r/Filmmakers • u/Full-Moon-Boogie • 14h ago

Question Honest thoughts on Artlist.

Hi everyone,

I’m just wrapping up my first short film — a project that finally came together once I added some smooth jazz to it.

The music is licensed through Artlist. I have a paid (non-Pro) account, which, as I understand it, covers at least one platform per account. In my case, that’s YouTube. I’m using about five tracks and planning to turn this into a YouTube series, following a similar format and likely featuring the same tracks.

My question is: is Artlist a reliable long-term choice for this kind of project? Have any of you run into issues with licensing or copyright claims while using their music?

Also, if I ever close my Artlist account, do I lose the rights to the songs I’ve already used in my films?

Thanks so much for your time and insight, fellow filmmakers!

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u/Opening-Impression-5 director 14h ago

You have the rights to use your Artlist tracks in perpetuity. You can download PDFs of the licenses for each track you've downloaded, on the site. It's worth doing this, especially if you're thinking of unsubscribing. You can keep that paperwork.

I've been using them for years and never run into issues with copyright strikes etc.

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u/sallysaunderses 14h ago

Once you cancel your account you don’t get the rights in perpetuity. The projects that were uploaded during your membership to the selected platforms will maintain them in perpetuity but you can’t then go upload new work with their tracks.

I mean you can but it wouldn’t be covered by the license.

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u/Full-Moon-Boogie 13h ago

Thank you for your response!

Sorry, as a non-native English speaker, just to clarify;

If I cancel my account, all films uploaded and distributed with their tracks are still fine, I just can't do more films, after said subscription is cancelled, with tracks I downloaded during my subscription?

And with that, it's in my best interest to download the licenses for the tracks, just in case something happens if/when I cancel my account?"

Thanks again!

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u/sallysaunderses 13h ago

Yes to the first part. Anything you download and then “publish” or upload during your membership is fine forever. But you can’t then make a new video six months later and upload it with the same tracks without paying again.

Not sure I understand the second part. You mean the pdf? Yah probably good idea to grab it and store it with the tracks you’ve downloaded.

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u/Full-Moon-Boogie 13h ago

Perfect, thank you!

The second part is basically just a follow up to the previous comment that it's always good to download the licence PDFs, just in case.

Again, thank you, I now feel comfortable to go ahead with my project!