There are two ways to get paid for your music on YouTube — distributing your music to YouTube Music, and monetizing the use of your music in other people’s content through YouTube Content ID. To maximize your earnings, we recommend that you do both, and it’s very easy to make this happen with LANDR Distribution.
Since YouTube Music is part of LANDR’s distribution network, your releases will be distributed to YouTube Music by default, which will involve setting up a YouTube Official Artist Channel. You can learn more about that here.
You'll also need to submit your tracks to YouTube’s Content ID system. Once accepted, YouTube will automatically scan its platform for videos that feature your music. If your music is detected, a Content ID claim is generated and LANDR will begin collecting royalties for you each time that video is viewed.
All of your earnings from YouTube Music and YouTube Content ID will appear in your Earnings dashboard.
What is YouTube Content ID?
YouTube Content ID is an audio fingerprinting and rights management tool that scans every video uploaded to YouTube for copyrighted material. When your music is in the system, it allows you to:
- Automatically detect where your music is being used
- Protect your rights and receive credit
- Earn royalties when your music is used in others’ videos
This is especially helpful for artists and producers whose music may be shared or used without permission. Even if a video creator forgets to credit you, Content ID ensures that you get recognized and compensated.
LANDR collects a 20% commission from royalties collected through Content ID (regardless of your subscription plan), but this does not affect your earnings from other streaming platforms.
Why should I use YouTube Content ID?
1. Get Recognition
When your music is used in YouTube videos, Content ID ensures you're properly credited. This can help you grow your audience, especially if new listeners discover your work through someone else's video.
2. Earn Money Automatically
Once a Content ID claim is placed, LANDR collects royalties on your behalf every time the video is viewed — turning uncredited or unauthorized use of your music into passive income.
How do I submit my music to YouTube Content ID?
When creating a new release through LANDR Distribution, make sure to select “YouTube Content ID” during Step 4 of the release creation process.
Once submitted, LANDR’s Artist Success team will review your release for Content ID eligibility. If approved, your tracks will be indexed by YouTube, and royalty tracking will begin as soon as your music is detected in videos.
What happens when someone uses my music in their YouTube video?
If your track is included in YouTube’s Content ID system and appears in a video, YouTube will automatically generate a Content ID claim. This enables LANDR to:
- Collect royalties when the video is viewed
- Display a "Music in this video" section in the video’s description, linking to your release
- Show that your music was licensed by LANDR (our role as your aggregator)
If the video creator disputes the claim, LANDR will notify you and give you two options:
- Maintain the claim and continue receiving royalties
- Release the claim to allow the video creator to monetize the video without paying you
Can I manually generate a Content ID claim?
In most cases, Content ID claims are automatically generated. However, if you find a video that includes your music and no claim has been placed after a few days, you can contact LANDR Support.
Please provide:
- The URL of the YouTube video
- The ISRC of your track (delivered via LANDR)
As long as the track is eligible for Content ID, we can request a manual claim on your behalf.
Do I need a YouTube channel to monetize my music through Content ID?
No. You don’t need a personal YouTube channel to monetize your music. As long as your release is eligible for Content ID and distributed through LANDR, you can collect royalties when your music is used on YouTube.
What if Content ID claims my own video?
If your own video gets flagged by Content ID because it includes a track you released through LANDR, don’t worry — this is normal. You have two options:
- Leave the claim active and allow LANDR to collect royalties on your behalf
- Contact LANDR Support and request that the claim be removed
Note: LANDR can only manage claims we control. If the claim was placed by another rights holder or label, you'll need to dispute the claim directly through YouTube.
Recap
So, to get paid for your music on YouTube:
- Distribute your release through LANDR
- Complete the setup of your Official Artist Channel as described here.
- Opt in to YouTube Content ID when building your releases
- LANDR and YouTube will handle detection, claims, and royalty collection
- Monitor your earnings in the Earnings dashboard
This system helps protect your rights, boost your exposure, and generate income — even when others use your music in their content.
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