Everything YouTube – DistroKid Help Center

Claiming an Official Artist Channel on YouTube

Claiming your Official Artist Channel on YouTube is quick and easy when you use DistroKid. To do so, you can sign in to DistroKid and open the Features menu in the top right, and click on "Special Access." Then, click "YouTube Official Artist Channel." Alternatively, you can head directly to https://distrokid.com/YouTubeOfficialArtistChannels. The ability to claim an Official Artist Channel is included in each DistroKid plan – Musician, Musician Plus, and Ultimate.If you've submitted music to YouTube for a new artist and don't yet see the new artist in the dropdown menu at https://distrokid...
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What is YouTube Music?

YouTube Music is a music streaming service developed by YouTube, and serves as their dedicated music platform. YouTube Music is integrated with the regular YouTube platform, and music sent to YouTube through DistroKid is available in both YouTube Music and the main YouTube platform.Delivering your music to YouTube Music ensures that you are eligible to turn your own channel into an Official Artist Channel, which comes with a myriad of additional perks! You can read more about Official Artist Channels here.YouTube Music is currently available anywhere YouTube has a subscription music service...
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How Do I Get Access to My YouTube Account?

If you have an existing Google account and want to access an associated YouTube account, go to YouTube.com (or open the app) and click "Sign in" at the top right. Use your Google Account email (Gmail or other) and password. If you cannot remember your credentials, use the Google Account recovery tool.If you're looking to gain access to the account that is related to your topic channel in YouTube, please note that this is not possible. Topic channels are YouTube's way of handling the music we send them and making sure it's available to listen to in both YouTube and YouTube Music.Topic channe...
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Can I Disconnect or Unlink an Official Artist Channel?

DistroKid cannot assist in undoing Official Artist Channel claims, disconnecting channels from Official Artist Channels, or transferring Official Artist Channel status once one is established. For this reason, please make sure you submit the correct channel for Official Artist Channel status when requesting it through DistroKid.Please note that deleting your existing Official Artist Channel will not undo its Official Artist Channel status nor allow you to claim a different channel you own as an Official Artist Channel for the artist. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Art...
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Finding Your YouTube Music Channel ID

If you're uploading music through DistroKid and the "Artist already in YouTube Music?" section isn't finding your YouTube Music page despite already having one, you can click "There is a page for [Your Artist Name] in YouTube Music, but it's not listed above" and enter your YouTube Music artist page's Channel ID.This only works if you either have an Official Artist Channel (OAC) or a Topic Channel for your music. If you have neither of these and only have a YouTube channel you created that isn't an OAC, then the Channel ID for that channel will not work. Finding Your YouTube Channel IDTo fi...
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Using DistroKid for YouTube vs. Uploading It to YouTube Directly

When you upload your music using DistroKid, your music will appear in YouTube Music (YouTube's streaming service) and on YouTube's main video website as Art Tracks. Art Tracks will be placed on an auto-generated YouTube channel known as a Topic Channel.Topic channels are generated by YouTube to store music releases from distributors. The audio files, artwork, and metadata are used to generate the Art Track, which is a video generated by YouTube that displays the artwork as the audio file plays. They also use these art tracks to populate music in their streaming app, YouTube Music. Here's an...
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Why Are Comments Disabled on my YouTube Music Art Tracks?

YouTube has deactivated comments on all auto-generated YouTube Art Tracks, including the videos created when you distribute to YouTube Music through DistroKid.This is handled by YouTube directly, and not something that DistroKid (or any other distributor) has control over.However, comments can be enabled for these art tracks if you have an Official Artist Channel. For more information on making your channel and Official Artist Channel in YouTube, check out this article: https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360036924633.For more information about art tracks in YouTube, see Google'...
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What is the YouTube Shorts library?

YouTube Shorts library is a database of songs YouTube users can search to select music to add to their YouTube Shorts content. Opting into Social Media Pack gets your release included in the Shorts Library and gets you paid every time someone includes your music in YouTube Shorts content. For more information about YouTube Shorts from Google/YouTube, please see here. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "What is the YouTube Shorts library?", "description": "The YouTube Shorts library is a database of songs that users can search to add music to their Y...
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Types of YouTube Monetization Included With Social Media Pack

Social Media Pack includes the following monetization services on YouTube: YouTube Content ID: Get notified and paid when other people use your music in their YouTube videos. For more info, click here. YouTube Creator Music: Add your music to YouTube's Creator Music library and get notified and paid when creators purchase licenses to use your music. For more info, click here. YouTube Shorts: Add your music to the YouTube Shorts library so users can find and use your music for YouTube Shorts creations. For more info, click here. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", ...
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Why Was My YouTube Art Track Replaced with a Video?

An "Art Track" on YouTube is auto-generated by uploading your release to YouTube Music. These are static videos that show the image artwork with the track's audio.A "user-uploaded" video is any video uploaded to a channel created through YouTube. These channels are separate from the "Topic" channels that are auto-generated by YouTube Music.Sometimes, YouTube Music will automatically replace Art Tracks with a user-uploaded video that contains the same audio. This might include an official music video, lyric video, or live performance.Users may be able to toggle between the Art Track and the ...
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My Music in YouTube Music is On a Topic Channel I Don't Recognize

If your music in YouTube Music is on a channel you don't recognize, it may be on what's called a "topic" channel. A topic channel is an automatically generated channel created by YouTube that houses an artist's music releases. When you deliver your music to YouTube Music through DistroKid, your work will appear on YouTube's main website under a topic channel. A topic channel is separate from an artist's official channel.Topic channels allow your music to appear in YouTube Music, which is YouTube's music streaming service. If you want your YouTube Music releases available on your own artist ...
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What is YouTube Content ID?

