Youtube Monetization
Youtube, a platform that needs no introduction, I think we are all very familiar with it. If you are reading this article I suppose you may be a musician interested in knowing more about Youtube monetization or perhaps already have a YT channel and finding a way to monetise your music?
Earning money from Youtube isn’t as easy as it sounds like. Monetising your channel can be done by creating an Adsense account and joining the Youtube Partner Program, but you need 1,000 Subscribers and 4,000 hours watched in the past 12 months to start monetising.
If you are a musician and you are trying to make a living off Youtube, without reaching the youtube monetization threshold, you’re effectively giving Youtube your music without compensation!
There is a distinct difference between having your music on Youtube and being a Youtuber. Creating consistent content to feed a channel is its own thing.
By treating Youtube as you would a platform like Spotify, you can maintain a presence and monetise. Because there is so much more to Youtube than Spotify, it requires a unique approach. Here is everything you need to fully monetise your music on Youtube even without being a Youtuber.
1. Youtube Content ID
Whether you have a Youtube channel or not, Content ID is about making sure you’re compensated for any videos that use your music including yourself and User Generated Content (UGC).
If and when Youtube creators use your music in their videos, Content ID will identify your music and pay you the ad revenue generated by their videos.
Many Music distributors could help you collect this source of income, some take a cut from your revenue, some do it for free without any additional charges if you sign up for their membership. Make sure you do the research and know what the company has to offer for youtube monetisation.
Pros:
- Earn extra revenue from creators using your music on Youtube
- You could start making money from you music content right away without reaching the youtube monetization threshold
- Doesn’t require Youtube Partnership
Cons:
- Distributors will take commissions of your revenue
- You don’t have access or control over your viewers, Youtube tools, statistical data from others youtube user generated content
2. Digital Distribution to VEVO
VEVO is owned by Warner Music Group and was created as a way for record companies to earn more revenue from their content on Youtube.
Their content runs what’s referred to as “Premium ads” which pay more than standard Youtube ads. Only the music videos you distribute to VEVO will be monetized.
You may have to pay a one time fee for every new video you distribute to VEVO. The revenue percentage distributors commonly take ranges from 30% – 50%.
As a result, the increased revenue you earn from VEVO can be washed away by your distributor’s percentage based fee. Because VEVO videos exist on a VEVO created channel, there’s no need for you to maintain a channel of your own.
Pros:
- You earn revenue from music video views on Youtube.
- You can communicate with your audience through the Description box.
- You’ll earn a higher per view rate.
- Doesn’t require Youtube Partnership
Cons:
- Distributors will take commission of your revenue
- You don’t have access or control over your VEVO channel the same way you don’t with your Topic channel
- Unable to connect with the users watching your videos on VEVO and aren’t given any listener data
- You won’t know the source of your views, demographic information, or anything like that.
- You won’t have any access to Youtube tools like Cards, Descriptions, End screen.
3. Distributed Art Track Video & Topic Channel
Art Track videos are distributed to Youtube by your distributor and are video files that contain your album/single cover art and audio.
Topic channels are auto-generated by Youtube and function like categories for the purpose of centralizing videos that fit together. Only the Art Track video uploaded to Youtube by your distributor will be monetized. You’ll pay whatever your distributor charges for distribution.
For Instance, Tunecore allows you to keep 100% of your revenue from distribution, with a yearly subscription plan. CD Baby takes 9% so, in that case, you’d pay 9% of your Youtube revenue.
Pros:
- You earn more per stream.
- Your digital distributor takes less from you
- Less work
Cons:
- You don’t have access or control over your viewers.
- No access to statistical data is provided so you’ll only know how many views and how much you’ve earned.
- You won’t know the source of your views, demographic information, or anything like that.
- You won’t have any access to Youtube tools like Cards, Descriptions, Endscreen, Premiers, etc.
What’s next?
Either ways mentioned above are good ways to start generating income from your music without even qualifying as a youtube partner.
What you need to take action at this moment is to choose a music distributor to help you collect the revenue. No matter how you choose to earn an income from youtube, before that feel free to check out this article we wrote about what to consider when choosing a music distributor.
We hope that you got some value from the content we created, be sure to bookmark this page, we will continue updating this post, in case there are any changes in the future.
Let us know in the comment if there is any topic that you wish us could be covering in the future. We will do our best in doing the research by providing reliable information to the audience, all the best on your music & youtube journey!
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