Music Impact Report

How music affects app engagement

Licensed music clips are transforming how users create, personalize, and connect through short-form content. Based on a nationwide survey of U.S. consumers, this report breaks down what app users want and what product teams need to build next.

 

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How music clips shape the app experience: Inside Feed.fm's 2025 consumer survey

To understand how music clips affect user behavior, Feed.fm surveyed U.S. consumers who regularly create or share short-form content. From social media posters to people sending digital greetings, this diverse group shared how music influences their content routines, emotions, and in-app expectations.

Their feedback reveals a clear opportunity: apps that get music right can improve engagement, increase retention, and unlock new monetization paths.

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Music clips drive app engagement


84% of users say it’s important to be able to add music to social content

In the age of short-form creation, music is a core expression tool. Users rank music above filters and video editing tools when it comes to enhancing content. Apps that don’t support music clips risk falling behind on a fundamental feature.

56% of users say they add music to content daily or more

Across every format, from story soundtracks to meme overlays and celebratory e-cards, music serves as creators’ secret weapon, layering emotion and energy in seconds. A perfectly timed beat drop can elevate a simple clip into a viral moment, while a familiar hook transforms a digital greeting into a shared memory. By weaving licensed tracks into the creative workflow, apps let creators polish their content quickly and deliver content that truly resonates.

The more frequently users create, the more essential music becomes to the experience. When music is missing or limited, it causes friction, leading to skipped posts, fewer shares, or even app abandonment.

67% of users say music makes their content more engaging

Users consistently report that adding music to their posts drives a clear lift in engagement through likes, shares, and comments. That spike in social signals triggers algorithmic boosts, pushing content higher in feeds. When users hear a familiar song, they’re more likely to stop scrolling, react, and engage, turning passive viewers into active participants. Over time, that engagement lift translates into stronger community growth, deeper brand affinity, and higher retention rates. In a landscape where visibility is everything, music is the engine that propels content from obscurity into sustained traction.

 

 

 

Boost app engagement with the power of music

Unlock the full potential of your app by integrating popular, licensed music clips that drive user retention, engagement, and conversions.

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Music clips enhance personalization & emotional connection


94% of users say music enhances the emotional impact of their content

Users rely on music to set the mood, communicate tone, and elevate storytelling. This emotional layer builds stronger connections between creators and their audiences, increasing satisfaction and fueling repeat engagement. In a saturated content landscape, emotion isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the edge that keeps users coming back and creating more.

More than half of people (54%) reach for nostalgic throwback clips, from ’90s anthems to early-2000s pop. Those instantly familiar hooks tap into shared memories and spark immediate emotional connection, turning short-form videos into can’t-miss moments. Apps that highlight nostalgic favorites in their clip libraries see creators coming back again and again, embedding those throwback hits into their content.

Landing today’s top 40 Billboard singles isn’t optional, it’s key to increased engagement. At 41%, current hits keep content feeling fresh and on-trend, helping short clips gain traction with algorithm boosts and shareability. By surfacing the latest chart-toppers in bite-sized clips, apps give creators the tools to join real-time conversations and ride the momentum of whatever’s blowing up right now.

Discovery matters just as much: 39% of users lean on mood-based playlists and 38% zero in on specific genres. Intuitive mood and theme filters let creators pinpoint the ideal 30-60 second clip, minimizing search time and maximizing time spent crafting engaging content.

95% want to select specific clips or sections of songs

Clip-level control lets creators cue up the exact second they want: whether it’s the moment a beat drops or a lyric hits home. This invites more experimentation, driving users to produce more clips each session. Apps that surface these tools consistently see a bump in creative output and longer in-app sessions, turning casual editors into dedicated power users.

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Music clips unlock monetization opportunities


69% would pay for premium features if they included popular music access

Users aren’t just asking for music—they’re ready to invest in it. Nearly 7 in 10 users say they would consider paying for premium features if they included access to popular music clips.

From social editing tools to greeting apps, this points to a clear monetization lever: unlocking licensed music as part of an upgrade or paid tier. Whether it’s early access to trending tracks, expanded clip libraries, or genre-based personalization, access to real music is a feature users are willing to pay for—especially if it enhances creativity, emotional connection, and shareability.

 

 

Convert free users into paying subscribers with music

Licensed music clips turn your app into a premium experience. By offering access to major-label tracks as part of your upgrade path, music becomes a powerful lever for trial conversion and subscription growth.

 

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Build for a “sound on” experience

The findings are clear. Users expect music, and not just any music. They want recognizable hits and the ability to choose their own clips to express themselves creatively, increase engagement, and deepen emotional connection.

Feed Clips was built to meet that demand. It’s the first music API that lets apps legally integrate fully licensed, major-label music clips into short-form content. From social tools to digital greetings, Feed Clips makes it easy to sync real music with reels, invites, memes, and more—without the legal risk or technical complexity.

Whether you're building a content creation platform or adding expressive tools to your app, Feed Clips delivers what users already expect:

  • 30–60 second, pre-cleared clips from major-label artists

  • Curated libraries built for trends, moods, and momentsDeveloper-friendly API for fast integration

  • Developer-friendly API for fast integration

  • Engagement analytics to track usage and outcomes

  • Built-in compliance and royalty handling—no music ops required

Backed by Feed.fm’s Unified Music System, Feed Clips helps product teams boost creation, drive retention, and unlock new revenue streams—while staying focused on product, not permissions.

 

Feed Clips is ready to power the next wave of short-form creativity and connection. 


Don’t wait to deliver the music your users expect.

Get a free music consultation today