# Is This Song Copyrighted? 5 Ways to Check Before Upload | Aswati

Updated 9 Nov 2026

Guide · YouTube copyright

# Is this song copyrighted? How to check first.

Almost every song is. The question that matters is whether you have permission, and you can find that out before a claim finds you.

**Assume every song is copyrighted**: protection starts the moment it's recorded. To check whether you can use it, look for a licence from where you got it, see if it's on streaming services, upload privately to see YouTube's Checks, and score the risk with Aswati's free [YouTube copyright checker](https://aswati.co/tools/youtube-copyright-checker).

## Start from the right assumption

Copyright exists the moment a song is recorded. Nobody has to register it. So the real question is never "is this song copyrighted?" but **"do I have permission to use this recording?"** A song can be free to listen to on YouTube, free to download from a website and still not free to put in your video.

There are two layers of rights in any track: the composition (the melody and lyrics) and the recording. A nasheed written in the 1400s has no composition owner any more, but a recording of it made last year does.

## Five ways to check a song before you upload

- **Find the licence.** Where did the file come from? A library you pay or sign up to will show the licence for each track. If you can't find one, you don't have one.
- **Check streaming services.** If the song is on Spotify or Apple Music, its distributor has very likely registered it with Content ID.
- **Use YouTube's Checks.** Upload the video as private or unlisted and wait for the Checks step in YouTube Studio. It will show a copyright claim before anyone sees the video.
- **Score the risk.** Answer six questions in our free [YouTube copyright checker](https://aswati.co/tools/youtube-copyright-checker) to see how likely a claim is and what to do instead.
- **Ask the owner.** For a specific song, written permission from the artist or label is the only real clearance. Keep the email.

## What the result means

| What you find | What happens on YouTube | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A licence that covers your use | Nothing, or a claim you can clear with the licence | Keep the licence on file |
| The song is on streaming services, no licence | A Content ID claim, likely on day one | Replace the audio |
| A "no copyright" upload by a stranger | Possibly a claim later | Treat it as unlicensed |
| Your own recording | Nothing | Upload freely |

If you're already claimed, read [how to avoid copyright on YouTube](https://aswati.co/how-to-avoid-copyright-on-youtube) for the fixes, and [YouTube copyright strikes](https://aswati.co/youtube-copyright-strike) if a video was taken down.

## Myths that don't protect you

- "I only used 5 seconds." Content ID matches clips shorter than that.
- "I sped it up / slowed it down / added reverb." Pitched and slowed versions are still matched. Our [slowed and reverb tool](https://aswati.co/tools/slowed-reverb) is for audio you own.
- "I credited the artist." Credit is not permission.
- "I'm not monetised." Claims and takedowns apply to every channel.
- "It's a nasheed, so it's free." Nasheeds are recordings like any other; famous ones are often claimed.

## Skip the check: start from audio you're licensed to use

The simplest way to avoid ever asking this question is to build your videos from a library that owns its recordings. Aswati records every track in-house, so there's no third-party claim waiting. Start with the eight free tracks at [aswati.co/vocals](https://aswati.co/vocals), or browse [no-copyright nasheeds](https://aswati.co/no-copyright-nasheed) and [Islamic background music](https://aswati.co/islamic-background-music).

From Aswati

### Music you never have to check

Aswati Studio holds 150+ voice-only tracks, royalty-free for monetised YouTube, reels, podcasts and client work, with a licence certificate for every download. Creator is $9 a month; the Production Pass ($19 a month) adds unlimited downloads and stems.

[Explore Aswati Studio](https://studio.aswati.co) [Get 8 free tracks](https://aswati.co/vocals)

## Frequently asked questions

### How can I tell if a song is copyrighted?

Assume it is. Almost every song is protected the moment it's recorded. The useful question is whether you have permission: check the licence where you got it, upload it as an unlisted video to see if YouTube's Checks flag it, and run it through a risk checker before publishing.

### Is there a free tool to check if a song is copyrighted?

YouTube's own Checks step, which runs when you upload, is the only tool that sees the Content ID database. Aswati's free [YouTube copyright checker](https://aswati.co/tools/youtube-copyright-checker) scores the risk before you upload based on where the audio came from, how long you use it and how it's licensed.

### If I use only 10 seconds of a song, is it okay?

No. There is no safe number of seconds. Content ID matches clips of a few seconds, including sped-up, slowed and pitched versions.

### Does crediting the artist avoid copyright?

No. Writing "no copyright intended" or crediting the artist doesn't give you a licence. Only permission from the owner, or a licence from a library that owns the track, does.

### Which songs are safe to use on YouTube?

Your own recordings, the YouTube Audio Library within its terms, and tracks from a royalty-free library that gives you a licence. Aswati's voice-only tracks are royalty-free for monetised videos with no attribution.

Copyright-safe

## Start from tracks you own the right to use.

[Get the free pack](https://aswati.co/vocals)

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Canonical page: https://aswati.co/is-this-song-copyrighted