TL;DR
- The best background music for your video depends on its mood, message, and pace.
- There is no “wrong genre” for a specific type of video. Some genres simply express certain moods and energy levels more efficiently than others.
- Energetic and busy music works well for trailers, advertisements, and sports content. When the visuals are more important than narration, you can let the music take a more prominent role.
- Sparse and subdued music (with low volume) sits naturally in the background, making it ideal when narration or conveying information is the main purpose of your video.
- Use royalty-free music with clear licensing terms to reduce the risk of copyright claims. Choosing an exclusive music library like HookSounds can provide additional protection against third-party claims.
- Be careful with music labeled as “free” or “copyright-free,” as these tracks can still trigger copyright claims.
Choosing the right background music is as essential as selecting the right visuals and recording a high-quality voiceover. But what works best depends heavily on the type of video you're creating.
In this article, we’ll give you tips on how to choose the best background music for every video style, what to look out for, and examples to help you find the right fit.
Why Background Music Matters
Music has a direct effect on how we perceive the accompanying visuals. It makes a scene feel more urgent, hopeful, nostalgic, or dramatic. In video production, background music serves to:
- create emotional resonance
- establish pacing and rhythm
- communicate the message effectively
- maintain viewer attention
However, using music that doesn’t fit - or using none at all - can work against your video.
A corporate presentation with comedic jazz, or a tense scene with upbeat pop, will quickly undermine the message you’re trying to convey. Context is everything.
Choosing Music Based on Video Type
Here are a few evergreen examples that have proven to work very well for their respective video types. The most important takeaway is to choose music for your video based on its emotional tone, storytelling, mood, and energy level.
There’s no “wrong” genre to choose. These are simply tried-and-tested recommendations to provide a starting point.
1. Lifestyle, Vlogs and Personal Content
Tone: Casual, authentic, engaging
Recommended genres:
- hip-hop & lo-fi
- acoustic
- light indie pop
- soft electronic
Vlogs thrive on relatability. The background music should adapt to the energy level, the topic being discussed, and the visual storytelling, without distracting from the content. Light instrumental tracks help maintain flow between cuts and keep energy levels consistent. Most vlogs are upbeat, casual and not very dramatic.
Tip: Avoid lyrics unless they’re subtle. Singing can compete with narration or dialogue.
Music examples for Vlogs and Personal Content
Make sure to check HookSounds' original royalty-free music for vlogs.
2. Corporate and Business Videos
Tone: neutral to slightly uplifting, clean, trustworthy
Recommended genres:
- ambient
- soft pop
- minimal electronic
- uplifting orchestral
Corporate videos, such as internal presentations, corporate films, and brand introductions, typically benefit from music that feels upbeat, professional, and clean. The goal is to support the message and create a sense of confidence and trust—not to entertain or distract the viewer.
Tip: Choose music with a steady tempo and clean arrangement to match your branding and voiceover cadence. Many platforms use ‘Corporate Music’ as a category for music designed for corporate videos - but technically, it is not a genre.
Music examples for Corporate Videos
3. Product Demos and Commercials
Tone: Dynamic, modern, attention-grabbing
Recommended genres:
- modern pop
- funk
- upbeat indie folk or rock
- orchestral
The music needs to ‘speak your brand’s language’ and make your product shine. Music for advertisements usually sounds happy and energetic to making the visuals pop. Consider loop-based tracks with a simple structure to provide a consistent background. You want to avoid overly emotional music or complex arrangements that distract from the visuals or narration.
Advertisements cover a huge emotional range, from heartfelt fundraising campaigns to loud and high-energy sports commercials. While many ads are designed to grab attention through bold and aggressive messaging, emotional storytelling and powerful imagery can be just as effective.
Tip: Match the rhythm of the music with your cuts—this enhances flow and professionalism.
Music examples for Product Demos and Commercials
4. Interviews and Editorial Content
Tone: linear, focused, non-distracting
Recommended categories:
- ambient
- minimal piano
- soft electronica
For interviews, educational content and explainer videos, conveying information clearly and in a structured way is the top priority when it comes to audio. Music typically plays a minor role in these formats, but it can still enhance content covering more theoretical topics by keeping viewers engaged and adding subtle movement to the content.
The music should sit well in the background and remain subtle so that it doesn’t compete with the voiceover or visuals. We recommend subdued, pulsing narration beds with a consistent energy level. These tracks provide a subtle rhythmic foundation without overpowering the content.
Keep the music volume even lower than you would for other types of videos to keep a contrast between the narration and the background music. Avoid overly dramatic, melodic or busy compositions, as well as tracks with vocals, which can easily distract from the narration.
Music examples for Interviews and Editorial Content
5. Travel Content
Tone: authentic, inspiring, raw, detailed
Recommended categories: organic folk, world music, ambient, orchestral
When your content focuses on traveling to unfamiliar places, your aim should be to highlight the country’s unique culture and natural environment. When choosing background music for travel videos, consider the topic you’re covering and the location you’re visiting.
Generally, look for authentic world music that uses country-specific instrumentation to emphasize cultural aspects and give your audience a stronger sense of place.
When your goal is to introduce different cultures to your audience, you want to convey both information and emotion. A good approach is to separate talking and informational passages, which often work best without music, from B-roll footage, which can be enhanced with background music.
