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Updated: 2026-09-23 09:22
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What is Free Music Archive?
Free Music Archive (FMA) is a large online library of independent music that is free to play, download and share, and is marketed for use in media projects such as YouTube videos, social clips, podcasts, short films and websites. It is operated by Tribe of Noise, which describes the platform as a bridge between independent artists worldwide and content creators who need a soundtrack without traditional licensing barriers.
What you can actually do with it
- Browse and listen to original music from independent artists.
- Download tracks for free under the terms attached to each piece.
- Use the music in video, podcast, film and web projects, including commercial platforms like YouTube and Facebook, according to the site's description.
- Discover artists through features such as Spotlight Interviews, which profile musicians in the community.
Who it suits
FMA is most useful for solo creators and small teams — YouTubers, podcasters, videographers, filmmakers and hobbyist editors — who need background or theme music quickly and at no cost. It is less suited to projects that require exclusive rights, guaranteed indemnification, or a single uniform license covering every track, because free music archives typically rely on individual licenses that vary from song to song.
The trade-off to understand
The main advantage is cost and breadth: instant access to a diverse, independent catalogue. The main catch is that "free" does not mean "no rules." Each track can carry different terms — some may require attribution, some may restrict commercial use, and some may be offered under Creative Commons variants. Before publishing, check the specific license on the track page and keep a record of it.
Practical next step
Start with a narrow search: pick the mood and genre your project needs, shortlist two or three tracks, and read each license before downloading. If you need music you can use without attribution or with clearer commercial guarantees, compare FMA with other sources such as Incompetech, ccMixter or Internet Archive, and decide based on the license terms rather than the size of the library.
How do I legally use Free Music Archive songs in my YouTube videos or podcasts?
To use Free Music Archive (FMA) music legally in YouTube videos or podcasts, treat each track's license as the rulebook, not the site as a whole. FMA is described as a source of royalty-free and "free to download" music, with the site positioning its catalog as "safe to use in all kinds of media like YouTube, Facebook and podcast episodes" and aimed at videographers, YouTubers, podcasters and filmmakers. That's the platform's general framing; your actual permission comes from the license attached to the individual song.
The practical workflow
- Search with the license filter in mind. On FMA, tracks are typically grouped by license type (for example, Creative Commons variants and public domain). Filter before you fall in love with a track.
- Open the track page and read the license. Note the exact license name and version, plus the artist's name and the track title.
- Check what that license requires. The common obligations you'll meet:
- Attribution (BY): credit the artist, the track, the license, and link to the license deed. This applies to most CC licenses.
- NonCommercial (NC): no use in monetized or ad-supported content. This is the trap for YouTube creators — a video with ads or a sponsor can count as commercial.
- NoDerivatives (ND): you can't remix, trim into a new work, or sync it in ways that create a derivative. Background music under narration is usually fine; chopping it into a remix is not.
- ShareAlike (SA): if you adapt the work, your adaptation must carry the same license.
- Public domain / CC0: no attribution required, though crediting the artist is still good practice.
- Record your evidence. Save the track URL, the license URL, the date you downloaded it, and a screenshot of the license as it appeared. Licenses can change or tracks can be removed; your record is your defense.
- Credit properly in the description. A workable format: "Music: [Track] by [Artist], licensed under [License name + version]. Source: [track URL]. License: [license deed URL]." Put it in the video or episode description, and in the podcast show notes.
- Handle Content ID claims. FMA tracks can still be registered in YouTube's Content ID system by distributors or aggregators, even when the underlying license permits your use. If you get a claim, don't panic and don't delete: dispute it with your license record and the track link. Many claims clear this way.
- Keep proof of commercial status. If you're monetized, stick to licenses that permit commercial use, or contact the artist for a separate permission.
Quick license comparison
| License type | Commercial use | Attribution needed | Remixing allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC0 / Public domain | Yes | No (but courteous) | Yes |
| CC BY | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CC BY-SA | Yes | Yes | Yes, under same license |
| CC BY-NC | No | Yes | Yes |
| CC BY-ND | Yes | Yes | No |
| CC BY-NC-ND | No | Yes | No |
A concrete scenario
You're publishing a monetized YouTube explainer and a podcast episode. You find two tracks you like. Track A is CC BY; Track B is CC BY-NC. Track A is usable in both, provided you paste the credit line into the description and show notes. Track B is fine for a personal, unmonetized upload but risky for your ad-supported channel and any podcast with sponsors — so you either skip it or email the artist for written permission. That single license check, done before editing, saves you a takedown later.
Next step
Before you build your edit around a song, open its track page and confirm the license allows your specific use — then paste the credit line into your description template immediately, so you never have to hunt for it after publishing. If a track's terms are unclear, message the artist directly; many independent musicians on FMA are reachable and will grant permission in writing.
What are the differences between the free collection and the PRO paid option?
The Free Music Archive (FMA) presents two distinct paths: a free, open collection and a PRO offering. The free collection is built for discovery and simple sharing — you can play, download and share independent music at no cost, which suits personal projects, casual videos or anyone testing whether a track fits before committing. The PRO option is aimed at commercial or brand-sensitive work where you need clearer licensing certainty for platforms like YouTube, Facebook and podcasts, plus a more curated search experience.
The trade-offs are straightforward:
- Free collection: broad, open access; ideal for low-stakes or non-commercial use; you may need to verify each track's licence terms yourself.
- PRO: positioned as a safer, more streamlined choice for monetised or client-facing media; likely includes licensing assurances and a more guided search, but requires payment.
