Understanding YouTube Royalties for Your Own Music in Videos

Many creators wonder if they can earn royalties when they use their own music in their YouTube videos. While the process is more complex than a simple yes or no, understanding the details can help you maximize your earnings and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Embedding Codes for Tracking

Before you can earn royalties for your music in your YouTube videos, you need to take some preparatory steps. The first step is to embed codes in your MP3 sound files that can be tracked by organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, and others. This process typically involves purchasing codes, which can cost money. However, if you are familiar with the process and have the necessary software, you might be able to avoid these costs.

Additionally, you will need to affiliate with organizations like BMI. These affiliations come with free songwriter and publishing shares starting from as low as $25 per year. However, to manage distribution and ensure your songs are streamed on various services, you will need to pay a publishing administrator. This administrator will also handle streaming services for you.

Streaming and Downloading Services

The royalties for streaming your music are relatively low, at approximately 0.004 per stream. Your songs can also be distributed through downloading services such as Amazon or iTunes. However, you will need to pay yearly fees for this service, which vary from 20 to 400 depending on the service you choose.

Earning Royalties Through Your Video AdSense Revenue

One of the main ways you can earn royalties for your music in your YouTube videos is through AdSense revenue. YouTube producers are responsible for paying royalties to any music they use in their videos. As the video producer, you can pay yourself out of the ad revenue generated by the video. Unlike some other situations, YouTube does not pay you twice for combining your music with your own video. It’s similar to how CBS does not pay the composer of the theme song used in Survivor; the producers of the show are responsible for paying these royalties.

Contacting YouTube for Detailed Royalty Rules

If you are specifically asking whether YouTube will pay you royalties for using your own music in your videos, the answer is no, under standard conditions. However, if you have a contractual agreement stating otherwise, then it would be different. For detailed royalty rules, it is advisable to contact YouTube directly.

Conclusion

Maximizing your earnings from your music on YouTube involves a few key steps. Firstly, ensure your music is properly tracked and distributed. Then, familiarize yourself with the royalty payment processes and ensure you have the necessary affiliations. By following these steps, you can increase the likelihood of earning royalties for your music used in your videos.