To qualify for monetization through YouTube Content ID, TikTok, and Meta platforms, your music must meet strict criteria regarding originality, exclusivity, format, and duration. Remember that YouTube Content ID is different from YouTube Music, as explained in this article.
Be aware that these policies are set by these platforms and not LANDR. Our team must ensure that the music we distribute meets these criteria when considering release submissions, and decisions regarding monetization through these platforms will be made at our discretion.
General Requirements
A Distribution or LANDR Studio subscription is required for monetization on YouTube Content ID, TikTok, and Meta.
To be eligible, your music must:
- Be entirely created by and/or exclusively owned by you (and your collaborators if applicable)
- Be sufficiently distinct from existing recordings
- Be submitted in the form of individual tracks
- Fall within a standard track length (under 10 minutes each)
Ineligible Content
The following forms of music and audio are not eligible:
- Music created with non-exclusive third-party elements (more info below)
- Cover songs that are not licensed
- Songs that sound similar to existing recordings or versions
- Songs longer than 10 minutes in duration
- AI-generated or assisted music
- Creative Commons or open-license material
- Public domain music (e.g., classical works, traditional songs, holiday music)
- Audio clips and soundtracks from other media (films, games, TV shows, etc.)
- Karaoke versions
- Remasters or near-identical live performances
- Non-musical or spoken word audio (ASMR, audio books, podcasts, comedy, prayers, speeches, environmental sounds etc.)
Additional Restrictions for Meta (Facebook & Instagram)
In addition to the general criteria listed above, Meta includes a few extra restrictions:
1. Production Library or Stock Music
This includes royalty-free music, soundbeds, incidental scores, and loops commonly used in user-generated content. These tracks are generally licensed for use in film, television, or online media.
Note: Original film scores and officially released soundtracks are still allowed, provided that they meet all of the general requirements listed above.
2. Ambient, Meditation, or Sleep Music
This includes music that features minimal melody and is built primarily around drones, sound effects, and textures (such as music you may hear in the context of wellness, medication, or public settings).
What does “non-exclusive third-party elements” mean?
This refers to any music or audio element that is not licensed to the artist for exclusive use. Examples include loops and samples from royalty-free sample libraries (such as LANDR Samples and Splice), sounds from public sources like Freesound.org, and sounds that come stock with Digital Audio Workstations like Ableton Live, Logic, and FL Studio.
While royalty-free sources allow artists to use sounds in their music for most commercial contexts, they are typically not licensed to the artist for exclusive use.
Note that this does not affect eligibility for earning royalties from music download and streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. It is a rule that applies specifically to monetization through YouTube Content ID, TikTok, and Meta.
Can I monetize just one track from my release?
No — monetization is applied at the release level, not the track level. This means it’s an all-in service: either all tracks in the release are eligible for monetization, or none of them are.
If even one track on your release doesn’t meet monetization requirements (for example, due to copyright issues, sample clearance, or licensing restrictions), the entire release will be ineligible for these monetization platforms.
To ensure your release qualifies, make sure all included tracks are fully cleared and meet platform guidelines for monetization. If you only want to monetize certain tracks, consider releasing them separately.
Following all of the above guidelines increases your chances of successful monetization, but does not guarantee it. Decisions will be made at the discretion of our team so that we can remain in good standing with these platforms and continue to help you earn money from your original work.
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