Table of Contents

How To Soundtrack Your Story: Adding Music to Instagram Posts Like a Pro

So, you want to add that perfect vibe to your Instagram posts with music, eh? You’ve come to the right place. Adding a soundtrack to your photos and videos on Instagram is a breeze, and it’s one of the best ways to enhance engagement and express yourself creatively. Here’s the lowdown. To add music to your Instagram post, you’ll typically do it through the Instagram Stories feature, or Instagram Reels. Once you create your photo or video content, you can use the music sticker available within these features to select and add music to your content.

Unleashing the Power of Sound: Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s break down the process in detail, ensuring you understand how to add music to your Instagram posts across various formats.

Music on Instagram Stories: Setting the Mood

Instagram Stories are ephemeral snapshots of your life, perfect for sharing moments with a musical backdrop. Here’s how to do it:

Open Instagram and access the Stories feature. Swipe right from your feed or tap the “+” icon and select “Story”.
Capture your content. Take a photo or video directly within the app, or upload one from your camera roll.
Access the sticker tray. Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen. It looks like a square with a smiling face.
Select the “Music” sticker. Scroll through the sticker options until you find the “Music” sticker. Tap it.
Browse or search for music. You’ll be presented with a library of songs. You can browse by trending songs, genre, or mood. Alternatively, use the search bar to find a specific song.
Choose your track. Once you’ve found the perfect song, tap it to preview.
Select the desired section. Instagram typically allows you to select a 5-15 second snippet of the song. Drag the waveform at the bottom of the screen to choose the exact part of the song you want to use.
Customize the display. You can often change how the music information is displayed on your Story. Tap the music sticker again to cycle through different display options, such as showing the album art, lyrics, or a simple text box with the song title and artist.
Position and resize the sticker. Drag and pinch the music sticker to position it where you want on your Story. You can make it bigger or smaller, and even hide it behind other elements if you prefer.
Share your Story. Once you’re satisfied, tap “Your Story” to share it with your followers, or “Close Friends” to share it with a select group.

Rhythms on Reels: Creating Viral Content

Instagram Reels are designed for short, engaging videos, and music is an integral part of their appeal. Here’s how to add music to your Reels:

Open Instagram and access the Reels feature. Tap the “+” icon at the bottom of the screen and select “Reel”.
Record or upload your video. Record your video directly within the Reels interface, or upload a pre-recorded video from your camera roll.
Tap the “Audio” icon. This is usually represented by a musical note icon, located on the left-hand side of the screen.
Browse or search for music. As with Stories, you can browse trending songs, explore genres, or use the search bar to find a specific track.
Select your track. Tap the song you want to use to preview it.
Adjust the audio clip. Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to select the specific section of the song you want to include in your Reel.
Adjust audio levels. You can adjust the volume of both the music and the original audio from your video. This is crucial for achieving a good balance and ensuring that both are audible.
Add effects and filters. Enhance your Reel with Instagram’s built-in effects and filters.
Write a caption and add hashtags. A compelling caption and relevant hashtags are essential for maximizing the reach of your Reel.
Share your Reel. Tap “Share” to publish your Reel to your feed and the Reels tab.

Considerations for Posts

Adding music directly to a standard Instagram post (a photo or video shared on your profile grid) isn’t a direct feature. While this is true, the best way to achieve this is to use a video editing app before uploading the photo or video. Add the music to the video through the third-party app, and then upload the edited video to Instagram as a standard post. Ensure you have the necessary rights to use the music.

Navigating Copyright and Legal Considerations

Before adding music to your Instagram content, it’s crucial to understand the legal implications. Using copyrighted music without permission can lead to your content being muted, removed, or even legal action. Here’s what you need to know:

Instagram’s Music Licensing Agreements: Instagram has licensing agreements with major record labels and music publishers, allowing users to use a vast library of songs in their Stories and Reels. However, these agreements have limitations.
Commercial Use: If you’re using Instagram for commercial purposes (e.g., promoting a business or product), you may need to obtain a separate license to use copyrighted music. Instagram’s licensing agreements primarily cover personal, non-commercial use.
Free Music Libraries: Consider using royalty-free music libraries. These libraries offer a wide range of tracks that you can use without worrying about copyright infringement.
Attribution: Some royalty-free music licenses may require you to attribute the artist or composer. Be sure to check the terms of the license before using the music.

FAQs: Your Burning Music Questions Answered

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of adding music to Instagram posts.

1. Why can’t I find the music sticker on Instagram Stories?

The music sticker might not be available in all regions due to licensing restrictions. Also, ensure you have the latest version of the Instagram app installed. If the issue persists, try logging out and back in, or even reinstalling the app. You may also be using a business account that doesn’t have access to as much music as a personal account.

2. Can I add my own music to Instagram?

Yes, but not directly through Instagram’s music library. You’ll need to add your own music using a third-party video editing app before uploading your video to Instagram.

3. How do I change the song after adding it to my Story or Reel?

Unfortunately, you cannot directly change the song once you’ve added it to your Story or Reel. You’ll need to delete the Story or Reel and start over.

4. Can I add music to a carousel post?

No, you cannot directly add music to a carousel post on Instagram. You would need to create a video montage in a third-party app that combines your images and desired music, then upload that video as either a normal post, reel or story.

5. Is it possible to remove the lyrics from the music sticker?

Yes, in most cases, you can remove the lyrics by tapping the music sticker. This will cycle through different display options, including one without lyrics.

6. How do I add music to a live video on Instagram?

You cannot directly add music to a live video on Instagram. You can, however, play music in the background while you’re broadcasting live, but be mindful of copyright restrictions.

7. What happens if I use copyrighted music without permission?

Your content may be muted, removed, or you could face legal action from the copyright holder. Always ensure you have the necessary rights to use the music.

8. Can I use the same song on multiple Stories or Reels?

Yes, you can use the same song on multiple Stories or Reels. There are no restrictions on using a song multiple times.

9. How do I adjust the volume of the music in relation to my video’s audio?

In Reels, after adding music, you’ll see an audio control panel. There, you can adjust the volumes of both the music track and your original video audio.

10. Why is the song I want not available on Instagram?

The song may not be available due to licensing restrictions in your region or because it’s not part of Instagram’s music library.

11. Can I add music to highlights?

You can add music to highlights by first adding a Story with music, then saving that Story to your highlights.

12. Does having a business account limit my music choices?

Yes, business accounts may have fewer music options compared to personal accounts due to stricter licensing requirements for commercial use.

By following these steps and keeping these considerations in mind, you’ll be well on your way to adding the perfect soundtrack to your Instagram posts and creating engaging content that resonates with your audience. Now go forth and make some noise (the good kind)!