Artist Resources

Find answers, learn how to best engage fans and drive your views, and promote your latest releases on YouTube.
Multi-Format Release Checklist
Multi-Format Release Checklist

This resource highlights the steps artists can take throughout the release cycle to best set their release up for success.

Multi-Format Release Strategy
Multi-Format Release Strategy

This resource highlights how artists can utilize a multi-format release strategy - leveraging Shorts, video and live - throughout each phase of the release cycle.

Trending Track Playbook
Trending Track Playbook

Explore ways to identify if your track is starting to trend, how to best amplify that song on YouTube, and much more.

Export Strategy Playbook
Export Strategy Playbook

Learn how to maximize the opportunity of YouTube to export your music globally

Creator Music Guidebook for Artists & Labels
Creator Music Guidebook for Artists & Labels

A new resource that covers what Creator Music is and how it works as well as the promotional aspect the product can potentially have on your music.

Going Live on YouTube for Artists & Labels
Going Live on YouTube for Artists & Labels

A new resource that covers a technical step by step on how music labels and artists can go live on YouTube.

Analytics for Artists (updated a/o April 2023)
Analytics for Artists (updated a/o April 2023)

Dive into our latest Analytics for Artists handbook. Learn the latest analytics features available for you on YouTube to help you stay in tune with your releases and fans.

Shorts: For Artists, By Artist Inspo Guide & FAQs
Shorts: For Artists, By Artist Inspo Guide & FAQs

This resource provides examples of how Artists across the world are utilizing Shorts as a promotional release strategy on YouTube, and answers all of your latest FAQs!

One-pager: Promoting music & artists with Google ads
One-pager: Promoting music & artists with Google ads

Your one-stop guide to get started with music advertising campaigns on Google & YouTube

New Shorts Best Practices for Artists & Labels
New Shorts Best Practices for Artists & Labels

Learn how to maximize the opportunity of YouTube Shorts with the new best practices, case studies and more.

YouTube 101: New Release Strategy
YouTube 101: New Release Strategy

Get the latest tips to help you get ready for your release day and stay on top after your music goes live.

Level-Up Your Next Video Premiere
Level-Up Your Next Video Premiere

Make your next video launch a showstopper with our handy guide to Premieres.

How Artists Are Winning With Afterparty
How Artists Are Winning With Afterparty

Hosting a Premium afterparty unlocks additional possibilities to showcase your content on YouTube - see how artists like Years and Years, Kontra K and YOASOBI used Afterparty to delight their fans!

Shorts for Artists & Labels
Shorts for Artists & Labels

Learn how to get the most out of YouTube Shorts for music releases, including new features, best practices and FAQs.

Grow The Reach Of Your Music
Grow The Reach Of Your Music

Learn how YouTube recommends your music and how you can reach more fans.

Community Posts Best Practices
Community Posts Best Practices

We'll walk your through the best way to connect and engage your fans on YouTube.

More Resources

Frequently asked questions

YouTube Music shows content that our system and our partners have identified as appropriate for a music experience — and we're adding content all the time. Usually, there's nothing you need to do to get your music content in the app.

Learn more about how we figure out what goes in YouTube Music.

If you're an artist on YouTube, your Official Artist Channel (OAC) brings together all your content from your different YouTube channels into one place. The channel automatically programs your music catalog on two new shelves, including your music videos, songs, and albums.

To be eligible for an OAC,

  • Own and operate a YouTube channel that represents one artist or band
  • Have at least 3 official releases on YouTube delivered and distributed by a music distributor or label
  • Have no policy violations on your channel

And one or more of the following:

  • Work with a YouTube Partner Manager
  • Be part of the YouTube Partner Program
  • Your channel is part of a label network that works with a Partner Manager
  • Your music is distributed by a music partner listed to Music Services Partners

Contact your label, digital distributor, or YouTube partner manager to get an Official Artist Channel and learn more about OACs and eligibility in the YouTube Help Center.

Official Artist Channels offer you new options for your channel layout and customization. In addition to standard channel sections, you can include the following sections on your Official Artist Channel: featured video, official music, albums, and customizable sections. You’ll want to choose a good channel name, engaging channel banner, and keep your Profile for Artists assets up to date.

Learn more about customizing and managing your Official Artist Channel.

If you remember the email associated with your YouTube channel, you can try to recover your account.

If you’ve lost access to the Google Account associated with your channel, follow these Steps.

If your channel has been hacked, please go through this flow to the best of your ability, and contact artist-support@youtube.com.

If you notice someone else using your music in their videos, you can submit a copyright takedown request.

If your music gets a Content ID claim, there are a couple of things you can do, depending on the situation. Learn more here.

For copyright takedowns, if you believe this was requested in error, you can resolve the copyright strike in three ways: wait for it to expire, get a retraction, or submit a counter notification. More details here.

There are many ways to grow your subscriber base, such as making effective thumbnails and titles, writing smart descriptions, and using cards or end screens to encourage your viewers to take action. Visit our Help Center to learn more.

Use YouTube Analytics to understand your video reach, for example: what’s the size of your active audience, how thumbnail impressions turned into views and watch time, etc. If you're an artist on YouTube and you have an Official Artist Channel, you can use the YouTube Studio app to see analytics. Analytics will show your data across all of the channels where your music resides (for example, artist owned & operated channel, topic channel, and VEVO).

Learn more about YouTube Analytics for Artists.

As an artist on YouTube, you're always looking to strengthen your relationship with your fans. Your Community tab gives you a fun way to share your creativity and complement your upload schedule, all while interacting with your audience on YouTube.

Learn more about Community posts.

Live streaming lets you interact with your audience in real time with a video feed, chat, and more. To create a mobile live stream, you’ll need to meet the requirements.

1 On your phone or tablet, open the YouTube app.
2 At the bottom, click Create > Go live.
3 Starting your first live stream may take up to 24 hours. Once turned on, you can live stream instantly.

Learn more about how to go live and additional requirements.

Read the latest announcements from the YouTube Music team.

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