Quick Answer: You can get YouTube subscribers by using music strategically to set the tone for your videos, create emotional connections with viewers, boost watch time, and build a recognizable channel identity. The key is choosing copyright-safe music from platforms like Thematic so your subscriber growth isn’t interrupted by strikes or demonetization.
Every creator wants to know one thing 👉 How do I get YouTube subscribers?
You’ve probably already optimized thumbnails, tested titles, and tried to crack the YouTube algorithm. But one of the most underrated ways to grow a channel and build loyal subscribers is through music – a strategy that consistently helps creators get YouTube subscribers faster.
Music does more than fill silence – it sets the tone, creates emotional connection, keeps viewers watching, and makes your channel memorable. In fact, many top creators treat music as a secret growth hack.
This guide will show you exactly how music helps you get YouTube subscribers, plus how to use copyright-safe tracks to monetize your videos without worry.
Table of Contents
- Why Music Matters
- 7 Ways Music Helps You Get YouTube Subscribers
- How to Use Music Strategically
- Music Mistakes to Avoid
- FAQs about Using Music to Get YouTube Subscribers
- Final Thoughts
Why Music Matters When You’re Trying to Get YouTube Subscribers
When you’re competing with millions of other creators, standing out isn’t just about visuals – it’s about creating a complete sensory experience. That’s where music comes in. Mastering music not only makes your content more engaging but also helps you get YouTube subscribers more effectively.
Here’s why music is such a powerful tool for growing subscribers:
- First impressions count: Viewers form an opinion in the first 10 seconds. Music instantly sets the mood and hooks them.
- Emotional connection: Music triggers emotions, and emotions drive engagement. Subscribers are more likely to stick with creators who make them feel something.
- Increased watch time: Strategic use of music keeps people engaged longer, which YouTube rewards in its recommendations algorithm.
- Brand building: Consistent music choices create a recognizable style that keeps viewers coming back.
If you’re still not convinced, watch this video edit where a song edit completely flips the vibe of an iconic movie scene, showing how music alone can transform perception.
In short: if you want to get YouTube subscribers, music isn’t optional – it’s essential.
7 Ways Music Helps You Get Subscribers on YouTube
Music isn’t just background noise – it shapes how viewers feel, keeps them watching, and makes your channel memorable. Here are seven ways the right soundtrack can help you grow your YouTube subscribers.
1. Music Sets the Tone for Your Content
By setting the right tone, your videos are instantly more appealing, and more likely to get YouTube subscribers who resonate with your style.
Think about the last viral video you watched. Chances are, the music immediately told you whether the vibe was fun, dramatic, motivational, or relaxing.
Creators who match music with content style have a huge advantage:
- Educational channels often use calm, ambient music to keep viewers focused.
- Fitness creators use high-energy beats to pump up their workouts.
- Travel vloggers lean on cinematic soundtracks to make viewers feel like they’re on the journey too.
Filmmaker and YouTube creator David Le sums it up perfectly.
“The music pieces things together more than anything else in the video. The sound brings the video to life. It grabs them by their ears and pulls them in with their eyes.”
He notes that “music is an essential part of what I create” and we couldn’t agree more.
By setting the right tone, your videos are instantly more appealing – and more likely to get YouTube subscribers.
2. Music Builds Emotional Connections
Emotional connections make viewers more likely to comment, share, and get YouTube subscribers invested in your content.
If you want people to subscribe, you need more than views – you need connection. Music taps into emotions that visuals alone can’t achieve.
- A nostalgic song can trigger memories that make viewers feel closer to you.
- An uplifting track can make your success story more inspiring.
- A dramatic score can make your cliffhanger ending more intense.
Think of themed musical experiences, like the Stagecoach Festival or Warped Tour. These events brought huge communities together around a shared love of music – Stagecoach celebrated country music, while Warped Tour embraced all forms of rock. Music shaped the culture, lifestyle, and emotional experience of these events.
Similarly, music brings communities together on YouTube. It’s a major reason why viewers connect with and follow certain creators.
Music makes it easy for viewers to connect with your content. It’s why people often say, “I don’t know why, but I just love this creator.” Emotional connections lead to more comments, shares, and subscribers.
✅ Pro Tip: If you’re just starting, experiment with different types of music to see what fits your content and community. Once you find the right sound, you’ll grow through stronger engagement and more subscribers. 📈
3. Music Keeps Viewers Watching Longer
YouTube favors watch time above all. The longer viewers stay engaged, the more likely your content will be recommended (and the more subscribers you’ll get).
