Know how music rights are managed on YouTube
Copyright is an important topic for anyone who uploads videos to YouTube. Learn about music copyright, cover songs and YouTube's Content ID system for rights management.
Put a spotlight on music copyright
Copyright is a form of intellectual property law that protects original works of authorship. This plays a big role in determining who can use music created by you or somebody else, as well as how you earn money from your music on and off YouTube.
As an Artist, you focus a lot of energy on creating, recording and performing music for fans to enjoy. Copyright may not be centre stage, yet it's helpful to know about this topic and what it means for you.
We'll share a few key concepts here. To become more well versed in copyright, take a look at the YouTube Copyright Centre and other resources that explain the impact of copyright on the music business. (For specific advice, it's a good idea to consult a lawyer.)
In the music world, there are two main types of copyright:- The sound recording refers to the actual audio recording, whether it's done in a garage or studio. This copyright could be shared by the performer and the producer or engineer.
- The musical composition refers to the music and lyrics, which may be written on paper or captured electronically. This copyright could belong to one or more composers and lyricists.
Under most record deals, it's common for the labels to own rights to 'master' sound recordings, allowing them to distribute music and collect revenue on behalf of their Artists.
In addition, musical composition rights often get assigned to publishing companies, which take on the administrative work and pay songwriters based upon agreed royalty fees.
A single musical composition could be associated with multiple sound recordings, if the same song is recorded separately by different Artists (example: 'Working Class Hero' written by John Lennon, later recorded by Green Day).
Note: The information in this lesson is for educational purposes only and not legal advice. Copyright laws may vary by country.
Tips
- Read about copyright registration with the US Copyright Office.
- Get more details on copyright laws in other countries.
- Find answers to your copyright questions with our troubleshooter.
See it in action
Consider your sources and when to get licensed
Because music copyright can be quite complex, many Artists consult experts to help guide them. To get started, consider these suggestions.
Look at the licence. A music licence is an agreement that allows the copyright owner to grant certain rights to another party. There are different kinds of licences, such as for reproducing and distributing songs on LPs or CDs. Other licences control things such as performing a musical composition in public or synchronising a sound recording with an audiovisual work.
For Artists, it's important to understand when you're in a position to grant licences to others – and when you would need to get licences. Check whether the licences cover the intended use. (If you're not sure, speak with a music lawyer.)
Be clear on sampling. Some Artists assume that they can freely sample another song under the 'fair use' principle. However, 'fair use' (or 'fair dealing') only applies to certain limited circumstances and isn't automatic. As a general rule, Artists will need to clear any samples with the copyright owner of the original composition and/or sound recording.
Please note that copyright owners may submit a copyright takedown notice to request the removal of unauthorised videos from YouTube.
Take a look at the Library. Creators often want to include some music or sound effects in their videos, without having to negotiate licences with each copyright owner. The YouTube Audio Library makes it easy to use high-quality audio tracks royalty-free.
Let's say that you're doing a vlog and want to include ambient music in the background or cool sound effects in the intro. Simply search the Audio Library for tracks you like, download and drop them in. Good news: You can still monetise the video.
Tips
- Note which licences are needed for sound recordings versus musical compositions.
- Check if tracks from the YouTube Audio Library require attribution.
Did you know?
See it in action
Expand your audience through covers
Many Artists on YouTube have increased the discovery of their videos and expanded their audience through standout covers. For example, Tyler Ward found fame in 2010 when he posted a video of himself and other Artists singing an acoustic version of 'We Are the World'.
Planning to record your own cover? Remember that the original music and lyrics would fall under a composition copyright. The licensing requirements depend on a few factors, including how you distribute the cover, so it's generally best to get advice from a pro.
Share the revenue. Thanks to agreements between YouTube and music publishers, you may be able to share in the revenue from eligible cover song videos on your channel. This is a great way to showcase your talent and make some money.
Not all songs or users are eligible for revenue sharing.
Develop a strategy. Keep these points in mind for your covers.
- Style. Focus on covers that resonate with your favourite genre and highlight your unique talent. Also consider your demographics and how they may be different from the original Artist's.
- Timing. Think about releasing covers at regular intervals, or doing covers of breakout songs. Feel free to experiment and adjust the release of covers and your original songs.
- Promotion. Use channel features such as cards and playlists to promote covers. Include the title of the original song in your video title and description to boost discovery.
Tips
See it in action
Hello – Whippy Tube and Tap Dance CoverMyles Erlick and Walk off the Earth deliver their unique version of Adele's song.
Shameless – The Weeknd (cover)Moroccan/Swedish singer Sofia Karlberg performs her cover of The Weeknd's single.
Recognise how to handle Content ID claims
A lot of people come to YouTube every day to enjoy music, so we've worked hard to build a platform that drives revenue to music creators. Our Content ID technology allows rightsholders to identify and manage their content on YouTube.
Music partners – labels, publishers and other licensers – can automate much of their rights management through Content ID. This includes the option to monetise content through ads and subscriptions, opening new revenue streams for musicians and songwriters.
Have you been claimed? In some cases, Artists may see that music videos on their channel have been 'claimed' by Content ID. In most instances, a Content ID claim isn't a bad thing for your YouTube channel; this simply means that the rightsholder (such as the label) has delivered music to the Content ID database so that we know how to handle it.
You can see which videos have been claimed in your Videos page in YouTube Studio. If you don't recognise the claimant, note that it could be a distributor or aggregator that is working with the rightsholders. You can always check with your label or publisher.
Content ID scans videos across YouTube, finding other videos that match the official sound recording or composition. This system allows rightsholders to monetise fan uploads and share the revenue with Artists.
Need more help? If you believe that a Content ID claim on your video is invalid, you can dispute it. For example, if you believe that the system misidentified your video, or that you own all the commercial rights. (Content ID also claims non-music content such as clips from TV shows or movies.)
One last thing to remember: music rightsholders may not be the same in all territories. YouTube will follow whatever policy the rightsholder specifies per country, including whether to monetise.
Tips
Did you know?
- 99.5% of audio claims are automated through Content ID identifying the content and applying the copyright owner's preferred action.