What is a YouTube copyright claim?
If the Content ID has been added to your release, this means that we’re claiming your music on your behalf. If someone uses your music without your permission, we will claim the video for you, and you will receive the ad revenue from that video. If you upload your music to your channel, we will still claim the video and you will receive the money from the ads on that video. It won’t affect the status of your channel as you’re still the copyright owner of your content, we’re simply doing the work for you.

Can you release the claim?
When you’ve added YouTube Content ID to your release and your audio is claimed by us, this is good news. The claim simply means that the Content ID system is working and that Boomkit is monetizing your music on your behalf. If you want Boomkit to continue to protect and monetize your music on YouTube on your behalf, simply ignore the claim. However, if you have a collaboration with another channel on YouTube and you have an agreement on not claiming the video content on your collaborator’s channel, please submit a request and select “YouTube Content ID and artist channel > I want to release a YouTube Content ID claim”. We will help you release the claim.

Is a copyright claim the same as a copyright strike?
Fortunately, not. These two terms may sound similar, but they are very different. As mentioned, a copyright claim means Boomkit is collecting the YouTube ad revenue of your music for you. It’s very different from the infamous YouTube copyright strike, which is usually related to copyright infringement and can lead to a channel being banned. To keep it simple: copyright claim = good, whereas copyright strike = bad. So, although they may sound the same, make sure to know the difference between a copyright claim and a copyright strike!

Can you remove Content ID from my release?
We highly recommend keeping Content ID on your release, since this service is helping you monetize your music on YouTube. We are handling your copyrights on YouTube for you and any copyright conflicts that may occur on the platform. If you remove Content ID from your release, you won’t get any more claims and your music won’t be protected and monetized on YouTube anymore. If you’re still sure you want to remove it, please submit a request and we’ll help you out.

Do you believe you’ve received an incorrect YouTube copyright claim from Boomkit? Please submit a request including a link to the video that received the claim and any other relevant information.

What is YouTube Shorts?

Shorts is a short-form video service that lets users create and upload a video of 15 seconds or less on YouTube. It’s similar to TikTok, yet it exists within the YouTube app.

In YouTube’s own words: “Shorts are the latest video experience (short form) for artists and creators who wish to shoot impressive, short videos with the help of their smartphones.”

What does this mean?

For music creators, this is great news, as it will offer more opportunities to have your music be discovered – for example, if a video that includes your music suddenly starts trending on Shorts. It’s always good to have your music available on several platforms.

How do I get my music on YouTube Shorts?

When you choose YouTube Music as a store, this automatically includes their new service YouTube Shorts. This means that if a release is distributed to YouTube Music, it will usually automatically be available on Shorts too.

Keep in mind though that since Shorts is still under development, not all releases will be available there. YouTube is constantly working on getting more and more releases available for Shorts creation.

How does this affect my previous releases?

Your existing releases will be automatically added to YouTube Shorts if you’ve added YouTube Music as a store. So, no need to do anything, you can just sit back and relax.

What if I don’t want my music on Shorts?

If you don’t want your music on Shorts, you need to submit a request [ support@boomkit.me] to take down your release(s) from YouTube Music. These two services are connected, so there’s no way to take down your music only from Shorts while keeping it on YouTube Music.

YouTube Content ID is a service available to Boomkit Pro/Premium users that helps you identify when your music is used in a video on YouTube. It also allows you to monetize videos that have used your music without permission.

Only original music is eligible for YouTube Content ID, meaning samples or any other elements that are deemed a copyright infringement on YouTube’s policy, are denied YouTube Content ID.

Keep in mind that when YouTube Content ID is added, YouTube Music is automatically included as well. This is a requirement from YouTube’s side.

Who can request it?

This is a Boomkit Pro/Premium feature, meaning it’s only available if you have an upgraded Pro/Premium subscription. For Pro and Premium users, it’s available for no extra charge.

Users on the Free users don’t have access to YouTube Content ID. If YouTube Content ID is important for you, we recommend that you get a Pro/Premium subscription.

What does it take to get Content ID?

To acquire YouTube Content ID, the material must be 100% your own. Therefore, beats and loops that are non-exclusive may not be considered your own and can not be provided with Content ID. This includes all copyright-free sounds since if Content ID is provided, other artists’ tracks that have used the same sounds will also be claimed.

These are the requirements for Content ID:

• Only original music with all sounds recorded by you, or which you have an exclusive license to use (meaning no one else will use those sounds in their tracks)
• No beats or instrumentals that have previously been or are currently available for licensing by other artists.
• No beats, loops or sound effects were downloaded from sample libraries. This includes any free sounds included in Logic, Pro Tools, Garage Band etc.
• No samples from other songs, movies, TV shows, podcasts, video games, YouTube videos etc
• No public domain recordings/songs
• No remixes/mashups or medleys
• No alternative versions (Live, Remastered, Acoustic, Instrumental etc.)
• No soundtracks/scores or stock/production music
• No nature sounds, ASMR, educational content, meditation, prayers or church services, speeches, audio books or other content that isn’t original commercial music.

Even if it’s legal for you to use these sounds, it’s not possible to add the Content ID to any tracks including any of these things.

We know this may seem like a lot of rules, but it’s just to make sure that the YouTube Content ID system works properly and claims the correct content. Also, incorrect claiming may lead to legal consequences for the user, so we make sure to only add Content ID to tracks which are eligible for it.

When does Content ID start claiming?

When Content ID is added to your track, it will start processing every video ever uploaded on YouTube immediately. Content ID prioritizes scanning the most popular videos on YouTube before it moves on to scan the videos with less popularity and so on.

YouTube has existed since 2005 and Content ID scans every single video ever uploaded on the platform. It can sometimes take up to 6 months before Content ID has scanned all the video and claimed the correct content. Please have patience and trust the system.

If you get a copyright claim message:

You might get a copyright claim message from YouTube saying that Boomkit is claiming your content on YouTube. This is because we request Content ID on your behalf.

If you see a message like this, it simply means the system is working correctly and we are collecting your revenue on your behalf. All of your ad revenue will be paid out by Amuse to you together with your other royalties from stores.

What are Topic channels?

These are channels auto-generated by YouTube, so there’s no way to gain access, edit, or delete them. Their main purpose is to help spread your music to new fans and to be an archive for your music on YouTube.

Can my release be moved to my own channel?

It’s not possible for us to move your music to your own personal YouTube channel, but you can always upload the release on your own channel too. Having a Topic channel doesn’t affect your own personal channel.

Can you remove my Topic channel?

The only way to remove the Topic channel is to take the release down from YouTube Music completely. We suggest you keep the Topic channel for art tracks to feed the algorithms on YouTube with as much metadata as possible, as this will help you get recommended to new viewers and expose your music to a new audience. Your Topic channel helps you spread your music to new fans, without any extra effort. The more metadata/assets you have on YouTube, the better it will be for you as this will feed the algorithms on the platform.

Can I change the info in the video description?

It is not possible to edit. The rest of the info can be changed if you wish, just contact our support [support@boomkit.me] and let us know what the new info should be.

There are other artists’ releases on my Topic channel, what do I do?

Reach out to us [ support@boomkit.me]. We can contact YouTube to get your music moved to a new Topic channel.