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Step 6 of 10 in this module#596 of 1,000

6. The "Cover Song" Distinction

Part 6 • YouTube Content ID (YTM) Cost and Commission

Content ID also plays a role in monetizing cover songs. If you upload a cover song, cover songs are subject to licensing, so you generally need a mechanical license (DistroKid offers a Cover Song Licensing add-on) and publishers may claim revenue on YouTube. Conversely, if a fan covers your original song and uploads it to YouTube, Content ID will identify it, and you, as the copyright owner, can choose to monetize that video (subject to YouTube's rules regarding cover songs).

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In this module: YouTube Content ID (YTM) Cost and Commission10 steps
  1. 1What is YouTube Content ID (YTM)?
  2. 2The Cost: $4.95 per Single/Year
  3. 3The Hidden Commission: DistroKid Takes 20%
  4. 4Why the 20% Commission?
  5. 5Strategic Value: Monetizing User-Generated Content (UGC)
  6. 6The "Cover Song" Distinction
  7. 7Understanding Claims and Disputes
  8. 8Strategic Decision: Is it Worth the Cost?
  9. 9DistroKid's Content ID vs. Third-Party Solutions
  10. 10Your Actionable YouTube Content ID Strategy