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How To Upload Music To YouTube Music as an Artist

If you make music, chances are you’ve already shared it on platforms like SoundCloud. But if you want real listeners, the kind who follow artists and scroll for new music every day, YouTube Music is where you need to be. It’s one of the biggest music streaming platforms in the world.

But unfortunately, there’s no simple upload button in the platform. Rather, there’s a proper process for artists to upload tracks on YouTube Music. And once you understand it, YouTube becomes the first choice for your music distribution 😉.

In this blog, we will explain all you need to know about how to upload music to YouTube Music.

In this article, we’ll cover…

Why Upload Your Music On YouTube Music? 5 Great Reasons

Illustration of a young man playing guitar and singing into a microphone on stage with musical notes around him. The image title reads “Why You Should Upload Your Songs to YouTube Music? (Top 5 Reasons).” The listed points explain benefits of uploading music on YouTube Music — reaching millions of listeners, protecting and monetizing songs, building a verified artist profile, getting algorithm promotion, and making music look professiona

When you release a song, you need to be everywhere your fans are. And for a massive audience, that’s YouTube. Have a look at some reasons why uploading music to YouTube Music is one of the best moves for an independent artist: 

1. Large, Targeted User Base

YouTube Music has over 80 million premium users and many more free listeners. Unlike social media platforms where people scroll aimlessly, users here open the app with one clear intention: to find and listen to new music. So, when you upload your music on YouTube Music, you’re putting it right in front of people who want to hear new music.

2. Leverage Content ID System

When you distribute your music, it gets registered with YouTube Content ID. It’s just like a digital fingerprint. Once it’s registered, YouTube’s system will automatically scan every single video uploaded to the platform. 

If it detects a match, Content ID will automatically claim that video on your behalf. You can then choose to monetize it  and collect a share of the ad revenue. 

3. Get an Official Artist Channel (OAC)

After you’ve distributed music, you become eligible for an Official Artist Channel (OAC). It works as a portfolio that combines all your content: your official music videos, your Art Tracks, and any live performance videos.

This makes it incredibly easy for fans to find all of your music in one place. An OAC also gives you a verified music note symbol and access to special analytics that let you learn more about your audience.

Screenshot showing the YouTube channel “MdQ,” an example of an Official Artist Channel (OAC). The page includes the artist’s verified name with a music note symbol. This image demonstrates how an OAC combines all of an artist’s music content, including videos and albums, in one place for fans to easily find.

4. Powerful Algorithm To Increase Reach

The YouTube algorithm always prefers entertainment content like Music that engages the audience. If the first few views are positive, the algorithm considers it as a positive factor and pushes your new Art Track to users who like similar artists or genres.

It also adds your music to automated playlists like “My Supermix” and other curated lists. In short, your burden of self-promotion and paid ads gets lower with natural promotion.

5. Create a Professional Feel

It’s okay to upload a song as a regular YouTube video, but it doesn’t give you the same credibility. When you distribute your music to YouTube Music properly, it appears like a professional release. It’s complete with album art, artist name, lyrics, track details, and it’s linked to your Official Artist Channel.

How to Upload Music to YouTube Music as an Artist

Illustration of a musician singing and playing guitar into a microphone, showing the process of uploading music to YouTube Music through a digital music distributor. Logos of popular distributors like DistroKid, CD Baby, and TuneCore appear in the center, with arrows pointing to a laptop screen displaying YouTube Music. The graphic explains how artists can release songs on YouTube Music using music distribution platforms.

You can’t upload a song to YouTube Music the same way you upload a video to YouTube. There’s only one guaranteed way to do it for official distribution: a digital music distributor.

A music distributor is a service that sends your audio file, metadata (like the song title, credits, lyrics, and cover art), and release information to popular streaming sites like YouTube Music, Spotify, and Apple Music. Some of the prominent distributors on YouTube Music are DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, and so on.

You might be thinking, “Can’t I just upload a video of my song myself?” 

You absolutely can!  But it’s not the same thing. Even though it appears on YouTube Music, there are many significant drawbacks, like: 

  • It will not have the right album information or a link to your artist catalog.

  •  You’ll miss out on music streaming revenue since views are treated like regular video plays.

