# UK Airbnb Adverts: The Music and Licensing Explained

> Airbnb's 2026 adverts feature Beatles song Golden Slumbers and a Landslide cover, sparking debate among music fans online.

**Published:** 2026-05-10
**Updated:** 2026-05-10
**Category:** ADVERT_MUSIC
**Author:** Rafael Tuñón
**Canonical URL:** https://rechargevodafone.co.uk/what-is-the-music-on-the-airbnb-advert/

## Key takeaways

- Airbnb's 2026 'Made possible by Hosts' TV and YouTube advert features a cover of the song 'Landslide'.
- A separate Airbnb commercial uses the Beatles' 'Golden Slumbers', which sparked discussion on the Steve Hoffman Music Forums starting 1 February 2026.
- Reddit users in the r/beatles community expressed strong disapproval of the Beatles track being licensed for the Airbnb advertisement.
- The adverts have been catalogued on UK website tvadsongs.uk under the 'airbnb-advert-music' tag for consumer reference.

## Article

Recent Airbnb advertising campaigns have used memorable music to connect with UK audiences. The most prominent song featured in the 'Made possible by Hosts' campaign is a cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic 'Landslide', performed by British singer-songwriter Robyn Sherwell.

<KeyTakeaways>
  - The song in the widely-seen 'Made possible by Hosts' advert is a cover of 'Landslide'.
  - The cover is performed by UK artist Robyn Sherwell and was released in 2016.
  - The original 'Landslide' was written by Stevie Nicks and released by Fleetwood Mac on their 1975 self-titled album.
  - Using commercial music in adverts requires a specific legal permission known as a synchronisation (or 'sync') licence.
  - In the UK, sync licensing involves clearing rights with music publishers, songwriters, performers, and record labels, often via collecting societies like PRS for Music and PPL.
</KeyTakeaways>

## The 'Made Possible by Hosts' Campaign: A Closer Look

In 2021, Airbnb launched a major global advertising campaign titled 'Made possible by Hosts' which also ran across UK television and digital platforms. The campaign's strategy was to move away from elaborate productions and focus on authentic user experiences, using slideshows of photos from real guest stays to create an emotional connection.

### The Song: A Cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Landslide'

The music for one of the campaign's most recognised adverts is a cover of the song 'Landslide'. The version used is by British singer-songwriter Robyn Sherwell. The original song was written by Stevie Nicks and appeared on Fleetwood Mac's hugely successful 1975 self-titled album. Nicks wrote the song at a personal and professional crossroads, contemplating her future, and its reflective and emotional tone has made it a popular choice for cover versions.

The advert itself features a series of still photographs from a family's weekend trip to the New England coast in the US, reinforcing the campaign's themes of creating personal memories and staying close to loved ones.

### The Campaign's Message

The 'Made possible by Hosts' campaign aimed to highlight the unique stays and personal touches that hosts provide, differentiating Airbnb from traditional hotels. By showcasing genuine photo albums from travellers, the adverts sought to evoke a sense of nostalgia and authenticity, suggesting that these memorable trips are enabled by the platform's community of hosts.

## How Brands Like Airbnb Legally Use Music in UK Adverts

Using a well-known song like 'Landslide' in a national advertising campaign is a complex process that goes beyond simply paying a fee. It requires obtaining the correct legal permissions through a system known as music licensing.

### Understanding Synchronisation Licensing

When a company wants to use a piece of music in combination with visual media, such as a television advert, they must secure a synchronisation licence, often shortened to 'sync licence'. This licence grants the advertiser permission to pair the song with their moving images. Without it, using the music would be a breach of copyright.

### The Two Copyrights in Every Song

For any single piece of recorded music, there are two distinct sets of rights that must be licensed:

1.  **The Composition:** This refers to the song itself,the melody, lyrics, and structure. These rights are owned by the songwriter(s) and their music publisher.
2.  **The Master Recording:** This is the specific recording of that song. The rights to this recording are typically owned by the artist who performed it and their record label.

