Another month, another absolutely wild time online. Join Epidemic Sound’s community manager, Madie Hooker, as she breaks down the latest social media trends.

Social media trends for December 2024

1. Everyone’s holding space with Defying Gravity

If the above sentence doesn’t make any sense to you, don’t worry. A lot of people didn’t understand the term ‘holding space’ when it was mentioned in a video promoting Wicked — least of all the film’s star, Ariana Grande. 

Grande and co-star Cynthia Erivo were interviewed by Out Magazine, during which journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist told them: “People are taking the lyrics to Defying Gravity and really holding space with that, and feeling power in that.” Erivo was overcome with emotion. Grande supported her by holding one (1) of her fingers, and a wholesome meme was born.

In a nutshell, ‘holding space’ means validating and being non-judgmental of someone’s emotional state. The rest of the internet held space through November and December — some more literally than others. 

@astonmartinf1 From one green team to another 💚 #F1 #Formula1 #F1TikTok #AMR24 #wicked #defyinggravity ♬ Originalton - ETERNAL☀️

2. Sofia Richie dances for two seconds, creates endless content

Social media star and model Sofia Richie is iconic in her own right. So much so, that pretty much two seconds’ worth of her dancing ignited a TikTok trend. Never mind that people are only just now realizing that she’s Lionel Richie’s daughter — explains the effortless dance moves. 

@octopusslover8 happy thanksgiving @Sofia Richie Grainge ♬ Messy - Lola Young

3. Pepé the King Prawn is riddled with existential dread 

TikTok’s slideshow format can be light-hearted and surprising. It can also stir fear in the hearts of anyone who watches. Through the medium of Pepé the King Prawn from The Muppets (sure, why not?), slideshows are now used to confess creators’ most embarrassing, so-unreal-they’re-real moments. 

Backed by a choral version of Madonna’s Like a Prayer, the format is simple. The first slide presents Pepé looking shocked. The confession starts, and as the cringe rises and more slides pile up, we zoom into Pepé’s face. If the text requires just one slide, you can always do a slow, stomach-churning zoom on our poor little prawn.

Check out the below, if you have the stomach for it — it’s probably not safe for work, unless you work somewhere really weird.

Need inspiration for your content? Check out Epidemic Sound’s catalog of more than 50,000 tracks and 200,000 unique sound effects and variations — we’re sure you’ll find what you need.

Interested in trends from earlier in the year? Keep reading for Madie’s take on social media’s highlights from November and October 2024. 

Social media trends for November 2024

1. Wicked casts a spell on the silver screen

Wicked’s big-screen adaptation, itself based on a musical reimagining of a book, which itself was a semi-prequel to The Wizard of Oz — confusing, right? ‌— always looked like a slam-dunk. But even with stars like Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Peter Dinklage, and Michelle Yeoh, it defied gravity and expectations. 

Wicked smashed records for the highest-grossing opening for a Broadway adaptation, and looks set to make a ton more money. Social media’s going all-in with merch, makeup videos, and singalongs, but the ‘Before and After’ videos are our highlight — we’ve not seen this much emotional damage since the first ten minutes of Up. 

@blythe I’ve never felt so seen 🥹. The Wicked live action has captured my heart 😭🧎🏻‍♀️. Thank you, Miss Ma’am @Cynthia Erivo and @arianagrande 💚🩷 #fyp #wicked ♬ Defying Gravity - Instrumental - Cynthia Erivo

2. Gladiator leaves viewers ENTERTAINED

On the other end of the spectrum, Ridley Scott’s long-awaited Gladiator II hit theaters alongside Wicked. While the movie stood on its own two feet, it was hard not to compare it to Scott’s Oscar-winning original.

That’s why, among all the memes and hot takes, social media creators have flocked to Gladiator’s iconic set-pieces. Whether it was the actual Roman colosseum or Maximus’ home in Tuscany, users were drawn to the movie’s epic scale. 

@radoslaw_witolski An amazing movie, an unforgettable scene and a great location from the last scenes of the movie Gladiator. Gladiator's house - you need to type in google: Casa de “Il Gladiatore” #gladiatorhouse #gladiator #elysium #gladiatorlastscene #ilgladiatore #toscana #italy #campielisi #toskania #gladiatormovie ♬ son original - Iceland_Adventure

3. Accidentally Turn Camera trend

OK, ‘Accidentally Turn Camera trend’ isn’t the catchiest name, but that’s what TikTok calls it. The craze sees creators share a piece of advice, then ‘accidentally’ flip the camera to selfie mode, revealing their true intentions. You had everything from cats demanding treats to Pennywise the Clown suggesting kids play in the sewer, but Taylor Lautner won this trend, no question. 

@taylorlautner

Oops 😑

♬ Dramatic Sad Violin - Platon Davydov

4. The Suspect Challenge 

Friendships are built on kindness, respect, and the ability to roast each other when needed. The Suspect Challenge dives into that dynamic — one friend jogs while the other narrates in a police-style voiceover, poking fun at them before swapping. We’re too chicken to do this one. 

@yuhfamjosh Exposing all our secrets with this trend🤣 ib: @Lauren Case #couples #girlfriend #boyfriend #couplecomedy #couple #couplegoals ♬ original sound - The YUH Family

5. Paul x Tyson 

The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight pulled in 65 million Netflix viewers, but that’s just a fraction of the people talking about it. The competitors’ 31-year age difference was the biggest in professional boxing history. This caused genuine concern for Tyson’s health and endless memes surrounding Paul’s attitude. 

@munyachawawa Jake Paul choosing his next opponent 🥊 👨🏼‍🦳 #jakepaul #comedy #paultyson #jakepaulmiketyson ♬ original sound - Munya Chawawa

6. The Chill Guy

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, people might not realize how much of a chill guy you are.

On the surface, the Chill Guy meme could be from anything. He’s timeless: a cute dog wearing a sweater, jeans, and sneakers, looking relaxed as the coolest 1990s kids’ cartoon.

He’s taken the internet by storm…but what does the Chill Guy represent? What does he mean? He’s chill in the spiciest of situations — the GOAT of all things low-key and relaxed. If you ever feel stressed out, try and channel your inner Chill Guy. 

@revokeai Very chill 😎 #chillguy #brainrot #seaart #seaartai #real ♬ just.be. - 1

Social media trends from October 2024

1. The postcard Instagram format gives users something to write home about 

Instagram’s become more comfortable with vertical content as the years roll on, keeping up with portrait-style platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. That said, it doesn’t mean that horizontal posts are out of style. In fact, some creators have embraced the vintage, postcard-ish quality brought out by a 16:10 aspect ratio.

Check out GKOH’s beautiful video series, How Immigrant Parents Say ‘I Love You’, which was created using this format. Married to the subtle sound design and color grading, it’s like something from a Wes Anderson movie — we can’t get enough of it. And not just because it features our sound effects!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GKOH (@gkohfilms)

2. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Maps goes off-course

It’s been more than twenty years since the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ debut album, Fever to Tell, and they’re still reaching new audiences. The indie rockers’ 2003 single Maps rode back into popularity between September and October, following user southernbellesuzie’s dance to the track on TikTok. 

Like most great dance crazes on the platform, Maps blew up. There’s no real rhyme or reason for these viral moments. The song and the dance just gel in an organic, funny way. ‌Google Trends data shows that the track was still gaining steam as late as late November — if you choose the right banger and aren’t afraid of making fun of yourself, you could go far. 

@southernbellesuzie TKE BATHROOM GOT THE VIBESS WAITTTTTTT #maps #fyp #hunterdontbemadatme ♬ maps - <3

3. Thanking Beyoncé, simply bey-cause

We should all probably thank Beyoncé for something at some point, right? Whether it be for Lemonade, the Single Ladies dance, or those near-three-hour concerts, Queen Bey’s given us a lot. So, it came as no surprise when people started randomly thanking the Grammy-winning icon on social media. 

The meme stems from the fact that tons of artists thank Beyoncé in awards acceptance speeches, despite her having little to no involvement. It evolved into creators jokingly thanking her for unrelated stuff. Then, it morphed into a curse-like meme, with users ‘forgetting’ to thank Beyoncé for basic tasks, like sending an email or washing the dishes. 

@jutop1a she knowles…. #beyonce #pdiddy #jayz #sheknows ♬ son original - ﹒⪩⪨﹒

4. Nostalgia in da cluuuuuuub

New memes and trends often come in the form of rehashed content, and that’s exactly what’s happened here. A 2016 clip from the TV show Broad City has wiggled its way into content creators’ vocabulary, causing a swell of lip-sync videos. Just remember: ‘In da clurb, we all fam.’

5. Brands marketing with food and drink

Nothing brings people together like food and drink. In the case of Oscar-winning legend Olivia Colman, it’s an English breakfast tea: brew first, milk second, and half a sugar, please.

Luxury fashion brand Burberry’s #ItsAlwaysBurberryWeather campaign is joyously simple. Enlist a British celebrity (or Irish, in Barry Keoghan’s case) and ask them to make their perfect cup of tea. It might seem irrelevant, but it immediately connects the Burberry brand to its British heritage. We’ve noticed other brands running with this food/drink idea recently — it’s a fun, direct way to build those associations in potential customers’ heads.

@burberry Tea with Olivia Colman #ItsAlwaysBurberryWeather ♬ original sound - Burberry

6. This guy

When your moves are so fire, you become a CapCut template.

@much When the lyrics loaded GloRilla had no chance 😭 [via @Isaiahw25 ♬ original sound - MuchMusic

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Monetization on YouTube might seem tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. With the help of the trusty YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and its built-in advertising system, you can start making money with your content pretty quickly. 

Today, we’ll cover:

• What is YouTube monetization?
• What are the YouTube monetization requirements in 2024?
• Is there a YouTube monetization check?
• Is it free to monetize on YouTube?
• How to turn on YouTube monetization
• What to do if the YPP rejects your application
• How does YouTube make money?
• AdSense and YouTube: How does it work?
• How much does YouTube pay?
• How do you earn money on YouTube?

What is YouTube monetization?

YouTube monetization is the process in which individual creators, brands, and advertisers earn money on YouTube. The platform is the world’s second-largest search engine, and offers an equally wide range of monetization methods. 

YouTube advertising provides the main source of income for monetizing creators. YouTubers can also make money with extras like Super Thanks, Super Chats, YouTube Premium, channel memberships, and YouTube Shopping. We’ll run through all those nuts and bolts in a few minutes.

What are the YouTube monetization requirements in 2024? 

While there are a few off-platform routes to YouTube monetization, the bulk of it happens within the YPP.

To check the criteria for YouTube monetization, you must:

• Live in a country where the YPP is active
• Run a channel with at least 500 subscribers
• Have uploaded at least three public videos in the last 90 days
• Reach 3,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months, or 3 million valid public YouTube Shorts views in the past 90 days
• Have an active AdSense account linked to your YouTube channel 
• Allow two-step verification on the Google account linked to your YouTube channel
• Follow YouTube’s Channel Monetization Policies
• Follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines

The above will unlock the YPP’s core features, including channel memberships, Super Thanks, Super Chat, Super Stickers, and YouTube Shopping capabilities for your own products and services. 

To access revenue sharing from ads, YouTube Premium, and a more diverse YouTube Shopping offering, you’ll need all of the above, plus:

• 1,000 subscribers
• 4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months
• Or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days 

That might sound like a lot, but if you’re already creating content and bringing new fans in, you’re well on your way. 

Is there a YouTube monetization check?

If you’re focused on building your channel, you might even miss the point when you become YPP-eligible. We can’t let that happen — you need to celebrate! Head to YouTube Studio, find the ‘Earn’ area, and select ‘Get notified’. Once you meet the criteria, you’ll receive an email and can apply for the YPP.

Is it free to monetize on YouTube?

Monetizing YouTube content carries no upfront cost. We’ll discuss how the platform takes a cut of your earnings shortly, but you’ll never be billed before you make money.

OK, so you’ve nailed all of the YPP criteria — now it’s time to kick everything off in YouTube Studio. Let’s walk through the process of activating YouTube monetization. 

How to turn on YouTube monetization

Make yourself a coffee, grab your comfiest cushion, and get ready to turn on YouTube monetization: 

1. Head to the YouTube homepage. Click your profile icon, then select ‘YouTube Studio’ in the dropdown menu.
2. Find the left navigation bar and click ‘Earn’.
3. As long as you’ve met the requirements, you should see an ‘Apply now’ button — click it. If you’ve not met the requirements yet, there’s a ‘Notify me when I’m eligible’ button. Hit that, and YouTube will email you when you’re ready. 
4. Now, YouTube will check that you meet their Community Guidelines. It’s worth familiarizing yourself with the rules, so you don’t accidentally break them later down the line.
5. At this point, you should also double-check that your channel’s location settings are correct. Otherwise, you might run into problems if your channel isn’t set to the correct country.
6. Link your YouTube channel to your AdSense account, or create one here. If you already have an AdSense account, you can log straight in and hook it up to your YouTube channel.
7. Now you’re ready to apply. Part of the verification process is manual, meaning an actual human will make a decision. For this reason, it could take up to a month for your YPP application to be reviewed and approved.
8. Once you’ve been accepted, you can turn on YouTube monetization for individual, existing videos. To do this, head back to YouTube Studio. 
9. Click ‘Content’ from the left-hand menu, then find the video you’d like to monetize.
10. Tap ‘Edit’ on your selected video, and toggle the ‘Monetization’ option so that it’s on. If your video is over eight minutes long, you can choose to include mid-roll ads.
11. Click ‘Back’, then save your changes. The chosen video is now monetized. 