  • Your track won’t be recommended alongside other songs in your genre on YouTube Music. Only people who find your channel will be able to see it.

  • YouTube Content ID doesn’t automatically apply to direct uploads. Even if somebody uses your song in their video, you won’t get a notification or the ability to monetize their upload.

Step-by-Step Guide To Upload Music to YouTube Music as an Artist

Infographic showing “How to Upload Your Music to YouTube Music” with four steps: Prepare your music for release, pick a trusted music distributor, upload your track via distributor, and claim your Official Artist Channel (OAC). The design includes a laptop screen with the YouTube Music interface and an upload icon, surrounded by colorful music notes.

If you’re serious about your music career and want your tracks to appear professionally with streaming revenue, the best (and really the only) way is to upload music to YouTube Music through a distributor.  I chose DistroKid, and here’s exactly how I got my music from my hard drive into every major platform:

1. Prepare Your Music for Release

Before you think about distribution, make sure your song is ready for the world. A well-prepared track avoids rejection from distributors and looks professional when it goes live. 

It must be complete, with:

  • Final Mix and Mastering: Distributors need audio files that are of good quality. A .WAV or .FLAC file is a lossless format that is used in the industry. This keeps the quality of your mix and master high, so your song will sound great on all streaming services. (MP3 is not usually accepted for distribution).
Screenshot of the YouTube Music interface showing the song “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi playing. The image displays how songs appear on YouTube Music with album art, playback controls, and autoplay options. Useful for a blog guide on how artists can upload and manage their music on YouTube Music.
  • Cover Art: Every song needs a picture on the cover. It has to be a perfect square and have at least 3000 x 3000 pixels of resolution. Avoid using blurry pictures or designs that feature logos protected by copyright. Read this blog to understand the best fonts that you can use to make it more attractive. 
  • Lyrics and Credits: A lot of distributors let you upload lyrics, songwriter names, and producer credits. This makes it easier for people to find your music and makes it look more professional.

2. Pick a Music Distributor

As mentioned earlier, you can’t upload music to YouTube Music on your. You need authorized music distributors for that.

DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Amuse, and Ditto Music are all well-known choices. The pricing varies from distributor to distributor. Some of the most common models are:

  • Subscription Model: You pay a yearly fee (like DistroKid) and keep all of your royalties. This is the subscription model. It’s suitable for musicians who plan to release music on a regular basis.

  • One-Time Fee: You pay a one-time fee for each release. This option works for artists who only release music occasionally.

  • Commission-Based Model: If you don’t have much money initially to pay for a distributor, you can also opt for a commission model, where the distributor takes a cut of your revenue.

No matter what your choice, you must have clarity on what services exactly you’re paying for. Ask specifically:

  • What all streaming services do they cover?

  • Is YouTube Content ID free with them? 

  • Can they help you get your Official Artist Channel?

I’m using Distrokid for the purpose.

3. Sign Up On Distrokid

Register an account on Distrokid. Now, pick a pricing plan that suits you:

AspectMusicianMusician PlusUltimate
Price$2.08 / month$3.75 / month$7.50 / month
Upload unlimited songs✅✅✅
Upload unlimited lyrics✅✅✅
Spotify verified checkmark✅✅✅
Create royalty splits✅✅✅
Access to free promotional tools✅✅✅
Mobile app access✅✅✅
Synced lyrics in Apple Music❌✅✅
Daily streaming stats❌✅✅
Customizable label name❌✅✅
Customizable release date❌✅✅
Custom iTunes pricing❌✅✅
Monitor your music on Spotify & Apple Music❌❌✅
1 TB instant file sharing❌❌✅
Advanced analytics & stats❌❌✅
Replace song audio❌❌✅
Search engine for playlist contact info❌❌✅

As soon as you complete the plan, you’ll get redirected to the dashboard. Click on Upload Music.

4. Filling in the Release Details

The upload form walks you through everything you need to deliver to YouTube Music and the other platforms.

First of all, select the platforms where your music needs to be published. Luckily, Distrokid supports a wide range of platforms like YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, Snapchat, Amazon, Pandora, and so on. Next, fill in details like:

  • Select how many tracks you’re uploading (you can do up to 20 tracks at once!)

