How Does Publishing Work on YouTube?

YouTube is not only one of the most important platforms for music promotion—it has also become a key source of income for songwriters, producers, and music publishers. However, to fully tap into this potential, it’s essential to understand how publishing works within the platform’s ecosystem.

What rights are involved?

There are two main types of rights at play on YouTube:

• Master rights: Linked to the sound recording (for example, what a record label or an artist who uploads their own video collects).
• Publishing rights: Related to the composition of the song (lyrics, music, arrangements).

Publishing focuses on the second group. Even if you didn’t upload the video, if your composition is being used, you have the right to earn royalties.

Content ID: How your music is identified and monetized

YouTube uses Content ID, an automated system that scans every uploaded video and compares it to a database of copyrighted content. If a match is found with a registered song:

• The rights holder can choose to monetize, block, or leave the video active without monetization.
• This decision is applied automatically, thanks to the system’s 99.7% accuracy rate.

This system turns every view into a potential monetization opportunity for songwriters, publishers, and master rights holders. Today, over 50% of music revenue on YouTube comes from fan-uploaded content.

Public Performance Rights: The role of PROs

Every time a song is played on YouTube, public performance royalties are generated. These are managed by PROs (Performing Rights Organizations) or collective management societies:

• These organizations grant blanket licenses to platforms like YouTube.
• They then distribute royalties to composers and publishers based on how their works are used.

Some relevant PROs include ASCAP, BMI, SACM, SGAE, UBC, among others.

Mechanical Rights: Innovation at the core of ONE Publishing

Each view also generates mechanical royalties, or reproduction royalties. These are managed by publishers or collective management organizations. ONE Publishing is the first music publisher in the world to establish a direct collection agreement for mechanical royalties in Latin America, eliminating intermediaries and enabling more efficient and transparent royalty collection. In other regions, these rights are collected by organizations like the MLC in the United States.

Sync Rights: Why having a publisher matters

In the U.S., when a song is used in a YouTube video, in addition to generating public performance royalties, it may also generate synchronization royalties, as this is considered an audiovisual use of the composition. These royalties can only be collected by publishers with a direct agreement with YouTube—like ONE Publishing. That’s why having a publisher with a global collection network is essential to avoid leaving money on the table when your music is used on platforms like YouTube.

How to collect your publishing royalties on YouTube

You can access your earnings through:

• YouTube Partner Program (YPP): If you upload your own music and meet YouTube’s subscriber and view requirements.
• Content ID distribution: Via a publishing administrator with direct access to the system.
• PRO registration: To collect performance royalties from the use of your compositions.
• Working with a publisher: A publisher like ONE Publishing acts as your strategic partner. We register your catalog across platforms, manage your Content ID, accurately administer your metadata, and ensure every use of your work is monetized as effectively as possible. We also help resolve rights conflicts and optimize royalty collection.

The Role of ONE Publishing

At ONE Publishing, we have direct agreements with YouTube across Latin America, allowing us to provide our songwriters with greater transparency, efficiency, and visibility. We manage your catalog comprehensively to ensure your works are correctly registered and monetized through Content ID.

We work closely with global PROs and offer ongoing support to resolve disputes and ensure you receive everything you’re owed. With publishing, you can earn royalties for every play that uses your composition. In a world where every click counts, good publishing management makes all the difference.