You just made the perfect Reel. The editing is clean, the timing is right, and you added that one song that makes everything hit different. Then boom – Instagram mutes your audio or removes your post completely. Sound familiar?
Using famous music on Instagram can feel like walking through a minefield. The rules seem to change constantly, and there’s tons of confusing information out there. Some people say you can use any song for 15 seconds. Others claim giving credit protects you. Spoiler alert: most of that advice is wrong.
This guide breaks down exactly what you can and can’t do with copyrighted music on Instagram in 2025. No guessing, no myths – just the real rules.
Instagram’s Official Music Rules
Instagram has deals with major record labels that let you use popular songs in certain ways. But these agreements come with strict limits, and breaking them can get your content taken down fast.
The Basic Guidelines
- Instagram released official guidelines for using copyrighted music. Here’s what matters most:
- Keep clips short. Using full-length songs increases your chances of getting flagged. Stick to short clips when possible.
- Make the visual the focus. Your video should be about the visual content, not just a way to share music. If the song is the main point of your post, Instagram might mute it.
- Stories get more freedom. You can use music more freely in Stories than in feed posts. Stories allow up to 15 seconds of licensed music from Instagram’s library.
- Live performances are fine. Recording a concert or live musical performance doesn’t violate copyright rules.
Personal Accounts vs Business Accounts
This is huge and most people don’t know about it. Instagram treats personal accounts and business accounts differently when it comes to music.
Personal and Creator Accounts
If you have a personal or creator account, you get access to Instagram’s full music library. This includes chart-topping hits from major artists. You can add these songs through the music sticker in Stories and Reels without worrying about copyright strikes.
Business Accounts
Business accounts face way stricter rules. Your music library is limited to commercially-cleared tracks only. Many popular songs just won’t show up when you search. This is because Instagram’s licensing deals with record labels don’t usually cover commercial use.
If you run a business account and want to use popular music, you need to license it separately. We’ll cover how to do that later.
How Instagram Detects Copyrighted Music
Instagram uses an automated system to scan all uploaded content for copyrighted music. This system works similar to YouTube’s Content ID. It can recognize songs even if they’re playing quietly in the background or mixed with other sounds.
The system isn’t perfect. Sometimes it flags music you have permission to use. Other times it misses violations completely. But you can’t count on getting lucky – Instagram’s detection gets smarter every day.
What Happens When You Get Caught
- If Instagram’s system detects unauthorized music use, several things can happen:
- Your audio gets muted. Instagram will remove just the audio track while leaving your video up.
- Your post gets removed completely. For more serious violations, Instagram deletes the entire post.
- You get a copyright strike. Repeated violations can lead to strikes on your account.
- Your account gets disabled. Too many strikes and Instagram might ban your account permanently.
- In extreme cases, you could face legal action from the copyright holder. Music companies have sued businesses for unauthorized use, with fines reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Common Myths About Instagram Music
Let’s clear up some dangerous misconceptions that can get you in trouble.
Myth 1: “Using Under 15 Seconds is Legal”
False. There’s no magic number that makes unauthorized use legal. Instagram can flag even a few seconds of copyrighted music. The 15-second guideline applies only to music from Instagram’s licensed library, not to any song you want.
Myth 2: “Giving Credit Makes it Legal”
Also false. Writing “all rights to the owner” or tagging the artist doesn’t give you permission to use their music. Copyright is a legal right. You need explicit permission through a license. Credit is nice, but it’s not a legal shield.
Myth 3: “I Bought the Song, So I Can Use It”
Nope. When you buy a song on iTunes or stream it on Spotify, you get personal listening rights. Using music in video content requires a completely different license called a sync license. Your iTunes purchase doesn’t cover that.
Myth 4: “It’s Fair Use”
Fair use is complicated and rarely applies to social media content. Don’t count on it to protect you. Most Instagram posts don’t qualify for fair use protection.
Legal Ways to Use Music on Instagram
Now for the good news. You have several totally legal options for adding music to your content.