YouTube Content ID is a system that allows for the automatic scanning of videos on YouTube for usage of your music, and allows for the monetization of any videos that do use your music. Put simply, YouTube Content ID gets you paid when other people use your music in their YouTube videos.Access to YouTube Content ID is part of our annually charged DistroKid Album Extra, Social Media Pack. How YouTube Content ID WorksFirst, opt into Social Media Pack in the DistroKid upload form. The price is per release (album or single). You can also opt a release in after it's been uploaded to DistroKid, i...
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What is YouTube Creator Music?

YouTube Creator Music is a service from YouTube that lets other YouTube creators buy a license to use your music in their video. This feature is included with the Social Media Pack album extra.If you have existing releases with Social Media Pack, your releases may not be currently included in YouTube Creator Music. You can opt into YouTube Creator Music for previous releases with Content ID by heading to your album page, and navigating to the "Album extras" section. YouTube Creator Music should be listed as a free add-on from your album page under the extras section.For more information abo...
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Can I still monetize videos that have a purchased YouTube Creator License applied?

No. If a YouTube creator buys a license to use your music in their video, that video is no longer claimable with Content ID. You get the license fee and they get the rights to collect the ad revenue from the video. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Can I still monetize videos that have a purchased YouTube Creator License applied?", "description": "No. If a YouTube creator purchases a Creator Music license to use your song, you receive the license fee but cannot monetize that specific video with Content ID.", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "We...
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Can I send my release to Content ID through Social Media Pack, but skip Creator Music?

Yes, you can opt out of Creator Music here.Be advised that YouTube is also updating how Content ID monetization works in general. They have launched a new initiative called RevShare that cuts eligible YouTube creators in on the ad revenue generated by a video. Most notably, eligible YouTubers will now get a cut of the Ad Revenue generated by a video if: The usage of your music is for less than 30 seconds in a video that is longer than 3 minutes. Any usage of any length of your music when it is eligible to be placed in the Creator Music Library (if you opt into YouTube CID) but it is not ma...
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Are there any restrictions on who can buy licenses or what types of videos can feature my music?

Yes. Commercial brands with YouTube channels dedicated to promoting the brand (Peloton, Tesla, Ubisoft, etc.) and companies who primarily produce commercial content intended for theaters, television, or streaming services (Netflix, Disney, Sony Pictures, etc.) are not permitted access to purchase licenses with YouTube Creator Music. Also, some videos that are not eligible to purchase licenses are: Videos where the YouTube creator was paid by a brand or service to make a video that primarily promotes that brand or service. Videos where the YouTube creator modifies your music. For example, cr...
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What is a Topic Channel in YouTube?

In YouTube, a topic channel is a channel that is automatically generated by YouTube when it receives music for an artist from a distributor, like DistroKid. Every artist who submits music to YouTube via a distributor will have a topic channel, and it functions independently of other artist channels that may already exist in YouTube.You may assume that DistroKid created the topic channel you're seeing, but that's not the case! It's YouTube's way of handling the music we send them and making sure it's available to listen to in both YouTube and YouTube Music.Topic channels allow your music to ...
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Did Interstreet Recordings Make a Copyright Claim on Your Music in YouTube?

DistroKid offers an optional album extra called "Social Media Pack." When you opt into Social Media Pack, we'll add your audio to YouTube's Content ID system, which scours YouTube for videos that use your music. When a match is found, ads play on the video, and you'll get ad revenue.If you have a video on YouTube that uses your own music, you'll likely get an email from YouTube that there's been a copyright claim against it, and that the claim is from "Interstreet Recordings." This is nothing to worry about – Interstreet Recordings is the engine that helps power DistroKid's "YouTube Content...
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If I Submit My Music to YouTube Music, Will It Cause Problems with Content ID?

Delivering your music to YouTube Music will not impact or cause issues with Content ID in YouTube.YouTube Music is a streaming service where subscribers can stream your music, just like other streaming services. YouTube Content ID is YouTube's system that allows for the automatic scanning of videos on YouTube for usage of your music, and allows for the monetization of any videos that do use your music.The music you distribute to YouTube Music through DistroKid will not automatically be entered into YouTube Content ID unless you also opt into Content ID through DistroKid's optional Social Me...
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Eligibility for YouTube Content ID Through The Social Media Pack Extra

Before opting your music into the Social Media Pack album extra, you must first determine if it is eligible for YouTube Content ID. If your release contains any audio that you didn't create yourself like beats, loops, samples, or video game sounds, then it is unfortunately ineligible for YouTube Content ID.YouTube takes this very seriously. All of the following must be true for a release to be eligible:You own 100% of the sounds.Your release must NOT include beats, loops, sound effects, or any audio from sample libraries or public sources, including free sounds from GarageBand, Ableton, Log...
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I Used DistroKid to Upload My Music to YouTube. When I Try to Play It in YouTube, It Won't Play. Why Not?

YouTube Music is currently available in the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Canada, Norway, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and South Korea, and will be available anywhere YouTube has a subscription music service as new territories are supported.If you're trying to play YouTube Music Art Track videos from outside of these supported territories, you may see a message that the content is not available. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "I Used DistroKid to Upload My Music to YouTube. When I Try to Play It in YouT...
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Are Cover Songs Eligible for Content ID?

Cover songs are eligible for YouTube Content ID through the Social Media Pack album extra. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Are Cover Songs Eligible for Content ID?", "description": "Cover songs can qualify for YouTube Content ID through DistroKid’s Social Media Pack.", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://support.distrokid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025496594" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "DistroKid", "url": "https://distrokid.com" }, "author": { "@ty...
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