Your right to monetize can be revoked, though. This usually happens if you break numerous rules, but YouTube can also demonetize your channel if you haven’t published any new content in six months. Follow the guidelines, stay engaged, and you should fall on the right side of the platform’s monetization rules.

What to do if the YPP rejects your application

If you’ve gone through all of the above, waited for a decision, and received a rejection, it can be frustrating. But don’t worry — it’s not the end of the road. If the YPP rejects your application, you’ll get a notification detailing which policies or criteria you’re not quite hitting.

Then, you have 21 days to appeal the decision. Or, you can create a fresh application in 30 days’ time, provided you still meet all of the criteria. If you’re rejected more than once, you’ll have to wait 90 days before you can try again. 

How does YouTube make money? 

YouTube’s main revenue stream is advertising. While creators receive 55% of the money from ad-supported video views, 45% goes to the platform itself. In a way, you can see it as creators paying to broadcast their content to potential millions. 

Advertising aside, YouTube takes 45% of the fixed fee for YouTube Premium subscriptions, and 30% from Super Chat, Thanks, and Stickers. While it’s possible to do good numbers with a monetized YouTube channel, know that a sizable wedge goes back to the platform.

AdSense and YouTube: How does it work?

YouTube uses Google AdSense to monetize ads before, during, and after your content. Once you’re part of the YPP, you’ll earn money every time an ad is shown on one of your videos. 

The amount of money assigned to each ad depends on multiple factors, including the number of viewers, where those viewers are based, how much they engage with your content, and more. It’s about quality as much as it is quantity. If a certain demographic watches tons of videos but doesn’t click any links, they’re ‘worth’ less to advertisers.

For a more comprehensive breakdown of how AdSense works, head to YouTube Analytics and check your RPM. This is ‘Revenue Per Mille’, which calculates your earnings per 1,000 video views. It’s based on ads, channel memberships, YouTube Premium revenue, Super Chat, and Super Stickers.

RPM is different from CPM, which stands for ‘Cost Per Mille’. This is the cost per 1,000 ad impressions, showing how much advertisers spend displaying ads on your content. This means it only includes views from ad-supported views.

Advertising is the key to monetizing YouTube content, and it all relies on your content following YouTube’s rules. One area where creators often fall short is their music usage.

When YouTubers include tracks in their content, they should hold the correct rights or license to do so. If they don’t, the rights holder — usually the songwriter, artist, or record label — is told by YouTube Content ID. Even if it’s an honest mistake, this slip-up can result in other parties monetizing your content instead of you. 

But why stress about music copyright when you can use Epidemic Sound? We own all the rights to our catalog of more than 50,000 tracks. Check it out below and start soundtracking your content safely today. 

How much does YouTube pay?

The average YouTube pay rate ranges between $0.1 to $0.3 for an ad view — this averages between $10 and $30 per 1,000 ad-supported views. 

To give you some context: if you work on that average, you still need to generate over one million views per month to replace a full-time income. That’s why so many creators don’t rely on ad revenue sharing alone.

The figures drop when it comes to YouTube Shorts. Some users suggest that the figure is between $0.03 and $0.07 per 1,000 views, but there’s nothing concrete from YouTube’s end.

How do you earn money on YouTube?

Now that we’ve discussed what YouTube monetization is, how it works, and how much you can earn, let’s break down the specific avenues through which you can monetize.

Watch Page ads

Watch Page ads are ads that appear before, during, after, and around your videos on the Watch Page. This means you’ll bag money every time a viewer watches one of your ad-supported long-form videos, YouTube Live streams, or embedded videos.

Shorts Feed ads

Shorts Feed ads show up in between Shorts videos. YouTube keeps 55% of Shorts-related revenue, compared to 45% from long-form videos. If you’d like to learn more, read our article about YouTube Shorts monetization. 

Commerce Product 

The Commerce Product section bundles together a collection of fan-funding extras. They’re all worth looking at, and you get to keep 70% of any earnings you make. 

• Super Chat: This is a chat function available in YouTube Live videos and premieres. Users can donate up to $500 per day in the Super Chat — in return, their comment features prominently in the chat. 
• Super Stickers: These are similar to Super Chat, offering users the chance to buy interactive stickers priced between 99 cents and $50. Once purchased, the stickers are pinned to the top of the live chat. This means commenters with Super Stickers are more likely to grab the creator’s attention while streaming.
• Super Thanks: Viewers can buy Super Thanks to show gratitude toward their favorite creators. Like Super Chat, they can spend up to $500 per day; unlike Super Chat and Stickers, they can be used on any long-form video uploaded to YouTube. Super Thanks will secure users a featured, animated comment in the live chat.

YouTube Premium

If viewers with a YouTube Premium subscription watch your content, you’ll receive money. This applies to all content on your channel, as long as it meets the Community Guidelines. 

Channel membership

Channel membership lets users join an exclusive section of your channel for a monthly fee. Similar to Patreon, you can structure unlockable content and perks into tiers, including exclusive badges and emojis. 

Channel memberships range from 99 cents to $100 per month. In the same vein as Commerce Product features, YouTube takes a 30% slice of revenue from any channel memberships.

YouTube Shopping

If you want to go beyond your other storefronts — like Etsy, for example — you can sell directly through YouTube. YouTube Shopping lets you link to your products during your videos and YouTube Shorts.

Your products can also be purchased via your channel’s official store, a product shelf below your content, a shopping button within your content, or as a pinned product during YouTube Live streams. 

It’s a great way to link your storefronts, sending people directly to any merch you might have available. To qualify for YouTube Shopping, double-check that your channel isn’t set to ‘Made for Kids’, and doesn’t feature a significant amount of videos labeled as such. Otherwise, you may not be able to set up YouTube Shopping.

YouTube and AdSense don’t take a cut from your merch sales on YouTube Shopping. The only fees come from whatever agreement you have with your storefront provider. 

Affiliate links

Affiliate marketing is a referral process in which an online merchant or advertiser shares a tracking link with an external partner, also known as an affiliate. The affiliate shares the link with potential customers. Once an action is completed — usually a purchase — via the link, the affiliate receives a commission. 

To sweeten the deal for the customer, affiliate links often provide some kind of discount. They’re not a get-rich-quick strategy, but affiliate links are a great way to make passive income as a creative.

Third-party subscription platforms

Platforms like Patreon and Buy Me A Coffee are direct ways for creators to offer something to fans outside the confines of YouTube. Creative ideas like early access to videos, polls deciding future content, merch discounts, and more are all popular options.

Brand sponsorship

If you feel that your content chimes with a specific brand, why not reach out and see if they’ll sponsor you? It’s not a super-stable monetization strategy, but creators have reported earning anywhere between $100 to $4,000 per sponsored post. Naturally, this figure doesn’t include mega-influencers with millions of followers.

Paired with the right brand, you can make a solid amount of money without relying directly on AdSense. If you live in an eligible country, you can also apply to work with brands through YouTube’s own service, BrandConnect. 

The details we’ve covered today should give you a basic understanding of YouTube monetization, but remember: you need to recognize and follow copyright law. One of the main things content creators misunderstand or simply miss is music copyright — the legal complications attached to improper music usage can be a nightmare. Let us help you out.

Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best. You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier.

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.

Looking to take your YouTube channel to the next level? Browse our catalog of sound effects for YouTube videos and our massive collection of YouTube music.

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Sound makes the world breathe. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an amateur creator, sound effects will take your content to the next level. 

So, for all you freelancers, brands, post-production nerds, podcasters, editors, and everyone in between: we’ve got you covered. Pull up a chair, grab a pair of headphones (the good ones), and learn how to soundtrack your content like you’ve never done before. 

We’ll discuss:

• What are sound effects used for? 
• How to find and edit sound effects for your project 
• Why use Epidemic Sound’s catalog?
• How Epidemic Sound’s community uses sound effects 
• Try our top 5 sound effects 

What are sound effects used for?

Your shoot is live, and it looks great. You’re nailing those camera angles, your actors are giving it 110%, and miraculously, everything’s running to schedule. But what about the sound?

As long as your set is mic’d up properly, you should be able to capture natural, high-quality sound. But more often than not, creators will perform some kind of audio post-production, even if they just massage a track here or add an extra noise there. This applies to everything from amateur podcasts to big-budget movies. 

You can’t realistically have everything to hand while recording, and that’s fine. Good sound effects flesh out content — they can make the difference between the audience laughing or yawning, screaming or crying. 

Sound effects can draw viewers’ attention to a specific visual cue, or serve as a character’s leitmotif. They can be diegetic or non-diegetic, added for style or substance. They can make your content more realistic, if that’s what you’re going for…and they can take it completely beyond the realms of rational thought, if that’s your vibe. 

The importance of sound effects can’t be overstated, and if your favorite directors, brands, and content creators don’t seem to compromise, why should you? Dive into Epidemic Sound’s catalog of more than 200,000 unique sound effects and variations below. Then, keep reading to learn how we can help you during every step of your editing journey.

How to find and edit sound effects for your project 

Think of when you watch a film or TV show. The sound effects are likely added in post-production — the Fast & Furious movies don’t rely on one huge, live-recorded explosion with crystal-clear sound. Professional content creators will find and edit sound effects via one or more of the below methods.

Record their own sound effects and edit them in later

If a filmmaker’s budget is tight, they may record sound effects themselves. Then, once the shoot’s wrapped, they’ll place those effects on their project timeline. This is cost-efficient and can produce solid results, but results may vary. 

Commission others to do so

Professional sound artists, also known as foley artists, make a living making noise. Traditional foley sounds are commissioned, recorded, mixed, and mastered to spec, making them unique to the project. They’re often high-quality and bespoke, but can be expensive. 

Use a catalog of sound effects

A sound effects catalog can be the happy medium between recording your own sounds and hiring a foley artist. If you find the right catalog, you should be able to balance quality and range with a realistic price point. 

Or, to save you the trouble, you could try Epidemic Sound. Our catalog of more than 200,000 unique sound effects and variations is packed with cinematic, realistic, unbelievable, funny, scary, great sound effects. Most of them were captured by in-the-field sound experts — when you hear our ‘whoosh’ effects, know that they come from an actual whooshing object. ‌Interested? Check them out below. 

Why use Epidemic Sound’s catalog?

We get it — there are tons of sound effects catalogs out there. Why ours?

We’re always adding more categories and tags connected to each sound effect. This means you can be as specific as you like when searching for sound effects, and the results will still show a chunky page of matches for your search term.

For example, there are around 100 different ways to search for the same sound. ‘Whoosh’, ‘woosh’, ‘swoosh’, ‘swosh’, ‘slow whoosh’, ‘long whoosh’, ‘wind whoosh’, ‘fire whoosh’ — you get the picture. All of these terms and more will help you find ‘whoosh’ and ‘wind’-style sound effects. 

We put in all of this groundwork because we know what it’s like when you’re creating content. We want you to be able to use the word that comes to mind, straight away. You don’t need to sit and think of synonyms, or the ‘real’ way to type it. You do you, and we’ll do the rest.

Our full catalog of sound effects and music is available through our plugins for Adobe and DaVinci Resolve Studio, too. Streamline your workflow and never leave your project — find the perfect sound directly in your editing software. 

→ Use our plugins

How Epidemic Sound’s community uses sound effects

We already mentioned that our catalog’s bursting with more than 200,000 unique sound effects and variations, but why not bring it up again? We’re proud of it, after all — whatever you want for your project, you should be able to find it. 

If you need further convincing, we got in touch with some folks from Epidemic Sound’s creator community. Here’s what one user said: 

“I build in sound effects as part of my sound design, so the scene sounds like it does in my head.”

Sound effects play into sound design, making your content more immersive. If it’s mixed correctly and sitting in the right place, a sound effect can sell a scene that might otherwise seem unconvincing. 

Even when used in non-visual content like podcasts, sound effects can strengthen your story. Perhaps the sound means something — it could act as a signpost, a leitmotif. Another Epidemic Sound user said:

“I try to mix sound effects with small snippets of music to indicate a transition or grab the attention of my listeners.”

Not only are sound effects used to add genuine feeling, but creators use them to technically enhance their content. A ‘theme’ sound effect can signal a transition just as well as a tactically placed lower-third, J or L cut, or a good old fade-out. 

Try our top 5 sound effects

Now that you know where to get sound effects, how to edit and use them, and why Epidemic Sound is your best bet, let’s wrap up. Here are the five most-downloaded sound effects from the Epidemic Sound player. 

