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Composer

Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)

Huge library of royalty-free music in almost every genre, free under Creative Commons attribution.

The license in plain words

What is free
full catalog under CC BY 4.0, incl. monetized videos
What you must do
paste the exact CC BY credit with the title
What is not allowed
No using tracks without the credit, or claiming the music as your own.
License
CC BY 4.0
Free to use, also commercially. Credit required.
Read the full license ↓
The fine printEverything the license says (CC BY 4.0)Show details

You may

  • Use the music free of charge in videos, games, podcasts and other projects, including commercial ones
  • Monetize YouTube videos that use the music
  • Edit, loop or remix the tracks, as long as you make clear which parts are yours
  • Buy the paid Standard License instead when a credit is impossible or unwanted (e.g. radio/TV ads, presentations, on-hold music)

You may not

  • Using the free CC version without giving the credit
  • Hiding the credit where viewers cannot reasonably find it
  • Presenting the music as your own composition
  • Implying Kevin MacLeod endorses you or your project
  • Adding extra legal or technical restrictions that stop others using what the CC license allows
Credit
Required for the free CC BY 4.0 option. Incompetech's format: "<Song Title>" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Mark any changes you made. Not required with the paid Standard License.
Limits
None stated for the CC option; Standard License scope and price are set per selected track at checkout
YouTube Content ID
Tracks are pre-registered in YouTube Content ID by Incompetech. If a video gets a claim, put the credit ("Song Title" by Kevin MacLeod) in the description and dispute the claim; bulk releases are offered for channels with many claims.
How long it lasts
CC BY 4.0 is perpetual and irrevocable as long as you keep meeting the credit condition (breach ends it, but it can be restored if fixed within 30 days of noticing).

This is a standard open license. Read the full official text.

Plain-words summary by NonCopyrighted, checked 29 September 2026. The official license always wins. Official source: incompetech.com

About

Incompetech is the site of composer Kevin MacLeod, one of the most-used music sources on YouTube. His catalogue covers almost every mood.

Best for: Comedy, cinematic, ambient, classical and quirky background music. Handy when you need something very specific.

How the license works: The whole catalogue is free under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, including monetized videos. You must paste the exact credit with the track title. You can also buy a license to skip the credit.

Not allowed: Using tracks without the credit, or presenting the music as your own.

Can I use it?

Monetized content (ads)
Commercial use
Edit or remix
Credit the maker
Content ID claims
Paste in your description, caption or alt text
[Title] Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Go to download

License checked on 28 September 2026.

Always double-check the license on the creator’s own site before you use anything. Something wrong? Report it.