To build a loyal following on Instagram, the most important step is to create content that resonates with them. Harnessing the influence of music is one of the most effective ways to achieve this.
Whether you’re creating a certain vibe in your post, enhancing a meme, or simply sharing your favorite song, music opens up a whole new avenue for engagement.
In this guide, we’ll take you through all the steps to add music to your Instagram content, whether that’s in the form of Reels, posts, or videos. We also take a deep dive into how you can utilize Instagram’s music feature for maximum impact, and unlock its potential as a powerful storytelling tool.
Keep reading below to find out more.
Do I have to add music to my Instagram content?
Before we dive right in, you might be wondering, do I really need to add music to all my Instagram posts? The answer is no, absolutely not. Some posts/videos are far more effective when kept silent, or with natural audio featured in the background.
For example, if you’re sharing a video of a peaceful meadow, with birds chirping and trees rustling in the background, posting this content raw and unedited can be far more effective in eliciting emotion.
However, in many instances, music will greatly enhance your content, adding dimension and setting the right mood.
How to add music to your Instagram posts
First of all, let’s discuss how to add music to your Instagram posts. These are permanent features of your profile, and will appear on your followers’ feed and on your Instagram grid once they’re live.
Create new post
To get started, tap on the cross at the center of your screen to create a new post. Alternatively, you can go to your Instagram profile, and click the cross on the top right-hand side of the screen.
You’ll see a popup on your screen featuring your photo library which you can select your image.
Choose your track
Next up, choose the music symbol on the bottom left-hand side of your screen. A new window will open featuring a full music library. On the screen, you’ll find a few different options.
Instagram curates a ‘For you’ section, which lists music you’ve used in the past, or tracks which are currently trending. If you don’t see anything here you’re interested in, click on ‘Browse,’ which will take you through a wider catalog separated into genre categories.
Furthermore, if you’ve got a particular track in mind that you’d like to add to your post, simply click on the search bar at the top of the screen and start typing.
If you find a track you’d like to use in future, and want to keep it safe, simply save it, and it will appear in your saved music so you can refer back in later posts.
Adjust your music
Now you’ll need to manually adjust the length of your chosen music track. Unlike videos, a photo post doesn’t have a specific duration. Instagram allows you to play a track for anywhere between 15-30 seconds, to avoid copyright issues and ensure your content doesn't get removed or muted.
To adjust the duration of the track, click on the circular button on the left-hand side of the screen with a number inside. A new popup will appear asking ‘Choose clip duration.’
Here, you’ll be able to alter its precise length.
Alternatively, you can also adjust the music’s duration by dragging the bar on the screen to find the precise length.
Hit publish
Now you’ve adjusted your music, you can go ahead and publish your post. Do this by clicking ‘Next,’ then you’ll be taken to another screen allowing you to add in more details, including tags, hashtags, add to reminders, add a location, and share preferences.
After you’ve done this, hit the ‘Share’ button to publish your post. Your post will go live and your followers will be able to listen to the music you’ve selected.
- How to get more Instagram followers: Hacks to skyrocket your fanbase
- How to make an Instagram Business account
How to add music to Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels are short videos that users can create featuring video clips. These can be segmented together for storytelling purposes, or simply involve one single video clip. Generally speaking, Reels tend to be anywhere from 15 to 90 seconds long.
Just like posts, you can add music to Reels to enhance your content.
Create new post
Similar to creating a new Instagram post, to add a new Reel, simply tap on the cross icon at the center of the screen, or visit your profile and click on the cross featured in the top right-hand corner.
Select Reel
After you’ve opened up the new screen, choose the ‘Reel’ option, which is located at the bottom of the menu.
Choose your track
Choose from Instagram’s track library, sifting through music featured in the ‘For you’ section, the ‘Browse’ button, or by typing in the name of a track in the search bar.
Just like Instagram posts, you can alter the length of music featured in your Reels by clicking on the circular button at the bottom of the screen.
Trim your clip
To alter the length of the track to fit in with your video’s content, you can trim the clip using the trimmer tool. Adjust this until you’ve found the perfect duration.
Hit Publish
Click ‘Next,’ where you’ll be taken to another screen prompting you to add any final edits. Once you’re happy with your post, click ‘Done,’ and then ‘Share,’ to make it live.
How to add music to Instagram stories
Instagram stories differ from posts and Reels as their time on the platform is short-lived. They consist of photos and videos that disappear from your profile within 24 hours of being uploaded. Users can’t publicly comment on stories, but they can send private messages and comments via DM’s.