1. Short, Stove, Dry 01

Sure, that title sounds like a synthpop band from the 1980s, but Short, Stove, Dry 01 is one of those whooshing noises we mentioned earlier. It’s also our most-downloaded sound effect, and with good reason. The two blunt, brief blasts are ideal for realistic in-world effects, but would work a treat paired with frenetic, Edgar Wright-style editing. 

Short, Stove, Dry 01

0:00

/2.64

1×

2. Bass, Sharp Detail Riser

Riser sound effects crank up the tension and make viewers pay attention. This sharp, detailed riser sound effect should give your audience a good reason to keep watching. 

Bass, Sharp Detail Riser

0:00

/1.008

1×

3. Classic, Clean

This classic, clean swish does what the name suggests, rushing through your headphones with the urgency of a cartoon sprinter. 

3. Classic, Clean

0:00

/3.24

1×

4. Digital Camera, Canon EOS 5D, Shutter

The beep, the shutter going down, capturing the image. It’s a magic sound, ritualistic as it is mechanical. Whether your subjects are taking photos or you just want to make your transitions pop, this camera shutter sound’s got the goods. 

4. Digital Camera, Canon EOS 5D, Shutter

0:00

/0.864

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5. Censor Tone, Plop, Various Lengths

This censor tone might not seem like the most out-there choice — it’s one tone, after all — but it’s surprisingly versatile. From glitchy edits to hospital dramas and space-age comedies, you can use this sound effect pretty much anywhere. 

Censor Tone, Plop, Various Lengths

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Want to see how our sound effects work in action? Watch Epidemic Sound ambassador, Learn Online Video, stitch our sound effects into his footage like a pro. 

If you need more help soundtracking your projects, look no further. Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, safe, and available directly within Adobe’s editing suite. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best.

You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier.

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.

Related posts:

• Top video editing sound effects you should try
• Audio effects for video editing: The basics
• How to choose music for your videos

Boomerang video was a super-popular format in the mid-2010s. Today, we’ll learn all about this quirky editing trick, plus how to turn a video into a Boomerang on Instagram, Snapchat, and more. 

We'll cover:

• What is a Boomerang video?
• How many seconds is a Boomerang video?
• Does the Boomerang video app still exist?
• How do you Boomerang a video on Instagram?
• Is there a Boomerang video-maker app in 2024?
• How do you Boomerang a video on Snapchat?
• How do you Boomerang a video on TikTok?
• How do you make a Boomerang video for other social media platforms?
• How do you add music to a Boomerang video?

What is a Boomerang video?

Boomerang was an iOS and Android app first introduced by Instagram in 2015. The app allowed users to record short bursts of five photos, stitching them together into a one-second, silent video. Think of it like stop-motion animation, or a GIF.

Then, the video would be looped back and forth, creating a never-ending ‘boomerang’ video effect. This differs from a GIF, which just replays a sequence — content created in the Boomerang video app would play, reverse, then play again. 

The Boomerang video app also saved content automatically to the user’s camera roll, meaning they could publish their content across multiple social media platforms.

How many seconds is a Boomerang video?

Traditionally, Boomerang videos were one second long. You don’t have to stick to the rules here, though. As long as the clip’s relatively brief and looks good in reverse, a two- or three-second Boomerang could work great.

Does the Boomerang video app still exist?

As you might have guessed, we’ve been referring to the Boomerang video app in the past tense for a reason: it doesn’t exist anymore. It’s a shame, given how simple the app was to use, and the fact that you didn’t even need an Instagram account to use it. 

How do you Boomerang a video on Instagram?

Even though the Boomerang app was deleted in 2022, you can still create Boomerang video content directly through Instagram. Here’s how:

1. Open your Instagram mobile app, then click the ‘+’ icon at the bottom of the screen.
2. Select the ‘Story’ option, then click the ‘Boomerang’ symbol on the left-hand side. The symbol looks like the infinity sign: ‘∞’.
3. You’ll see the ‘∞’ symbol at the bottom of the screen, which acts as the ‘Record’ button. Before you film anything, you can scroll through different effects to alter your Boomerang video. These effects can be found by swiping right on the ‘Record’ button.
4. Once you’ve decided whether to use effects or not, hold down the ‘Record’ button to start Boomeranging. Move your camera quickly, as you only have a second to capture your footage. 
5. Your Boomerang video will then preview. If you want to shoot your footage again, hit the ‘X’ in the top-left corner of the screen to start over. 
6. Add extras and effects to your Instagram Boomerang, if you feel like it. These options are housed in the top-right corner of the screen, and allow you to add captions, slow-motion effects, and more. You can also add music from Instagram’s catalog at this stage.
7. Once you’re happy with your Boomerang, you can share it. Click ‘Your Story’ to share the content publicly on your Instagram Story, or ‘Close Friends’ to share with a select few. You can also save the Boomerang to your device. It’s worth noting that if you include music from Instagram in your Boomerang, the track won’t appear in your downloaded version. The music provided by Instagram is only available on Instagram.

Is there a Boomerang video-maker app in 2024?

There are several video editing apps and software that can help you make Boomerangs. More often than not, they’ll let you take existing footage from your gallery or camera roll, rather than relying on off-the-cuff footage filmed in an app. They also let you stretch Boomerang footage beyond the traditional one-second mark. 

Let’s take a look at a few of the options:

• Loop Videos & GIF Maker: An app dedicated to bite-sized clips, whether they be Boomerangs or GIFs. The catchily titled Loop Videos & GIF Maker supports 4K video, and packs in a bunch of extras. You can use the app for free, but the videos come with a watermark attached and are set to a default 1.5x speed. This speed looks pretty cool paired with Boomerang videos, but if you’d like 1x speed and more features, the paid plan starts at $4.99 per week or $39.99 per year.
• Clideo: This online video editing tool requires no software or app installation — it’s all in-browser, and does much more than just Boomerangs. Clideo is available for free, as long as you’re OK with watermarks on your content. Creating watermark-free content with Clideo costs $9 per month, or $6 per month if you choose the yearly plan.
• FlexClip: Another web-based tool here, which allows users to work on 12 projects for free before upgrading. From there, FlexClip costs $19.99 per month, or $11.99 per month on the yearly plan. Like Clideo, it gives users a broad range of video editing features, rather than solely focusing on Boomerang content.

Once you’ve created your Boomerang video outside of Instagram, you can upload it like you would any other video file. 

How do you Boomerang a video on Snapchat?

Snapchat has enjoyed a real comeback in the 2020s, but does it support Boomerang video? It certainly does. Here’s how to make a Boomerang video on Snapchat:

1. Record a Snapchat video, then search for the ‘Bounce’ option. You can find this on the right-hand side by swiping through the column of icons. The ‘Bounce’ icon looks like two arrows forming a circle — this is Snapchat’s own version of a Boomerang.
2. If you don’t see two arrows forming a circle, double-check that the icon is set to ‘Bounce’. Depending on when you last used it, this setting could be stuck on ‘Loop’ or ‘Snap Timer’ mode. Once you’re sure it’s set to ‘Bounce’, you’re ready for the next step.
3. A white box will appear on your Snapchat video’s timeline — this is the Bounce effect. Use the slider to drag it across the part of your video you’d like to turn into a Boomerang-style video.
4. Once you’re happy with the placement of your Bounce effect, you can save and share your content. Download it to your device, publish it as a Story, or send it as a message. 

At the moment, Snapchat Bounce is only available via iOS.

How do you Boomerang a video on TikTok?

Can you create Boomerangs for TikTok? Yep. You can experiment by recording and reversing clips, but that’s a hassle. You’re better off using one of the Boomerang apps or sites we mentioned earlier, or downloading a Boomerang you created on Instagram. 

Then, upload it to TikTok and go wild. Just edit your Boomerang in TikTok as you would a regular video.

How do you make a Boomerang video for other social media platforms?

If you want to create Boomerang videos for Facebook Stories, YouTube Shorts, or something else entirely, fear not. Create your Boomerang video with a third-party program, or download a Boomerang you created with Instagram. Then, edit and upload your content as usual.

How do you add music to a Boomerang video?

If you upload your Boomerang video to a social media platform with a built-in music collection, and choose music through said platform, you’re good to go. As long as you only use it on that platform, you’re working within the rules and shouldn’t run into trouble. 

However, if you want to use a specific track that’s not available on the platform, you’ll have to edit your Boomerang in a third-party app, add the music, then upload the finished article to social media.

If you do this, you’ll need the correct license for the track you’re using. Otherwise, you could risk losing the right to monetize your content on certain platforms, and in some cases, your Boomerang video could be muted or even removed. 

So, let us handle it. Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best. 

You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier. 

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.

Related posts:

• Which social media platform pays the most?
• How to go viral on social media: 11 top tips
• X/Twitter monetization: How does it work?

For content creators and brands, social media is a high-stakes world where careers are made. Let’s discover which social media platform pays creators the most in 2024.

We'll cover:

• Which social media platforms support monetization?
• Which social media platform generates the most money?
• Which social media platform pays the most?
• Which social media platform pays the most for views?
• Which social media platform pays the most in 2024, full-stop?

Which social media platforms support monetization?

Before we discuss the ins, outs, and roundabout ways of earning money on social media, let’s start with the basics. 

Which social media platforms support monetization? Here’s a checklist of the main players:

• YouTube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• X/Twitter
• Snapchat
• TikTok
• Twitch
• Kick
• Pinterest

YouTube

When you think of content monetization, you probably think of YouTube. Unlike most of the platforms we’ll cover, YouTube pays creators per ad view — it’s all supported within the YouTube Partner Program.

The value changes depending on the content, but ads aren’t the only way to make money on YouTube. Subscriptions, Super Chat, and YouTube Shopping all help to top up your earnings. 

YouTube Shorts has also muscled into monetization over the past few years, establishing itself as a direct competitor to some of the short-form platforms on this list. 

Facebook

Facebook’s been around longer than all the other platforms we’ll discuss today, but does it offer the most reliable payouts? It provides monetization via several avenues, including ads, subscriptions, and the Brand Collabs Manager. 

Beyond those core monetization methods, you can make a little extra on Facebook with Stars, the Performance Bonus program, affiliate marketing, and more. It’s worth noting that Facebook’s monetization process will change in 2025, grouping several tools under a broader Facebook Content Monetization process.

Instagram 

Given that Instagram sits under Meta, the same parent company as Facebook, its monetization options are pretty similar. Sponsored posts and affiliate marketing are both big drivers on the platform, alongside extras like Instagram badges.

X/Twitter

X/Twitter only introduced monetization in 2023, and it comes in two forms: Subscriptions and Ads Revenue Sharing. Monetization is locked behind a Premium paywall, which is at odds with the rest of the platforms on this list.

Snapchat

Snapchat might not seem super bankable compared to giants like YouTube and Facebook, but it’s got a few tricks up its sleeve. An official Revenue Share Program, paid partnerships, and other rewards are available on the platform. 

TikTok

TikTok offers a surprisingly broad spread of monetization options, including brand partnerships, TikTok Shop, subscriptions, and more. Similar to the more established platforms on this list, you can also sell merchandise through TikTok Shop. 

Twitch

Content creators have made tons of money on Twitch, through a combination of ads, subscriptions, and sponsorships. While Twitch is more aligned with streaming than a strictly social media platform, it has enough in common with the rest of this list.

Kick

Kick is similar to Twitch, but offers more competitive payouts. However, with those higher payouts comes less regulation — some view Kick as Twitch’s badly behaved sibling. 

Pinterest

Even though Pinterest is mainly considered a discovery platform, it still provides monetization via sponsored Pins and affiliate links.

Which social media platform generates the most money?

On paper, the social media platform with the most cash should pay the best, right? Facebook and Instagram are comfortably the two biggest social media platforms in terms of revenue, the former especially leading the charge between 2010 and 2022. That makes sense, given both have been around since the initial social media boom, and are now the two core pillars of Meta’s offering. 

YouTube follows in third place, with TikTok and Snapchat trailing behind. But just because Facebook and Instagram make the most money, it doesn’t mean they make you the most money.

Just think of all the experiments, investments, and new tech Facebook and Instagram have pioneered. That’s not a bad thing — social media platforms need to change to survive — but it means that creators get a smaller slice of the pie.

Which social media platform pays the most?

So, which is the highest-paying social media platform? It’s all measured on a case-by-case basis, meaning we have to break this down into smaller chunks. But, according to Epidemic Sound’s own research of 1,500 monetizing creators…

YouTube is the top platform for generating income in 2024. 

In fact, 28.6% of respondents said that.

TikTok wasn’t far behind at 18.3%, with Facebook at 16.5%, Instagram at 11.8%, and X/Twitter at 6.3%. So, despite Facebook and Instagram raking in the most revenue, users still make more money on YouTube and TikTok. 

According to our 2023 report, YouTube is the primary source of income for creators earning more than $200,000 per year. However, the main source of income for creators earning under that amount might surprise you — it’s TikTok. Despite coming late to the monetization party, the ByteDance-owned app has more than made up for it.

Which social media platform pays the most for views?