  • Answer whether the song has been released previously

  • Choose an artist or band name from the list of artists you can manage on the plan

  • For each major platform, select whether you already have an existing artist account. If you don’t have one, you can use DistroKid to create a brand-new profile for each.

5. Schedule the Release

It’s a great idea to plan this at least a few weeks in advance to give you time to promote your music and create anticipation.

Select when you wish to publish the music and enter the following details:

  • Record Label Name (you can use your artist name if you don’t have a formal label)

  • Language of lyrics

  • Primary and Secondary Genres

6. Upload The Cover Picture

You must upload a high-quality and professional cover pic for the music to attract listeners. It must be high-resolution (3000×3000 pixels) and in the JPEG format.

Screenshot of a music distributor dashboard showing the upload process for a song. The page includes an option to upload an cover image in 3000*3000 pixels

7. Enter More Details

After cover pic uploading, enter the following details, too:

  • Exact Song Title and, if applicable, would add a featured artist

  • Version, if it’s Original, Radio, or something else

  • Upload the main audio file (my high-quality WAV) confirm if it was Dolby Atmos encoded or not
Screenshot of a music distributor dashboard showing the upload process for a song. he page includes an option to upload an audio file in WAV, MP3, or FLAC format, with a button to select or drag the file for upload.
  • Writer Name (who composed the song) and specify crucial details like whether the track has lyrics, is a radio edit, or is purely instrumental

  • Track price

  • How the preview clip is selected. You can either set it up manually or let the streaming service pick the best part

8. Submit The Release

Scroll down and tick all the checkboxes to confirm the terms and conditions (make sure you read them!). Then, hit that Submit button. That’s it, you’ve officially submitted your music to YouTube Music!

Screenshot showing a distributor dashboard preview. The display lists streaming platforms like YouTube Music, Spotify, and Apple Music as release options, along with release date and record label details. Used in a blog post about how to upload and release music on YouTube Music through a distributor.

9. Claim Your Official Artist Channel (OAC)

After your music is on YouTube Music, the next step is to connect it to your YouTube account. You can do this by claiming your Official Artist Channel. It’s very simple with DistroKid!

From the main DistroKid dashboard, click on Goodies section at the top right, and then select YouTube Official Artist Channel. Here are the two main requirements to complete it:

  • You must have a music-specific YouTube channel (not any other niche)

  • Must have at least three official music releases through DistroKid
Screenshot of the DistroKid dashboard showing the YouTube Official Artist Channel setup page. Used in a blog guide explaining how to claim your Official Artist Channel on YouTube Music after uploading songs through a distributor.

For a clearer visual guide and even more details on the platform’s options, make sure to watch our comprehensive tutorial on how to upload music to YouTube Music with DistroKid:

YouTube video

Tips to Get More Plays & Views on YouTube Music

Illustration of a happy girl listening to music with headphones while a smartphone screen shows a YouTube-style music app with 25.2M plays and a rising green graph, representing tips to get more plays and views on YouTube Music

Getting your song live on YouTube Music is just the tip of the iceberg. The real challenge begins after the release: making sure people actually listen, save, and share your tracks. Check out some practical tips to increase your reach and streams on YouTube Music:

1. Optimize Your Metadata for Visibility

YouTube uses metadata to categorize your music and recommend it accordingly. If you set it up correctly, YouTube Music’s algorithm is more likely to push your song to new listeners. Here’s how to do it in the right manner:

  • Choose the right genres and moods. Don’t just pick “Pop” because it’s popular. Pick the categories that really fit your music, like Indie Pop, Lo-fi Beats, or Afro House. That’s the best way to bring in a targeted audience.

  • Add full credits, including songwriters, producers, and featured artists. The more complete your credits are, the easier it will be for fans and collaborators to find you.

  • Add lyrics whenever you can. That can help fans sing along and make your music easier to find.

2. Make Use of YouTube Shorts

Nowadays, YouTube Shorts are one of the best ways to attract an initial reach. Most Shorts, even from new channels, score a few hundred views without much optimization. Have a look at how you can use this format to improve your music reach:

  • Create Your Own Shorts: Share interesting 15–60 second clips that feature an important musical moment from your song. It could be the chorus, a beat drop, or a line that sticks in your mind. You can make it visually interesting by adding some behind-the-scenes footage.

