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53 Royalty-Free Tracks — Kevin MacLeod, NCS and the YouTube Audio Library

Watch enough videos and the same tracks start turning up across unrelated channels. In English-language video, the free music that gets reused over and over comes almost entirely from three places: Kevin MacLeod, NCS and the YouTube Audio Library.

We tallied nine third-party roundup videos on the subject and kept every track that at least two of them listed — 53 in all. Press the play button next to a title and it plays here, without leaving the page.

They are grouped by what you would use them for, not by the order any one video happened to use. Each track also shows how many of the roundups listed it.

53 tracksUpdated

How this list was chosen

  • Listed by at least two of the nine third-party roundup videos we tallied. A track that only one video picked could just be one person's taste, so it is not here
  • Download counts and channel view counts were not used. Neither one shows that a track was actually used in somebody's video
  • There is a video on the distributor's or the composer's own channel. Where we could only find re-upload channels, the track was left out even though the roundups listed it
  • No guessed tags. Genre and mood come from what the distributor publishes — the genre and feel fields on incompetech.com for Kevin MacLeod, and the genre NCS prints in its own video titles. Where no classification is published, we left the tags off
  • Vocal tracks are included. Most English-language free music has vocals, and cutting them would misrepresent the field. Each track's note says whether it has any

Comedy and gags

Tracks the composer files under “humorous”. This is the sound that goes under a punchline or a pratfall.

  1. Fluffing a Duck

    Kevin MacLeod1:08

    Trombone and timpani trading a comic line with woodwinds. The composer wrote it as a short theme for pieces that lean on visual jokes. 122 BPM, 1:08.

    Use it forComedy, Punchlines, Skits

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 3 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingUpbeatBrightComedy

    Close matches from arcalune

  2. Scheming Weasel

    Kevin MacLeod1:30

    English horn and bassoons over a line the composer calls “sort of cartoonish, and yet sort of dark”. The composer could not settle on a tempo and published both a slower and a faster version; this is the faster one. 1:30.

    Use it forComedy, Punchlines, Skits

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 3 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingCinematicDarkComedyUpbeat

    Close matches from arcalune

  3. Spazzmatica Polka

    Kevin MacLeod1:37

    A polka built entirely from synths. The composer calls it “boisterous and nearly obnoxious” and says it will make you think you are trapped in an arcade. 140 BPM, 1:37.

    Use it forComedy, Punchlines, Skits

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 3 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingUpbeatBrightComedy

    Close matches from arcalune

  4. Monkeys Spinning Monkeys

    Kevin MacLeod2:07

    Bright flutes over pizzicato strings. The composer wrote it to be loopable. 144 BPM, 2:07.

    Use it forComedy, Punchlines, Skits

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingCinematicUpbeatBrightComedyPositive

    Close matches from arcalune

  5. Quirky Dog

    Kevin MacLeod2:29

    A smooth, jazzy ditty. The composer suggests it for montage sequences dealing with bureaucracy. 155 BPM, 2:29.

    Use it forComedy, Punchlines, Skits

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingElectronicUpbeatBrightComedyCool

    Close matches from arcalune

  6. Sneaky Snitch

    Kevin MacLeod2:17

    Oboe and snare drum with a pizzicato string quartet. The composer notes the staccato suggests walking on tiptoes; in the final minute the quartet drops to a simple rhythm while oboe and snare crescendo. 87 BPM, 2:17.

    Use it forComedy, Punchlines, Skits

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingCinematicUpbeatDarkComedyMysterious

    Close matches from arcalune

Tension and action

Filed by the composer under action, intense or dark. For chases, and for holding a cliffhanger.

  2. Cut and Run

    Kevin MacLeod3:35

    Synths and percussion only. The composer’s entire description reads “modern club music”; incompetech files it under action, aggressive, driving and intense. 109 BPM, 3:35.

    Use it forTension, Chases, Horror

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingElectronicPowerfulTension

    Close matches from arcalune

  4. Who Likes to Party

    Kevin MacLeod4:17

    The composer describes it as 70s, 80s and 90s bits mashed together into a crisp dance mix. 117 BPM, 4:17.

    Use it forTension, Chases, Horror

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingDancePowerfulBrightCoolTensionPositive

    Close matches from arcalune

Sitting in the background

Written to sit under a voice. These are the ones the composer describes as background material.

  1. Wallpaper

    Kevin MacLeod3:41

    Two synth lines competing for attention. The composer describes it as a very clean mix that is non-offensive on almost all fronts — wallpaper, as the title says. 92 BPM, 3:41.

    Use it forExplainers, Work, Talking head

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 3 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingUpbeatBrightGentlePositive

    Close matches from arcalune

  2. Cipher

    Kevin MacLeod3:52

    Electric piano, synths and strings. The composer notes having been told it is R&B, and adds a warning: “very sticky hook”. 150 BPM, 3:52.

    Use it forExplainers, Work, Talking head

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingElectronicBrightCoolPositive

    Close matches from arcalune

  3. Killing Time

    Kevin MacLeod3:25

    Synths only. The composer describes a beat turn-around around the two-minute mark, followed by swirling synths. 100 BPM, 3:25.

