Violation of YouTube Content ID's Monetization Policy

2 min read

YouTube has strict rules for monetizing music through Content ID. Violate these rules and your sound recording may be removed from Content ID. Your distribution access may be restricted or blocked entirely.

This article highlights key aspects of YouTube's guidelines. It is NOT an exhaustive list. You must also follow YouTube's Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, Copyright, Rights Clearance Adjustment policies, and AdSense program policies.

Key Violations Include:

  1. Attempts to circumvent the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to monetize content through channels YouTube has not approved for monetization. For example:

    • Embedding music in Shorts from channels not accepted into YPP, such as channels mainly remixing or reusing third-party content without added value, or channels presenting repetitive or low-effort content.
    • Content produced at scale, with low effort, that looks template-made with little to no variation across videos. Examples.
    • Content reused from other sources without adding original commentary, modifications, or entertainment value. Examples.
    • Content using hacks or exploits such as embedding music in an inaudible or barely audible manner.

  2. Making parasitic use of other people's content. For example:

    • Embedding your music in unrelated popular third-party content. For example:
      • Inserting your sound recording into a Simpsons episode or a motivational speaker's video.
      • Creating a compilation video with famous musicians' songs and inserting your sound recording as an uncredited intro or outro.
      • Overlaying your music on a scene from a popular movie.
    • Deceiving YouTube's audience with popular videos as clickbait. For example:
      • Using misleading thumbnails, titles, or logos such as the VEVO logo to get users to click on your video.
      • Videos where the title, thumbnail, or both reference popular third-party content you don't own.

How to Promote Your Music Without Violating Content ID's Monetization Guidelines:

The use of your music in videos should mainly come from organic sources, not deliberate campaigns you orchestrate. You may create some videos to promote your music, but the majority should remain true user-generated content (UGC).

If you do create compilation videos to help YouTube's audience discover your music by associating it with other content, make sure that:

  • The content you use fits your music.
  • You clearly identify your music in the video's title and/or credits so you are not deceiving YouTube's audience about the content—this is IMPORTANT.
  • You do not create multiple very similar videos. Do not pollute YouTube with a dozen copies or close variants of the same video content.