Your content & YouTube Music

YouTube Music is available in certain countries/regions, and we're working to expand in more locations.

YouTube Music app FAQ for YouTube partners & creators

YouTube Music makes it easy for your fans to connect with your music. It also helps artists like you find audiences and earn revenue for the content you're already creating. 

YouTube Music app users who have a YouTube Music Premium membership also have premium benefits. These include background play, ad-free videos, and download music for offline play for up to 30 days on mobile — helping you increase views. Learn more about how premium YouTube memberships benefit you as a creator.

Questions about YouTube Music

Is YouTube Music free?

Your fans can enjoy their favorite tracks, albums, and artists with YouTube Music for free. They can use it with a YouTube Music Premium membership to download ad-free videos and listen to:

  • Music offline
  • In the background when using other apps
  • Without video

Learn more about getting started with YouTube Music.

Do I need to pay to join YouTube Music Premium to get my content on YouTube Music?

No, you do not have to pay to keep your videos on:

  • YouTube
  • YouTube Music Premium
  • YouTube Music

Your videos are automatically visible to viewers both on ad-supported YouTube and through a paid YouTube Music Premium membership.

The revenue from the paid membership gives a new source of revenue for artists like you. YouTube Music Premium members can also download your music videos to watch offline on mobile and play them in the background — helping you increase views.

Why is there a separate app for music?

Music is one of the most popular video categories on YouTube and — much like families and gamers use YouTube differently — so do music lovers.

We’ve developed a dedicated YouTube Music app to help fans discover the diversity of music content on YouTube and connect them to their favorite artists.

What makes YouTube Music different from other music services?

YouTube Music lets fans watch and listen to a nearly endless catalog in an app designed for music discovery. It helps fans more easily discover the breadth and diversity of music content on YouTube and connect to artists like you.

YouTube has unique music content that your fans won't find anywhere else:

  • New artists, classic favorites, and everything in between
  • Official music videos, full albums, remixes, and covers
  • Classic recordings and videos that span decades

YouTube Music is an experience beyond listening. Music fans also get:

  • The sights, sounds, and power of video
  • Concert footage and live recordings
  • Global music moments
Will my fans pay to use YouTube Music?

YouTube Music is free to download and use. Viewers can also use a YouTube Music Premium membership to get ad-free videos and download music to listen offline, in the background, or without video.

Thanks to your music videos, remixes, covers, and other video topics, YouTube is the best place to discover music from artists around the world. We believe that fans will be interested in using YouTube Music Premium's membership benefits to view your videos in more ways.

Your content & YouTube Music

Will my content be available on YouTube Music?

YouTube Music shows content that our system and our partners have identified as appropriate for a music experience — and we're always adding more content. 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.

How do you figure out what's in YouTube Music?

We're collaborating with our music partners to identify content appropriate for a music-only experience. The content is from music labels, artists, music aggregators, music publishers, and other music providers and includes:

  • Official/premium music videos
  • User-generated song content
  • Art tracks
I don't see my music content in YouTube Music.

Identifying content appropriate for a music-only experience is an ongoing process. We're working hard to get this content into YouTube Music so that your music fans can watch the music videos they love.

How do fans view my content on YouTube Music?

Your fans can search for your songs, videos, and albums in YouTube Music. If you have a large enough presence on the web, you may even have an autogenerated topic channel where fans can learn more.

YouTube Music app users who have a YouTube Music Premium membership also get:

  • Ad-free videos
  • The option to download music on mobile
  • Listening without video
  • Background play
Will creators of music content still be paid?

Yes. Nothing is changing on ad-supported YouTube and creators will continue to earn revenue through ads. YouTube Music Premium will also give you a secondary revenue stream.

How is revenue figured out?

You'll continue to earn revenue through ads on YouTube and the free, ad-supported YouTube Music app.

In addition, YouTube Music Premium membership fees will give a secondary revenue stream based on often members watch your content. As with our advertising business, most of the revenue will go to creators.

Does downloaded content count toward my views?

Yes. Views on downloaded videos in YouTube Music will be recorded and incorporated just like online views the next time a user signs back in online.

I have a Vevo deal. How does YouTube Music interact with Vevo?

Your deal with Vevo is not impacted and Vevo will continue to provide your content for the ad-supported service.

We've worked directly with your label so you can now earn both ad-supported revenue and YouTube Music Premium membership-based revenue. Get in touch with your label if you have other questions.

Can musicians or labels opt out of the subscription service?

We want to make sure that fans who choose to pay for an ad-free experience with YouTube Music Premium can watch your videos. If some of your videos are no longer available, fans who want to watch without the interruption of ads may have a bad experience.

We’re asking partners to make sure that their content is available for both free and paying users. Doing so will unlock new YouTube Music Premium and YouTube Music features, deliver a great experience for your fans, and offer you an extra revenue stream.

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