Nearly two billion people across the world use YouTube, many of which are daily viewers. While music videos account for a small percentage of the overall content uploaded, music itself is present in nearly 80 percent of all videos uploaded. This kind of prevalence of music on YouTube gives artists exposure they used to only be able to dream about. Not only does the use of music in so many uploaded videos lead to more ears listening to your songs, it can also put a lot of money in your pocket.

How Artists Make Money on YouTube

If you are an up-and-coming musician, you may wonder how artists make money on YouTube. Monetizing your content at an early stage in your career can seem too good to be true, however, YouTube has made it possible thanks to the use of ads in videos. When ads are included in any user-uploaded content, those who hold the right to songs that are used in those videos can potentially receive a share. MusicDigi partners with YouTube to deliver our members’ work to Content ID, ensuring independent artists don’t leave money on the table.

What is Content ID?

YouTube Content ID is YouTube's system that's able to identify when your music is used in a video, first rolled out in 2008 and extended to music in 2010, rightsholders are able to upload their content to a database that YouTube then uses to match against works uploaded to the site by third-party users.

It is a fully automated way to ensure that you receive money for your music wherever it appears in a video. For example, if your song scores a cinematic wedding video or happens to be in the background of a 16-year-old’s party, Content ID automatically detect the use of your work, and will notify the user.

How Do Artists Make Money Using Content ID?

The answer is also pretty simple: When a video is uploaded to YouTube, the site’s Content ID algorithm scans the video and compares its audio content to “every upload on YouTube,” Whenever your music is detected in any video, YouTube will monetize those videos by running ads on them. The ad revenue from any and all future views of the video will then go to you, instead of the person who uploaded the video. There is no need to file a claim, go through a lengthy process, or even police your content yourself. All you need to do is to is submit your music to YouTube for the Content ID program.

Who can use Content ID?

In order to qualify for Content ID, Artists must have at least 1000 subscribers and 4000 aggregate watch-time hours over the previous year and must prove they control the exclusive rights to the audio tracks they submit. YouTube enacted this change to increase sales value for current and prospective advertisers.

Although you can submit your own Content ID application, There is no guarantee of acceptance. In most cases YouTube may be rejected your contentent ID application because another tool is better suited for your type of copyright claim, or that your content is not exclusively yours.

Since the application process can be time consuming and requires specific information, many artists choose to go through an official YouTube Partner. MusicDigi, a YouTube Certified company, handles the legal and technical necessities for our members. Our team delivers audio to YouTube on behalf of our artists, collecting worldwide royalties from user-generated content that features their work.



Monetizing your own videos is easy but policing the entirety of YouTube to be sure you receive a fair income for the use of your work elsewhere is impossible. Making use of the Content ID system is the best and easiest way to increase your earnings without wasting your time.

Ready to get your music on YouTube? MusicDigi makes it easy to upload your tracks to YouTube Music, TikTok, Spotify, Apple Music and more. Sign up to MusicDigi to release your music today.