Users can add as many segments as they like to stories, and once uploaded, posts play in chronological order. Instagram stories can last up to 60 seconds per individual clip.
Create new story
To create a new Instagram story, simply open the app, and visit the feed section. On the top left-hand corner of the screen, you’ll see your profile image featured in a circular icon, along with a plus sign.
Click on this, and you’ll be presented with a pop-up featuring a library of your images. Choose the image or video you’d like to feature in your story, and it will appear in the centre of the screen.
Choose your music
After you’ve chosen your featured content, click on the music icon, featured on the top right-hand section of the screen, next to the sticky note button.
Then, you’ll be presented with a list of music tracks to choose from. Similar to posts and Reels, this will have a ‘For you' section to scan, along with a search bar to hunt down your favorite tracks, but no ‘Browse’ section.
Trim your story
After you’ve chosen a track you’re satisfied with, you can trim the length either by clicking on the circular icon with the timestamp located inside, or trimming it manually.
Unlike posts, stories allow you to showcase your music visually in the form of stickers. These will be displayed on your post’s content, and usually feature the track’s associated image, name, and artist.
As well as this, you can also feature the music’s lyrics in your post. Next to the sticker button, you’ll find an option that reads ‘Aa.’ Click on this, and you’ll see the lyrics appear on screen in time with the music.
Publish your story
After you’re satisfied with your audio, go ahead and hit publish. You can watch your story back by clicking on your profile icon.
Pro tip: You can add music to your stories from outside streaming platforms like Spotify and Shazam, or SoundCloud. So, if you can’t find the track you had in mind on Instagram itself, simply choose it in the external app, tap on the share option, and choose Instagram Stories. The song will automatically be linked to your story.
Troubleshooting Instagram post music
Even if you’ve strategically followed the steps above to the ‘T,’ you might still run into some troubles now and then while adding music to your Instagram posts, Reels, or stories.
Don’t worry, this is usually down to some common issues and can be resolved in a few simple steps. Take a look at our troubleshooting guide below.
🌎 Music unavailable in your region: If you’re unable to find the music icon in the post popup screen, it may be because the music feature isn’t available in your country. Instagram needs to secure music licensing agreements for each country, which means there may be some restrictions in place in your area.
📱 Outdated version: One of the most common reasons users struggle to add music to content is because their Instagram app is outdated. Make sure to visit the app store to check yours is running on the latest version. If not, run the update and try again.
🤖 Glitches: Like any other app, Instagram experiences bugs and glitches now and again. This can prevent some of its features from working as they should. Try closing and restarting the app to see if this helps.
🎵 Track removal: If you’ve successfully added a track to your post, only to have it removed days, weeks, or months later, the music may have been removed by the artist/label.
💼 Account type: Due to copyright restrictions, business accounts have certain limitations placed on them. These accounts don’t have access to Instagram’s full music catalog to avoid any potential legal issues. Simply switching to a personal account can resolve this issue.
Addressing the potential issues above should resolve any complications you’re experiencing while adding music to your Instagram posts.
- Instagram monetization: Get paid for Instagram Reels
- Instagram affiliate marketing: How to start making money from your phone
Why adding music to Instagram posts can be beneficial
Now that we’ve covered all the ‘how-to’s’, let’s take a closer look at why adding music to your Instagram posts can be so beneficial.
The right music helps get your audience in the mood, creating an enhanced experience when they view your content.
Moreover, adding songs to your music can boost your visibility on the platform, exposing you to even more potential followers. Find out how you can make the most of Instagram’s music feature below.
Engage with trends
One of the biggest benefits of adding music to your Instagram content is it allows you to engage with current trends.
Using viral audio on Instagram Reels may help you win favor with the algorithm, increasing its chances of trending on the platform.
Instagram naturally favors posts that have music or audio attached to them, especially if they're popular.
When users engage with music-related content (likes, shares, etc..) Instagram may promote your content to similar audiences. These may consist of similar audiences, or people following certain trends or hashtags.
For example, the Instagram account @succheful shared a video of a new recipe overlaid with Lola Young’s track ‘Messy.’ The video went on to gain over 14 million views, and the song itself has been featured in a whopping 329K Reels.
So, be sure to click on the track name featured in viral posts to discover trending audio.
Less costly than other methods
Another key benefit of adding audio and music to your content is it’s less costly than other production methods. For example, if you’re a small business or solopreneur, video development can be an expensive cost that’s difficult to navigate.