The amount of viewers has often been used to measure how much money you’re making on social media. But as more payment options become available — gifts, sponsorships, subscription models, and more — the focus on views has become less important. In fact, there’s no concrete way to determine which social media platform pays the most for views.

With that in mind, let’s look at how well the five core social media platforms pay creators, and if they pay per view.

1. YouTube

Once a video is monetized, established YouTubers can expect to receive around $0.018 per ad view. That means you’ll bank around $18 for every 1,000 ad views on your video. This is partially based on cost per mille (CMP), which is the amount an advertiser pays a website or platform per 1,000 ad views. 

Some YouTubers earn more, some less — it all depends on the traffic and effectiveness of any ad-supported video. This is calculated by revenue per mille (RPM). Different RPM factors include which industry your video and the ads target, the watch-through rate, viewers’ location, and more. RPM also includes other in-platform monetization methods, like subscriptions and Super Chat. 

YouTube Shorts has also stepped into the monetization game, weighing in between $0.03 and $0.07 per 1,000 views. That’s clearly much lower than earnings on the main YouTube feed, but Shorts content relies on virality and high-volume view counts to bump those numbers up. 

2. Facebook

Facebook’s payments per 1,000 views aren’t cut-and-dry. Some folks have reported receiving as little as $1 for 1,000 ad-supported views, and as much as $20 on the other end of the spectrum. A happy medium seems to sit between $8.75 and $10 per 1,000 views. 

As we saw with YouTube, Facebook’s payouts largely depend on the ads being served. If the ads and content are high-value, the RPM is likely better, resulting in a chunkier payout per view. 

3. TikTok

TikTok payments aren’t set in stone. Rather, they come from the TikTok Creator Rewards Program. At the moment, it’s estimated that you can pull in between $0.02 and $0.04 for every 1,000 TikTok views once signed up to the Creator Rewards Program. 

Like YouTube Shorts, payments on TikTok are lower than on other platforms, as it’s a much more bite-sized, viral beast. The thinking behind it is that a video might take off and do huge numbers — that $0.02 doesn’t look so little when you’re pulling in millions of views per video. 

4. Instagram

Instagram’s a curious case. It’s a high-traffic, Meta-owned platform, but it doesn’t pay creators for ad-supported views in the same way that Facebook or YouTube do.

However, Instagram creators can still make decent money via brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, gifting, and more. Nano-influencers with 1,000 to 10,000 Insta followers can expect to receive between $10 and $100 per sponsored post. That’s a ballpark figure, though — it all depends on the individual terms of that creator’s deal with the brand behind the sponsorship. 

5. X/Twitter

X/Twitter doesn’t pay per video view. Rather, it pays per verified post impression, meaning that the user making the impression must be an X/Twitter Premium account. On average, you can expect to make around $0.0085 per 1,000 verified impressions. This is all part of the X/Twitter Ads Revenue Sharing program, which also includes a subscription-based payment model. 

Which social media platform pays the most in 2024, full-stop?

So, with which social media platform can you make the most money? Knowing which social media platforms pay per view and which don’t is a good start. But which social media platform pays the most, full-stop, in 2024? 

Unfortunately, there’s no definitive answer. Sure, YouTube makes up the largest portion of creators’ income, but that isn’t the case for everyone — YouTube might not be the right home for your content.

Different platforms’ finances are structured differently, offering various paths to monetization. If you’re interested in a specific social media platform and want to start earning, why not check out our monetization hub below?

→ Monetization hub

If you’re serious about monetization, you’ll need to avoid as many roadblocks as possible. One of the most common slip-ups happens when creators use music they don’t have the correct rights or license for — as a result, their content may be demonetized. Steer clear of this with Epidemic Sound.

Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best. You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier. 

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.

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• New social media platforms: Your guide
• Check out the latest social media trends
• What is TikTok’s Whee app?

Music copyright lawsuits aren’t uncommon, nor are they to be taken lightly. Household names, startup companies, and everyone in between fall foul of copyright law.

Music copyright lawsuits aren’t uncommon, nor are they to be taken lightly. Household names, startups, and everyone in between fall foul of copyright law.

Companies have seen lawsuits totaling millions of dollars, all down to improper licensing. For that reason, it’s essential for businesses to review their music licensing agreements and secure the correct rights. Today, we’ll bust ten myths and give you the facts.

The myths we’ll cover are: 

1. Royalty-free music means no additional fees
2. AI-generated music isn’t copyrighted
3. Using less than 30 seconds of a track is safe 
4. Influencers and other brands use tracks on social media, so you can too
5. Crediting the artist or rights holder means you can use the track
6. Once you license a track, it’s yours forever 
7. Editing a track means you can use it for free
8. If you’re not monetizing, you can use any track
9. Old music is automatically public domain
10. Music licensing has to be complex

1. Royalty-free music means no additional fees

Royalty-free music is music you can use without paying royalties to artists or other rights holders every time the music is used. Generally, you’d pay for it once, or, if you use a subscription service, on a recurring basis. 

However, royalty-free music providers often aren’t the sole rights holders of the music in their catalogs. This means you might still receive copyright claims or payment requests from other rights holders.

For example, public performance rights are rarely included in royalty-free licenses. These rights are needed to play a track publicly, whether it’s online or offline. If you don’t secure the correct rights, you could face surprise fees, takedowns, lawsuits, or retroactive royalties to Performing Rights Organizations (PROs).

PROs collect royalties for public performance on behalf of composers, artists, and publishers. Licensing so-called ‘royalty-free’ music rights for global use can be complex, due to the potential involvement of PROs around the world.

Royalty-free does not automatically mean PRO-free or worry-free. Rights holders can withdraw their rights from certain royalty-free providers later down the line, meaning that existing content containing that music could be at risk.

With Epidemic Sound’s direct licensing model, all rights are included. We’re the only rights holders, meaning you’ll not have to deal with a third party. Go beyond royalty-free music and clear your content for worldwide use. 

2. AI-generated music isn’t copyrighted

AI-generated music is a tricky topic, and one that users — and businesses — frequently misunderstand. At first glance, you’d think AI music should be copyright-free. After all, nobody ‘owns’ it, do they? A computer made it. That must mean it’s free to use, surely?

It’s not that clear-cut. The regulations differ from country to county, and it’s still a developing legal landscape. The core of AI music is built upon generative models, which are trained on existing music, sound effects, and speech. While the resulting compositions may sound ‘original’, the sources from which they’re trained are still owned by rights holders. 

Also, multiple lawsuits allege that the training of several of the more prominent models, as well as the output produced, infringe copyright.

3. Using less than 30 seconds of a track is safe

This is a tale as old as time. You’ll see a YouTube video soundtracked with a copyrighted track, and the description will mention something about ‘Fair Use’.

Fair Use is difficult to prove, requiring multiple factors to clear the bar. Playing ten seconds of a track doesn’t instantly erase the copyright — the rights holder still owns the track’s intellectual property. Using it without compensating them is a breach of copyright, and can result in penalties. This is a massive red flag for your monetized, commercial content. 

4. Influencers and other brands use tracks on social media, so you can too

You’ll often see influencers using tracks from world-famous artists, across personal and commercial content. They can’t have paid thousands of dollars to license a popular track — that means it’s fair game, right? 

Unfortunately, access is not permission. For commercial content, you should always hold the correct license for a track — even if the track seems readily available to an influencer.

“TikTok has a global public library where there’s a huge inventory of popular tracks that people will recognize,” says Robert Freund, a Bloomberg- and Forbes-cited marketing attorney. “TikTok also has a separate commercial library that’s available for certain types of accounts, like a business account. There’s a significant amount of confusion in the market about differences between those libraries when it comes to branded influencer content.”

Any brand or professional content creator monetizing soundtracked content likely has the correct license, or is cleared to use the track for commercial purposes on a specific platform.

Check what a platform and a track’s rights holder allow, and ensure that you’ve got the correct license before publishing anything. 

5. Crediting the artist or rights holder means you can use the track

Attribution is not the same as obtaining a license. There’s no legal grounding to just crediting the artist, and if you’re caught, the rights holder may choose to remove or demonetize your content — they could even sue you. If you don’t have permission or a license, crediting the artist or rights holder doesn’t make a difference.

You could get around this if the track is licensed under Creative Commons. Even then, you still need to double-check that it’s the right Creative Commons license. The loosest version allows you to remix and share music, even commercially, as long as you credit the rights holder. 

Or, just use Epidemic Sound. Enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of.

6. Once you license a track, it’s yours forever 

Purchasing a track’s rights or license isn’t like buying a physical object — it’s more like a library loan or renting a car. More often than not, a music license will enforce strict usage limits, which you’ll need to follow. It may cover specific platforms and timeframes, and if the license lapses, you’ll have to renew it.

Or, you could license music with Epidemic Sound. As long as you’re subscribed to the right plan, any content published featuring our music will be cleared forever. 

Forever. 

Forever, even if you cancel. More flexible than a sloth doing yoga, more diverse than your Spotify Wrapped could dream of. Check it out below.  

→ Find your sound

7. Editing a track means you can use it for free

Even if you download a track and remix it within an inch of its life, you still need permission — the initial composition belongs to the rights holder, as do the rights to your ‘new’ version. Splicing, dicing, and retooling a track might make it completely unrecognizable, but if you don’t have a valid license, it’s copyright infringement.

You needn’t get mixed up in all that. With Epidemic Sound, you can rebuild tracks based on their stems. Use our Create Versions function to loop, cut, and extend tracks to match the closest frame on your project timeline. It’s all bundled within our subscription model, meaning you don’t need to ask for permission every time you use these tools to make changes to our music. 

8. If you’re not monetizing, you can use any track

If you’re not making money, what’s the harm? That might sound like a closed case, but if you’re creating internal content for a brand, or even non-profit content for a charity or school, you still need permission.

Using unlicensed music in a non-commercial project risks violating copyright law. If they wish, the rights holder can take legal action. You could deliver a paid media maelstrom or a non-profit ad for a dog shelter, but the rules are the same — you need permission to use someone’s music.

These rules apply to businesses creating content. Naturally, users with personal accounts can add music available through social media platforms to their own content, subject to restrictions. 

9. Old music is automatically public domain

‘Old’ music may be classed as copyright-free, especially if it was published in the US before 1924. Other works may remain copyrighted for 70+ years following the author’s death, but this differs by country.

Centuries-old compositions can still prove tricky to license, though. If you wanted to use a Vivaldi piece in your content, you’d likely find a modern recording. The written work may not be copyrighted, but the new recording is. That sounds like a headache. It also sounds expensive. 

You could bypass all of that with something like Epidemic Sound’s Classical Essentials collection. Debussy, Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, and more, all housed under our worry-free licensing model? It’s a no-brainer.

10. Music licensing has to be complex

We’ve listed nine music licensing and copyright myths and facts, and we get it — it looks complex. It is complex, but Epidemic Sound’s Enterprise solution can simplify it. 

We offer everything a brand needs to soundtrack their work. Our dedicated digital rights management team works tirelessly to ensure our licensed users don’t encounter issues when publishing content online. Our team is also ready to help out if you receive false claims from a third party.

Everyone from Levi’s to Warner Bros. Discovery, The Telegraph to the Miami Dolphins, trusts us to be their soundtracking partner. They use our bespoke Enterprise plan, which covers everything in our Commercial plan, plus a whole lot more. 

This includes:

• All necessary rights for TV, streaming, and advertising 
• The right to use our music for offline events
• The right to use our music to soundtrack video games  
• Multiple user accounts, for your team members and clients
• Clearance for owned and operated channels, plus influencer or creator channels
• Dedicated Customer Success Manager
• Bespoke custom tracks and music supervision for your projects

Don’t let music licensing tie you in knots. Join Epidemic Sound and take your content to the next level.

→ Find your sound

Related posts: 

• 7 things an attorney recommends brands to consider when using music in content
• How brands use music to make sports magic
• Amplify your brand identity with sonic branding: 4 top tips

Johnny Marr. You know the name. The sound. The legendary musician redefined what guitar music sounds like with The Smiths, and has scored GOATed movies like Inception alongside Hans Zimmer. He’s worked with everyone from Oasis to Modest Mouse, Pet Shop Boys to Talking Heads — his prolific solo career is booming, too. 

Marr joins Epidemic Sound for the second iteration of our collaboration program, The Bridge. Marr will mentor three Epidemic Sound artists throughout 2025, providing track feedback, career guidance, artistic development, and more. He’s also curated a playlist packed with hidden gems from Epidemic Sound’s artists — more on that in a moment, though. 

This is our second world-famous artist to have joined The Bridge. The first was minimal techno pioneer and DJ, Richie Hawtin, who mentored three Epidemic Sound artists during 2024. The British-Canadian trailblazer built a shared musical experience with his mentees, culminating in a spine-tingling night of live DJ sets. 

Hawtin also curated a next-level playlist, Past Meets Present. The music comes exclusively from Epidemic Sound’s catalog, boasting some of our artists’ cutting-edge electronic credentials. 

Why did Epidemic Sound start The Bridge?

