial permission unless distribution is genuinely restricted.

The licence period also needs to reflect the video’s lifespan. A campaign lasting a month can leave behind a public page that remains accessible for years.

Include trailers, vertical edits and later updates where needed. Separate online or public-performance licensing can also arise depending on the distribution arrangements, as UK government guidance on online music explains.

PRS for Music, MCPS and PPL handle different rights and licensing activities. A licence for one activity doesn’t automatically settle every permission involved in producing and distributing your film.

A Practical Music Clearance Process Before Launch

Complete clearance before the final edit depends on a particular track. Replacing music late can mean rebuilding narration timings, transitions and social versions.

1. Identify the exact audio. Record the track title, artist, recording version and source. Include any samples, remixes or music already audible in supplied footage. Similar titles or different performances aren’t interchangeable for licensing purposes.
2. Establish who controls each right. Identify the composition and recording owners. For direct clearance, obtain written permission covering both, either from the relevant owners or someone authorised to grant those rights.
3. Describe the complete campaign. State who is fundraising, what the money supports and whether sponsors or business promotion are involved. Include platforms, territories, duration, paid media and proposed edits in the permission request.
4. Read the permission against the planned use. Resolve gaps before publication. Record attribution wording, fees, renewal conditions and restrictions on editing or redistribution. Permission for a finished video doesn’t necessarily allow distributing the music separately as a supporter reward.
5. Save evidence with the finished files. Retain the licence, dated terms, correspondence, invoice where applicable and credit wording. Keep a copy of the relevant webpage rather than relying solely on a bookmark.

Finally, keep a clean video export without music. That makes it easier to create a replacement version if the licence expires or the campaign’s distribution changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a crowdfunding platform’s music arrangements cover my video?

They can cover particular uses where the applicable terms say so. However, platform arrangements vary, and permission for playback or in-platform music features doesn’t automatically cover your own synchronised campaign film.

Build your clearance around the rights actually granted, rather than assuming the campaign host supplies them.

What happens if the platform flags licensed music?

Automated systems can identify music even when you have permission. A claim isn’t always a copyright strike, but it can affect availability or revenue.

Compare the notice with your saved licence and recording details. Use the platform’s dispute process only where your documentation supports the use. If permission doesn’t cover the video, replace or remove the music.

Does a live fundraising screening need different permission?

It can. Permission to include music in the video and permission for public playback address different uses.

A community hall screening, livestream and permanently available online film can therefore raise different licensing questions. Include these uses in your clearance plan rather than treating permission for the initial campaign upload as universal coverage.

Choose Music You Can Keep Using Confidently

Good crowdfunding video music supports your message without creating uncertainty about publication. The strongest starting point is written permission covering the composition, recording and campaign’s intended reach.

Choose a track whose terms fit your distribution, follow its credit requirements and keep the evidence. That gives your fundraiser room to run across its planned channels without depending on assumptions about what “free” or “licensed” means.