Music examples for Travel Videos
6. Films and Story-Driven Content
Tone: Emotional, cinematic, narrative
Recommended categories:
- expressive cinematic
- ambient soundscapes
- world & organic music
Strong supporting background music for films and documentaries should respond to what’s shown on the screen. When emotions change, the music follows. A complete guide on how to choose background music for films would be outside the scope of this article, but generally you should consider using expressive music (not loop-based) that supports and follows the storyline—as if there were a direct link between the music and the visuals.
If you really want your film to achieve a professional level of production, typical stock music can feel a bit too linear. We therefore recommend having professional composers and producers create a custom soundtrack specifically for your film, ensuring that the music perfectly complements the visuals.
Both film and music can involve incredible attention to detail, and even the smallest nuances matter. Custom music is tailored to perfectly match the pacing, emotional tone, atmosphere, and storytelling of your film - ensuring that all elements work together seamlessly.
Think in terms of acts—instead of using just one track, use different musical themes to emotionally support each chapter.
Music examples for films and story-driven content
7. Sports and Fitness
Tone: modern, energetic, rhythmic, driving, uplifting
Recommended categories:
- EDM
- Rock
- Pop
Depending on the type of sport, the pace of the visuals, and the format of the video, choose motivational music that keeps the energy levels up. While a fast-paced sports trailer may call for heavier beats and a more intense sound, medium-intensity workouts often work better with a steady, rhythmic pulse.
Music for sports and fitness content often emphasizes rhythm, as many workouts involve repetitive and controlled movements. The music should complement that rhythm and help maintain a consistent pace throughout the workout. Look for tracks with a positive mood. After all, working out should be fun so your brain associates it as something emotionally rewarding.
To give you a good starting point, discover our playlist for medium-intensity workouts.
Music examples for sports & fitness content
8. Spiritual & Meditation
Tone: ethereal, floating, soft
Recommended categories:
- ambient
- soft acoustic
- piano
The best background music for spiritual content should help create a calm, grounded atmosphere and encourage positive emotions. Choose music with a slow tempo that feels more like a sound bed than a traditional track with clearly separated sections.
Studies suggest that ambient music can promote relaxation. Long, sustained notes and slow tempos with minimal melodic movement can contribute to a calming listening experience. For spiritual content and meditation, it is essential that the visuals and music work together to create a sense of calm and presence—something that very gentle ambient sound beds are particularly well suited to.
Check out our category to find our hand-picked selection of royalty-free music for spiritual and relaxing content.
Music examples for Spiritual & Meditation Content
Which music license do you need?
Given the countless music sources on the internet, you should ask yourself:
“Am I allowed to use this music track in my videos?”
As we've already covered in our previous article, we highly recommend using royalty-free music for your projects, because HookSounds, as a provider of royalty-free music, also offers ways to whitelist your channel and effectively avoid copyright claims when using the music.
Learn about everything you need to know about royalty-free music in our article.
- Royalty-free music means that you pay once (or subscribe) and use the music in multiple projects without recurring fees. On HookSounds you will also find free royalty-free music for non-commercial use if paid licenses are not an option for you.
More beginner-friendly options are:
- Creative Commons: Music released under Creative Commons is free, but often comes with restrictions like attribution or limited use in monetized content.
- Public domain tracks are free to use with no legal restrictions, but options are limited and often outdated.
FAQ
How to choose background music for videos?
To determine which type of music works best for your videos, analyze its message, mood, and energy level. There is no inherently wrong type of music or genre—it all depends on the content. For casual videos, chill hip-hop, pop, or electronic music can be a good starting point. When your video centers more on information or narration, choose subtle music beds or sparse beats that support the content without demanding attention.
How to avoid copyright claims on YouTube?
The best way to avoid copyright claims on YouTube is to use properly licensed, royalty-free music. Instead of relying on music labeled as “free-to-use” or “copyright-free”, choose royalty-free music with clear licensing terms. Established royalty-free music platforms like HookSounds also offer whitelisting tools to help prevent automated copyright claims on YouTube.
Is Royalty-Free Music safe to use?
Yes, royalty-free music is safe to use when it comes with clear licensing terms and the appropriate rights.
In particular, royalty-free music platforms that offer exclusive, original music, such as HookSounds, provide an additional layer of security by distributing music that they fully own or control. This reduces the risk of third parties claiming rights to the music used in your content. Whitelisting tools also directly notify YouTube and other social media platforms that you are authorized to use the music in your content. This helps prevent your content from receiving copyright claims.
Can I use Royalty Free Music for commercial use?
Yes, royalty-free music can be used commercially as long as your license explicitly permits commercial use.
Commercial use is a broad term. Royalty-free music libraries typically provide clear licensing terms that distinguish between different types of commercial use, such as digital advertising, TV and radio broadcasts, OTT streaming, or playing music in a commercial space. HookSounds offers both single-track licenses and subscriptions with unlimited downloads, making the service suitable for agencies and larger-scale commercial use.
Final Thoughts
Music is one of the most underappreciated yet critical tools in video production. Selecting the right background track can significantly elevate the impact of your content, no matter the format.
At HookSounds, we offer an exclusive library of background music designed specifically for creators who care about quality and clarity. Our tracks are created by real musicians, and our licensing is straightforward—so you can focus on storytelling, not paperwork.
So, what are you waiting for?