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YouTube Monetization Basics

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Content ID is YouTube's automated scanning system that enables copyright owners to identify YouTube videos that include your original content. Here's how it works:

  1. CD Baby delivers your music to Content ID. Your audio files are used as a reference for scanning. 
  2. The Content ID system scans all the videos on YouTube and places a CD Baby claim on any videos which use your sound recording(s). A sound recording is your music/audio file. 
  3. YouTube places a Content ID claim on the video in order for CD Baby to collect revenue generated from the use of your music on your behalf. This does not mean CD Baby owns your copyright.
  4. Any revenue generated from the claimed video will be reported to CD Baby on a quarterly basis, which then gets paid to you! Learn more about making money from YouTube here.

More of a visual learner? This video should help!

 

Below are some frequently asked questions related to YouTube Content ID. Click each link to learn more:

 

 

Why should CD Baby help me monetize my music on YouTube?

If you need help monetizing your music all across YouTube, this service could be right for you.

Managing your copyrights on YouTube can be complicated and time-consuming. Our team of highly trained Content Administrators are there to monitor and manage the use of your music, which may appear in any video on the platform. If your music appears in a video, we'll be there to monetize it on your behalf.

YouTube Monetization via CD Baby is also a free service, which can be added to any eligible release you distribute with us.  

Lastly, you still hold 100% of your copyrights. We're just here to help identify it and monetize it on your behalf. 

 

Eligibility for Monetization

Public Domain and Cover Songs are ineligible and will not be delivered to YouTube, Facebook & Instagram.

For Facebook and Instagram video monetization

✅ Your content must be original. If you have used ANY content you did not create yourself, please review this article to see if your content is eligible.

For YouTube video monetization

✅ Your content must be original. If you have used ANY content you did not create yourself, please review this article to see if your content is eligible.

✅ Your release must be delivered to YouTube Music.

✅ Your release must have NO territory restrictions.

 

When will I see results from YouTube monetization?

YouTube has billions of videos —  So the time it takes for a video to be claimed can vary widely. Videos uploaded to YouTube are scanned against a database of audio and visual content that's been submitted to YouTube by a number of copyright owners. 

When Content ID finds a match, it applies a Content ID claim to the matching video. This allows us to collect ad/subscriber revenue generated from the use of your music on your behalf. 

YouTube reports revenue generated to us quarterly. For more details on how YouTube pays you, check this out. 

 

What is the YouTube Partner Program (YPP)?

In order to monetize your content directly through YouTube, creators must qualify for the YouTube Partner Program. This gives creators the ability to earn ad revenue via AdSense as well as gain greater access to YouTube resources and features. 

If you meet the requirements listed below and you’d prefer to have that control, YPP would be the way to go. However, if you do not qualify, CD Baby's YouTube Monetization service is the best way to capture any and all revenue owed to you on YouTube.

 

To be eligible for the YouTube Partner Program your channel must:

  1. Follow all the YouTube monetization policies
  2. Live in a country or region where the YouTube Partner Program is available
  3. Have no active Community Guidelines strikes on your channel
  4. Have more than 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months
  5. Have more than 1,000 subscribers
  6. Have a linked AdSense account

 

Do I still own all my rights if I opt into CD Baby's YouTube Monetization service?

Absolutely! You always keep 100% of your rights. We just help you get paid.

Remember, if you opted-in for CD Baby’s YouTube Monetization service you are granted an exclusive license for CD Baby to monetize your music on YouTube. This just means you can only use one company at any given time for YouTube monetization services for a particular release. 

 

What does “Licensed to YouTube by...” mean?

The businesses and organizations listed in the “Licensed to YouTube by” field are the music rights holders who have agreed to allow YouTube to use identified music in official and user-generated videos and share in the revenue those videos earn on the platform. For example, if you see an ad on a video that contains music and has “Music in this video” information, the labels and publishers listed under “Licensed to YouTube by” are earning a share of the revenue generated by that ad.

In addition to music labels and publishers whose names you may recognize, you may see that some songs are “Licensed to YouTube by” a number of “music rights societies.” This refers to organizations that collect royalties on behalf of their songwriters and publishers around the world. Just as with individual music publishers, YouTube has license agreements with these entities and shares revenue with them for videos they claim.

 

Here is an example of what that might look like:

Screenshot_1.png

Learn more about this topic in YouTube's Help Center.

 

I’ve found videos on YouTube that use my music. Should I have them taken down?

No. If you've opted into CD Baby’s YouTube Monetization service, you can make money from the usage of your music on ANY YouTube video. In fact, you should encourage more of your fans to use your music in their videos on YouTube. This only creates more opportunities to have your music heard and to earn revenue in the process!

 

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