The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Music on Social Media for Your Food Truck

Music can elevate your social media content, making your food truck’s posts more engaging, fun, and shareable. A great soundtrack can set the mood for behind-the-scenes clips, sizzling barbecue shots, and customer reactions. But using the wrong music can lead to muted posts, takedown notices, or even copyright strikes that could hurt your brand.

At Rocket Ribs and BBQ, we know that choosing the right music for social media is just as important as choosing the right wood for smoking meats. So let’s break down what you CAN and CAN’T do when using music on social media.

🎵 What You CAN Do When Using Music on Social Media

✅ 1. Use Music from the Platform’s Licensed Library

Music on Social Media

Most social media platforms offer a built-in music library with songs that are pre-approved for use. This is the safest and easiest way to add music to your food truck videos without copyright issues.

🔹 Where to Find Licensed Music on Social Media:

• Instagram & Facebook: Use the Music Sticker in Stories and Reels.

• TikTok: Choose from the Sounds Library when editing your video.

• YouTube: Use the YouTube Audio Library for free, royalty-free tracks.

💡 Tip: Always check if the song is labeled for business use—some songs in these libraries are only approved for personal accounts.

✅ 2. Use Royalty-Free or Licensed Music

If you want more control over your music selection, consider royalty-free tracks that are safe for commercial use. These tracks won’t get flagged for copyright, and you don’t have to worry about takedowns.

🔹 Best Royalty-Free Music Sites for Your Food Truck’s Social Media:🎶 Epidemic Sound – Subscription-based, high-quality tracks.🎶 Artlist.io – Great for cinematic and upbeat food truck videos.🎶 Pixabay Music – Free music with commercial use rights.🎶 Bensound – Free and paid options for background music.

💡 Tip: Always read the terms of use—some free music requires crediting the artist in your post.

✅ 3. Use Original Music or Custom Tracks

Want to stand out? Use your own original music or work with a musician to create a custom track for your brand.

🔹 Why This is a Great Option:

• No copyright worries.

• Your food truck has a signature sound that customers associate with your brand.

• You can add your own voiceover or jingle to make your brand memorable.

💡 Tip: If you collaborate with a musician, get written permission to use the track for commercial use.

🚫 What NOT to Do with Music on Social Media

Now that we’ve covered what you CAN do, let’s go over what NOT to do when adding music to your food truck’s social media posts.

❌ 1. Don’t Use Popular Songs Without Permission

You may love Beyoncé, Drake, or Taylor Swift, but you can’t use their music in your posts without the proper rights. Even if you bought the song on iTunes or Spotify, you don’t own the rights to use it in a video.

🚨 What Happens If You Use Copyrighted Music?

• Your post may be muted or blocked.

• You could get a copyright strike, especially on YouTube.

• Repeated violations can lead to account suspension.

💡 Tip: Instead of using a popular hit, find a similar royalty-free track with the same vibe!

❌ 2. Don’t Use Music That’s Not Cleared for Commercial Use

Even if a song is available in Instagram or TikTok’s music library, that doesn’t mean it’s approved for business use. Many tracks are only cleared for personal, non-commercial use, and using them to promote your food truck could still violate copyright rules.

🚨 Risk: If a song isn’t cleared for commercial use, your post could be taken down—even if you found it in the platform’s library.

💡 Tip: Check for a “for business use” label before selecting a song from a platform’s music library.

❌ 3. Don’t Assume Giving Credit Makes It Okay

A lot of people think that writing “I don’t own the rights to this music” in their caption makes it legal to use copyrighted music. It doesn’t!

🚨 The Reality:

• Crediting the artist doesn’t bypass copyright laws.

• The platform’s automated copyright detection will still flag unauthorized music.

💡 Tip: Instead of relying on disclaimers, use properly licensed or royalty-free music.

❌ 4. Don’t Upload Copyrighted Music in Your Video Editor

If you edit your food truck video with a copyrighted song before uploading it to Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, the platform can still detect and mute or block the post.

💡 Solution: Add music AFTER uploading by using the platform’s built-in music tools to avoid detection issues.

❌ 5. Don’t Overuse AI-Generated Music Without Checking Rights

With the rise of AI-generated music, it may seem like a loophole to avoid copyright issues. However, some AI platforms train their models on copyrighted music, which can still create legal concerns.

🚨 Risk:

• AI-generated tracks may still contain melodies or samples from copyrighted works.

• Some AI music services retain usage rights, meaning you don’t fully own the music.

💡 Tip: Stick to AI music from trusted sources that guarantee royalty-free licensing, such as Mubert or Soundraw.

🎶 Best Practices for Adding Music to Your Food Truck’s Social Media

✅ Use Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook’s built-in music library (and check for commercial use).

✅ Download royalty-free music from trusted sites.

✅ Create your own custom music or collaborate with local musicians.

✅ Avoid copyrighted music, even if you “give credit.”

✅ Always check usage rights before adding AI-generated music to your videos.

By following these simple rules, you can enhance your food truck’s social media presence legally and effectively—without risking takedowns or copyright strikes!

Final Thoughts: Choose Music That Elevates Your Brand

Music is a powerful marketing tool that can make your food truck’s social media posts more engaging. Just make sure you’re using it legally and strategically!

🚀 Quick Recap:

✅ DO: Use platform-approved music, royalty-free tracks, or original songs.

❌ DON’T: Use copyrighted music without permission, even with a disclaimer.

✅ DO: Check whether a song is cleared for commercial use.

❌ DON’T: Assume AI-generated music is always copyright-free—check the rights first.

🎤 What’s your go-to background music for your food truck videos? Drop a comment below!