  • Encourage Fan-Generated Content: Use your song in a trend or challenge and ask your fans to make their own Shorts with your music. The YouTube algorithm really likes content that drives user engagement and creation.

Read our guide on how to get more views for your YouTube videos.

3. Optimize Your Videos with Cards and End Screens

Don’t let someone leave your page without a call to action. If someone has already watched your content till the end, they’re exactly the kind of listener you want to keep. The best thing you could do is to guide them to more of your music. And YouTube gives you built-in tools to do just that.

  • Info Cards: Add clickable cards to your official music videos or lyric videos. You can use these to link to your artist channel or a playlist of your other songs.

  • End Screens: Put a clickable end screen at the end of your video, between 5 and 20 seconds. This is a great chance to link directly to your latest music or a whole album playlist to get people to binge-watch.

Unfortunately, almost everyone uses cards and end screens now. Because of that, most viewers treat them as background noise. If you want people to actually follow through, your calls to action need to stand out visually.

4. Leverage YouTube Playlists

Playlists are the most important part of finding new music. Getting into the right one can really help you increase the streams. You can:

  • Pitch to popular playlists created by distributors

  • Create your own thematic playlists that mix your songs with popular tracks in your genre. It’s a good idea to grab search engine traffic.

5. Use Music Promotion Services

Let’s accept it. Organic channel growth takes time. Building an audience from scratch and waiting for streams to snowball can take months. But if you’re an independent artist, your reality might be different. Bills, studio costs, or label expectations often don’t give you that luxury of waiting.

So, if you want to accelerate your reach more quickly, paid promotion could be a good idea. Of course, running YouTube ads could be the first option. But the problem over ads is that it’s not as simple as you might think. 

You need precise audience targeting, optimized ad creatives, tactical budgeting, and retargeting strategies to succeed in a saturated space like music. This level of technical knowledge requires much time to master (more than organic reach). Without proper technical knowledge, you may end up spending even more than your music budget for literally nothing.

Practically, outsourcing is the best way for independent artists who’re just getting started. At LenosTube, we offer affordable music video promotion services built specifically for artists who want to grow on YouTube Music. 70% of the views will come from YouTube ads itself and 30% would be external traffic through articles, social media shares, comments, likes, etc. Try it out now!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓

1. How long does it take for my music to appear on YouTube Music?

It usually takes between 3 to 14 days after submitting through a distributor. The exact time depends on how long it takes the distributor to review your work.

2. Is it possible to release both singles and albums on YouTube Music at the same time?

Yes, you can. A lot of artists put out singles first to get people excited, and then include them in a full album release on YouTube Music later.

3. Do I need a record label to upload music to YouTube Music?

No, you don’t. Independent musicians can send their music straight to YouTube Music without a label, using services like DistroKid or TuneCore.

4. Is it okay to put remixes on YouTube music?

Only if you have the right licenses or permissions. Distributors may reject copyrighted material without clearance, so make sure you have the rights first. If you don’t have sufficient funds to buy the music rights, it’s good to attempt remixes with popular copyright-free tracks.

Conclusion

Creating a good music is just half the way. The ‘where’ and ‘how’ to release part are also equally important. Luckily, YouTube music is one of the best platform for that.

The process might sound a bit technical at first: pitching to a distributor, uploading, setting up your profile, and promoting it. But once you’ve done it, you’re a brand with a global stage and a sound the world is finally ready to hear! 😎👌

YouTube Copyright Strike – What Is It & Its Consequences in 2025

As a YouTube content creator, one of the biggest challenges you might face is a copyright strike. And in 2025, YouTube has become more strict about protecting creators’ rights. Even a single mistake can put your channel at risk.

What makes this even more concerning is that copyright strikes can affect your entire channel (not just the video). The consequences could be pretty serious, from losing access to some features to the possibility of a permanent ban.

So, what exactly is a YouTube copyright strike, and what happens when you get one? How can you protect your hard work to keep your channel safe? Let’s check out all you need to know about copyright strikes in 2025. 

In this article, we’ll cover…

What is YouTube Copyright Strike?