    Use it forExplainers, Work, Talking head

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingElectronicBrightCool

    Close matches from arcalune

  4. Thatched Villagers

    Kevin MacLeod4:06

    Guitar, recorder and percussion, with a tinny dulcimer entering halfway — which the composer calls the real joy of the piece. 95 BPM, 4:06.

    Use it forExplainers, Work, Talking head

    Incompetech (Kevin MacLeod)View sourceLicence: Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — credit is required; check the exact wording at the sourceIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streamingCinematicUpbeatBright

    Close matches from arcalune

House and dance

Tracks NCS files under house. Four-on-the-floor, and they cut well against highlights.

Trap and bass

Tracks NCS files under trap, dubstep or drum & bass. Bass-forward, the kind that lifts a gameplay clip.

Top of the NCS roundups

Both NCS roundups we used placed these near the top. NCS does not publish a genre for them, so we have not tagged one.

  1. Fade

    Alan Walker4:24

    A track by Alan Walker distributed through NCS. 4:24.

    Use it forGameplay, Openers, Highlights

    NCS (NoCopyrightSounds)View sourceLicence: Per NCS's terms of use — credit is requiredIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

  2. Force

    Alan Walker4:00

    A track by Alan Walker distributed through NCS. 4:00.

    Use it forGameplay, Openers, Highlights

    NCS (NoCopyrightSounds)View sourceLicence: Per NCS's terms of use — credit is requiredIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

  5. Spectre

    Alan Walker3:52

    A track by Alan Walker distributed through NCS. 3:52.

    Use it forGameplay, Openers, Highlights

    NCS (NoCopyrightSounds)View sourceLicence: Per NCS's terms of use — credit is requiredIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

  6. Sunburst

    Tobu & Itro3:10

    A track by Tobu & Itro distributed through NCS. 3:10.

    Use it forGameplay, Openers, Highlights

    NCS (NoCopyrightSounds)View sourceLicence: Per NCS's terms of use — credit is requiredIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

From the YouTube Audio Library

Distributed through the YouTube Audio Library. The library does not publish its classification, so we have not tagged a genre.

  1. Crimson Fly

    Huma-Huma2:41

    A track by Huma-Huma, distributed through the YouTube Audio Library. 2:41.

    Use it forVlog, Daily life, Explainers

    YouTube Audio LibraryView sourceLicence: Per the YouTube Audio Library terms — attribution requirements vary by trackIn 3 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

  2. Beat Your Competition

    Vibe Tracks2:54

    A track by Vibe Tracks, distributed through the YouTube Audio Library. 2:54.

    Use it forVlog, Daily life, Explainers

    YouTube Audio LibraryView sourceLicence: Per the YouTube Audio Library terms — attribution requirements vary by trackIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

  3. Dutty

    Vibe Tracks2:44

    A track by Vibe Tracks, distributed through the YouTube Audio Library. 2:44.

    Use it forVlog, Daily life, Explainers

    YouTube Audio LibraryView sourceLicence: Per the YouTube Audio Library terms — attribution requirements vary by trackIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

  4. Jazz in Paris

    Media Right Productions1:43

    A track by Media Right Productions, distributed through the YouTube Audio Library. 1:43.

    Use it forVlog, Daily life, Explainers

    YouTube Audio LibraryView sourceLicence: Per the YouTube Audio Library terms — attribution requirements vary by trackIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

  5. Safety Net

    Riot1:31

    A track by Riot, distributed through the YouTube Audio Library. 1:31.

    Use it forVlog, Daily life, Explainers

    YouTube Audio LibraryView sourceLicence: Per the YouTube Audio Library terms — attribution requirements vary by trackIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

  6. Venice Beach

    Topher Mohr and Alex Elena2:57

    A track by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena, distributed through the YouTube Audio Library. 2:57.

    Use it forVlog, Daily life, Explainers

    YouTube Audio LibraryView sourceLicence: Per the YouTube Audio Library terms — attribution requirements vary by trackIn 2 roundupsOpen on YouTube
    Video & streaming

Terms differ by library. Kevin MacLeod's music is Creative Commons Attribution and requires credit; NCS requires credit too. Check the source page for the current terms before you use anything.

If you are after more in a particular mood, try the arcalune tracks listed under each entry. All of them are free for commercial use and need no credit.

FAQ

Are these tracks free to use?

It depends on the library. Kevin MacLeod's music is released under Creative Commons Attribution, which means the composer's name and the licence have to appear in your credits. NCS also requires credit. For YouTube Audio Library tracks, whether attribution is required varies track by track. Follow the source link on each entry for the current terms.

Why 53 tracks?

Because we did not pick a number first. Counting the tracks that at least two of the nine roundups listed produced 53. Tracks that appeared in only one were left out.

Did you use the big, heavily viewed roundup videos?

Not the ones without a track list in the description — there is no way to verify what is in them, so there is nothing to tally. We also excluded videos built from music that is not free to use, such as game soundtracks.

What about free BGM from Japan?

A separate article tallies tracks from the Japanese libraries — DOVA-SYNDROME, Amacha and Maou Damashii among them — using the same method.

Can free music still get a copyright claim on YouTube?

Yes. Music given away for free can still be registered with Content ID, which means an automatic claim is possible. Most of the time the distributor documents how to clear it. Reading the library's FAQ before you upload is the safest move.

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