To use Robyn Sherwell's version of 'Landslide', Airbnb's advertising agency would have needed to negotiate a licence with the owners of both the original composition (Stevie Nicks and her publisher) and the master recording (Robyn Sherwell and her record label).

### The Role of UK Music Licensing Bodies

In the United Kingdom, the process of clearing these rights is managed by the rights holders themselves, often with the help of two main music collecting societies:

*   **PRS for Music:** This organisation represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers. It collects royalties on their behalf whenever their music is used commercially, including in advertising sync licences.
*   **PPL:** PPL represents performers and record companies. It licenses the use of recorded music and collects royalties for the owners of the master rights.

Securing a sync licence for a major advertising campaign involves direct negotiation with the publishers and labels, who determine the fee based on factors like the campaign's duration, the territories where it will air (e.g., UK only or global), and the media used (TV, online, etc.).

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        "name": "What is the song in the main Airbnb 'Made possible by Hosts' advert?",
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          "text": "The song is a cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Landslide', performed by British singer-songwriter Robyn Sherwell."
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        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "Who originally wrote and performed 'Landslide'?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "'Landslide' was written by Stevie Nicks and first released by the band Fleetwood Mac on their 1975 album 'Fleetwood Mac'."
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        "@type": "Question",
        "name": "What is a music sync licence?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "A synchronisation (sync) licence is a legal permission required to use a piece of copyrighted music in a visual production, such as a television advert, film, or online video."
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        "name": "Who are PRS for Music and PPL?",
        "acceptedAnswer": {
          "@type": "Answer",
          "text": "PRS for Music and PPL are the two main music licensing companies in the UK. PRS for Music represents songwriters and publishers (the composition rights), while PPL represents performers and record labels (the master recording rights)."
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## Quotations

> Golden Slumbers during an Airbnb commercial. There is a pestilence upon the land, nothing is sacred.
>, Reddit user (r/beatles community, Reddit) (https://www.reddit.com/r/beatles/comments/1qmx8en/golden_slumbers_during_an_airbnb_commercial_there/)

## Frequently asked questions

### what song is in the Airbnb advert 2026 UK

Airbnb has used two notable songs in recent UK adverts. The 'Made possible by Hosts' campaign features a cover of Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, while a separate Airbnb commercial used the Beatles track Golden Slumbers from their 1969 album Abbey Road.

### Airbnb made possible by hosts advert song

The 'Made possible by Hosts' advert uses a cover version of Landslide, originally written by Stevie Nicks and recorded by Fleetwood Mac in 1975. The specific artist performing the cover has not been officially confirmed by Airbnb, but the song features a gentle, reflective female vocal over scenes of hosts welcoming guests.

### Beatles Golden Slumbers Airbnb commercial

Yes, Airbnb used the Beatles' Golden Slumbers from Abbey Road in a separate commercial. This sparked discussion on music forums starting 1 February 2026, with some Beatles fans expressing disapproval of the licensing deal on Reddit and the Steve Hoffman Music Forums.

### where can I find information about Airbnb advert music

The UK-based website tvadsongs.uk catalogues Airbnb advert music and other TV commercial songs. You can search their database using the tag 'airbnb-advert-music' to find details about songs featured in Airbnb campaigns.

### Landslide Fleetwood Mac Airbnb cover artist

The Landslide cover used in the Airbnb 'Made possible by Hosts' advert has not had its performing artist officially confirmed by Airbnb in their published materials, though the song is recognisable by its warm, melancholic female vocal.

## Sources

1. [What’s the Airbnb advert song? – 2025 Commercial Songs – TV Advert Songs](https://www.tvadsongs.uk/tag/airbnb-advert-music/) (www.tvadsongs.uk)
2. [Golden Slumbers during an Airbnb commercial. There is a ... - Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/beatles/comments/1qmx8en/golden_slumbers_during_an_airbnb_commercial_there/) (www.reddit.com)
3. [Beatles Golden Slumbers in Airbnb commercial](https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/beatles-golden-slumbers-in-airbnb-commercial.1241504/) (forums.stevehoffman.tv)