To qualify for monetization on YouTube, TikTok, and Meta platforms, your music must meet strict criteria regarding originality, exclusivity, format, and duration. Below is a breakdown of what is and isn’t eligible.
General Requirements
To be eligible, your music must:
- Be original and fully owned by you
- Be sufficiently distinct from existing recordings
- Be submitted as an individual track or standalone piece
- Fall within a standard track length (under 10 minutes)
Ineligible Content
1. Lack of Exclusive Rights
The following are not eligible due to ownership or licensing issues:
- Cover songs without proper licenses
- Non-exclusive third-party content (e.g., from BeatStars or YouTube instrumentals)
- Creative Commons or open-license material
- Public domain music (e.g., classical works, traditional songs)
- Audio clips from other media (films, games, TV shows, etc.)
2. Insufficient Originality
Your music must be uniquely identifiable. These are examples of non-distinct content:
- Karaoke versions or sound-alike tracks
- Remasters or near-identical live performances
- Sound effects, loops, or ambient background elements
3. Non-Standalone Formats
Only individual tracks are accepted. The following must be separated into individual files to qualify:
- Continuous DJ mixes
- Mashups or countdowns
- Full album or compilation uploads
4. Non-Musical Audio
The following types of non-musical content are not eligible for monetization:
- Audiobooks or podcasts
- ASMR or meditation audio
- Speeches, prayers, comedy recordings
- Video game audio or film dialogue
5. Track Duration Limit
- Sound recordings longer than 10 minutes are not eligible.
Additional Restrictions for Meta (Facebook & Instagram)
Meta follows the same general criteria as YouTube and TikTok but includes a few extra restrictions:
1. Production Library or Stock Music
- Includes royalty-free music, soundbeds, incidental scores, and loops often used in user-generated content
- Typically licensed for film, TV, or online use
- Note: Original film scores and released soundtracks are still allowed
2. Insufficiently Distinct Recordings
- Includes public domain content that is virtually identical to existing recordings
3. Ambient, Meditation, or Sleep Music
- Music featuring minimal melody and built around effects or textures
- Commonly used in wellness, meditation, or public settings
Following these guidelines increases your chances of successful monetization. If you have any questions or need help reviewing your content, feel free to contact our support team.
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 monetization across 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.
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