Option 1: Use Instagram’s Music Library
The simplest solution is using Instagram’s built-in music feature. When you create a Story or Reel, tap the music sticker to access thousands of licensed songs. These are 100% safe to use because Instagram already has permission from the rights holders.
For personal accounts, this library is massive. For business accounts, it’s more limited but still useful.
Once you’ve got your Reels looking professional with the right music, you’ll want to make sure people actually see them. Check out our guide on how to promote your music as an artist for strategies to grow your reach on Instagram and beyond.
Option 2: Use Royalty-Free Music
Royalty-free music is created specifically for content creators. You pay once or subscribe to a service, then use the music as much as you want without worrying about copyright.
Popular royalty-free music services include Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and AudioJungle. These services give you licenses that cover Instagram use. Prices typically range from $12-30 per month.
Facebook also offers the Sound Collection – a free library of royalty-free music and sound effects you can use across Instagram and Facebook.
Option 3: License Popular Songs
Want to use a specific hit song? You can license it directly from the copyright holder. This process is complicated and can be expensive, but it’s the only legal way to use major label music in business content.
Start by identifying who owns the rights. Most songs have two sets of rights – the composition rights (the song itself) and the master rights (the specific recording). You need licenses for both.
Contact a music licensing agency to help navigate this process. They can connect you with rights holders and handle the paperwork.
Option 4: Create Original Music
If you have the skills or budget, creating original music gives you complete control. You own the rights, so there are zero copyright concerns. Plus, original music helps build your brand identity.
You can hire a composer, work with a producer, or use AI music generators to create custom tracks. Just make sure you own the rights to whatever you create.
Tips for Staying Safe
Follow these best practices to avoid copyright problems:
- Always use the music sticker when adding licensed songs from Instagram’s library. Don’t upload videos with copyrighted music from external sources.
- Keep your videos visually interesting. Make sure the focus is on the visual content, not just the music.
- Test with Stories first. If you’re unsure about a song, try posting it as a Story. Stories face less scrutiny than permanent posts.
- Save your content before posting. Sometimes Instagram flags content immediately. Having a backup means you don’t lose your work.
- Check Grum’s guide on navigating Instagram copyright rules and best practices for content creators.
- For a deeper understanding of Instagram’s copyright policies and more advanced strategies, check out this comprehensive guide on using copyrighted music on Instagram.
- Read reviews and stay updated. Instagram’s policies change regularly. Follow Instagram’s Creator account for updates on music usage rules.
What to Do If Your Content Gets Flagged
Despite your best efforts, mistakes happen. If Instagram removes your content or mutes your audio, here’s what to do:
- Don’t panic. One violation usually isn’t a huge deal. Learn from it and move on.
- Review what happened. Instagram will tell you which song caused the problem. Make note so you don’t use it again.
- Consider appealing. If you believe the flag was a mistake – like if you used music from Instagram’s library – you can appeal. Click the notification for details on how to submit an appeal.
- Replace the music. For future posts, swap out the problematic song for something from your licensed library.
Special Cases and Exceptions
Recording Live Music
You can record and post live musical performances without copyright issues. Filming a concert, street performer, or friend’s band performance is fair game.
Music in the Background
If music is playing accidentally in the background of your video – like in a store or restaurant – Instagram usually won’t flag it. But don’t count on this. If the music is clearly audible, it might still get caught.
Parody and Covers
Creating a parody or cover version of a song enters murky legal territory. Even though you’re performing it yourself, you might still need permission from the original songwriter. Be careful with this.
The Bottom Line
Using famous music on Instagram comes down to knowing the rules and respecting them. For personal, non-commercial content, Instagram’s music library gives you tons of options. For business content, you’ll need to invest in proper licenses or use royalty-free alternatives.
The rules might seem annoying, but they exist to protect artists who deserve to be paid for their work. As a content creator yourself, you probably get why that matters.
Stick to legal sources for your music, keep your content visually focused, and you’ll avoid copyright headaches. Your posts will stay live, your account will stay safe, and you can focus on creating great content instead of worrying about takedowns.
Now go make some killer Reels – just make sure the music is legit!