Short-form videos are now the quickest way for creators to share ideas, build audiences, and go viral. Whether you’re posting TikToks, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts, these quick, energetic clips are intended to grab people’s attention quickly. And a key way to do this is through music. It helps to draw viewers in within those first make-or-break seconds. So, finding and using the right music for short-form content is crucial.

Let’s break down how licensing works for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts, and how creators can confidently use music without worrying about copyright issues.

Why music matters in short-form content

In a 10–30 second video, you don’t have time to slowly build a narrative. Your music has to help set the tone immediately. That’s why many creators rely on upbeat tracks or moments perfectly edited to a beat drop. The right track can help your videos feel polished, and most importantly, keep viewers watching until the end. This is something algorithms love. Alternatively, choosing the wrong track can result in an instant skip.

At the same time, it’s important to remember that a significant portion of viewers scroll through content with the sound muted. Depending on the platform, studies suggest that on social media, anywhere from 40–60% of short-form video viewers may have the sound off. But even if this is the case, having the right music choice can help guide the rhythm and editing of the short. This can help maintain the energy, even if muted.

The licensing problem with TikTok, Reels & Shorts

Many creators assume that if a song is popular or trending on TikTok, it’s fine to use it anywhere. Unfortunately, that’s not how licensing works .

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram offer built-in music libraries, and while it’s tempting to make use of these libraries, bear in mind they are platform-specific. They also tend to be only cleared for personal or in-app use. So if you are promoting a brand, selling a product, or representing a business, you may not be allowed to use those tracks. This often results in brands having their videos muted or removed.

Using trending mainstream songs outside the app’s library is even riskier. Copyright owners can issue Content ID claims, block your videos or sometimes even remove monetisation from your account.

The more astute creators, influencers, and marketers are increasingly turning to properly licensed, royalty-free production music. This way, you can post confidently without having to edit different videos for each platform. It also means there’s no worrying about takedowns or copyright flags.

What “royalty-free” actually means for short-form creators

Royalty-free can be a very misunderstood term with respect to music licensing. It doesn’t mean “free music.” Instead, it means that once you have purchased a valid license, you can use the music as many times as you want without paying additional fees.

For short-form creators who post regularly, this model is a great solution. And with RouteNote Licensing, every track and sound effect includes a perpetual license. That means that as long as you download a track while you have an active subscription, it’s licensed to you forever. Your Shorts, Reels, and TikToks can therefore stay online indefinitely without any legal worries.

Benefits of using licensed production music for short-form videos

Here’s why more creators are switching to production music rather than relying on platform-restricted free libraries:

1. No copyright claims or takedowns

Post with confidence on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook etc

2. You can use music commercially

Can be used for commercial branded videos, product demos, ads, client work, and influencer content.

3. Consistency across platforms

You can use the same video and music across different platforms without worrying about different licensing rules and restrictions..

4. Unlimited creative freedom

Production music encourages you to develop your own style rather than jumping on whatever’s trending.

5. Cost-effective

Subscription-based options (such as RouteNote Licensing’s $4.99/month plan) make high-quality music accessible and affordable to any creator. It also makes budgeting simpler, as well as vastly reducing admin time.

6. You get perpetual rights

Using services that offer perpetual rights means your content remains safe long term, even after a subscription ends.

Choosing the right track for your short-form content

Now for the fun bit. Choosing the perfect tracks for your shorts. Adding music can instantly transform your short, greatly influencing and lifting the mood and emotion of the content. Here are a few guidelines for selecting and working with music in your video:

  • Match the energy: Fast-paced content and edits work best with upbeat music; slower content may suit ambient or cinematic tracks.
  • Use beats to guide your cuts: Let the music inspire your transitions and cuts. This can make your edits feel polished and intentional.
  • Keep dialogue in mind: If you’re speaking on camera, avoid choosing music that overpowers your voice. Instrumentals are almost always preferable.
  • Think about your brand personality: Match the personality of your brand to the music choice. For example, calm, sophisticated music if you promote a more luxurious brand; fun and upbeat for casual or lifestyle content.
  • Look for loopable music: A shrewd move for short-form content is to find and edit music that benefits from seamless looping. Shorts are generally played on a loop. If the music loops smoothly, viewers are more likely to let it roll around again….and again.
  • Browse by mood: When looking for the right music, use the search filters effectively. RouteNote Licensing’s library lets you use filters such as mood, genre, instrument, and tempo. This makes it easy to find the right vibe quickly and efficiently

Summary

Short-form content is here to stay and has become one of the most immediate ways to get views on your content. So it is something that you need to capitalise upon. Understanding the role of music and the implications involved in its use is therefore critical. And while not everyone will hear it due to the muting issue, it should not be overlooked.

As we have learnt, using properly licensed music keeps your videos safe, monetised, and ready to reach audiences everywhere. While there are plenty of production music libraries available, RouteNote Licensing stands out with affordable subscription rates and perpetual licensing on every track and sound effect. With a constantly growing catalogue perfect for short-form creators, we’ve made it simple to find the perfect music for your TikToks, Reels, or Shorts. Explore our library today and discover the tracks that will bring your videos to life.