Bigfollow•09. Juli 2025•

The fear of the silent story

You've probably experienced it before: you create a perfect Instagram reel, find a current chart hit that goes perfectly with it, post it proudly - and shortly afterwards the video is muted. Or even worse: it is completely blocked. The question immediately pops into your head: What music can I use on instagram?

This question is one of the most important and confusing on all Social media platforms. The right music can change your Reels and Stories emotional and stirring, but the wrong one can get you into big trouble. It's all about licenses and copyright - but don't worry, you don't have to be a lawyer to understand that.

In this guide, we explain to you in simple terms which music you can safely use what the huge difference is between private and business use and how you as a The company stay on the safe side.

The most important question first: private or business?

Before we go into detail, you need to answer a basic question for yourself, because everything depends on it: Do you use your Instagram account purely privately or for business, i.e. commercial purposes?

• Private use: You are a private person and share your life with friends and family. You don't want to earn money with your account. You are virtually at a private party.
• Commercial use: You are a The companya store, a freelancer, a coach, an association or an influencer who wants to earn money with their account or build their brand. Any post that even remotely pursues a business goal (e.g. gaining new customers) is considered a Commercial use. So you're at a company event.

At a private party, you may play your favorite CD. At a company event, you have to pay fees (e.g. to GEMA or SUISA). And it's exactly the same with Instagram.

The simplest solution: music directly from the Instagram app

Instagram knows that you need music. That's why there's a huge music library that you can access via the Music stickers in your Stories or in the creation of Reels find. This is the first and easiest place to go.

But - and this is the crucial point - this library is not the same for everyone!

For private profiles: The huge jukebox with all the hits

If you have a private account (or a creator account), you can see almost everything here: the latest chart hits, old classics, songs from the biggest stars in the world. This is because Instagram (or its parent company Meta) has contracts with the music labels that allow these songs to be used for private, non-commercial purposes on the platform. This means you can choose with relative peace of mind.

For business profiles: The safe, but smaller selection

If you have a business account and the Music stickers you will be disappointed. The chart hits are gone. Instead, you will find a large selection of often unknown, instrumental or specially produced music.

Why is that? Because Instagram sees you as The company protects! A chart song is not licensed for your advertising. If you use a well-known song for a promotional video for your product use that would be a clear copyright infringement. To protect you (and itself) from lawsuits, Instagram only gives you access to music that is available for the Commercial use is released. This collection is called Meta Sound Collection.

Anna (private) vs. bakery Müller (business): An example

Anna makes a reel of her girls' night out and backs it with Taylor Swift's latest hit. That's absolutely fine, because it's private and she takes the song from the library that has been released for her.

The Müller Bakery wants to make a reel of her new cinnamon buns to boost sales. The owner searches for the same Taylor Swift song, but can't find it. Instead, he chooses a cheerful, acoustic guitar song from the Meta Sound Collection with the title "Morning Coffee". This song is for the Commercial use safe, and the bakery's reel is not blocked.

Interim conclusion: The safest answer to the question "what music can i use on instagram" is: Use the music that your specific account type offers you in the Instagram library.

The ideal solution for companies: Royalty-free music

What do you do as The companyif you don't like the selection in the Meta Sound Collection? Then enter the world of royalty free musicoften also Royalty Free Music called.

"Royalty-free" does not mean that the music does not belong to anyone or that it is always free. It means that you pay a one-time or recurring fee (e.g. in a subscription model) to acquire the license to use the song.

External platforms as a treasure trove

There are many onlinePlatformswhich refer to royalty free music have specialized in. The best known are Epidemic Sound and Artlist, for example.

• This is how it works: You take out a monthly or annual subscription there.
• The advantage: You get access to tens of thousands of professionally produced songs that you can use legally and worry-free for your Reels, StoriesYouTube videos, podcasts and even TV commercials use are allowed. You will receive a valid license that protects you legally.

For each The companythat regularly produces video content, such a subscription is the most professional and flexible solution.

What happens if I use the "wrong" music?

If you as a company simply take a chart hit (e.g. via screenshot video from Spotify or by adding it on your computer), Instagram's Content ID system is likely to strike. The consequences can be:

1. Your video will be muted: The sound is removed.
2. Your video is blocked in certain countries.
3. Your video will be completely removed.
4. You will receive a warning (strike): If you commit multiple offenses, your account may be blocked temporarily or even permanently.
5. The worst-case scenario: The music label sends you or your company an expensive warning letter.

You should take this risk for your The company under no circumstances.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Can I use 15 seconds of a song on Instagram?

This is a widespread myth! The "15-second rule" does not exist in copyright law. Even one second of a protected song is already a use. The decisive factor is not the length, but whether you use the License for use. If you take the music from the Instagram library of your account type, Instagram has cleared the license for you - whether for 15 or 60 seconds.

Why don't I have access to well-known songs as a company?

Because the licenses that Meta has negotiated with the music labels for chart music only apply to private, non-commercial use. For a Commercial use (advertising) would require completely different, much more expensive licenses. To avoid legal problems, Instagram therefore only offers companies the pre-licensed Meta Sound Collection to.

Can I use music from Spotify or Apple Music for my reels?

No, by no means! Your Spotify or Apple Music subscription only gives you the right to listen to the music (a so-called "listening license"). You are not allowed to copy the music, recut it and place it under your own video. That would be a classic copyright infringement.

Conclusion: It's best to be on the safe side

The question "what music can i use on instagram" can therefore be summarized in three simple rules:

1. As a private individual: You can enjoy the huge selection of music in the Music stickers from Instagram for your private, non-commercial Reels and Stories largely carefree use.
2. As a company: Your safest and easiest source is the one offered to you Meta Sound Collection directly in the app. So you are ready for the Commercial use secured on Instagram and Facebook.
3. For professionals and maximum choice: If you are a The company need more choice, a subscription with an external provider for royalty free music (e.g. Epidemic Sound) is the best investment.

Don't take any risks. With the right choice of music, your content will not only sound better, but you can also sleep soundly without fear of muted videos or legal trouble.

Which music you can use on Instagram depends on the account type. Private users can usually use the large library of chart hits for their reels and stories. Companies with a business account are only allowed to use the «Meta Sound Collection» a collection of royalty-free music provided by Instagram. The use of chart music for commercial purposes is a copyright infringement.

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