Epidemic Sound’s direct licensing model has changed how people think about music licensing, but the industry at large can be daunting. Newer, grassroots artists often struggle to get their foot in the door, while the right live shows and solid remuneration can be hard to find.

Marr will guide three Epidemic Sound artists: Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Rebecca Mardal, and Kylie Dailey. Together, they’ll broaden their horizons and explore opportunities in sync licensing, collaborations, social media, commercial releases, and more. 

“I’ve always been interested in new talent and try to be of help if I can with emerging artists finding their unique voice,” says Marr. “Epidemic Sound is a new kind of music company with its innovative platform opening up ways for emerging musicians to make a living, while distributing their work at scale to today’s online audience of viewers, fans, and listeners. In today’s challenging music environment, it’s crucial for artists to develop a diverse skill set and I’m excited to work with some talented individuals to help them navigate the industry while staying true to their vision.”

Who is Johnny Marr mentoring?

Marr’s three mentees were selected based on how their unique talent and goals matched Marr’s expertise.

They are: Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Rebecca Mardal, and Kylie Dailey. Learn a little more about them below.

Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen

Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen is a Swedish composer and multi-instrumentalist. He’s best known for his orchestral-cinematic compositions, which have featured in commercials, TV shows, documentaries, and trailers worldwide. His passion for both black metal and rock guitar showcases his versatile influences and, let’s be real, elite taste.

Rebecca Mardal 

Rebecca Mardal is a Swedish guitarist who started honing her craft as an 11-year-old, inspired by Green Day’s American Idiot. Since then, she’s built an impressive career in lo-fi hip-hop, garnering millions of streams across both her solo projects and collaborations. She also received her university degree from Sir Paul McCartney himself, which sounds like something other people would make up to sound impressive. 

Kylie Dailey

Kylie Dailey is a US-based singer-songwriter with roots in the world-renowned Nashville scene. Together with producer/partner Kevin Dailey, she’s cooked up a unique blend of Americana and indie-folk. Her citrus-tinged melodies ride brash instrumentation, subdued arpeggios, and everything in between — Dailey’s take on country music is a real treat.

What happens next?

Now that Marr and the mentees are in place, it’s time to get creative. Here’s what the process looks like: 

1. In-person mentorship: A shared meeting of minds where talent, ideas, and curiosity collide. This one-day session combines listening and discussion, providing the mentees with group collaboration and one-on-one time with Marr. Together, they’ll sculpt an outline for their road ahead.
2. Online mentorship: Marr continues to guide each artist through virtual check-ins. He’ll offer feedback, refine creative ideas, and ensure that the music produced fully embodies The Bridge’s collaborative spirit.
3. New music: The mentees will release their brand-new tracks, showcasing a dynamic union of past and future influences. They’ll also be bangers. 

“Johnny Marr’s extraordinary career and his ability to continually reinvent himself make him the perfect mentor for our artists,” says John Cleary, Epidemic Sound’s director of global music recruitment. “His insights will be invaluable in helping them develop the broad skill set needed to thrive in today’s music industry. We’re thrilled to have him on board and can’t wait to see the impact of this collaboration for our artists.”

Want a flavor of what inspired game-changers like Richie Hawtin and Johnny Marr to work with Epidemic Sound? 

Don’t skip Hawtin’s picks. The Past Meets Present playlist is a love letter to his influences, touching upon the timeless electronica that shaped his music. That old-school sentiment is balanced by the fresher, buzzy sounds that keep pushing the genre forward.

Be sure to check out Marr’s Rebel Spirit playlist too, which he curated exclusively with tracks from our artists. You’ll find a shimmering collection of choppy riffs, crystalline tones, and crackling energy, all brought to life with masterful sonic taste.

→ Johnny Marr’s playlist

Chances are that you’ve heard of Instagram broadcast channels. But what are they, how do they work, and are they right for you?

Today, we’ll cover all of that and more. Here’s what we’ll discuss:

• What is an Instagram broadcast channel?
• What are the benefits of Instagram broadcast channels?
• What are the Instagram broadcast channel requirements?
• Are Instagram broadcast channels paid?
• How to create an Instagram broadcast channel
• Why can’t I create a broadcast channel on Instagram?
• How to use Instagram broadcast channels
• How to send an Instagram broadcast channel invite
• How to join someone else’s Instagram broadcast channel
• Why can't I join an Instagram broadcast channel?
• Five tips and tricks to make the most of Instagram broadcast channels

What is an Instagram broadcast channel?

An Instagram broadcast channel is a public, one-way messaging feature which lets creators send direct message updates to their audiences. It works a little like a WhatsApp group, but the creator is the only person who can publish content. 

Creators can send text-based messages, photos, videos, links, GIFs, and polls through Instagram broadcast channels. In a nutshell, it looks like a one-sided DM conversation, as the only person posting is the creator. Followers can react to messages and take part in polls, but they can’t send messages. 

Instagram broadcast channels are visible to anyone using the Instagram mobile app. However, only followers can join. Once someone joins an Instagram broadcast channel, messages from said channel will appear in their DMs.

What are the benefits of Instagram broadcast channels?

Instagram broadcast channels are useful for a bunch of reasons. Let’s take a look.

They help creators overcome the algorithm 

The Instagram algorithm is a shape-shifting, ever-growing beast. While the platform makes changes for users’ benefit, many creators claim that such frequent tinkering makes it hard for them to produce algorithm-friendly content.

Instagram broadcast channels deliver content to followers directly — if someone is subscribed to your broadcast channel, they’ll see your content. There’s no way it’ll be swept under the rug, downgraded, or replaced by an ad or algorithm-preferred piece of competition content. As long as the audience appetite’s there, you’re all good.

Users prefer DMs

Instagram users share more photos and videos in DMs than they do via Stories, and they share more on Stories than through the main feed. Publishing content in the broadcast channel format recreates the look and feel of DMs.

They reward loyal followers

Some creators use Instagram broadcast channels to announce exclusive merch drops, deliver exclusive content, and provide interactive experiences. For superfans, this is a perk they’ll be more than happy to use. 

They help creators fine-tune their content

Given that viewers can’t directly reply to messages sent via Instagram broadcast channels, you’d think their use as a feedback tool may be limited. This is where the power of the emoji is revealed — a simple thumbs-up or -down can help creators fine-tune their content before it’s published more widely. It could be seen as a sample group, almost.

They can be curated for different audiences 

Creators can run more than one Instagram broadcast channel, streamlining content and pushing it to the right people. For example, you might be a gaming influencer who specializes in Twitch play-alongs, but occasionally dabbles in rig rundowns. Some followers might not be interested in the latter, more techy stuff  — create a dedicated broadcast channel for those updates. That way, you can feed that niche demand without alienating your wider audience.

This curated approach gives users the choice to see what they want, and creators the choice to prioritize content. It also works a treat with paid-for content, as you can create subscription-tier broadcast channels.

What are the Instagram broadcast channel requirements?

Creating an Instagram broadcast channel means you have to hit a couple of requirements. They are:

• You must have a Creator account, and it needs to be public. At the moment, Personal and Business accounts aren’t able to use broadcast channels. We’re crossing our fingers that this’ll change in the future, as it’ll open up more opportunities for businesses and up-and-coming creators.
• You need 10,000 followers or more. Unsure of how to hit that target? Start your journey by learning how to get 1,000 Instagram followers, then work your way up from there. 

Are Instagram broadcast channels paid?

You can’t monetize Instagram broadcast channels like you would with traditional, in-stream video ads. However, you can incentivize people to pay for broadcast channel content. If you’ve activated Instagram Subscriptions, you can create a broadcast channel exclusively for paid-up members.

How to create an Instagram broadcast channel

Now that we’ve learned what an Instagram broadcast channel is and what the requirements are, let’s look at how to start your own:

1. Provided you meet the requirements, head to your DMs. Once you’re there, click the pencil icon in the top right. 
2. Select ‘Create broadcast channel’. Here, you can choose your broadcast channel’s name, the audience, the lifetime of your channel, and whether or not to show it on your profile. 
3. Once you’ve confirmed those details, click ‘Create broadcast channel’ — this will send a one-time invitation to your followers. This can be shared as a link, QR code, or Story. If you’re managing multiple broadcast channels, you can glance at them all by going back to your DMs and clicking ‘Channels’.

Why can’t I create an Instagram broadcast channel?

If you’ve tried the above and have no luck, it’s worth troubleshooting a few things. Let’s run through some of the main reasons why you might not be able to create an Instagram broadcast channel:

• You don’t have a Creator account: Switching to a Creator account takes a minute, and can be done in your ‘Settings and activity’ settings. It’s nestled under ‘Account types and tools’, then ‘Switch to a professional account’. Perhaps you’ve not done it yet, or you switched back at some point. 
• You dropped below the follower threshold: You need 10,000 followers to host an Instagram broadcast channel. If that number’s dipped, you may have lost the privilege. 
• This feature isn’t available to everyone yet: Instagram broadcast channels are available in most corners of the globe. Maybe you’re on vacation in a country where Instagram isn’t supported — it’s worth double-checking.

How to use Instagram broadcast channels

Instagram broadcast channels’ features are deliberately basic, as they’re meant to mirror the DM experience. If it were full of fancy bells, whistles, and extras, it would lose its power. 

Here’s how you can use Instagram broadcast channels’ core functions. 

Publish regular content

Like we mentioned up top, you can publish a whole host of content via Instagram broadcast channels. Options like voice notes are great for more personal, ‘insider’ tidbits, while behind-the-scenes videos, sneak previews, and bloopers are also popular. 

Publish subscriber-only content

If you want to make money on Instagram, broadcast channels can sweeten the deal. Create an exclusive, value-for-money broadcast channel packed with content people would be prepared to splash out on. 

Publish branded content 

Instagram broadcast channels could be the perfect home for branded pre-sales, previews, and more. Just remember to use the paid partnership tool to show that your message is commercially geared. If you don’t do this and get caught out, you could end up in trouble. 

Collab with other creators 

Instagram broadcast channels allow up to five admins on any one channel. If you have your eye on a creator with whom you’d like to collab, why not reach out? If you can secure notable guest admins, they’ll be able to drum up hype across their channels, too. 

Want to add collaborators to your Instagram broadcast channel? Here’s how:

1. Head to the top of your broadcast channel, then click the channel name.
2. Click ‘People’, then the ‘Add’ button next to ‘Collaborators’.
3. Select or search for the people you’d like to add. If you’d like to remove a collaborator, tap the ‘Remove’ option next to their name in the channel collaborator section.

How to send an Instagram broadcast channel invite

Once your Instagram broadcast channel’s up and running, it’s time to invite people. You can do this by:

• Sending your first message: Once you’ve sent your first message through your Instagram broadcast channel, followers from your main will be notified and invited. 
• Sharing an invite link: You can create a shareable invite link to send through your Stories, Reels, DMs, bio, and outside Instagram’s walls.
• Sharing one-off broadcast channel messages: If you don’t want to advertise the entire channel, select and hold a single message from your broadcast channel. Tap ‘Share to Story’, and it’ll only publish that one message. People viewing that on your Story can then find and join your Instagram broadcast channel. 

How to join someone else’s Instagram broadcast channel

If you’d like to join someone else’s broadcast channel, you’ll need the Instagram mobile app — it’s not doable via desktop. Once you find a creator with a broadcast channel, look at their bio. If they have a broadcast channel, it should be pinned in bold text, just above the ‘Follow/Following’ button. Click the broadcast channel and join as prompted. 

Why can’t I join an Instagram broadcast channel?

Unable to join Instagram broadcast channels? Don’t sweat it — the problem’s likely a bug related to your app or device. Try the old turn it off/on trick, clear your cache, uninstall and reinstall the Instagram app, and see if that works.

Five tips and tricks to make the most of Instagram broadcast channels

Now that you know what an Instagram broadcast channel is, what the requirements are, and how to create and join one, let’s wrap up. To see us out, here are five tips and tricks to make the most of your Instagram broadcast channels.

1. Don’t be shy when using voice notes 

One of Instagram broadcast channels’ most exciting features is its use of voice notes. You’d often associate voice notes with messages from a family member, or a friend gossiping about something too complicated to type. 

Using voice notes gives your broadcast channel content a more personal feel. Whether it’s a larger update, teasers for upcoming content, or just stream-of-consciousness chatting, your followers will appreciate it. 

2. Mix up the format 

Broadcast channels accommodate a broad range of formats, so why not try them all? Sprinkle a poll here, a voice note there, a GIF every now and then — it keeps things fresh. 

3. Use polls strategically

We touched on this earlier, but the poll feature isn’t to be underestimated. Polling your broadcast channel followers can help you fine-tune your next reel or story — if the votes say it’s not working, you can fix it. 

4. Double-dip on important posts

We’re not suggesting that you republish every post from your main feed to your broadcast channel — that might come off as a little spammy. However, if you’ve made a big announcement on main, it’s worth double-checking that your broadcast channel followers have seen it. Even a quick ‘ICYMI’ would do the trick. 

5. Host giveaways

What’s more exclusive than a members-only giveaway or prize draw? You could offer anything from shoutouts to merch, exclusive content to massive gifts — go wild. Broadcast channels are free to join, so why wouldn’t your followers want to get in on the action? 

