Creative Commons (CC) licenses are a set of public copyright licenses that enable creators to grant permission for others to use their work under certain conditions. For anyone looking to download music, podcasts, or other audio content, understanding these licenses is crucial to avoid infringement. This article breaks down each of the six main CC license types, explains what you can and cannot do under each, and provides practical advice for finding and attributing CC-licensed material. For a broader overview of legal downloading, see The Complete Guide to Saving Audio Legally.
What Are Creative Commons Licenses?
Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by Lawrence Lessig, Hal Abelson, and Eric Eldred. Their licenses are standardized tools that allow creators to waive some of their copyright rights while retaining others. As of 2023, over 2.5 billion works are licensed under CC terms, including music on platforms like SoundCloud, Free Music Archive, and Jamendo. Each license is a combination of four conditions:
- BY (Attribution): You must credit the creator in the manner they specify.
- NC (NonCommercial): You may not use the work for commercial purposes.
- ND (NoDerivatives): You may not remix, transform, or build upon the work.
- SA (ShareAlike): If you remix or adapt the work, you must license the result under the same or a compatible license.
These conditions combine to form six main licenses, plus the CC0 Public Domain Dedication. All CC licenses also include a “baseline” of rights: the ability to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work — as long as you follow the license conditions.
The Six CC License Types (Plus CC0)
1. CC BY (Attribution)
What you can do: You may copy, distribute, display, perform, and remix the work, even commercially, as long as you give credit to the creator.
What you cannot do: You cannot remove the attribution requirement. If you use the work in a video, you must include a credit in the description or on-screen.
Example: Many podcasts use CC BY music. For instance, the track “Funkorama” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) is licensed CC BY. You can use it in a commercial YouTube video as long as you credit “Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)” in the description.
2. CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike)
What you can do: Same as CC BY, but any derivative work must be licensed under CC BY-SA or a compatible license (e.g., CC BY-SA 4.0).
What you cannot do: You cannot use the work in a project that is under a more restrictive license. For example, if you remix a CC BY-SA song into a new track, you must release that track under CC BY-SA as well.
Example: Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. If you copy a Wikipedia article, your copy must also be CC BY-SA.
3. CC BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial)
What you can do: You may copy, distribute, display, perform, and remix the work, but only for non-commercial purposes. You must still attribute the creator.
What you cannot do: You cannot use the work in any way that is primarily intended for or directed toward commercial advantage or monetary compensation. This includes using it in a paid podcast, a commercial video, or on a website that generates ad revenue.
Example: Many independent artists on SoundCloud use CC BY-NC. If you download a CC BY-NC track for a school project, that’s fine; but if you use it in a promotional video for your business, that’s not allowed.
4. CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike)
What you can do: Non-commercial use only, with attribution, and any adaptations must be shared under the same license.
What you cannot do: Commercial use is prohibited, and you cannot apply a more restrictive license to derivatives.
Example: Some educational resources use this license. If you modify a CC BY-NC-SA lesson plan, you must distribute your version under CC BY-NC-SA as well.
5. CC BY-ND (Attribution-NoDerivatives)
What you can do: You may copy, distribute, display, and perform the work verbatim, even commercially, as long as you attribute. You cannot remix or adapt it.
What you cannot do: You cannot modify the work in any way. For example, you cannot sample a CC BY-ND track to create a new song, or edit a CC BY-ND photo.
Example: Some official music releases on Jamendo are CC BY-ND. You can stream them or include them in a playlist, but you cannot use a snippet in a mashup.
6. CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives)
What you can do: You may copy, distribute, display, and perform the work verbatim, for non-commercial purposes only, with attribution.
What you cannot do: Commercial use and any modification are prohibited. This is the most restrictive CC license.
Example: Many podcasters use CC BY-NC-ND music to prevent their work from being remixed or used in ads. If you download a CC BY-NC-ND track for a personal project, you cannot alter it or use it in a monetized video.
CC0 (Public Domain Dedication)
What you can do: You may use the work for any purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without attribution. The creator has waived all copyright and related rights.
What you cannot do: You cannot claim the work as your own (though attribution is not required, it is still good practice). Also, you cannot use the work in a way that violates the creator’s moral rights or privacy rights.
Example: Many stock photo sites like Unsplash and Pexels use CC0. You can download a CC0 image and sell it as part of a design, no credit needed.
How to Find CC-Licensed Music
Several websites specialize in CC-licensed audio. The Free Music Archive (FMA) offers thousands of tracks under various CC licenses. Jamendo has a commercial license option but also a free CC section. SoundCloud allows users to set a CC license on their tracks. For a curated list, see Creative Commons Music Sources. Additionally, many YouTube Audio Library tracks are CC BY or CC0. Always verify the specific license on the track’s page.
How to Properly Attribute CC Music
Attribution is a requirement for all CC licenses except CC0. A proper attribution typically includes:
- Title of the work
- Author name (and link to their profile if possible)
- Source URL where you found the work
- License type (e.g., CC BY 4.0) with a link to the license deed
Example: “Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) is licensed under CC BY 4.0.” For video, include this in the credits or description. For audio, you can mention it verbally. For detailed guidance, read How to Attribute CC Music.
Common Misconceptions and Pitfalls
“NonCommercial” is vague: The CC definition of commercial use is not exhaustive. If you are unsure, check the license FAQ or contact the creator. For example, using a CC BY-NC track in a crowdfunding campaign may be considered commercial.
ShareAlike can be viral: If you use a CC BY-SA work, your entire project might need to be under CC BY-SA. This can affect licensing of other components.
NoDerivatives means verbatim only: Even trimming a track for a podcast could be considered a derivative. When in doubt, use a less restrictive license.
License compatibility: Not all CC licenses are compatible. For instance, CC BY-SA and CC BY-NC-SA are not compatible due to the NC restriction. Mixing them can create legal issues.
Practical Tips for Using CC Music
- Always check the license version: CC 4.0 is the latest, but older versions (3.0, 2.5) still apply. The principles are similar, but jurisdiction-specific porting may differ.
- Keep records: Save the license URL and attribution details for future reference.
- Use trusted sources: Stick to reputable platforms like FMA, Jamendo, or the YouTube Audio Library. Avoid sites that claim “royalty-free” without a clear CC license.
- When in doubt, choose CC0 or CC BY: These are the most permissive and reduce legal risk. For commercial projects, CC BY is safe; for non-commercial, CC BY-NC works.
- Consider YouTube Premium Download Setup for offline listening: If you subscribe to YouTube Premium, you can download videos legally for offline use, but the same CC rules apply to the content.
Conclusion
Creative Commons licenses empower creators and users alike by providing clear, standardized permissions. By understanding the six license types and their conditions, you can confidently use CC music in your projects without fear of infringement. Always attribute properly, respect the NC and ND restrictions, and check the license before downloading. For more on saving audio legally, see The Complete Guide to Saving Audio Legally.