NoCopyrightSounds
NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) is a free, copyright-cleared music library launched in 2011, serving digital content creators on YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and Spotify with 90+ genres and 500+ billion lifetime plays, monetised through advertising, brand partnerships, and sync licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What NoCopyrightSounds does
NoCopyrightSounds (NCS), founded in 2011 and operated at ncs.io, is a free, copyright-cleared music library that supplies primarily electronic and adjacent genre tracks to digital content creators. Its catalogue spans 90+ genres and has accumulated more than 500 billion plays globally across owned and partner channels. NCS serves YouTubers, Twitch streamers, TikTok creators, podcasters, and other digital media producers, with high-profile users including MrBeast-tier creators. The core offering is a free-to-use library accessible through a self-serve, product-led experience, with attribution to NCS as the price of free access.
The underlying platform integrates with major distribution channels via OAuth (Facebook, Google, Spotify) and maintains an active presence across YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, Twitch, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, allowing creators to discover, license, and embed tracks with minimal friction. The business model is built on three revenue pillars: (1) advertising revenue from monetised plays on NCS-owned YouTube channels and Spotify presence; (2) brand partnerships with creator-aligned brands; and (3) sync licensing for commercial use cases such as advertising, film, and brand content. Free creator access, attribution requirements, and broad multi-platform distribution underpin a long-tail, volume-driven monetisation model rather than enterprise contracts.
Operationally, the company has not disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, leadership changes, headcount, or office locations in the available data. Its strategic posture is consistent with a product-led, vertically integrated music rights and distribution business that monetises scale rather than per-seat licensing, with brand and sync revenue layered on top of an ad-supported core.
NoCopyrightSounds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NoCopyrightSounds
- Website
- https://ncs.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) is a free, copyright-cleared music library launched in 2011, serving digital content creators on YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and Spotify with 90+ genres and 500+ billion lifetime plays, monetised through advertising, brand partnerships, and sync licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NoCopyrightSounds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Streaming and Licensing
- NAICS
- Music Publishers (512230), Music Publishers (51223), Record Production and Distribution (51225)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Creator Music/SFX Asset Libraries & Licensing Platforms (MPACABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Music Aggregators & DIY Distribution Platforms (MPAIAAAD)
Keywords
NoCopyrightSounds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising Revenue: Revenue generated through advertising on their YouTube channel, Spotify presence, and website properties. With 500+ billion plays globally, substantial ad revenue flows from high viewership numbers.
- Brand Partnerships: Strategic partnerships with brands and potentially game publishers for sync licensing opportunities. Featured releases and artist spotlights create sponsorship opportunities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Access - All tracks available at no cost |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
NoCopyrightSounds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) operates a web-based library of copyright-free electronic music that content creators can search, stream, and download for use in videos, streams, and other monetized content without incurring copyright strikes, provided they credit the artists in their video description. The catalog spans 90+ genres (EDM, House, Drum & Bass, Dubstep, Trap, Phonk, Hyperpop, etc.) and dozens of moods, with tracks contributed by independent electronic artists and distributed globally via ncs.io and major streaming platforms.
Product overview
NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) operates as a single, unified copyright-free music library platform for content creators. The core offering is the NCS Music Library, which allows creators to search and download electronic music tracks organized by genre and mood, with all music free to use provided attribution is given. The platform does not offer additional products, modules, or sub-brands—it is a single-product service focused exclusively on providing royalty-free music licensing for creators ranging from individual YouTubers to major channels like MrBeast.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NCS Music Library A web-based copyright-free electronic music library enabling content creators (YouTubers, Twitch streamers, TikTokers, social media creators) to search tracks by genre and mood, stream previews, and download full tracks free of charge for use in monetized content, with attribution in the video description as the only usage requirement.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ billion plays globally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use NoCopyrightSounds
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
NoCopyrightSounds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature2 records
NoCopyrightSounds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Electronic Music ArtistscoreNCS works with independent electronic music artists who contribute tracks to the NCS library. Artists retain ownership while granting NCS the right to distribute their music as copyright-free. Artists gain exposure through NCS's 500+ billion plays platform.
