Brandwave

Epidemic Sound vs YouTube Audio Library:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Epidemic Sound had more branded searches than YouTube Audio Library among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand. Epidemic Sound had about 1,630 branded searches, while YouTube Audio Library had 720. Epidemic Sound made up 29.2% of all royalty-free music library searches we track, and YouTube Audio Library accounted for 12.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about royalty-free music libraries, Epidemic Sound appeared in all five answers and YouTube Audio Library in two. Epidemic Sound was mentioned before YouTube Audio Library in every answer.

Among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Epidemic Sound, about 2 searches for every 1 for YouTube Audio Library

Epidemic Sound 1.6K searchesYouTube Audio Library 720 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Epidemic Sound, mentioned in every answer we collected

Epidemic Sound in 5 of 5YouTube Audio Library in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Epidemic Sound, named ahead of YouTube Audio Library in every answer

Epidemic Sound first in 5YouTube Audio Library never first

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Top royalty-free music libraries in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Epidemic Sound appeared in all five answers. YouTube Audio Library was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Epidemic Sound was listed before YouTube Audio Library in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Epidemic Sound1st
  2. Artlist2nd
  3. Pixabay Music3rd
  4. Musicbed4th
  5. Soundstripe5th
  6. YouTube Audio Library6th
  7. PremiumBeat7th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Epidemic Sound5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Artlist4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Pixabay Music4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Musicbed3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • YouTube Audio Library2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Soundstripe2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • PremiumBeat1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about royalty-free music libraries

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Epidemic Sound or YouTube Audio Library more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Epidemic Sound and YouTube Audio Library by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven royalty-free music libraries we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Epidemic Sound and YouTube Audio Library among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Epidemic Sound, YouTube Audio Library. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthArtlistEpidemic SoundYouTube Audio LibraryPixabay MusicMusicbedSoundstripePremiumBeat
Oct 202549.9%21.2%14%6.2%5.1%2.7%0.8%
Nov 202544.5%24.1%13%8.7%5.8%3.1%0.9%
Dec 202546.7%26.3%14%6.2%4.1%2.1%0.58%
Jan 202643.8%24.7%16.3%7.2%4.8%2.6%0.56%
Feb 202645.8%26.2%14%6.2%5%2.1%0.58%
Mar 202647.6%26.4%11.6%6.3%5.1%2.3%0.8%
Apr 202641.3%24.2%16%8.7%7.1%2%0.55%
May 202643.5%24.6%13.1%10.7%5.8%1.6%0.55%
Jun 202640.9%29%12.7%8.5%5.7%2.5%0.71%
Jul 202628.6%24%34.9%7%3.8%1.3%0.44%
Aug 202627%19%42%6.9%3.7%1.1%0.35%
Sep 202640.3%29.2%12.9%10.6%5.7%0.9%0.36%

How has the Epidemic Sound and YouTube Audio Library comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand royalty-free music libraries in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Artlist overtook YouTube Audio Library to become the leader among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand, with 40.3% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Epidemic Sound overtook YouTube Audio Library to rank 2nd among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand, with 29.2% of the searches.

  3. In September 2026, YouTube Audio Library lost share of searches among royalty-free music libraries in New Zealand, from 42% to 12.9%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Epidemic Sound’s and YouTube Audio Library’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Epidemic Sound

2 branded search terms

  • epidemic sound
  • epidemicsound

YouTube Audio Library

1 branded search term

  • youtube audio library

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among royalty-free music libraries

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