Music is a powerful tool to hold attention. It influences pacing, sets emotional beats, and prevents your videos from feeling flat or boring. When used strategically, music gives your video rhythm, helping viewers move seamlessly from one segment to the next.
How music impacts viewer retention:
- Intro hooks: A high-energy or emotionally compelling track in the first 10–15 seconds grabs attention, reducing the chance that viewers click away.
- Transitions & montages: Unique beats or thematic tracks can signal changes in your video, keeping the audience engaged and guiding them through your story.
- Climactic moments: A well-placed track can heighten suspense or excitement, making viewers stick around until the end.
- Outro & call-to-action: Music can make your outro more memorable, reinforcing your brand identity and nudging viewers to subscribe.
Real-world example 👉 Travel vloggers often pair cinematic scores with scenic montages. The music slows down or ramps up to match the visuals, making viewers feel like they’re on the journey themselves. This immersive experience keeps audiences watching until the end and encourages them to subscribe for future adventures.
✅ Pro Tip: Use music as a pacing tool. Map out each video segment and choose tracks that build interest or excitement. Over time, this boosts watch time and accelerates subscriber growth.
4. Music Makes Your Channel Memorable
Music defines the vibe of your channel, making viewers feel at home and more likely to get YouTube subscribers who return for every video.
Subscribers want more than random videos – they want a recognizable brand. Music is one of the easiest ways to create a unique identity.
Examples of memorable music branding:
- Michelle Phan, co-founder of Thematic, became known for the Magic Hour Radio aesthetic with chill, lo-fi-inspired music. This perfectly complements her ASMR-style makeup tutorials 💄 and creates a calming, immersive experience for viewers.
- Jeremy Ethier, who built one of the largest fitness and workout channels 🏋️♀️ on YouTube, consistently soundtracks his videos with hip-hop music. This sound aligns with his content and reinforces his overall branding.
By maintaining a consistent music aesthetic, these creators make it clear what their channel represents and what type of community they’re building. Music defines the vibe of the channel, making viewers feel at home, and more likely to subscribe.
Why it matters for subscribers:
- Familiarity breeds loyalty. When viewers recognize your “sound,” they feel at home and are more likely to subscribe.
- A distinct music style differentiates you from competitors, giving viewers a reason to choose your channel over others.
- Music-driven branding enhances emotional engagement, which drives comments, shares, and subscriber growth.
✅ Pro Tip: Establish a consistent music style. Whether energetic, cinematic, chill, or quirky, maintain a recognizable sound while matching each video’s mood. Over time, this helps you get YouTube subscribers.
5. Music Establishes You as a Tastemaker
Curating great music not only elevates your content but also helps you get YouTube subscribers who trust your taste and return for more.
New creators often rely on basic stock music, which doesn’t stand out. Successful channels pair great production with carefully selected music to differentiate themselves.
Real-world example 👉 YouTube creator Backpacker Humpback shows how the right music transforms content from “just OK” to engaging, improving pacing, tone, and feel, which keeps viewers watching and subscribing.
Top influencers curate music for their audience, building credibility and establishing themselves as tastemakers. Subscribers return not just for content but to discover new music.
Why it matters for subscribers:
- Being a tastemaker signals quality and professionalism, making viewers more likely to subscribe.
- Music curation strengthens your brand identity and differentiates you from competitors.
- Introducing viewers to new tracks increases engagement and reinforces community loyalty.
✅ Pro Tip: Don’t settle for uninspiring stock music. Use high-quality, copyright-safe music from real artists – creator music platforms like Thematic make it easy to access music that elevates your videos, helps your channel stand out, and grows YouTube subscribers.
6. How Copyright-Safe Music Helps You Monetize YouTube Videos
Here’s a subscriber growth tip most people overlook: your channel can’t grow if it gets demonetized or blocked.
Using copyrighted music puts your videos at risk of:
- Being muted
- Losing monetization
- Getting a copyright strike
- Being taken down completely
That’s why smart creators use copyright-safe music platforms like Thematic. Thematic gives creators free access to real music from real artists – safe to use on YouTube and monetized videos.
With Thematic, you’ll get the benefits of:
- A wide selection of songs from artists like Fiji Blue, Naomi, frumhere, and Elli Moore
- No copyright claims or disputes
- 100% of ad revenue stays with you
The best part? Creating an account on Thematic is totally free. If you’re ready to grow your channel with great music and zero copyright headaches, sign-up for a free Thematic account today ✅
7. Music Differentiates You From Other Creators
When your videos stand out with unique music, it’s easier to get YouTube subscribers who value originality.
Let’s be real: YouTube is crowded. Viewers have endless options, so if your videos don’t stand out, they’ll move on. To get YouTube subscribers, you need something that makes your channel feel unique. Music is one of the fastest ways to create that signature identity.
