Can I Use Lyrics This Town Niall Horan In Fan Videos Legally?

I got excited about making fan edits when 'This Town' popped up on my playlist, but then I learned how messy lyrics can be legally. Short version: you can’t just paste the lyrics into a video and assume it’s fine. Lyrics are protected, and showing them, singing them over clips, or syncing the official recording usually requires permission. Platforms sometimes have blanket deals with labels, which means your video might stay up but the rights holders can claim monetization or mute it.

I’d recommend two quick options depending on how intense you want to be: 1) Use a legally licensed instrumental or royalty-free music so you avoid lyric reproduction altogether, or 2) make a cover and upload it through a service that handles licensing, but be ready for rights holders to take ad revenue. Also, putting lyrics in the description or on-screen still counts as copying—credit alone won’t make it legal. If you plan to use it commercially, or you care about the video staying claim-free, try reaching out to the publisher or check music licensing hubs. It’s a bit of work, but it keeps your edits from disappearing overnight.

If you're thinking about using the lyrics from 'This Town' by Niall Horan in a fan video, heads-up: lyrics are copyrighted and not something you can freely republish. The words themselves are a separate piece of the song (the composition), and if you put them on screen or sing them, you’re reproducing the copyrighted work. On top of that, if you use the original recording you’re dealing with the master recording copyright too, which usually belongs to the record label.

Practically speaking, that means to be fully legal you’d want permission from the publisher (a sync license) to pair the lyrics with visuals, and a master license if you’re using the official audio. Covering the song? A cover performance may still trigger claims — platforms like YouTube often have deals that let covers exist but route monetization to the rights holders, and lyric text shown on screen usually won’t be covered by those platform deals. Fair use is sometimes brought up, but relying on it is risky because courts weigh purpose, amount used, and market effect — and song lyrics are considered highly creative, so fair use is rarely a sure bet.

If I were making the video now, I’d check the platform’s music policy (YouTube has a searchable database), try to use an instrumental or licensed royalty-free track, or contact the publisher for a sync license (PROs like ASCAP/BMI/PRS can help you find publishers). For small creators, services exist that help license music, but securing actual permission is the safest route. I’ve had a couple of clips claimed by Content ID, and it’s annoying — if the video matters to you, getting a license or swapping to safe music saves headaches.

Quick practical checklist from someone who’s tested the waters: don’t assume lyrics are free to use. The text of 'This Town' is copyrighted, so displaying or syncing it to visuals normally needs permission from the song’s publisher (a sync license). If you use the original recording, you also need a master license from the label. Covers and platform-specific deals can sometimes let videos remain online, but rights holders often claim monetization or block content. For safety, consider using an instrumental or royalty-free alternative, create original lyrics, or contact the publisher (PROs like ASCAP/BMI/PRS can point you to rights owners) to negotiate permission. If it’s just for fun and risk is low, upload knowing Content ID might flag it; if the video matters long-term or will make money, get a license or legal advice first. I’d rather swap to an inoffensive instrumental than deal with a takedown notice.