🎬 YouTube Background Music Without Copyright Issues – Best Sites for 2025 (Epidemic Sound vs Artlist)
If you're a content creator, you've probably heard the dreaded message at least once:
"This video has been demonetized due to copyright infringement."
And if you’re new to YouTube or short-form content like Shorts, TikTok, or Reels, you're probably wondering:
Where do creators find copyright-safe background music?
In 2025, two of the most popular platforms for royalty-free music are:
👉 Epidemic Sound
👉 Artlist
I’ve personally used both. In this post, I’ll share a side-by-side comparison and explain why Epidemic Sound became my go-to for all YouTube projects.
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- royalty-free music for YouTube
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- Epidemic Sound vs Artlist 2025
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🎧 Artlist – Great for cinematic projects, but limited for creators
Artlist is known for its cinematic, emotional music perfect for filmmakers or commercial ads.
Pros:
- High-quality emotional tracks
- Lifetime license with subscription
- Good for promotional and cinematic videos
Cons:
- ❌ No free trial
- ❌ Sound effects (SFX) cost extra
- ⚠ License may not fully protect uploaded videos after cancellation
- 🎵 Less suitable for short-form or casual content (vlogs, reviews, shorts)
✅ Epidemic Sound – The Best for YouTubers and Creators
Epidemic Sound is specifically designed for creators who want affordable, royalty-free music and SFX for YouTube, Reels, Shorts, TikTok, and more.
Pros:
- ✅ 30-day free trial
- ✅ Includes both music and sound effects
- ✅ Easy filtering by mood, genre, BPM, instrument
- ✅ YouTube monetization friendly
- ✅ Videos uploaded during subscription remain protected forever
- ✅ Super intuitive UI and playlist features
Cons:
- Paid subscription after trial
- Niche genres like traditional music are limited
🎁 Epidemic Sound 30-Day Free Trial – Try Risk-Free!
Whether you're a vlogger, gamer, beauty guru, or tutorial creator, Epidemic Sound offers unlimited access to high-quality tracks and sound effects.
You can start your 30-day free trial with the link below:
✔ All videos uploaded during the trial will be copyright-safe, even after your subscription ends.
✔ Full monetization is allowed.
✔ Ideal for YouTube Shorts, Reels, TikTok, and livestreams.
📊 Comparison Chart – Epidemic Sound vs Artlist
| Free Trial | ✅ 30 Days | ❌ None |
| Includes SFX | ✅ Yes | ❌ Extra Fee |
| YouTube Monetization | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| License After Cancellation | ✅ Protected | ⚠ Partially Covered |
| Search Experience | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Track Variety | Diverse (short-form friendly) | Cinematic/emotional |
| Ideal For | YouTubers, Streamers, Reels | Filmmakers, Agencies |
🔖 Suggested Tags & Keywords (SEO Copy-Paste)
✍ Final Thoughts
As a creator, you want to focus on your content—not copyright headaches.
Epidemic Sound gave me peace of mind with their licensing system and a wide selection of music I can actually use.
If you're serious about growing your channel or just want to make clean, copyright-free videos, I highly recommend starting your free 30-day trial with Epidemic Sound.
Start safe. Stay creative. Make content that lasts.