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. A short post asking followers to react with a set choice of emojis should be enough. From there, you’d just choose a winner at random, or ask someone impartial to do so. 

Now that we’ve run through all things Instagram broadcast channels, it’s time to start creating content — you’ll likely need music for that. We’ve got you covered.

Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best. You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier. 

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.

Want the perfect music for your Instagram videos? Look no further. Check out our collection of sound effects and music and take your Instagram content to the next level.

Related posts:

• Instagram trends 2024: What’s going to pop off?
• How to turn a video into a Boomerang
• How to use copyrighted music on Instagram

Eager to learn about Adobe’s AI-based toolkit? Read this article for an Adobe Firefly overview, detailing the core nuggets of info you need to know. 

We’ll discuss:

• What is Adobe Firefly?
• Is there an Adobe Firefly app?
• Is Adobe Firefly free?
• Is Adobe Firefly safe?
• What is the Adobe Firefly text-to-image model?
• How does the Adobe Firefly video model work?
• What is Adobe Firefly Generative Fill?
• What is Adobe Firefly Generative Extend?

What is Adobe Firefly?

Adobe Firefly is a generative AI collection created and published by Adobe, available online and in-app. Together, these features empower users to generate and edit assets for their projects. 

Adobe Firefly is split into four models. They are:

• Firefly Image model: This covers AI tools mainly found within Adobe Photoshop, Express, Substance 3D, and Lightroom. Part of the Image model’s power lies in its ability to generate visual content based on text prompts, both in-app and online. Users can also remove and change backgrounds in Adobe Stock images before downloading them — not bad, right?
• Firefly Design model: This covers AI tools broadly spread across Adobe Express and InDesign. Social media assets, fliers, brochures, text effects, eBooks, and more can be created with a little help from the Design model. 
• Firefly Vector model: This covers AI tools in Adobe Illustrator. You can generate, adjust, recolor, and publish vectors based on text prompts. 
•  Firefly Video model: This covers text- and image-to-video generation and editing tools, based in Adobe Premiere Pro and online. At the time of writing, Firefly Video’s generative AI function is in beta mode. 

Is there an Adobe Firefly app?

Adobe Firefly has a web-based app — you can find it here. However, some of its more granular tools are collected under various Adobe apps, as we touched on above. We’ll explain where to find the main ones throughout this article. 

Is Adobe Firefly free?

Certain elements of Adobe Firefly are free. If you’re on a free Creative Cloud, Express, or Firefly plan, you’ll receive a small amount of generative credits per month. 

These credits can be spent on playing with, experimenting with, and creating assets with Adobe Firefly. Paying users will enjoy more freedom, be rid of the Adobe watermark, and have more credits to spend — this costs $4.99 per month. Paying Creative Cloud subscribers will also be given generative credits. 

Is Adobe Firefly safe?

According to Adobe, Firefly’s generative assets are trained on properly licensed and ‘copyright-free’ content. This includes media from Adobe Stock, and public domain content for which the license has expired. 

Any content generated with Adobe Firefly is not trained on Adobe user content. Adobe states that content produced using these tools can be safely used for commercial projects, unless said tool states otherwise.

When it comes to copyrighting content created with Adobe Firefly, you’ll need to contact a legal service provider in your area. Laws concerning AI differ across the world, meaning that one country’s rules could be different to another.

What is the Adobe Firefly text-to-image model?

The Adobe Firefly text-to-image function is called Firefly Image, and is available online through your desktop or mobile browser. It can also be used directly in Photoshop. 

Firefly Image works in a similar fashion to other AI image generators you may have used. Head to the site, log in, and type in your image prompt. The image will take a few seconds to load, and you should be presented with several variations of your prompt. 

It also uses a Generative Match function, which allows users to choose a reference image or upload their own. This is great for bouncing branded asset ideas around, as Firefly Image interprets the text prompt based on the selected image’s style. 

Firefly Image is available for free. If you opt for the free plan, you’ll have 25 monthly image credits to play with, and your exported images will be watermarked. Bump up your subscription to the $4.99-per-month Premium plan, and you’ll remove the watermark and receive 100 monthly image credits.

How does the Adobe Firefly video model work?

Adobe Firefly Generate Video is an upcoming AI video generator. It works pretty much the same as the above Firefly Image: input a text or image prompt, then browse the results. 

You can generate 2D video, 3D video, animation, lens flare, text graphics, next-level camera motion, and more — sounds juicy. There’s currently a waiting list for the beta version, which you can sign up for here. Generate Video is a web-based model. 

What is Adobe Firefly Generative Fill?

Adobe Firefly Generative Fill is the engine behind Photoshop and Express’ Generative Fill function. This is a handy tool that allows users to fill areas of an image with ‘new’ visual information, all based on a text prompt. You can also remove unwanted elements and expand the image. 

If you’d like to try Firefly’s Generative Fill but don’t have access to Photoshop or Express, don’t sweat it. A simpler, web-based version is available for free here. 

What is Adobe Firefly Generative Extend?

The Adobe Firefly Generative Extend tool is available in Adobe Premiere Pro. As long as your video is longer than two minutes, the tool can mimic what B-roll might otherwise do, creating additional footage, room tone, and sounds. 

It’s worth noting that the Generative Extend tool doesn’t apply to music. But if you do need to extend a musical passage or seamlessly loop a beat, you can use Epidemic Sound. 

Our Create Versions tool is available in our integrated Adobe plugin, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve Studio, and online. Use it to tailor your soundtrack to the closest frame — accept no substitute.

And now that you know what Adobe Firefly is, how it works, and how it can fit into your workflow, why not take a moment to consider your content’s music? After all, the soundtrack can make or break your content — why let one needle-drop derail your project? Epidemic Sound’s got you covered.

Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, safe, and available directly within Adobe’s editing suite. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best.

You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier.

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.

Related posts:

• Our commitments to artists and content creators in the AI paradigm
• How to use Adobe After Effects
• Video-to-video AI: What is it and how do you use it?

In the fast-paced world of content creation, finding the right sound shouldn’t slow you down. With our latest updates, Epidemic Sound is making music and sound discovery more intuitive, seamless, and customizable. 

From new plugins to robust track control features, we want to empower you to do what you do best: create. Keep reading to learn all about our freshest updates. 

Match sound with songs instantly

Let’s say you have a song in mind for your next project, and want to browse more tracks with the same vibe. Imagine being able to instantly find that music, inspired by your reference. All at the click of a button, all worry-free, and all cleared to use in your project.

Well, you can do that with Epidemic Sound. Just type in any track or artist name, or paste a Spotify link into our player’s search bar, to find tracks with a similar vibe.

Tailor your tracks to perfection

The track might feel right for your project, but may require a tweak to fit just right. Our Create Versions capability lets you adjust a track’s length, create seamless loops, and use specific sections to craft the perfect sound for your project.

Available on the web and in our plugins for Adobe and DaVinci Resolve Studio, Create Versions gives you the freedom to tailor your soundtrack to the closest frame. 

Get to the best part, fast

With Segments, you can dive straight into a track’s core elements. We’ve made it easy to split tracks into distinct sections based on their musical structure. Whether you need a powerful chorus or a subtle bridge, find and use a specific part of any song in seconds.

Soundtrack faster right where you work

Switching between platforms? Forget about it. Our plugins for Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, and DaVinci Resolve Studio let you browse, preview, add, and edit tracks right within your editing software.

Access Epidemic Sound’s entire catalog, use our powerful sound-matching capabilities, and customize tracks to fit your project — all within your editing suite.

This direct integration with Epidemic Sound’s extensive catalog is available across all plans, allowing you to soundtrack faster without breaking your creative flow.

Check out the below walkthrough to see how our DaVinci Resolve Studio plugin simplifies your music search and editing process.

Do more in bulk

Working with multiple tracks just got smoother. With our Bulk Actions feature, you can select, save, and move multiple tracks at once. Just hold ‘Shift’ or ‘Cmd’ while selecting tracks — drag, drop, add, move, and remove tracks with the click of a button.

Play music offline

Whether you’re on the go or facing limited connectivity, you’ll never lose access to your favorite playlists. Just mark your playlist with ‘Make available offline’, and all those tracks will be available anytime, providing uninterrupted playback even when you’re off-grid.

Don’t settle for second-best — Epidemic Sound’s got you covered. Dive into the new features and keep your eyes peeled for more updates down the road. 

Related posts:

• Introducing: Soundmatch
• Introducing: The Epidemic Sound app
• Elevate your content with game-changing classical music

Facebook is one of the oldest social media channels, but it’s still a great place to make money. Today, you’ll learn how Facebook monetization works in 2024.

We’ll cover:

• Why should you monetize Facebook content in 2024?
• First things first: Create a solid, quality-driven Facebook page
• Facebook monetization requirements for 2024
• The Facebook monetization setup process
• Which countries are eligible for Facebook monetization in 2024?
• Facebook monetization policy issues
• How many followers and views do you need to get paid on Facebook?
• What does Facebook pay per 1,000 views?
• How to monetize Facebook Reels
• Try more Facebook monetization tools

Why should you monetize Facebook content in 2024?

We’re sure you’ve seen tons of content detailing how to make money on Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, X/Twitter, YouTube, and more, but don’t forget Facebook. You can still monetize content on the Zuck’s debut social media platform, and it’s not to be sniffed at. 

Whether you’re working as a freelancer or part of a wider creative team, there’s value for both you and your audience. After all, Facebook racks up more than eight billion video views per day, so the audience is there!

Unlocking Facebook monetization’s full suite can be harder than with other social media platforms. This makes it more of a goal to aim for, rather than something you can start right away.

First things first: Create a solid, quality-driven Facebook page

We’ll describe the Facebook monetization requirements in a minute, but before we get into that, you’ll need to create a Business page. This requires an existing Personal account, which acts as an admin. The link between the two won’t be visible to your audience, so your wild vacation photos are safe.

Once your Business page is up and running, it’s time to populate it with content. Think about your target audience, content calendar, brand voice and image, and more. Need some inspiration? Dig into our article on how to get more Facebook followers. 

It’s worth looking to your other social media channels for followers, too. Do you have an engaged, passionate following across several platforms, or is there one that stands out in particular?

It’s worth checking out the buzz and engagement on your Instagram, given it’s owned by the same parent company as Facebook, Meta. This means some of your followers might have linked their Facebook and Insta accounts, making it a little easier to get them on board.

If you can convince your fans not to just follow your different social media pages, but interact with them, you’ll be well on the right track. We’ve put together a few handy guides in this area, including tips on how to get your first 1,000 followers on Instagram, and ten tips to get more subscribers on YouTube.

Facebook monetization requirements for 2024

Ready to go? Let’s run through the Facebook monetization criteria, step by step.

Facebook monetization eligibility: The numbers

So, how many followers do you need to enable Facebook monetization? Technically, you don’t need any, but you’ll have to bump those numbers up to access the tools. 

The lowest follower requirement comes with Facebook Stars, for which you need 500. We’ll explain other features like in-stream ads in a few moments, but as a starting point, 500 followers is the aim. 

On top of that, your page needs to be at least 90 days old — this tells Facebook that you have an established presence. That aside, you must be at least 18 years old. You’ll also need to live in an eligible country, and follow the platform’s Community Standards, Partner Monetization Policies, and Content Monetization Policies. 

Community Standards & Community Guidelines

These guidelines cover the basics of what is and isn’t allowed on Facebook and Instagram. They touch on everything from data privacy to copyright infringement, restricted goods and services to spam and misinformation.

Brush up on Facebook’s Community Standards here, then hop over to Instagram’s Community Guidelines. Even if you’re only creating content for one platform, you’re still required to follow these rules.  

Partner Monetization Policies

Monetizing content across any Meta platform, including Facebook and Instagram, means that you’re bound to follow the Partner Monetization Policies. These include payment terms, ensuring that your content is original, and more.

Read about Facebook’s Partner Monetization policies here, and Instagram’s here. As with the Community Standards & Community Guidelines, it’s best not to break the rules on either platform.

Content Monetization Policies

These policies cover similar ground to the Partner Monetization Policies, but zone in on specific pieces of content. The key points include restrictions on clickbait, soliciting engagement, and misleading medical information. 

Read Facebook’s Content Monetization Policies here, and Instagram’s here. 

The Facebook monetization setup process

Once you’ve checked all of the boxes, you can kick off the Facebook monetization process in a few steps. Here’s what it looks like:

1. Head to the Meta Business Suite and log in, either on desktop or mobile. This used to be called Facebook Creator Studio, and it’s where you upload content and monitor performance. Creator Studio doubles up as an Instagram tool, so you might be familiar with it if you’re already monetizing Insta content.
2. Head to the column on the right-hand side and click ‘Monetization’. From there, you can check out the ‘Overview’ section, which will tell you what kind of monetization you’re eligible for.
3. Make sure your details are correct, then click ‘Set up Monetization.’ You’ll then receive a confirmation email from Facebook for Creators.

