Key Takeaways:
- Lickd helps creators use mainstream music legally in their videos.
- It offers a subscription service with millions of tracks from big artists.
- A special tool called Vouch prevents YouTube copyright claims.
- Using mainstream music can boost views, watch time, and likes by up to 76%.
- Even big brands and gamers are using Lickd for their content.
- Lickd wants to make music licensing fair for everyone.
The Problem Every Creator Faces
Imagine this: You’re a YouTuber, and you want to add cool music to your videos. Maybe you’re a fitness creator who needs upbeat tracks to energize your workouts. Or perhaps you’re a gamer who wants songs that match the vibe of your gameplay. The problem? Using mainstream music is tricky.
For years, creators like you had three options:
- Use generic stock music that feels boring and makes viewers skip your video.
- Risk using mainstream music and face copyright claims that take away your earnings.
- Avoid music altogether, which makes your content less engaging.
Paul Sampson, the CEO of Lickd, saw this problem and decided to fix it. He wanted to create a way for creators to use the music their audiences love without breaking the bank or losing money to copyright strikes.
What Is Lickd?
Lickd is a subscription service that lets creators use mainstream music legally. It works like this:
- Lickd negotiates with major music labels and publishers to get the rights to millions of songs.
- Creators can choose from 1.5 million tracks by artists like Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay.
- When you use Lickd, you don’t have to worry about copyright claims because of a tool called Vouch.
Vouch is like a shield for your YouTube videos. It tells YouTube’s system that you’ve legally licensed the music, so you won’t lose money from copyright strikes.
How Did Lickd Start?
A few years ago, Paul realized that while it was easy for creators to make high-quality videos at home, music licensing was still stuck in the past. Big companies with lawyers and money could negotiate music deals, but small creators couldn’t.
So, Paul had an idea: What if he created something like Spotify, but for licensing music? Instead of streaming music for fun, creators could use it legally in their videos. That’s how Lickd was born.
The Big Challenge: Music Industry Resistance
Changing the way the music industry works wasn’t easy. Paul spent years convincing labels and publishers to join Lickd. Some worried that letting creators use their music would hurt their profits.
But Paul had a smart argument. He showed them data proving that most creators weren’t using mainstream music because they were afraid of losing money. By partnering with Lickd, labels could earn extra cash from licensing fees and also boost streaming numbers when creators used their songs.
For example, when a gaming YouTuber used John Newman’s “Love Me Again” in a video, the song saw a huge spike in Spotify streams. This showed labels that Lickd could help them make more money.
Why Lickd Is a Game-Changer for Creators
Using mainstream music can supercharge your content. Lickd’s data shows that videos with popular songs:
- Get 35% more watch time.
- Double the number of views.
- Receive 76% more likes.
Fitness creators have seen huge growth. Many started with small budgets but now pay five times more for music because they see how much it helps their channels grow.
Gaming creators benefit even more. Great music can almost double every metric, making Lickd a must-have tool for them.
How Much Does Lickd Cost?
Lickd works on a subscription model, and the price depends on the size of your channel.
- Small creators can get unlimited stock music and one mainstream song for about $20 a month.
- For four mainstream songs, it’s around $25 a month.
- Bigger creators pay more, but it’s worth it because the music helps them grow their channel.
From every subscription, Lickd takes about 30%, and the rest goes to the music rights holders. This means artists and songwriters also benefit.
Lickd for Brands and Gamers
Lickd isn’t just for individual creators. Big brands like Boohoo and Redken are using it to license music for their ads and social media posts. Before Lickd, brands spent weeks trying to get the rights to music. Now, it takes just a couple of days.
Gaming platforms like Fortnite even use a special version of Lickd to help players share gameplay with music.
The Challenges Lickd Still Faces
Even though Lickd has made huge progress, it’s not perfect. Not all major music companies are on board yet. For example, Sony Music isn’t part of Lickd, so you can’t use songs by artists like Beyoncé.
But Lickd is using the demand from creators to negotiate with these labels. Every time someone searches for a song by an artist not on Lickd, it becomes proof that the label is missing out on money.
The Future of Lickd
Lickd wants to grow fast this year, with plans to nearly double its revenue. Its ultimate goal is to make sure creators can use any song they want without fears of copyright strikes.
Paul Sampson sees Lickd as more than just a business. He believes it’s a movement to help creators and artists thrive together.
Why You Should Care About Lickd
If you’re a creator, Lickd gives you the tools to make better content without breaking the law. For artists, it’s a way to get their music heard by millions of people.
As Paul says, “If you care about artists, songwriters, and culture, then you have to be behind Lickd.”
Lickd isn’t just solving a problem; it’s changing the future of content creation. With Lickd, the music that defines our culture can now be part of your videos, helping you grow your channel and connect with your audience.
For creators, artists, and fans, Lickd is making the impossible possible. And that’s something everyone can get excited about.