For a concrete example: a student making a class podcast can start with the free collection and credit the artist. A freelance videographer delivering a paid brand campaign should treat PRO as the lower-risk route, because the licence clarity matters more than the zero cost.
Next step: check the specific licence attached to any free track before you publish, and compare that against what PRO covers for your intended platform. If your project is monetised or client-facing, PRO is usually the more defensible choice; if it is personal or educational, the free collection is often sufficient.
How can independent artists upload their music to Free Music Archive?
Independent artists cannot simply self-upload tracks to Free Music Archive through a public button. According to the site's own description, FMA is "Powered by Tribe of Noise," and the platform positions itself as a bridge between independent musicians and content creators rather than as an open, self-service upload site. The page lists "Search PRO" and "Explore offers" as its main calls to action, with no visible submission form or upload instructions.
What to do instead
- Start at Free Music Archive and look for a "Submit," "Artist," or "Contact" link in the site footer or menu.
- Expect the route to run through Tribe of Noise, the organization behind FMA; artist onboarding and licensing typically happen there.
- Prepare a short bio, track files, and proof that you own or control the rights to every sample and recording.
- Be ready to grant broad usage rights, since FMA's stated purpose is music that is "free to play, download and share" and "safe to use" in YouTube videos, podcasts and films.
A realistic scenario
A bedroom producer with five finished instrumentals wants podcasters to use them. Rather than uploading directly, they would contact FMA or Tribe of Noise, agree to licensing terms, and let the platform handle distribution. The trade-off: wide exposure and no licensing paperwork for creators, but you give up control over how and where your music is reused, and you may earn little or nothing per play.
Decision criterion
If you want to retain control and sell licenses individually, an open archive like FMA is a poor fit. If your goal is maximum exposure and you are comfortable with broad, free reuse, pursue the official artist route through FMA and Tribe of Noise.
What types of music genres and moods are available for video projects?
Free Music Archive organizes its catalog for exactly this use case: finding music to pair with video, podcasts, social clips and short films. The site describes its library as spanning independent artists and original music, and it groups browsing around the practical needs of creators — socials, video, podcasts, (short) film and websites — rather than around a single genre.
H3 Genres and moods you can expect FMA does not present a fixed, short list of genres in the material available; it emphasizes a broad, diverse catalog from independent musicians worldwide. In practice, that means you should expect the range typical of an independent-music archive — rock, electronic, hip-hop, folk, jazz, classical, ambient, world and experimental styles — plus mood-oriented browsing for tracks that feel calm, upbeat, dark, cinematic or playful. Treat the specific genre and mood labels as something to confirm on the site itself rather than assuming a set taxonomy.
H3 How to match a track to your project
- Start from the feeling you need (energetic intro, neutral background, emotional close), then filter by genre.
- Check the license terms for each track before publishing, since "free to download" and "royalty free" can carry different conditions.
- For YouTube, Facebook and podcast episodes, the site positions its music as safe to use in those media — but always verify per track.
- If you need a recurring sound for a series, shortlist several tracks by the same artist so your episodes stay consistent.
H3 A concrete workflow Say you are cutting a five-minute YouTube documentary. Search by mood first ("reflective," "hopeful"), preview a handful of candidates, and note the license for each. Download two or three options so you can swap if the pacing changes in the edit. Credit the artist where the license asks for it.
For comparison, other established sources include Incompetech for Kevin MacLeod's catalog and Free Public Domain for public-domain tracks; each has different licensing and curation, so check terms before committing.
How does Free Music Archive support independent musicians through licensing?
Free Music Archive supports independent musicians by acting as a bridge between them and content creators, rather than as a traditional record label or publisher. The platform's stated mission is to let music "freely flow" between creators and those who need soundtracks, while giving artists exposure and a community that values their work. In practice, that support shows up in three ways.
Licensing made simple for creators FMA presents its catalog as royalty-free music that is "safe to use" across media such as YouTube, Facebook and podcasts. For a musician, this means their tracks can be discovered and licensed by videographers, YouTubers, podcasters and filmmakers without the usual licensing negotiations. The platform describes eliminating "traditional licensing barriers" — the paperwork, direct emails and per-project deals that often shut independent artists out of small productions.
Exposure beyond a single sale Because the library is free to play, download and share, an artist's work can circulate widely instead of sitting behind a paywall. A podcaster looking for an intro theme, for example, can browse and license a track in one session — and that same track may later appear in a short film or a website background. Each use is a small piece of promotion that points back to the musician.
A community, not just a catalog FMA frames itself as part of a "global tribe" where independent musicians and content creators thrive together. It highlights artist stories through Spotlight Interviews, which give musicians a platform to describe their work and career. That editorial attention is a form of support that goes beyond distribution: it treats artists as people with narratives, not anonymous files.
| What the artist gets | What the creator gets |
|---|---|
| Exposure to video, podcast and film audiences | A large, diverse library to search |
| Simplified licensing instead of direct deals | Music cleared for social media and podcasts |
| A community and interview features | Free playback, download and sharing |
One caveat worth noting: "royalty-free" describes the licensing model, not the artist's income. The page does not detail how, or whether, musicians are paid for specific uses, so anyone choosing FMA as a distribution channel should check the current artist terms directly before uploading.
If you are a musician deciding where to place your work, a useful test is to ask what you want from a platform: reach and discovery, direct payment, or editorial promotion. FMA's model leans toward the first and third. If you are a creator, start by searching for a mood or genre, then check the license attached to each track — terms can vary by artist even within one library.
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