Music Can Now be Added to YouTube Image Carousel Posts

YouTube has just created a new avenue for artists to reach fans. YouTube Shorts image posts will now be able to have 15 seconds of background music, just like image carousels on TikTok and Instagram Reels.

How it works:

• When creating an image post on YouTube, there is a new option called “sounds.”

• Here creators can select from licensed music, royalty-free tracks, or create custom AI-generated music with Dream Track.

• The image posts will then get fed into the Shorts feed.

Background:

• The Shorts feed previously only showed videos.

• YouTube began testing the update allowing still image carousels at the end of last year.

What they said:

• YouTube: “We know you’re looking for new, meaningful ways to connect with your audience and share your creativity without needing to upload a full video every single time.  We recently shared that image posts, including carousels, can now appear in the Shorts feed to help your audience connect with you in a new place. Now, we’re excited to expand our music options to help you tell your story in even more dynamic ways! Whether you want to share a quick behind-the-scenes look or tell a deep visual story, you can create these image posts directly in the YouTube mobile app.”