What Is YouTube Content ID?
YouTube Content ID is an automated digital fingerprinting system designed to identify and manage copyrighted material on YouTube. When a video is uploaded by a YouTube user, its audio and video are scanned against a database of reference files registered by rights holders. Once you enable YouTube Content ID for your music, YouTube creates a unique digital fingerprint of your audio to detect and monetize any videos that use your content. Too Lost partners with Content ID to collect revenue on your behalf from videos that utilize your music.
Do I Need Exclusive Rights to Enable Content ID?
Because Content ID functions as an automated copyright management tool, it can only be used by those who own 100% of the exclusive rights to their music, including both the sound recording and composition. Using Content ID without proper rights (such as when distributing leased instrumentals or beats) can cause ownership conflicts or legal issues. When enabled through Too Lost, all tracks in a release are registered with Content ID, and any user-uploaded videos (including those on your own channel) containing your music will receive a claim. This claim is not a strike and won’t affect your channel’s standing; it simply ensures that ad revenue from your music is correctly directed to your Too Lost account.
What Content Is Eligible?
To meet YouTube’s Content Commitment, every sound recording submitted to Content ID must be linked to a YouTube Art Track. YouTube uses this Art Track to identify and claim any matching content. To prevent false claims on other artists’ work, the distributed content must meet the DSP’s minimum requirements. This also means your release must be distributed to YouTube Music to be eligible for inclusion in YouTube Content ID.
- Original compositions.
- Content for which you have exclusive rights.
- Tracks longer than 20 seconds.
What Content Is NOT Eligible?
- Mashups or remixes of other works with non-exclusive rights
- “Best Of” releases or compilations
- Audio from video gameplay, software visuals, or trailers
- Unlicensed music
- Cover songs, including karaoke versions
- Music or samples that were licensed, but without exclusivity including audio library samples, sound effects, or production loops
- Audio containing generic or viral sounds
- Recordings of performances (including concerts, events, speeches, shows)
- Public domain content
- Content already distributed to YouTube Content ID by another partner