Illustration showing a sad YouTuber receiving a copyright strike notification. A large copyright symbol appears on a screen with legal documents, a lock, and a gavel in the background, representing YouTube copyright issues and content protection.

A YouTube copyright strike is an official warning that YouTube gives when a video on your channel uses copyrighted content without proper permission, and the copyright holder decides to take down your video. 

Copyrighted content could be music, video clips, images, or any creative work owned by someone else.

Each strike is recorded in your channel’s record, and if multiple strikes happen within a short time, YouTube may remove features or even terminate your channel. Later in this article, we’ll explain in detail the consequences that come with one (or more) copyright strikes.

How Copyright Strikes Work in 2025: What Really Happens Behind The Scenes?

Illustration showing how YouTube’s Content ID system detects copyrighted content. The main screen displays the message “If Content ID Detects a Match, It Notifies the Copyright Owner,” symbolizing how YouTube automatically scans videos and alerts the rightful owner when a match is found.

In 2025, copyright strikes can occur in two ways. Let’s look at what happens before one is sent and how the process works.

1) Content ID to copyright strike

Most copyright issues on YouTube start with the Content ID system. Every video uploaded is automatically scanned and compared against a huge database of copyrighted songs, movie clips, TV shows, and other protected content. 

If Content ID detects a match, it notifies the copyright owner. At this point, the owner can decide whether to make money from the YouTube video with ads, block it in certain countries, or so on.

Sometimes, the owner may decide to take a step further and submit a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown request, which, on YouTube, is commonly known as a “Copyright Strike”. Soon, YouTube reviews the request. If the platform finds it valid, the video is removed, and a strike is placed on your channel.

W

Note: A copyright claim is perfectly fine in most cases. You can learn about the differences between a copyright claim and a copyright strike here.

2) Manual copyright strike

Sometimes, copyright owners manually locate videos that violate their rights, often through keyword research. This approach is especially common among large brands that actively protect their content online.

For example, UEFA may issue strikes against unauthorized uploads of football highlights, while software companies might target users sharing methods to “crack” or bypass their tools.

In such cases, YouTube reviews each removal request to verify its validity under copyright law. If the request is complete and legitimate, the platform removes the content and issues a copyright strike to the uploader.

Common Causes of a YouTube Copyright Strike

Infographic showing common causes of a YouTube copyright strike, including unauthorized music use, uploading movie or TV clips, gameplay footage, copyrighted images, streaming sports and TV, and ignoring fair use rules.

Here are the main reasons creators face a copyright strike in 2025:

1. Unauthorized Use of Music

If you use popular music or even just a sound effect without a license, your video may get a strike. Remember, giving credit in your description is not a replacement for legal permission ⚖️.

Want to purchase licensed audio tracks for your video? Check out how to buy affordable music safely or use a royalty-free YouTube music library.

2. Uploading Movie Clips

You might think it is harmless to use a short clip from a movie or a TV show. But that’s a direct use of someone else’s intellectual property. Even a few seconds can be enough to trigger a DMCA takedown notice. 

Read this to learn how to use movie clips without copyright.

3. Gameplay Footage

Even though many video game companies allow creators to use their content, some do not. And some have specific rules. Reuploading full gameplay without the proper rights can result in a copyright infringement claim.

4. Copyrighted Images

Thumbnails, artwork, logos, or stock images that are not free for reuse may trigger a strike.

5. Streaming Sports Broadcasts and TV Shows

Live matches using official footage and streaming movies, TV shows, events, etc., without permission are a common reason for copyright strikes.

6. Ignoring Fair Use Rules

Even when using clips for reviews, if the content is not transformed enough, YouTube may still issue a copyright strike.

Consequences of a YouTube Copyright Strike 

Illustration showing the consequences of receiving YouTube copyright strikes. A large hand drops three colored cards labeled Strike 1, Strike 2, and Strike 3 toward a worried man, symbolizing YouTube penalties. Below, a YouTube message appears stating that the channel received three copyright strikes and will be disabled. This image visually represents how repeated copyright violations can lead to YouTube account termination.