- SpotifymajorDistribution partnership for streaming NCS music through Spotify's platform. NCS maintains official artist profiles and branded playlists on Spotify.
- YouTubecoreCore distribution and marketing channel. NCS YouTube channel distributes official releases, and creators use NCS music extensively in YouTube content.
- TikTokmajorDistribution partnership for reaching TikTok creators. NCS music available for use in TikTok videos without copyright concerns.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights4 records
NoCopyrightSounds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Artlist: Subscription royalty-free music and SFX platform for filmmakers, YouTubers and agencies. Competes for the same creator and brand licensing dollars as NCS, with similar catalog breadth and licensing terms.
- Soundstripe: Subscription music, SFX and stock footage library for video creators and businesses. Operates the same core use case as NCS (royalty-free music for monetized video) via paid plans rather than free distribution.
- Epidemic Sound: Subscription-based copyright-free music library aimed at content creators and brands. Directly competes with NCS in the same use case (background music for YouTube/social video) but with a paid model rather than free-with-attribution.
- Pretzel Rocks: Free, stream-safe music library specifically designed for Twitch streamers and live creators. Most directly comparable to NCS in its free-to-creator model and gamer/streamer audience focus.
- Lickd: Music licensing service for YouTube creators offering licensed mainstream tracks for a per-track fee. Adjacent competitor to NCS in solving the same creator pain point (copyright-safe video music) but via paid mainstream catalog rather than free independent electronic music.
- Musicbed: Curated music licensing platform serving filmmakers, brands and content creators. Overlaps with NCS in providing cleared music for video, but targets higher-end and brand briefs with subscription/per-track licensing.
Broad incumbents
- Pond5: Royalty-free stock media marketplace with music, video, SFX and more. Overlaps with NCS in supplying cleared music to video creators and brands, but as a broad marketplace rather than a focused creator library.
- Storyblocks: Unlimited subscription library of stock video, audio and images for creators and agencies. Competes with NCS for the audio portion of creator workflows, bundled with a much larger stock-media catalog.
- Envato Elements: Subscription platform offering unlimited downloads of stock video, music, graphics and templates. Includes a music library that competes with NCS for creator usage as part of a much broader digital asset bundle.
Emerging players
- StreamBeats: Free-to-use music library built for streamers and content creators, with a more limited catalog than NCS. Directly comparable value proposition (copyright-safe music at no cost) but smaller scale and reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NoCopyrightSounds social profiles
Digital presenceNoCopyrightSounds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NoCopyrightSounds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
NoCopyrightSounds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NoCopyrightSounds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NoCopyrightSounds
What does NoCopyrightSounds do?
NoCopyrightSounds (NCS) operates a web-based library of copyright-free electronic music that content creators can search, stream, and download for use in videos, streams, and other monetized content without incurring copyright strikes, provided they credit the artists in their video description. The catalog spans 90+ genres (EDM, House, Drum & Bass, Dubstep, Trap, Phonk, Hyperpop, etc.) and dozens of moods, with tracks contributed by independent electronic artists and distributed globally via ncs.io and major streaming platforms.
When was NoCopyrightSounds founded?
NoCopyrightSounds was founded in 2011.
How does NoCopyrightSounds make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are brand Partnerships.
Who are NoCopyrightSounds's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Artlist, Soundstripe, Epidemic Sound, Pretzel Rocks, Lickd and Musicbed. Broad incumbents are Pond5, Storyblocks and Envato Elements. StreamBeats is listed as an emerging player.
Does NoCopyrightSounds have an API?
No public API is recorded for NoCopyrightSounds.
What industry is NoCopyrightSounds in?
NoCopyrightSounds's product category is Music Streaming and Licensing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACABAM, Creator Music/SFX Asset Libraries & Licensing Platforms, with a secondary code of MPAIAAAD, Music Aggregators & DIY Distribution Platforms. Its NAICS code is 512230 and its SIC code is 2741.