BandLab features a plethora of amazing loops and samples that you may just want to include in your next big track. So, you may be wondering — are these loops and samples copyright / royalty free? Or is there some hidden catch? Am I going to attempt to monetize my content but then be forced to share the royalties with BandLab?
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BandLab Loops and Samples are Royalty Free
The Bandlab Help Center states that their included loops and samples are 100% free to use:
All BandLab loops and samples are registered under Creative Commons and are 100% royalty free. Our loops and instruments are made by our in house Sound team, so you won’t have to worry about the pre-existing copyrights, etc, either! More info can be found here.
So, staying true to their open and free music-making platform, BandLab lets all users use their loops and samples royalty-free:
All our loops are royalty-free because we’re driven by supporting creative musicians – like us – to make the best music they can without the restrictions of a paywall.
BandLab Loops and Samples are Registered Under Creative Commons
BandLab states that their loops and samples are registered under Creative Commons. What does this mean? Well, Creative Commons licenses indicate how a piece of work can be used by the public. These licenses enable the free distribution of work that may otherwise be copyrighted. In the case of BandLab, their loops and samples can be used, modified, and shared free of charge!
Can I Sell Music Created with BandLab?
The BandLab Help Center states that you remain the owner of the copyright of any music created with or uploaded to BandLab. So, yes — you can use BandLab to create music that you can then sell. However, if you make your track forkable, you will grant other users the right copy, download, modify, share, use… basically do whatever they want with. They can even take your forkable track and use it to make money for themselves!
So, if you’re looking to collect all the royalties with your next number one hit, think twice about making your track forkable. However, if you’re looking to collaborate with other musicians and potentially reach a larger audience, then it may be best to make your track forkable.
Forkable? What is forking on BandLab?
BandLab’s collaboration features are second to none. Forking allows you to build upon another artist’s finished track. When you fork a track, you basically dump it into your own mix editor. You then have complete freedom to change, add to, delete, or completely re-arrange any and all elements. And as mentioned previously, you can then re-publish your version of the track (and even monetize it without the original artist’s consent — refer to previous paragraph concerning copyrights).
To make your track forkable so that other artists have access to it, do the following:
- Go to your main project list
- Click the three dots next to the track you want to make forkable and click on Project Settings:
![Bandlab Project List - Project Settings](https://makemusicwith.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bandab-main-project-list-project-settings.jpg)
- Once in the individual project screen, click the Forkable toggle to turn it on and then hit Update:
![BandLab Project Screen - Turning on Forking](https://makemusicwith.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bandlab-Project-Forkable.jpg)
Bandlab Copyright FAQs
Are songs on BandLab copyrighted?
Per BandLab’s Blog, you remain the copyright owner when you upload or create any content with BandLab. However, when forking is enabled on your track, it grants users a license to copy, download, synchronize, perform, play, or even commercialize the content.
Are BandLab loops copyrighted?
Per the BandLab blog, loops are 100% royalty-free and can be used personally or commercially. All BandLab loops and samples are registered under a Creative Commons license.