How to Credit Music in Your Videos (Templates Included)

If you use music under a license that requires attribution, the credit line isn't a courtesy — it's the condition that makes your use legal. The good news: doing it right takes about ten seconds once you know the format.

Here's exactly what to write, where to put it, and what happens if you get it wrong.

What a proper music credit contains

A complete credit answers three questions: what track, by whom, from where. The standard format:

Music: "Track Title" by Artist Name
Source: https://link-to-the-track-or-artist

Some licenses (Creative Commons especially) also require naming the license:

Music: "Track Title" by Artist Name (CC BY 4.0)
Source: https://link-to-the-track

Two rules that override everything above:

1. If the source gives you an exact credit line — use it verbatim. Many libraries (ours included) show you exactly what to paste when you download a track. That text is the requirement; don't improvise around it.
2. A link matters more than pretty wording. The whole point of attribution is that people who like the music can find the artist. A credit without a link half-defeats it.

Where the credit goes, platform by platform

YouTube — in the video description. Anywhere in it counts, but the convention is a "Music" section near the bottom. Pinned comments don't replace the description (comments can be deleted, sorted away, or turned off).

YouTube Shorts — descriptions exist but are hidden behind a tap; still, that's the place. If your license is strict, add the credit as small on-screen text too.

TikTok — the caption. Space is tight, so a short form works: 🎵 Artist Name — Track Title (link in bio if needed). If the license demands a link and TikTok won't let you paste one, the link-in-bio pattern plus the caption credit is the accepted practical solution.

Instagram Reels — the caption, same short form as TikTok.

Twitch — music credits go in a channel panel ("Music" panel with the artists/sources you use) and, ideally, a chat command (!music) that posts the current track. Since streams are continuous, per-track description credits aren't possible — a standing panel is the accepted format.

Podcasts — in the episode show notes, and optionally spoken in the outro ("Music by Artist Name — link in the show notes").

Copy-paste templates

For a YouTube description:

———
🎵 MUSIC
"Track Title" — Artist Name
Free to download for creators: https://danyvin.com
———

For a TikTok/Reels caption:

🎵 Artist Name — Track Title

For a Twitch panel:

MUSIC ON STREAM
Tracks by Artist Name — free to download music for creators
https://danyvin.com

Swap in the exact line your download page gives you if it provides one.

What happens if you forget the credit?

Honestly — it depends on the artist, but here's the realistic range:

• Best case: nothing, or a friendly reminder. Most independent artists start with a comment or email asking you to add the credit. Add it, done — editing a description doesn't affect your video's performance.
• Middle case: for Content-ID-registered tracks with attribution terms, a missing credit can void your license and leave the standard claim in place.
• Worst case: the copyright holder treats your use as unlicensed (because, technically, it is) and files a takedown. Rare, but entirely legal on their side.

The pattern to notice: the credit is what turns "using someone's music" into "using someone's music with permission." Skipping it doesn't make you a pirate overnight, but it does quietly remove your legal footing. Ten seconds of pasting is cheap insurance.

The etiquette layer (why credits are good for you too)

Beyond the legal side, credits have a selfish benefit: they're how the creator-music ecosystem funds itself. Artists who see traffic from credits keep releasing music for creators. Your credit line is a vote for more good music existing.

And a practical bonus: viewers do click music credits. "What's the song?" is one of the most-asked comment questions on the platform — a credit in the description answers it before it's asked and saves your comment section.

How it works with danyvin tracks

Simple version: on the free plan, credit the artist in your description — the download flow hands you the exact line to paste. On paid plans, no credit is required at all: use the music in monetized videos, streams, and podcasts with a clean description. Everything else (Content-ID-free catalog, use across platforms) is the same on both. Details on the FAQ.

FAQ

Can I put the credit in a pinned comment instead of the description? Only if the license explicitly allows it. Descriptions are the standard because they're permanent and attached to the video; treat comments as a bonus, not the credit.

Do I need to credit music in every video, even if I use the same track daily? Yes — each video is a separate use. Make the credit part of your description template and it becomes zero effort.

Do I still need credit if I heavily edited or sped up the track? Yes. Modification doesn't remove attribution requirements (and some licenses restrict modification — check before remixing).

Can I add a missing credit after publishing? Absolutely, and you should — edit the description as soon as you notice. In most cases with independent artists, a promptly added credit resolves the issue completely.