Top strategies to use music to get YouTube subscribers:
- Use rare or undiscovered tracks. Thematic specializes in surfacing hidden gems from real artists (not the same overused background tracks your viewers have heard a hundred times).
- Build a recognizable style around your sound. Just like an intro sequence or editing style, your music choices can become part of your brand. When subscribers recognize your vibe the moment your video starts, they’re more likely to stick around.
- Create an emotional hook. Music can shape how your audience feels when they watch your content – whether that’s inspired, motivated, nostalgic, or just vibing. That emotional connection makes your channel more memorable.
- Give viewers a reason to subscribe. When your videos feel different and fresh, people notice. A unique music style makes your channel feel curated, intentional, and worth hitting “subscribe” to experience again.
And here’s the best part 👉 with Thematic specifically, you can access free, copyright-safe music from real artists that isn’t saturated across YouTube. That means your content sounds different – because it is different.
How to Use Music Strategically to Get YouTube Subscribers
Music is a tool, but like any tool, it’s only effective when used correctly. Follow these step-by-step strategies to select and implement tracks that maximize subscriber growth.
Step 1: Define Your Channel’s Vibe
Before choosing any track, take a step back and think about your overall brand. How do you want viewers to feel after watching your videos? Energized and ready to take action? Calm and comforted? Motivated to chase their goals? Your music should reinforce that emotional tone.
👉 For example, a fitness channel might lean on upbeat, high-BPM tracks that push intensity, while a cozy lifestyle vlogger might prefer mellow, acoustic sounds.
This step sets the foundation – when you know your vibe, you’ll naturally filter out songs that don’t fit.
Step 2: Match Songs to Video Segments
Don’t just pick one track and play it all the way through. Think of your video as a story with distinct parts, and let the music highlight each section:
- Intro: A punchy, high-energy track that immediately grabs attention. Viewers decide in seconds whether to keep watching, so this is where you make an impression.
- Body: A steady background track that supports the content without overpowering your voice or visuals. Think of it as the glue that holds your video together.
- Transitions: Short musical cues or shifts in tempo that signal a change. This keeps the pacing dynamic and prevents monotony.
- Outro: A track that feels like a “signature” sound for your channel. Ideally, it’s catchy or emotional enough that viewers associate it with your content and look forward to hearing it again.
By aligning music to structure, you create a natural rhythm that makes your videos easier (and more enjoyable) to watch.
Step 3: Use Copyright-Safe Music Sources
Even the best soundtrack can cause problems if it isn’t licensed properly. Copyrighted music can lead to videos being muted, demonetized, or even removed. That’s why creators turn to platforms designed specifically for YouTube-safe music. With Thematic, for example, you can:
- Access songs from popular indie artists that your audience won’t hear on every other channel.
- Use the tracks for free as long as you credit the artist, keeping things simple and transparent.
- Avoid copyright claims entirely, so your videos stay monetized and your revenue is safe.
This step isn’t just about avoiding headaches – it’s about building trust with your viewers and protecting your brand long-term.
Step 4: Stay Consistent
Think about the biggest YouTubers you follow. Chances are, they have a recognizable “sound” you could identify even with your eyes closed. Consistency in music creates familiarity, and familiarity builds loyalty.
When subscribers know they can expect a certain mood or style each time they click play, they’re more likely to return. That doesn’t mean you should use the same exact song in every video – but sticking to a similar genre, vibe, or even artist pool can help make your channel feel cohesive.
Over time, music becomes part of your identity, not just background noise – helping you get YouTube subscribers who identify with your channel’s unique style 💪
Common Mistakes Creators Make With Music (and How to Avoid Them)
Even experienced creators can stumble when it comes to music. Choosing the wrong track, using it incorrectly, or ignoring licensing rules can hurt your channel’s growth. Here are the most common mistakes (and how to avoid them).
1. Using copyrighted music without permission
Grabbing a trending song without permission might seem harmless, but it can cost you big. Platforms like YouTube will flag or block your video, strip away monetization, or even issue copyright strikes that threaten your channel.
✔️ Instead, use music you have the rights to – whether through royalty-free sources, direct licensing, or creator-friendly platforms like Thematic.
2. Overpowering the dialogue
Even the perfect song can ruin a video if it’s too loud. Music should support your message, not compete with it.
✔️ Always balance your audio levels so your voice or dialogue remains clear and easy to follow, with music sitting just underneath as emotional reinforcement.
3. Inconsistent music choices
Jumping from EDM in one video to acoustic folk in the next can confuse your audience and weaken your brand identity. Viewers often connect with your channel through its vibe as much as its content.