A copyright strike is a part of a cumulative system that’s designed to protect intellectual property. It works on a rolling three-strike policy within a 90-day period. That means each strike expires 90 days after it is issued, but getting three active strikes at once leads to severe consequences. Here’s what happens after each strike

First Copyright Strike

When you receive a first copyright strike, your video is immediately removed from YouTube. You will also get a notification in your YouTube Studio dashboard and via email, explaining which video was removed and which content was infringed.

Have a look at the consequences of the first copyright strike:

  • One-week Freeze: Your channel will be suspended from uploading new content (including videos, live streams, Stories, and community tab posts) for one full week.

  • Affects Monetization: If you are a member of the YouTube Partner Program, your YouTube monetization and livestreaming privileges may be temporarily suspended. You will not be able to earn ad revenue on any of your videos until the strike is resolved or expires. 

  • Copyright School: You will be required to complete a short educational course called Copyright School. It consists of a video and a quiz to help you understand copyright law and YouTube’s policies. The strike will only expire after you complete this course.

Second Copyright Strike

If you receive a second copyright strike while the first one is still active (within the 90-day window), the penalties become much more severe.

  • Two-Week Suspension: All of your upload and livestreaming privileges will be suspended for two weeks. Halting content uploads for a fortnight could lead to some confusion among your subscribers, and some may even unsubscribe.

  • Channel Health: Your channel’s overall health and the impression with the YouTube algorithm will be negatively affected. This can lead to a decrease in your video’s visibility, fewer recommendations, and a lower overall channel reach.

Third Copyright Strike

Getting a third copyright strike within the 90-day window is the worst nightmare for any creator. You will have:

  • Permanent Channel Ban: Your YouTube channel will be permanently removed from the platform. There is no going back from this.

  • All Content Deleted: All of your videos, whether it was infringing or not, will be deleted from YouTube. 

  • Platform Prohibition: You will be permanently banned from creating any new YouTube channels. This is a lifetime ban from the platform.

How to Check Copyright Strikes on YouTube?

YouTube makes it very easy to see if your account has any active strikes. Here’s how you can check it:

  • Go to YouTube Studio and sign in with the Google account connected to your YouTube channel.
  • On the left-hand side, you’ll see options like Dashboard, Content, Analytics, and others. Click on the Content.
Screenshot of the YouTube Studio dashboard showing the “Channel content” section under the Videos tab. The Filter menu is open, highlighting the “Copyright” option to help creators check for copyright claims or strikes on their videos.
  • This page shows all your uploaded videos. If a video has been taken down due to copyright, you’ll see a clear Copyright Strike or Removed notice under the Restrictions section.

How To Fix a Copyright Strike 

Infographic showing steps to fix a YouTube copyright strike. It lists three main options: 1) Request a Retraction (fastest way), 2) Submit a Counter Notification (legal option), and 3) Wait for the Strike to Expire (90 days). A person illustration with a light bulb icon represents finding a solution. The image explains how creators can resolve copyright issues on YouTube.

When you receive a copyright strike, there are three main options:

1. Request a Retraction

A retraction is when the copyright owner who filed the DMCA takedown notice decides to withdraw their claim. This immediately removes the strike from your channel. So, it’s the fastest and most effective way to resolve a strike.

To do this, you need to contact the person or company that issued the strike. You can find their contact information in the copyright notification you received in your YouTube Studio. In case you can’t find any, YouTube Studio also provides a standard request form for retraction.

When you contact them, explain your situation clearly in a polite tone. If you have permission to use the content, provide proof. If your use was a mistake, you can apologize and ask them to retract the claim.

2. Submit a Counter Notification

If you believe the copyright strike was a mistake or that you had a legal right to use the content (for example, under the Fair Use doctrine), you can file a counter-notification. As it’s a legal process, you should consider it as a last resort only. 

YouTube will review your submission and forward it to the original claimant. They will then have 10 business days to provide evidence of a court order, or the strike may be reversed.

3. Wait For It To Expire

If you don’t want to request a retraction or file a counter-notification, another option is simply to wait for the strike to expire. YouTube copyright strikes automatically expire after 90 days, provided you follow all of YouTube’s guidelines during that period. Just make sure that you stay out of another strike within this time, as it can lead to more serious penalties, including channel termination.

