A great soundtrack can lift a video to another level - or get it blocked and pulled from a platform. Many companies in Latvia still assume they can drop any song into a promo clip, but copyright protects the composer, the performer and the record label alike. In this article we explain how music licensing for video actually works and where to source tracks safely.

Why you need a licence at all

Every popular recording carries at least two separate sets of rights: rights to the composition (the melody and lyrics) and rights to the specific recording (the master). To use a song legally in a video, you generally need permission from both sides. That is why dropping a radio hit into a commercial clip without clearance is risky - Content ID systems detect it automatically.

What happens without permission

  • The video is blocked in certain countries or worldwide
  • Ad revenue is redirected to the rights holder
  • The channel receives a copyright strike
  • In a commercial context, a compensation claim is possible

Where to source legal music

The good news: legal music is plentiful, and most projects get by without an expensive licence for an original hit. In practice these are the most common sources:

Royalty-free libraries

Services like Artlist, Epidemic Sound or Musicbed sell a subscription that covers using a track in video. "Royalty-free" does not mean free - it means that once you buy the licence, you do not pay separately for each play. Always keep proof of the licence, as it is your evidence if a claim appears.

Free music and Creative Commons

The YouTube Audio Library and some Creative Commons collections offer free tracks, but read the terms carefully: sometimes attribution is mandatory, and sometimes commercial use is not allowed.

Commissioned original music

If you want full safety and a unique sound, a composer can write music specifically for your project. Then the rights are settled in a contract and no Content ID will file a claim. We often recommend this route when producing music videos and branded clips, where sound is the heart of the brand.

How AKKA/LAA works in Latvia

In Latvia, authors' economic rights are managed collectively by AKKA/LAA. If you publicly play or distribute music at an event, on a screen or in a broadcast, permission and remuneration may be required. The exact rules depend on how the music is used, so for larger projects it is worth checking the status in advance.

A practical checklist

  • Confirm the licence covers video and your specific platforms
  • Check the territory and the term the licence applies to
  • Save the PDF or email confirming the licence
  • For advertising, choose a commercial licence, not just a personal one
  • When in doubt, go with royalty-free or commissioned music

Legal music is an investment in your brand's reputation and peace of mind, not extra red tape. If you want your video's sound to be both striking and fully clean from a copyright standpoint, get in touch with us - we will help you choose the right music solution.