Which countries are eligible for Facebook monetization in 2024?

While Facebook monetization is widely available, it’s not rolled out everywhere yet. For example, Facebook monetization in Kenya, Nigeria, the UK, the US, Sweden, France — no problem. If you’re a creator from Nepal, Pakistan, or Zimbabwe, you won’t be able to monetize content.

Click here for a full list of eligible countries. Bear in mind that Facebook monetization eligibility also depends on the language spoken within the content, and may not be available for multiple-language videos. 

Facebook monetization policy issues

If you’ve accidentally violated a Facebook monetization policy, chill out — you should be able to fix it. 

Facebook will send you a notification, which will outline the issue. If you miss the alert, you can find the details in Meta Business Suite. Click the ‘Monetization’ option, select ‘Policy issues’, then ‘Recent violations’. Your issue should display here, and you can take action to resolve it.

Want to crank your content up a notch? You’ll need a pro soundtrack. Luckily, we’ve got more than 50,000 tracks and 200,000 unique sound effects and variations to choose from. Check out our catalog below, and keep reading for a rundown of the core Facebook monetization options.

How many followers and views do you need to get paid on Facebook?

So, we’ve learned how to activate monetization on Facebook. Here are the different tools available, the Facebook monetization requirements you need to hit, and more.

In-stream ads

To secure pre-, mid-, and post-roll Facebook ads for your on-demand and live video content, you need to:

• Follow the Facebook monetization requirements mentioned earlier
• Have at least five active videos, all more than a minute in length
• Have at least 600,000 minutes of views in the last 60 days
• Have at least 10,000 followers

It’s worth noting that Facebook monetization is going through a transitional period. Those currently monetizing with in-stream ads can still do so, but fresh applications have closed. This is because Meta is introducing a broader Facebook Content Monetization tool in 2025, which will include in-stream ads, Reels, and the Performance Bonus program. 

Part of the new Facebook Content Monetization rules may even make it easier for everyday creators to earn money. For example, the platform introduced a beta monetization tool called ProMode in late 2024, which allows micro-influencers to earn money with in-stream ads. If this rolls out further, it means that users with regular family-and-friends accounts — not just Business pages — can enjoy monetization. 

Subscriptions

If you have a dedicated squad of followers, it’s worth investing in a subscription model. This means that they pay a monthly fee to receive exclusive content — it’s a lovely way for people to support the creators and brands they care about.

If they subscribe via desktop, you’ll receive 100% of the subscription fee, minus any taxes. If they sign up via Android or iOS, you’ll bag 70%, as the rest goes to the mobile provider. To get in on the action, you need to:

• Follow the Facebook monetization requirements mentioned earlier
• Follow and agree to Facebook’s Fan Subscription Creator Terms
• Have at least 10,000 followers, or more than 250 return viewers
• Have either 50,000 post engagements or 180,000 minutes watched in the last 60 days

Brand Collabs Manager

If you partner with a brand that chimes with your values, it’ll lend your content a level of authenticity. To get paid for working with brands, you’ll need to access the Meta Brand Collabs Manager. This requires you to:

• Follow the Facebook monetization requirements mentioned earlier
• Have at least 1,000 followers
• Have at least one of the following in the last 60 days: 15,000 post engagements, 180,000 minutes viewed, or 30,000 one-minute views of three-minute videos

Once you hit these requirements, you can access the Brand Collabs Manager. Here, brands search for creators they feel are best suited to their campaigns.

At the time of writing, new applications for the Meta Brand Collabs Manager are paused. Hopefully they’ll open up again in the future. 

Facebook Stars

Facebook Stars are cute. They’re bite-sized, digital tokens that viewers buy to show their appreciation. They can be sent for on-demand, live, reel, photo, gaming, and text-based content. 

For every Star you receive, Facebook gives you $0.01. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you have an established fanbase, the dollars start counting themselves. 

Activating Facebook Stars requires you to:

• Follow the Facebook monetization requirements mentioned earlier
• Maintain a follower count of more than 500 for at least 30 consecutive days

What does Facebook pay per 1,000 views?

Facebook monetization won’t make you millions overnight, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing. While there’s no set number, users have reported earnings between $0.01 to $0.03 per ad-supported video view — ‌this averages at $20 per 1,000 views. 

You can roughly work out how much Facebook pays per 1,000 views with the below equation:

(Ad CPM x ad views)/1,000 = Your earnings

Ad CPM means ‘cost per mille.’ This is the price paid for 1,000 impressions on a Facebook ad, depending on what kind of content you create, your target audience, and so on. 

For example, if an in-stream ad’s CPM was $4 and your video received 10,000 views, it would net you $40. That’s not a life-changing sum, but people make good money on Facebook by building up a bank of these kinds of videos.

How to monetize Facebook Reels

At the time of writing, Reels monetization is invite-only — it used to be available to anyone who qualified for in-stream ad monetization. 

There are two types of ads on Facebook Reels: overlay banner ads and post-loop ads. The former appear at the bottom of a Reel, while the latter play once a Reel has ended. 

Try more Facebook monetization tools

Still looking for more Facebook monetization options? You’ve come to the right place. 

Performance Bonus program

The Facebook Performance Bonus is an invite-only perk, usually offered to viral or high-performing creators who’re already monetizing content. The program dishes out extra payments based on engagement, offers one-time payouts for bespoke content, and gives participants a chance to double-dip on eligible Instagram earnings. 

Level Up program

If you create Facebook gaming content, consider the Level Up program. As long as you have the below, you’re good to go:

• A Gaming Video Creator Page
• Streamed gaming content — with the game tagged — for more than four hours across two of the past fourteen days
• More than 100 followers

This unlocks Stars, chatbots, in-stream ads, limited subscriptions, and more for your gaming content.

Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a referral process in which an online merchant or advertiser shares a tracking link with an external partner, also known as an affiliate. The affiliate shares the link with potential customers, and once an action is completed — usually a purchase — via the link, the affiliate receives a commission. 

To sweeten the deal for the customer, affiliate links often provide a discount. Low-level deals offer the affiliate around 5% per action, but high-end, luxury programs and agreements can be as chunky as 50%. 

Promote and sell products, services, and merch

Selling products and services, both physical and digital, is a neat way to make money on Facebook. But we know how it goes — it’s difficult to balance genuine content with the hard sell, right? If you can complement your economic drive with your creative spark, there’s no reason you can’t create entertaining content that promotes your product at the same time.

Connect your chosen ecommerce platform to Facebook, which will grant access to Facebook Shops. This allows users to browse your store seamlessly, without ever leaving the platform. 

Hook them with product demos, comparison videos, tutorials, unboxing videos, customer testimonials — don’t hold back. As long as it doesn’t feel out of character, explore this option and monetize Facebook by turning it into your own storefront.

Facebook monetization can be a struggle, but if you have an engaged, growing viewership across multiple platforms, it’s worth the hard work.

If we’re talking hard work, there’s something else that’s worth the investment: music. After all, the soundtrack can make or break your content — why let one needle-drop derail your project? Epidemic Sound’s got you covered.

Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best. You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier.

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.

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As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to finalize your festive content. Whether you’re soundtracking for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or something else entirely, Epidemic Sound’s got you covered.

Follow the below steps to find the perfect music for holiday content

1. Open the Epidemic Sound Player. If you’re not signed up, you can get started here.
2. Think about what tone your holiday content should have — you’ll need to adjust the music to nail the emotion you’re trying to capture. You can search through our catalog via mood, so don’t be afraid to dive into the details. Play with anything from snowy holiday to peaceful, romantic to elegant, or restless to laid-back.
3. Consider the genres that would make the best music for your holiday content. It’s got to fit the visual tempo and enhance what’s happening on screen, while still being a good song in its own right. Look for genres like big band, smooth jazz, children's music, Christmas, lo-fi hip-hop, pop, and contemporary classical.
4. If you’re struggling for ideas, why not dig into our specialized Holiday Season collection?

Still need more inspiration? Don’t sweat it. Browse our catalog of 50,000 tracks below.

Looking for a shortcut?

If you’d rather cherry-pick the best holiday music straight from a playlist, we’ve got just the thing. Our music experts at Epidemic Sound have compiled themed playlists for:

• Lo-fi Christmas Beats
• Peaceful Christmas
• Holiday Party
• Celebrando Navidad
• Jingle Trap

These playlists include everything from alternative rock to dubstep, future bass to indie pop. Check them out, then keep reading to discover the best holiday music for your content.

Our standout holiday tracks for 2024

The ultimate soundtrack for coziness, family, and fun. Here are five of our catalog’s standout holiday tracks, primed to give your content that seasonal sparkle. 

Jordin Sparks – Jingle Bells

Want to go big with your holiday content? You can’t get much bigger than Jordin Sparks. The multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated vocalist signed with Epidemic Sound in 2023, dropping a debut EP of four wintertime covers. Her rendition of Jingle Bells was one of our most popular tracks last year, and is a tried-and-tested classic — we’re sure it’ll brighten your project timeline.

Need more Jordin Sparks? You’re in luck. Listen to Jordin’s follow-up holiday EP, Joy, and find that festive feeling.

Yinon Muallem – Hanukkah Dance

Those who observe Hanukkah are in for eight days of blessings, sick dreidel skills, and enough potato latkes to make Frito-Lay look like posers. Yinon Muallem’s instrumental Hanukkah Dance rattles along in traditional Klezmer style, excitement bursting from every kanoun riff, each flurry of clarinet. It’s a time for celebration, and this track is perfect for any content themed around the holiday. 

Yinon Muallem – Hanukkah Dance

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Dasloe – Santa Tell Me When?

Dasloe’s day-to-day is K-pop, but Santa Tell Me When? sees him branch out into chiller, jazz-pop territory. Jammed full of lively beats, jaunty tempo changes, and cheeky lyrics, it’s the ideal choice for uplifting seasonal content. Plus, you can’t mess with that combination of jingling bells and autotune. 

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Victor Lundberg – Lilac Snow

Winter isn’t all about religious holidays. For many, it’s purely vibes — being cozy and unplugged from work is just as valid. Victor Lundberg nails this concept with Lilac Snow, his dreamy indie-folk setting the stage for log fires and long nights. Whether you’re soundtracking lo-fi short-form content or a quirky montage, this track’s subdued verses and bittersweet chorus should check all the boxes.

Victor Lundberg – Lilac Snow

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OTE – Jingle Through the Snow

Ever had Déjà vu? We got it real bad with Jingle Through the Snow. OTE’s instrumental track is so familiar, the influence and touchpoints lingering on the tip of your tongue. Everything from the warm, crackling vinyl to the Beach Boys sweetness, all chirpy glockenspiel and surf-rock guitar licks — it’s so comforting. If your content’s nostalgic and feel-good, you can’t go wrong with this. 

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Your content deserves a great soundtrack. You bring the idea, we bring the sound — step into our massive catalog of more than 50,000 tracks and find the perfect match today. 

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• Soundtrack the holidays with Jordin Sparks’ follow-up festive EP

Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum recording artist Jordin Sparks has just released a second batch of holiday tracks with Epidemic Sound. Keep reading for all the details.

What is Jordin Sparks releasing for the holiday season?

Jordin’s new EP is called Joy. It’s the follow-up to her debut EP with Epidemic Sound, 2023’s The Gift of Christmas, and features four more cozy classics.

Joy is a feel-good collection that lives somewhere between jazz, classical, and gospel, all tied in a bow by Jordin’s unmistakable vocals. Sprinkle a little holiday magic on top with chamber strings, carillon, xylophones, sleigh bells, and gorgeous backing vocals, and you’ve got the perfect festive recipe. 

Whether it’s Jordin vaulting into her upper register during Joy to the World, backed by family trio Brittney, TeChandra, and Jasmine Mills; the jubilant, free-wheeling swing of Deck the Halls; or the subdued, intimate tones characterizing What Child is This? and O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, this EP hits the spot for content creators and listeners alike. 

Where can you stream Jordin Sparks’ holiday tracks?

You can listen to Jordin’s Joy and The Gift of Christmas EPs on your usual digital service platforms like Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music. 

→ Stream Jordin Sparks

If you’d like to soundtrack your content with Jordin’s music, check it out below in the Epidemic Sound player.

→ Soundtrack with Jordin Sparks

And if that’s not quenched your thirst for festive fun, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Aside from Jordin’s versions of December-time standards, we have hundreds of holiday-themed tracks across our catalog. Find that feeling with Epidemic Sound’s Holiday Essentials playlist. 

→ Holiday Essentials playlist

More about Jordin Sparks

Jordin is a singer-songwriter and actor who rose to fame in 2007, after winning season six of American Idol — the series’ youngest champion. She’s since performed on Broadway and film, co-written for the likes of Ariana Grande, and received Platinum certification for her singles Battlefield, Tattoo, and No Air. 

Jordin’s initial collaboration with Epidemic Sound generated over 511 million views on TikTok and YouTube, resulting in more than 214,000 unique video creations across both platforms. 