Tips to Avoid a Copyright Strike

Illustration showing a woman standing beside a laptop with a YouTube copyright strike warning on the screen and a green checkmark symbol, representing how to fix or avoid copyright strikes on YouTube

Avoiding copyright strikes is much better than trying to fix them. Let’s have a look at some advanced strategies to fix your channel:

1. Upload As A Private/Unlisted Video First

Upload the video as Private or Unlisted and wait a little while before you post it. YouTube still scans private uploads with Content ID and shows claims in the Copyright tab in YouTube Studio. 

If Content ID finds a match, it just results in a copyright claim, not a strike. So, you have nothing to lose.

You will have ample time to fix the problem (by replacing, muting, or trimming the audio) and then upload it again before making it public. This is one of the simplest ways to avoid public video takedowns and copyright strikes.

2. Utilize Royalty Free Music

To avoid copyright strikes, always use royalty-free music and media in your videos. This includes audio and footage from sources like Pexels, or libraries that require a subscription such as Envato Elements.

YouTube also provides a built-in resource called the YouTube Audio Library, where creators can access free music and sound effects for their videos. The big advantage is that these tracks are officially cleared by YouTube, which means they’re safe for monetization.

But that’s just for the time being. Sometimes a track listed as ‘royalty-free’ today may become licensed later. If that happens, older videos using the track could be flagged, leading to copyright claims or even strikes.

Screenshot of a royalty-free music library website lenostube, showing different music genres like pop, hip hop, EDM, and jazz, used to demonstrate how YouTube creators can choose free background music to avoid copyright strikes on their videos.

That’s where the LenosTube Free Music Library comes into the picture. We’ve sourced more than 5,000 copyright-free tracks from trusted providers. And guess what? Unlike many generic YouTube Audio Library tracks, our collection is fresh, high-quality, and unique. Try it out now!

3. Plan Live Streams With Safe Music

Live streaming gives rights holders and Content ID more exposure. So, you must use only broadcast-safe music on the radio and in person.

If you plan to stream background music, make a tracklist and get in touch with the people who own the rights to the music ahead of time. You will need quick proof and contacts if a live takedown happens to avoid long bans on live streaming.

4. Create Your Own Content With AI

The best way to stay safe is to create your own music. No, this is not a joke!

You don’t need a professional studio or expensive licensing deals anymore. AI-powered music generators allow you to create custom tracks that are 100% original and safe for YouTube. Some of them even offer free versions to test the waters. Check out the best free AI music generators in 2025:

  • AIVA (Artificial Intelligence Virtual Artist)
  • Soundraw
  • Boomy

Same applies to visuals as well. You can use tools like Veo 2, Sora, and Runway to generate high-quality video clips within seconds. And when it comes to image generation, use tools like DALL·E (OpenAI), MidJourney, Stable Diffusion, and so on.

5. Use Layered or Composited Visuals

Rather than using a single stock video clip, combine multiple visual elements to create something original. For example:

  • Overlay royalty-free graphics on stock footage
  • Add text, shapes, or effects to the clips through the video editor software
  • Change color grading and contrast to make the clip ‘transformative’

If the visual becomes distinct from the orginal somehow, Content ID will fail to match it.

Screenshot of LenosTube’s free YouTube “Like This Video” animations showing three transparent background .mov files with download links, file sizes, and preview thumbnails. These animations can be used as layered or composited visuals in videos to stay copyright-safe and improve YouTube engagement.

Even though editing helps, the best way to stay safe is to curate the assets from trusted sources. That’s why, we at LenosTube, offer an authentic free YouTube animation downloader. You can download as much clips as you want. All are completely free to use with no strings attached.

6. Leverage Fair Use

Fair Use allows creators to legally use copyrighted material in certain ways without obtaining permission. You can:

  • Add Voice-Over: Narrate over a clip to explain or review it. For example, you could break down a scene from a movie and explain its cinematography and Direction of Photography. This ‘transforms’ the original content into something new and educational.
  • Edit Content: Sometimes even simple cutting and cropping can make the content unique. The more your edits change the original meaning, the stronger your Fair Use claim.
  • Use For Informative Purposes: Videos that teach something are usually protected under Fair Use. For example, a “top 5 marketing campaigns” video can include clips from ads as long as you explain why they’re noteworthy.
  • Add Value Through Context: Simply reposting a video won’t qualify. Always provide insight, critique, or humor that gives your audience something they can’t get from the original.

