What is Creative Commons Music?
Creative Commons (CC) is a non profit organization that provides free legal tools for creators to share their work under flexible copyright terms. Creative Commons music is music released under one of these standardized licenses, which specify exactly what uses are allowed, ranging from completely free (CC0) to attribution required (CC BY) to non commercial only (CC BY NC).
The Creative Commons License Types
CC0: The creator waives all rights. You can use the music for any purpose, commercial or not, without attribution.
CC BY: You can use the music for any purpose as long as you credit the creator.
CC BY SA: Same as CC BY, but any work you create using the music must also be shared under the same license (ShareAlike).
CC BY NC: Non commercial use only. You cannot use this music in monetized videos or client work.
CC BY ND: No derivatives. You cannot remix, transform, or build upon the music. You can only use it as is.
The Trap Creators Fall Into
Many creators download CC music without checking which variant applies. They use a CC BY NC track in a monetized YouTube video and violate the license. The creator can file a takedown. Always check the specific CC license before using music labeled Creative Commons.
creative commons / CC license / free music / attribution / music rights