When used at the right moment – for the right purpose – in the right educational context, background music can bring positive effects:
- Maintain a steady learning rhythm
- Reduce the “dry” feeling of spoken lectures
- Increase the overall polish and professionalism of the content
However, choosing the wrong background music can lead to:
- Videos being muted or receiving copyright claims
- Inability to reuse the video when changing websites or learning platforms
- Distracting learners and causing them to leave the video earlier
This article focuses on answering a very practical question:
Which background music sources can be used for lecture videos
for free, legally, and without platform restrictions (website, LMS, learning platforms)?
What Does “Free” Background Music Actually Mean?
When searching for “free background music,” many people misunderstand it as:
Free = can be used however you want
In reality, free music for videos usually falls into one of the following categories:
- Free but with license conditions
- Free for personal, non-commercial use only
- Free but requires attribution (credit)
- Free but restricted to a specific platform
For lecture videos — especially online courses, paid educational content, or training materials — you should always treat them as commercial use, even if the videos are hosted on your own website or learning platform.
Types of Music Licenses You Should Know (To Avoid Confusion)
Understanding the four types below will help you avoid most copyright risks.
1. Royalty-Free
- No payment per view
- Does not mean free of charge
- Can be used across multiple platforms if the license allows
➡ Suitable for lecture videos if you have valid rights.
2. Creative Commons (CC)
| Type | Usable for Paid Courses? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CC0 | ✅ Yes | Almost Public Domain |
| CC-BY | ⚠️ Yes | Attribution required |
| CC-BY-SA | ⚠️ Caution | Must share under same license |
| CC-BY-NC | ❌ No | Non-commercial only |
| CC-BY-ND | ❌ No | No modifications allowed |
👉 Most risks come from using CC-BY-NC for paid educational content.
3. Public Domain
- No longer protected by copyright
- No platform restrictions
- Can be used on websites, LMS, and course-selling platforms
➡ Legally the safest option.
4. Platform-Based Music Libraries
- Licensed only within that specific platform
- Example: YouTube Audio Library
➡ Not suitable if you need to use your video in multiple places.
Free Background Music Sources That Can Be Used Across Platforms
Below are sources considered most suitable for lecture videos, especially if you need long-term use without platform dependency.
1. Pixabay Music
Pros
- Free for commercial use
- Usable on any platform (website, LMS, paid courses)
- No mandatory attribution
- Many instrumental, ambient, and light tracks
Cons
- Quality varies between tracks
- Some tracks may be mistakenly flagged by Content ID
Notes
- Always check the license on each track’s page
- Save the track link as proof if needed
- Suitable for intros, outros, or short segments — not recommended for long continuous lecture background
2. Mixkit Music
https://mixkit.co/free-stock-music
Pros
- Free with commercial use allowed
- No attribution required
- Easy browsing by mood and genre
Cons
- Library is relatively small
- Not ideal for looping 30–60 minute lectures
When using for Udemy / Ourdemy
- Suitable for course trailers, opening, or closing segments
- Avoid continuous background use in spoken lectures
- Keep volume very low to avoid distracting learners
3. Musopen (Public Domain & Classical)
Pros
- Many works are in the public domain
- Commercial use allowed if the correct recording is selected
- Stable for long-term use
Cons
- Mostly classical music
- Not all recordings are public domain
Notes
- Carefully verify whether each track is clearly marked “public domain”
- Suitable for academic or focus-intensive lectures
- Use subtly for background or transitions
4. Public Domain Project
https://www.publicdomainproject.org
Pros
- Focused on public domain music
- No attribution required
- Legally safe and platform-independent
Cons
- Limited selection
- Style tends to be older and less modern
Notes
- Suitable for long-term, stable course use
- Good for very light background or simple intro/outro
- Not ideal for strong brand-oriented music
5. Built-in Music Libraries in Video Editing Software
(Examples: CapCut, iMovie, Camtasia, etc.)
- Licenses are typically handled for commercial use
- Usable for videos published on websites, LMS, and learning platforms
- Suitable for teachers and beginners
➡ Recommended within videos exported directly from the software, not for extracting and reusing the music separately.
Music Sources to Carefully Reconsider for Online Courses
The following sources are not always suitable for multi-platform lecture videos.
YouTube Audio Library
- Licensed mainly for YouTube content
- Not guaranteed valid for websites, LMS, Udemy, Ourdemy
- Some tracks require attribution
➡ Not recommended as permanent background music for paid courses.
TikTok / Instagram Music Library
- Licensed only within their platforms
- Not usable for lecture videos, websites, or courses
➡ Not suitable for online education.
Canva Music
- Valid only if the video is created and exported within Canva
- License depends on your subscription plan
➡ Usable for marketing videos, but carefully review terms before using in paid courses.
AI-Generated Music Without Clear License
- High legal risk
- No fully established legal framework for commercial education
➡ Not recommended for long-term courses.
Does Ourdemy Copyright-Flag Videos with Background Music?
Ourdemy does not proactively check or automatically copyright-flag background music in lecture videos, unlike YouTube’s Content ID system.
This means:
- Uploaded videos are not automatically muted
- Videos are not removed due to music detection
- The platform does not restrict music sources used by instructors
However, like other learning platforms, copyright responsibility remains with the course creator.
If your background music:
- Does not allow commercial use
- Is licensed only within another platform (e.g., YouTube, TikTok, Canva)
- Or violates the original license terms
➡ You may still face copyright risks if the rights holder files a complaint — even if the video has been used on Ourdemy without issue.
Therefore, the safest approach when creating lecture videos for Ourdemy is:
- Prioritize public domain, CC0, or free-for-commercial-use music
- Choose sources without platform restrictions
- Keep license documentation for each track
All music sources listed above belong to the group that can be legally used for lecture videos on Ourdemy, provided you comply with each source’s terms of use.
Conclusion
- Not every “free” source can be used everywhere
- Public Domain and CC0 are the most stable choices
- For online education: Clear licensing > Wide selection
And finally, for lecture videos:
Content and voice always matter more than background music.
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