✔️ Stick to a consistent music style or theme that matches your personality and niche to strengthen recognition and retention.
4. Not crediting properly
Even with licensed music, many agreements require attribution. Forgetting to credit can put you out of compliance and risk losing your license.
✔️ Always double-check the crediting instructions for the music you use and include them in your video description or credits section.
FAQs About Using Music to Get YouTube Subscribers
Even if you understand the basics of adding music to your videos, creators often have questions about strategy, licensing, and audience impact. This FAQ answers the most common questions about how to use music effectively to grow your channel and get YouTube subscribers.
Can music really help me get YouTube subscribers?
Yes. Music shapes tone, builds emotional connection, increases watch time, and makes your content more memorable – all of which influence YouTube subscriber growth. When viewers feel connected and entertained, they are more likely to comment, share, and hit the subscribe button.
Music also makes your content more memorable, helping your channel stand out from competitors and encouraging viewers to return. Strategically using music is a simple yet powerful way to influence subscriber growth on YouTube.
What’s the best place to find copyright-safe music?
The safest option is to use platforms built for creators, like Thematic, which offers free music from real artists that’s cleared for monetized videos. Other options include royalty-free libraries or direct licensing deals.
Using music from these sources protects your channel from copyright strikes, monetization issues, or video takedowns, ensuring your growth isn’t interrupted.
How do I know what music fits my channel?
Start by defining your brand personality and the mood you want your videos to convey. Then experiment with different genres, tempos, and styles until you find a consistent “sound” that complements your content.
For example, fitness channels often benefit from high-energy tracks, while lifestyle or educational creators may prefer chill, ambient, or cinematic music. Over time, your audience will recognize your music style as part of your channel’s identity, helping you retain and get YouTube subscribers.
Can I use trending songs from Spotify or TikTok?
Not unless you have proper licensing. Using copyrighted tracks without permission can result in muted videos, demonetization, or copyright strikes.
Stick to copyright-safe music libraries and platforms to avoid risk. If you want trending songs, look for licensed remix versions or contact the rights holder directly.
The key is to ensure that your content remains monetized and compliant while still sounding fresh and engaging.
How often should I update my channel’s music style?
Consistency is crucial, but that doesn’t mean you can’t evolve.
Refresh your music selections gradually to match changes in your content, audience preferences, or overall brand growth. Avoid abrupt shifts that confuse your viewers; instead, introduce new tracks while maintaining your recognizable channel vibe.
This balance helps keep content fresh while reinforcing your identity and subscriber loyalty.
Final Thoughts: Use Music as a Subscriber Growth Strategy
If you’re trying to figure out how to get YouTube subscribers, don’t overlook music. Music is the hidden layer that transforms casual viewers into loyal fans and helps you get YouTube subscribers faster than relying on thumbnails or titles alone.
By setting the tone, creating emotional connection, boosting watch time, and establishing your brand identity, music becomes one of the most effective tools for subscriber growth.
And with platforms like Thematic, you can access copyright-safe tracks from real artists – helping you grow, monetize, and stand out from the competition.
👉 Ready to get started? Discover music for your YouTube channel with Thematic access copyright-safe tracks from real artists, and grow your subscribers without risking strikes or demonetization.
We hope you find this guide on how to get YouTube subscribers and grow a YouTube channel through music helpful. These tips and insights will help you on your way to growing your brand, increasing your YouTube subscribers, and taking your channel to the next level.
Looking for more creator tools and resources? Visit Thematic’s Creator Toolkit for additional resources on creating content – including starting a YouTube channel, thumbnail and channel art templates, best practices, and of course, great royalty free songs to use in your videos for free with Thematic.
This Guide to Using Music to Get YouTube Subscribers is brought to you by Thematic Director of Partnerships, Stephanie Leyva
Stephanie Leyva sits at the intersection of music artists and content creators. As the Director of Partnerships at Thematic, Stephanie has worked extensively with the artist and creator community on the site to ensure success digitally, on the platform, and support their initiatives.
Over the past few years, she has led numerous trending music-driven influencer marketing campaigns for “Glitter” and “Supalonely (feat. Gus Dapperton” by BENEE, “Loneliness for Love” by Lovelytheband, “Checklist (feat. Chromeo)” by MAX and so many more. She’s worked alongside various labels such as Casablanca Records, Republic Records and Sony Music. Focused on empowering connections between content creators and music artists, Stephanie continues to lead the charge in innovative music discovery through social.
Stephanie is also the creator of the Bloom In Progress podcast – a podcast about personal growth, relationships and navigating life in your 20’s.
