When you're starting a YouTube channel with little gear and even less money, finding music that won't get you a copyright strike is a real headache. At the end of 2018 I shared my top 5 free music sources for 2019, plus two bonus channels.
The rule: free, but credit the artist
None of these sources asks for money, but almost all of them ask you to credit the artist in your description. It's a fair exchange: you get music for your videos and they get visibility. Always copy the credit they provide.
My top 5
5. Breaking Copyrights. A big YouTube channel with a couple of new songs almost every day. Free to use as long as you include their credits.
4. NoCopyrightSounds. Very popular, with over 19 million subscribers at the time. Mostly strong electronic music, great for fast b-roll or gaming.
3. Audio Library. Also updated almost daily, with lighter pop music. I used it a lot under my vlogs and talking parts.
2. Vlog No Copyright. In my opinion one of the best. New songs daily, some of its artists became really famous, and the tracks are made for vloggers: they work well under a voice and b-roll at the same time.
1. Take Tones. My favourite. It's a website with an interface similar to Epidemic Sound and Artlist, where you can search by genre, mood and instrument and build your own library with a free account. It was free for YouTube use, but some tracks need a commercial licence if you make ads for TV or radio. The piano and acoustic guitar tracks are perfect under a voice.
Two extras
GMeanBeatz, a composer I'd already worked with. He actually composed one of my soundtracks. A small channel, but really good. And Copyright Free Music by Ruesche-Sounds, whom I'd only just discovered, with relaxing pieces free for independent creators on YouTube and Twitch, as long as you credit him.
If you can't afford Epidemic Sound or Artlist yet (both great), these are valid alternatives.