However, adding music to your content is an affordable way to boost your brand’s social media presence. All you need is a smartphone, a keen eye, and a touch of creativity.
Since adding an audio overlay is quick and easy, you also save a great deal of time, staying up to date with audience trends that could be missed with longer, full-scale video productions.
You’re also not tied into expensive service costs, so you can have fun experimenting with different styles, making it easier to find something that works without jeopardizing your budget.
Creates an immersive experience
Adding audio tracks to your Instagram content creates an overall more engaging experience for audience members. It’s well known that music can create strong emotions and associations, whether you’re playing a nostalgic track or the latest pop sensation.
Ultimately, it helps make your brand more relatable, pairing it with something familiar viewers are already accustomed to. This makes your message more trustworthy, fostering deeper connections with audience members.
Great tool for storytelling
Instagram’s audio function is also a great tool for storytelling. It allows brand creators to elevate their narrative with sound, whether you want to create a somber, suspenseful, exciting, dramatic, or nostalgic mood, music helps you achieve all of this.
For example, the popular beauty brand Sephora posted a Reel showcasing their new Valentine-themed sample box in February. They overlaid a video showing the new perfume box with the track ‘Heartbeat,’ by Giulio Cercato, which was catchy, and in keeping with the theme of the season.
One of the great things about Instagram Reels is that you can add multiple layers to any video. So, you might start off with calm music, before building to a more exciting track for the exposition, then switching to something upbeat at the video’s culmination.
This is a layered approach that can help you build a full story arc.
Building your brand
Adding music mindfully to brand posts can help build a cohesive experience around your brand.
In the same way that business giants carefully select music that’s in keeping with their brand, you can do the same with a few simple clicks.
Before choosing your music, you’ll need to define your brand’s qualities. Some things to think consider are:
💫 Vibe: What’s your brand’s vibe? Is it fun and playful? Sophisticated and classy? Raw and edgy? The audio you choose should enhance these values.
💯 Consistency: No matter the kind of music you choose for your brand, make sure to stick to similar audio consistently over time. This helps reinforce your brand’s identity and makes it more recognizable among Instagram audiences.
🧩 Be strategic: Though using trending audio is a great way to boost your brand’s reach using Instagram’s algorithm, make sure to be selective about the kind of trends you’re jumping on. Just because a particular track is popular this week, it might not necessarily pair well with the type of message you’re trying to send.
⚖️ Balance: While it can be tempting to use trending audio consistently, it’s a good idea to mix things up with less mainstream tracks now and then. This will help establish your brand’s unique identity, and separate you from countless other creators.
🔊 Unique sounds: If you’re able to, consider creating your own signature jingle or sound to use in content. Choosing a unique tune that’s synonymous with your brand will stick in your viewer’s minds, helping increase your brand’s memorability factor.
Supercharge your growth on Instagram by reading our comprehensive guide of secret tips and tricks designed to help you establish your online presence.
From zero to Insta-hero: boost your followers with Whop
If you’re looking to build a bigger audience for your Instagram brand, incorporating music into your posts significantly enhances audience engagement and boosts your following.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as Instagram features a wealth of built-in tools that can skyrocket your following. By participating in expert-led communities on Whop, you can stay at the forefront of trends, refine your content, and even monetize your presence on Instagram.
Whop is filled with resources that can accelerate your following, giving you essential insights into achieving viral success and turning your passion into a full-time income.
Check out Whop today, and start browsing thousands of specialist courses and communities to help you master Instagram’s algorithm.
FAQ
Can I upload my own music to an Instagram post?
If you’ve created a track yourself, and are wondering how to add this to your Instagram post, there are a few ways to do this.
Firstly, you can upload your track to streaming platforms such as Spotify, Soundcloud, or Apple Music. After you’ve done this, simply search for the track on Instagram’s music catalog.
Alternatively, you can upload your music directly to Instagram’s music library.
Can I add music to Instagram posts with multiple images?
If you’re wondering whether or not you can add music to Instagram posts with multiple images, or carousels, as they’re known, the answer is yes, absolutely.
To add music to a carousel, simply follow the standard process of uploading an Instagram image. Once you’ve done this, tap the multiple image icon, which looks like three squares laid on top of one another, then, select all the images you want to include.
From there, you can add your music in the same way as you would with a regular post.
Here's a full guide on how to use Instagram.
