These might sound like a dumb question for you but I’m totally new to this. I think it’s best to ask here since I’m using Cubase Pro to make music.
Based in Australia, I’m 49 and now trying to spend most of my time running my music channel on YouTube. Most of my videos are piano tutorials and music theory stuff but I’m trying to compose my own music pieces and upload them there. I’m into cinematic music like the Two Steps From Hell style.
This makes me wonder how I’m gonna monetise from this. I know the YouTube Partner Program (ads, you know) but how can I protect my copyright and make sure all revenue from other people covering or copying my music goes to me?
I know this might be common sense for you but I’ve never been in the music industry so I’m here to learn from all of you. So questions are:
(1) I heard YouTube has a Content ID system to detect copyright and control how the money goes. How do I apply for it and submit my work there? How do I prove the music is my own work?
(2) Is there any other music streaming platform that I can do well/better than YouTube? I know Spotify but have never used it. What are their games and how do I work with them?
(3) If there are, say 10 streaming platforms, do I need to go through 10 different systems one by one? That sounds like a lot of work. Is there any single, universal music copyright certification/detection system that I can apply once and then have ease of mind, before I upload my pieces?
(4) I asked AI and it told me to use DistroKid Pro/TuneCore. Will they help? Which one is better for an independent music maker like me?
I’m just starting my music journey and trying to put all the pieces together. All input is much appreciated. Again forgive me if these are silly questions.
Yeah, so, the first step is to register with the music rights society in your country. Register your music with the society.
You also need to create your own ISRC codes. To do that, you will have to register with the equivalent of the PPL in the UK.
When you register your music with the copyright society, you will also register the ISRC codes.
You then release this music via Spotify or similar, when releasing the music, you register the ISRC codes to each piece of music.
When your music is used on YouTube, TikTok, etc., these platforms will report back to your copyright society via the ISRC codes you have provided and pay you what is due to you.
You don’t have to report/register with all platforms out there. Once the ISRC codes are correctly registered, then it will all happen automatically, from all platforms.
Thanks for all your input. Now that I’ve learned more by researching these key terms.
So I need to register my music in Australia’s copyright society (which is APRA AMCOS), and then register my work in TuneCore/CDBaby/DistroKid, which will get the ISRC codes and YouTube content ID of each of my recordings for me, before distributing them through different streaming platforms & YouTube, is that correct?
So, TuneCore/CDBaby/DistroKid do digital distribution, not registration. Once your music is released through one of these distribution companies, your music will be identified on any platform when it is used for a video, etc.