“Working with Epidemic Sound on our first project was an incredibly rewarding experience, and I thought, ‘let’s do it again!’,” says Jordin. “They have an unmatched reach across social media that has helped me connect with both new listeners and loyal fans worldwide. Partnering with their in-house team has been a lot of fun and easy. I’m thrilled for everyone to hear our take on these timeless songs, and I hope they add even more joy to your holiday season.”

“Jordin’s legendary vocals, combined with the talent of our artists, resulted in something truly special with our first EP,” adds John Cleary, director of global music recruitment at Epidemic Sound. “This year we’ve switched up the vibe, and can’t wait to share it with our community of content creators and brands, and with listeners and fans across the globe.”

Jordin Sparks’ new EP is available now via Epidemic Sound and other digital service platforms. Listen below and start the season with joy. 

→ Listen to Joy

Shutter speed is a knowledge nugget every filmmaker should have on their menu. Let’s cover the essentials today. 

We’ll discuss: 

• How does it work? Shutter speed explained
• What are the most common camera shutters?
• Shutter speed vs. frame rate
• Shutter speed vs. shutter angle
• Shutter speed vs. ISO
• Shutter speed vs. aperture 
• Examples of shutter speed in action

How does it work? Shutter speed explained

So, what is shutter speed? You’ll be glad to hear that it does exactly what the name suggests: it measures the amount of time in which a camera’s shutter is open and exposed to light. You’ll typically see it measured in fractions of a second — 1/8 meaning an eighth of a second, 1/100 representing a hundredth of a second, and so on. 

Your camera captures footage by exposing a digital sensor — or film stock, if you’re old-school — to light. The shutter opens and closes to compose the image. 

Slow shutter speed

Lower numbers mean slower shutter speeds, as the shutter closes fewer times per second. This creates more exposure, as the shutter is open longer; less light is needed, and the image will be brighter. Super-slow shutter speeds risk over-exposure and motion blur, which some filmmakers enjoy. 

Fast shutter speed

On the other side of the coin, a high number means a faster shutter speed and less exposure. This results in smoother footage, but if the shutter speed’s too high, it might end up a little juddery. Top-end shutter speeds may also cause your image to darken, especially if you don’t have enough light. 

Most DSLR cameras can shoot at something like 1/4000, while some mirrorless models can climb to 1/32000 — the latter’s an absurd speed you’d likely never need.

What are the most common camera shutters?

Shutter speed is a universal concept across analog and digital cameras, but the mechanics behind the shutter itself can vary. Modern-day digital cameras often feature mechanical and digital shutters, activating pixels in the sensor to accommodate the latter.

Digital shutters help filmmakers reach higher shutter speeds, like the wild 1/32000 we just mentioned. Let’s take a quick look at the two most common shutter settings for digital cameras: rolling and global. 

Rolling shutters

Rolling shutters activate pixels in sequence to capture light, ‘rolling’ from left to right, top to bottom, corner to corner, and so on. This lends rolling footage a wider, more cinematic quality. 

Some filmmakers dislike rolling shutters because the whole image isn’t captured at once, due to the pixels’ time-delay. This can distort the image. 

Global shutters

Global shutters activate each pixel at the same time. This allows less room for distortion, but has a lower dynamic range and may struggle in low lighting.

Used in tandem with a mechanical counterpart, digital shutters help filmmakers get the most out of their shoots. 

Shutter speed vs. frame rate

Shutter speed and frame rate are partners in crime. As a rule of thumb, your shutter speed should be double your frame rate. For example, 24FPS should correspond to 1/48 shutter speed. Messing with one will affect the other — this is called the 180-degree rule.

Here’s a cheat sheet for remembering shutter speed vs. frame rate.

Remember shutter speed vs. frame rate

• 24FPS: 1/48
• 25FPS: 1/50
• 30FPS: 1/60
• 60FPS: 1/120
• 100FPS: 1/200
• 120FPS: 1/240
• 200FPS: 1/400

Shutter speed vs. shutter angle

Shutter speed and shutter angle are pretty much the same thing — they’re just measured differently. Shutter speed is recorded in time, while shutter angle is measured in degrees. Some filmmakers prefer to work by shutter angle rather than speed, as the former requires less math.

The standard shutter angle is 180 degrees, which sits at 24FPS and 1/48 shutter speed — that’s roughly how the naked eye sees the world. If you want to double the frame rate without anything strange happening, you’ll need to double the shutter speed, too.

Measuring by shutter angle ensures that your shutter speed and frame rate remain in sync, no matter how much you alter either value. This is the 180-degree rule in action. 

Going above 180 degrees ramps up ‌motion blur and introduces shakiness, while dropping to a narrower value sharpens your footage to an almost unnatural finish. Neither of these necessarily represent real life, and that’s the point — an extreme shutter angle can bolster your content’s vibe. 

Here’s a cheat sheet for remembering shutter speed vs. shutter angle.

Remember shutter speed vs. shutter angle

• 1/32: 270 degrees
• 1/48: 180 degrees
• 1/50: 172.8 degrees
• 1/60: 144 degrees
• 1/96: 90 degrees
• 1/120: 72 degrees

Shutter speed vs. ISO

ISO measures the amplitude of light hitting your camera’s sensor. The higher the ISO value, the more sensitive the image becomes, making it susceptible to grain or ‘image noise’. A higher ISO is preferred for darker shoots, while a lower value is standard for natural lighting — 100 seems to be the sweet spot. 

When you consider shutter speed vs. ISO, bear in mind the type of content you’re filming and the style you hope to achieve. For example, a greater ISO would work better in a low-light situation, but may struggle to nail the action without significant motion blur. In that case, you’d crank up the shutter speed — you might still experience grain, but the footage would be more presentable. 

Shutter speed vs. aperture 

Aperture is the hole that appears in a camera lens when the shutter opens, controlling how much light gets through. It’s measured in ‘f-stops’, and each f-stop represents the size of said hole. The ‘f’ stands for the lens’ focal length.

A wide aperture lets more light in and has a smaller f-stop, while a narrow aperture is darker and has a higher f-stop. Adjusting the aperture will affect your footage’s depth of field. 

A camera’s aperture scale typically runs from the wide f/1.0 to the narrow f/22, working in tandem with shutter speed. You’d typically use a wide aperture with a fast shutter speed, and a narrow aperture with a slow shutter speed — this compensates for the light hitting the lens. Play around with the f-stop to find the balance and effect that works for you. 

Shutter speed, ISO, and aperture create the Exposure Triangle, which you can check out below. Each value is tightly linked — tinkering with one will impact the other. Understanding how each affects the other will save time on location, streamline post-production, and improve your footage. 

Examples of shutter speed in action

Now that we’ve discussed what shutter speed is, how it works, and how it’s related to ISO, aperture, frame rate, and more, let’s finish with some best-in-class examples of different shutter speeds. 

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Quentin Tarantino’s debut captivated audiences thanks to its plot, dialogue, and cinematic wizardry. In a career full of iconic scenes, Dogs’ opening credits might just take the gold trophy. 

Shot at 24FPS, the gang’s walk across the parking lot is slowed down with step-printing, which duplicates each frame. The video still plays at 24FPS, but each frame is now twice as long — it should really be playing at 48FPS. Paired with the footage’s original 1/48 shutter speed, it results in a choppy, rough cut with a decent amount of motion blur. 

If you’re feeling nerdy, double the YouTube playback speed during this scene. It’s not perfect, but it pretty much reinstates the scene to ‘regular’ 24FPS alongside the 1/48 shutter speed. 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Filmed at 48FPS, Peter Jackson’s first Hobbit movie infamously went for a 1/64 shutter speed. This was higher than the 1/48 audiences were used to, but lower than the 1/96 you’d expect to come with 48FPS — critics described it as ‘sickly’ and ‘alienating’. This decision was made to make the film feel more vivid when reduced to 24FPS for most theaters and home media. 

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road introduced the director’s apocalyptic wasteland to a new generation of film fans. The incredible action and color palette were intensified by undercranking, cinematographer John Seale explains. This means the frame rate dropped below the project’s regular playback speed, resulting in a jittery, unreal effect.

Complemented by a super-high shutter speed, Fury Road and its prequel, 2024’s Furiosa, drove audiences through the desert at a deliberately uncomfortable pace. 

So, that was shutter speed — now it’s time to apply it to your own content. Try starting at 24FPS and a 1/48 shutter speed, then play with all of the variables to sculpt the content you want to see.

The visuals are just one element, of course. There’s the script, lighting, sound design, and the music, of course. After all, the soundtrack can make or break your content — why let one needle-drop derail your project? Epidemic Sound’s got you covered.

Our catalog is high-quality, affordable, and safe. An Epidemic Sound subscription goes beyond royalty-free music, removing the headache of licensing and freeing you up to do what you do best. You can enjoy the safety of our license hand-in-hand with our massive catalog of 50,000 tracks, covering just about every genre you can think of. You’ll also gain unlimited access to our advanced search functions — finding the right sound’s never been easier.

It’s better than royalty-free. It’s worry-free. Get started with Epidemic Sound below.

Are you a filmmaker? We've got you covered with background music for videos, including:

• iMovie
• TV shows
• Video production music
• Music for commercials

Take your video editing to the next level with our massive catalog of music for filmmakers.

As the 2020s roll on, classical music’s enduring popularity can’t be ignored. The genre’s track views on YouTube have shot up by 43% year-on-year, while video uploads featuring classical tracks have increased by 19% across the platform.

Elsewhere, classical music streams clambered 41% higher on Spotify, bucking against the hyperpop and singer-songwriter genres you’d expect to dominate listeners’ habits.

We noticed this trend throughout Epidemic Sound’s platform, too. Classical music downloads via our Player rose by 12% year-over-year — it’s an upswing we’ve tracked in our Sound of the Internet reports for two years running. Not bad for a genre that’s hundreds of years old!

Why use classical music in your content? 

There’s a whole world of music out there, so why pick classical? Slam the brakes a second and think about it — classical music’s been telling the world’s most epic, poignant stories for centuries, without dialogue. Its seemingly endless dynamics, soaring from the loftiest highs to the subtlest lows, lend it the versatility to soundtrack everything from TikToks to feature films.

That’s why Stanley Kubrick chose Strauss and Ligeti to soundtrack 2001: A Space Odyssey. It’s why Nike used Beethoven — and Willem Dafoe, to be fair — to underpin this intense ad from their Winning Isn’t for Everyone campaign. 

This style makes people feel things, whether it be elation or dread, heartbreak or white-knuckle excitement. Emotion doesn’t mean one thing, and classical music isn’t one sound.

Find world-famous classical music with Epidemic Sound  

Based on our research, your feedback, and the wealth of talent in our roster, we set about creating the ultimate classical music collection for content creation.

Released in December 2023, the Epidemic Sound Classical Essentials launched with interpretations of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Mozart’s Twinkle Variations, and selections from Schumann’s Novelletten. Now, we’ve taken it to the next level with world-class artists like Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Aerian, and Johannes Bornlöf.

Our catalog of more than 3,000 tracks now boasts more than 400 new entries, blending genre staples with original compositions. Want a Dvořák suite for your broadcast material, a Brahms sonata for your network’s podcast? How about an Indian classical track for your social media drive, some Japanese classical for that larger-than-life ad campaign you’re working on? Epidemic Sound’s got you covered. 

It’s never been easier to access and license iconic, timeless tracks for your projects and content. There’s no need to rely on low-quality free recordings, nor waste time negotiating with traditional labels and Performance Rights Organizations. You just need a user-friendly, restriction-free solution.

Rediscover old favorites and hunt down new gems for your content today with Epidemic Sound’s Classical Collection. All freshly captured for a modern audience, all globally cleared for your production.

→ Find classical music

Learn more about the Epidemic Sound Classical Essentials

Initial sessions for the Epidemic Sound Classical Essentials took place at Power Station at BerkleeNYC and Stockholm’s Immersive Music Studios. Between them, these legendary recording studios have hosted everyone from ABBA to Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles to Lady Gaga, and Bob Dylan to Madonna.

Choice cuts from Epidemic Sound’s Classical Essentials were performed by world-renowned artists including Eric Jacobsen, a Juilliard-trained, Grammy-nominated conductor described as ‘an interpretive dynamo’ by the New York Times; Mira Ma, a virtuoso pianist, teacher, and Mozarteum University alum; and Michelle Ross, the violinist, composer, and improviser who’s performed with the Juilliard String Quartet and played on a Grammy-winning album.

The tracks also feature a 22-piece chamber orchestra, making it the largest-scale recording undertaken by Epidemic Sound artists.

“We obsess over how the creative community evolves, and the data’s loud and clear — classical music is having a major moment,” says David Slitzky, VP music & artist strategy at Epidemic Sound. “For the third year in a row, creators use more classical music on YouTube than ever to bring their stories to life. We’ve been busy expanding and refreshing our classical catalog, releasing iconic classics and original compositions featuring world-class ensembles. We know what connects, and our catalog has a sound for every idea.”

Classical music should be accessible to everyone — that’s why we’re making it easier to license. Delve into our classical themes and sound effects, then sign up for Epidemic Sound below. You bring the idea, we bring the sound.

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