Content ID is YouTube’s proprietary fingerprinting tool for digital content. If you have opted-in Content ID when you upload your musical assets, the voice print of your work will be registered in the vast YouTube database.
For a more detailed description, please refer to the official instructional video provided by YouTube.
If your track meets the required criteria, the “YouTube Content ID” option will be visible during the preview of the album information prior to submission of the upload request. You can enable Content ID by selecting this.
What are the benefits of Content ID?
If any YouTuber utilizes sections of your track(s), YouTube Content ID automatically identifies your track and awards you a portion of the advertising revenue.
What criteria do I have to meet to be eligible for Content ID?
1. First, the album must be uploaded and released on YouTube Music.
2. Content ID can only be enabled if your uploaded audio file is unique and 100% original. Content ID cannot be enabled if one of the following conditions exists:
- Tracks contain sections of public domain or royalty-free music (e.g., classical music melodies have been incorporated or freely available materials are utilized for the Intro)
- Tracks contain sections of adapted public domain (e.g., rearranged version of “Craving for the Spring Wind” or an adaptation of a Bach tune)
- Tracks contain sections of the works of others or adaptations of such works (e.g., lawfully purchased beats/samples or sections of famous video game soundtracks)
- Cover songs or reinterpretations/rearrangements of the works of others
- Audio books
- Melodic sounds that are impossible to identify (e.g., sounds of nature)
- Tracks less than 33 seconds
- The same original track has a previously registered Content ID
For more details, please refer to YouTube official help center.