Uploading videos with background music to LinkedIn is allowed, but there are some important factors to consider regarding copyright and content guidelines. While copyright infringement can lead to account restrictions, videos following guidelines can receive broad reach and engagement.
Why Use Music In LinkedIn Videos?
Music enhances the viewer experience and boosts video energy and pacing. Upbeat or thematic background music emphasizes key moments, transitions, and messages. Music also fills audio gaps or obscures unwanted background sounds. Therefore, videos with complementary music tend to attract more views.
On LinkedIn, where connections seek professional content, well-chosen music adds value to informational, branded, or promotional videos. For example, an inspiring score makes a corporate promotional video more impactful. Similarly, background music adds energy to a conference highlight reel, and gentle instrumentals enhance a tutorial video’s learning feel.
Copyright Guidelines For LinkedIn Videos
While adding music makes LinkedIn videos more appealing, using copyrighted music without permission is illegal. LinkedIn and other social platforms scan uploads to detect copyrighted content through digital fingerprinting. Users must avoid unlicensed music or acquire proper licensing to avoid copyright infringement.
YouTube’s free audio library provides copyright-cleared music and effects for videos. Alternatively, subscription services like Artlist, Epidemic Sound, and PremiumBeat offer diverse, royalty-free tracks. Originally composed, commissioned, or licensed music does not violate copyrights.
Fair use provisions may allow brief excerpts of copyrighted music, but lengthy, recognizable sections still require licensing. Unaltered music in the background of instructional, news commentary, or comedic videos often falls under fair use, depending on context.
LinkedIn Video Content Guidelines
Beyond copyright issues, LinkedIn enforces content guidelines for all platform uploads, including videos with music. Guidelines aim to foster meaningful discussions and a professional environment.
Music selections and background tracks should support a video’s purpose on LinkedIn. Party music or offensive lyrics, for instance, may violate LinkedIn’s professionalism policies if unrelated to the video.
Videos also cannot contain false, illegal, harassing, or irrelevant content per the guidelines. This extends to harmful, unethical, dangerous, or deceptive music choices used to manipulate viewers or spread misinformation.
To comply with LinkedIn’s standard, music and messages should align. Branded videos may incorporate company themes or slogans, but music should not make blatantly exaggerated product claims.
Steps For Adding Music To LinkedIn Videos
When legally adding background music to LinkedIn videos, follow these best practices:
- Choose music that suits the video’s topic, tone, brand, and audience.
- Use only licensed, original, or copyright-free tracks.
- If incorporating licensed music, ensure proper sync licensing for the video medium.
- Keep music levels moderate to not drown out primary audio.
- Pick instrumental music or songs with lyrics that reinforce the video’s purpose.
- Credit music correctly to avoid misrepresentation.
- Add music during video editing before uploading the final version.
With music correctly implemented, videos feel more engaging and gain higher potential visibility on LinkedIn.
Optimizing Videos For LinkedIn
Adding appealing background music is one optimization for LinkedIn video success. Users should also:
- Keep videos under 10 minutes, with 3-5 minutes ideal.
- Use eye-catching custom thumbnails.
- Provide accurate, compelling video titles and descriptions.
- Upload MP4 files at 1280×720 or 1920×1080 resolution.
- Include captions or subtitles for accessibility.
- Incorporate LinkedIn hashtags relevant to the video topic.
- Consider promoted posts to further expand viewership.
Benefits Of Music In LinkedIn Videos
Strategically amplified with music, well-produced videos on LinkedIn offer many benefits:
- Increase brand awareness and positive associations through emotional impact.
- Communicate messages and storytelling more powerfully.
- Engage audiences with an immersive, entertaining viewing experience.
- Demonstrate thought leadership, expertise, products, services, and company culture.
- Showcase business initiatives, events, milestones, and employee advocacy.
- Boost SEO with searchable rich media.
- Convert viewers into leads, customers, or brand followers.
Key Takeaways
To summarize key points on sharing music videos on LinkedIn:
- Copyrighted music use without licensing is illegal, subject to account restrictions.
- Videos should meet platform content rules and professional standards.
- Properly licensed or original music enhances video engagement and impact.
- Optimize thumbnails, titles, captions, hashtags, and more for visibility.
- Well-executed videos with background music boost brand awareness.
Conclusion
Music can make LinkedIn videos more appealing and effective when added legally and appropriately. Avoiding copyright issues while following platform guidelines allows businesses, professionals, and creators to harness music’s storytelling and emotional power. This musical edge cuts through the LinkedIn video noise, ultimately driving more post reach, engagement, and measurable impacts.