You must try to record the whole process. So, in case of issues like monetization appeal rejection, you can submit the video record as a proof of ‘Fair Use’. 

How to issue a copyright strike on youtube

If you’re on the other end and notice someone using your content without permission, you can issue a copyright strike to protect your work. YouTube provides a clear process:

Screenshot of the YouTube Studio copyright removal page showing the “Removal requests” section with a blue cartoon figure writing at a desk and a “New removal request” button. This screen appears when users start a copyright strike process on YouTube to remove videos using their content without permission.
  • Go to YouTube Studio. From the left-hand menu in YouTube Studio, click on “Copyright”
  • Click on “New removal request” button. This will open the copyright removal request form.
Screenshot of the YouTube Studio copyright removal form showing the “Videos requested for removal” section. It includes fields to select the type of work and enter the YouTube URL of the infringing video. This page is part of the process to file a copyright strike on YouTube and remove unauthorized videos.
  • In the “Request video removal” section, click Add a Video. Select the type of video (your original content) from these options: Original Music, Non-Musical Audio, Software, Art Work, Written Work, Performing Arts, or Others.
  • Paste the URL of the video that contains your copyrighted content. You can add multiple videos if they contain the same copyrighted content.
Screenshot of the YouTube Studio copyright removal form showing the “Copyright owner” section. It includes fields for affected party, copyright owner name, and phone number. This step is required when filing a copyright strike on YouTube to identify the rightful content owner or their authorized representative.
  • Fill Out Copyright Owner Information, including owner name, your relationship with owner, phone number, email address, street address, and so on.
Screenshot of the YouTube Studio copyright removal page showing the “Removal options” section. It includes two choices: “Scheduled: Send a 7-day notice” and “Standard: Request removal now.” There is also an option to prevent future copies of the content from appearing on YouTube. This step lets copyright owners decide how and when to remove infringing videos.
  • You can either issue a standard immediate removal request or give the uploader 7 days to remove the video voluntarily and avoid a copyright strike.
Screenshot of the YouTube Studio copyright removal form showing the “Legal agreements” section. It includes three confirmation checkboxes for good faith belief, accuracy under penalty of perjury, and acknowledgment of account termination for abuse. A required signature field appears at the bottom where users must enter their full legal name before submitting a copyright strike request.
  • You must confirm the following legally required statements and enter your full legal name as your electronic signature. Then, click on the Submit button.

But make sure you only submit a strike if you truly own the content, as false claims can lead to legal consequences and penalties on your account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓

1. Do copyright strikes affect YouTube Shorts?

Yes, they do. The same Content ID system that checks regular videos also checks YouTube Shorts. If you use copyrighted music or video for even a few seconds, you could get a strike. 

2. Can foreign content or international media trigger strikes?

Yes, of course. YouTube’s Content ID system can find copyrighted content from all over the world. You can still get a copyright strike on YouTube if you upload a song or a clip that is legal in your country but owned by someone else.

3. Do copyright strikes affect channel monetization immediately?

Yes. When you receive your a copyright strike, your channel will lose monetization privileges. Upon third strike, your channel will lead to automatic termination of your YouTube channel (and obviously monetization).

4. Are there any tools that can help prevent visual copyright detection?

Yes, AI-powered tools like TinEye can help check images for copyright issues before uploading. But the best foolproof way to avoid copyright strikes is to upload the video as private. YouTube Content ID will automatically scan it and let you know of any issues to fix.

5. Are copyright strikes only issued automatically by YouTube?

No, copyright strikes are not just from Content ID system. Many times, the content owner manually finds your video and submits a takedown request through YouTube.

Conclusion

A YouTube copyright strike might feel like a sudden roadblock. But in reality, it’s pushing you to create something original with custom visuals, original music, AI-generated assets, and so on.

That’s what makes your content unique in a competitive space and help you gain a competitive edge to grow your channel. So, rather than fearing copyright strikes, consider them as an opportunity to refine your creativity.