How Does YouTube Pay Songwriters?

How Songwriters Get Paid From YouTube

There are two key types of royalties generated when a video uses your song:

Royalty Type	Collected By	Paid To
Performance	PROs (ASCAP, BMI, etc.)	Songwriters & Publishers
Mechanical	The MLC (U.S.)	Songwriters & Publishers
Sync Licensing	(Optional, if pre-cleared use)	Negotiated case-by-case

YouTube does not pay songwriters directly. Instead, they pay PROs and The MLC who then distribute royalties.

 Ways Your Music May Appear on YouTube

• Official music videos you upload
• Fan videos using your music
• YouTube Shorts or content creators’ videos
• Covers or karaoke versions (if monetized)
• Content ID matches triggered by your song being used in a video

 How to Maximize YouTube Songwriter Income

1. Register with a PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC)
2. Register with The MLC for digital mechanical royalties
3. Use a publishing administrator (like Songtrust) to collect global YouTube royalties
4. Work with a distributor or label that uses YouTube Content ID to monetize use of your music

 What About the Sound Recording Side?

If you own or control the master recording, you can also:

• Monetize through Content ID (via distributor like DistroKid or CD Baby)
• Earn ad revenue from official music uploads
• Collect SoundExchange royalties for non-interactive digital performances (YouTube Music)

 Pro Tips

• YouTube income is divided between recording and composition sides—you must register both
• A Content ID system is essential for claiming uses of your song in other people's videos
• Publishing admins often claim royalties missed by PROs and MLC
• Don’t forget YouTube Shorts and global YouTube versions—these pay, too!

Bottom Line:
To get paid as a songwriter on YouTube, you must be registered with a PRO, The MLC, and ideally a publishing admin. YouTube doesn’t pay you directly—it pays the royalty organizations that track and distribute your share.