Major labels represent the vast majority of commercial music. Please note that Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group are large companies with numerous teams worldwide, both human and AI, devoted solely to anti-piracy. When you use their tracks without a valid license, Content ID or Audible Magic will identify the audio and apply their preset policies.
Common Claim Types
Since musical works and sound recordings are both separate works, you will need at least two licenses to legally use their music.
- Sound Recording (Master): This is the actual audio file of a recording of the song. For example, this is the version you would typically hear on Spotify or iTunes. Record labels typically own the recorded versions of songs by their artists. You will need to clear the master rights in order to use the song’s recording.
- Musical Composition (Publishing): This covers the underlying musical work and lyrics, and is typically owned by the artist or their publishing company. When you pair a YouTube video with music, you will need a synchronization license for the song. Claims can still happen even if you perform a cover of the song yourself, and you will need a mechanical license to legally upload it.
Performing rights are typically not included with most licenses, and you will need to report your use via cue sheet to your local performing rights society so the composers and publishers can receive appropriate revenue.
Typical Label Policies
Most major labels opt to earn revenue rather than block or remove. Depending on the song used, you may encounter one of three statuses:
- Monetize: The label keeps the video on the site, but will place ads. The revenue goes to the label, and you will need a license to share the revenue.
- Revenue Share: In some cases and under certain licenses, eligible cover songs may be able to share revenue with the publisher.
- Blocking or Muting: Rare for major hits, but it is common for pre-release tracks or specific high-protection artists. The video will be blocked or muted in certain territories.
Why Do Claims Happen, Even if Only Five Seconds Are Used?
Major labels use High Sensitivity matching, where using a few seconds of a song such as music playing in the background of a vlog can trigger an automated claim. Crediting the artist in the description does not prevent a claim, and neither does it mean you have formal permission to use it. In some cases, this may qualify under the Fair Use or De Minimis exceptions, but there’s no guarantee of arguing these exceptions as they are not safe harbor and up to the courts to make these decisions.
How to Resolve a Claim
If you believe a major label has claimed your video in error, such as playing a different song, or you have secured the license to use the songs, you can dispute the claim. Please note that major labels have dedicated teams powered by both humans and AI to review disputes. A dispute will likely be rejected if you do not have the appropriate licenses.
Key Differences Between the Big Three
| Label | Typical Behavior |
|---|---|
| Universal (UMG) | Very high automation; often claims short snippets and background audio. |
| Sony (SME) | Frequent use of blocking in some territories for specific high-profile pop artists. |
| Warner (WMG) | Known for aggressive composition claims on live performances and covers. |
Pro Tips for Creators
- Many labels understand their licensees may need more flexibility or permissions not covered by standard licensing agreements. Some labels have two ways to license music: either with a one-off license that applies to a single video or a subscription that allows you to use their entire catalog across all your videos for the duration of the subscription period.
- The cost for a license varies based on a number of factors, including the type of video you’re creating, how much music is being used, and where it will be seen. You will usually need to contact both the labels and publishers and they can provide you with a quote for your project. Please note, however, that some rights may not be available for licensing.
- Use the Checks step during the upload process for claims from major publishers and labels.
- If you want to avoid claims entirely, use the YouTube Audio Library for high-quality, claim-free music, and their licenses cover both the synchronization and master rights.
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