Two copyrights in every recording
A recorded song usually has two separate copyrights:
- The composition (melody, lyrics, harmony), typically controlled by songwriters and publishers.
- The master recording (the actual audio), typically controlled by the artist or label.
To use a commercial song in a video, you normally need permission for both: a sync licence for the composition and a master use licence for the recording. That is why commercial music in ads can be expensive.
Royalty-free licences
Royalty-free services bundle the rights you need into one licence, paid once or by subscription. The licence states the uses it covers, such as online video, ads, broadcast, client work or streaming distribution. Read the list of covered uses carefully; that is where plans differ.
Creative Commons and public domain
Creative Commons licences grant permissions in advance with conditions such as attribution (BY) or non-commercial use only (NC). Public domain works, including CC0 releases, have no conditions. See royalty-free vs copyright-free.
Performing rights
Separate from sync, public performance of music, for example playing it in a shop, restaurant or gym, may require a licence from a performing rights organisation in your country. Rules vary, so check locally. See PROs in the glossary.
Client work
If you make videos for clients, check that your licence covers it. Some plans cover only your own channels. On Sonvela, Creator and Studio cover client work; Starter covers your own content. The full terms are on our licensing page.
What to keep
For every project: the track, its source, the licence or plan, the date and the account. Most disputes are settled by producing that record.
Written by the Sonvela editorial team with AI drafting assistance, then checked against the sources linked in the text. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.