How To Upload Music To YouTube Music | IMusician

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Upload Music To YouTube Music

YouTube Music is a streaming platform that is owned and operated by Google. It ranks among the most popular streaming services, competing against other industry giants like Spotify and Apple Music. Its integration with the YouTube platform, Official Artist Channels, and other features make it a useful space for independent artists and labels who want to make their music accessible to a large audience.

Keep reading to find out why and how to upload music to YouTube Music with iMusician in just a few steps.

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Sign Up or Log In

Sign up with iMusician or log in to your existing account.

Start a Release

Open the iMusician Dashboard. Click on ‘Start a Release’ to choose the single, EP, or album you would like to get on YouTube Music.

Upload Your Files

Upload your music files and cover artwork. 

Add All Data

Type in all relevant information about your release.

Submit Your Project

Submit your project and lean back. Our Quality & Assurance team will check your release and let you know if anything’s missing. Once approved, your music will become available on YouTube Music on your desired release date.

• 01 Sign Up or Log In

  Sign up with iMusician or log in to your existing account.

• 02 Start a Release

  Open the iMusician Dashboard. Click on ‘Start a Release’ to choose the single, EP, or album you would like to get on YouTube Music.

• 03 Upload Your Files

  Upload your music files and cover artwork. 

• 04 Add All Data

  Type in all relevant information about your release.

• 05 Submit Your Project

  Submit your project and lean back. Our Quality & Assurance team will check your release and let you know if anything’s missing. Once approved, your music will become available on YouTube Music on your desired release date.

Get Started

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Why iMusician?

What is YouTube Music?

YouTube Music is a Google-operated streaming service that was launched in 2015. It evolved from Google Play Music and went through several changes before becoming the platform we know today. Google Play Music was officially shut down in late 2020, with users able to transfer their entire music libraries to YouTube Music.

YouTube Music is directly connected to YouTube and is included in YouTube Premium subscriptions. The paid version lets users listen to music and watch music videos without ads, play tracks in the background, download music for offline listening, and more. Competing with platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, YouTube Music also offers popular extras such as seasonal recaps similar to Spotify Wrapped.

• + 100 M Available Tracks
• + 125 M Monthly Users
• ~ 15 % Global Market Share

Why Upload Music to YouTube Music

Uploading your music to YouTube Music comes with many benefits. For artists, one major advantage of the integration between the two platforms is that anything uploaded to YouTube Music automatically appears on YouTube as a ‘video track’ that combines the audio with the album artwork.

This means that when you upload your music to the platform, you make it accessible to over 100 million YouTube Music users and to over two billion monthly YouTube users at the same time.

Additionally, you earn royalties from both YouTube Music streams and from YouTube itself if you release music on YouTube Music through a distributor like iMusician. Streams on YouTube Music pay a per‑stream rate, while plays on YouTube generate income through ads and YouTube Premium views.

Finally, by registering your music with YouTube Content ID, you also earn money every time someone else uses your music in their video.

How to Set Up A YouTube Music Artist Profile

Similarly to Spotify and Apple Music, YouTube Music allows artists to claim an artist profile to manage their presence on the streaming service. An Official Artist Channel (OAC) brings together all your content, including your albums, singles, music videos, and live performances, from YouTube and YouTube Music in one place.

To set up your OAC, you first need to upload your music to YouTube Music through an official distributor like us and create a personal YouTube channel. On the day your music goes live, it is automatically assigned to a Release-Topic channel on YouTube.

After you’ve uploaded at least three releases, YouTube will automatically create a non-customizable Artist-Topic channel that hosts all the tracks you’ve released through your distributor. Once your personal channel is set up and your Artist-Topic channel is created, you can apply for your OAC. The OAC will merge your Artist-Topic channel with your personal channel, combine all your streaming numbers, give you control over your presence on YouTube Music, and make it easier for fans to find you.

Can You Upload Music to YouTube Music Without a Distributor?

No. As an independent artist or label, you cannot upload your own songs directly to YouTube Music.

There are tangible reasons why most streaming platforms don’t allow musicians to upload their music to their services without a distributor.

Put simply, music distributors act as intermediaries between artists and streaming platforms. They handle the technical, legal, and administrative aspects of getting your music online to make sure your tracks meet platform requirements and comply with copyright and metadata standards.

Moreover, royalties can only be collected from music that has been delivered through an official distributor like iMusician. Once your music is confirmed to be eligible for monetization, it's registered properly and tracked for royalty reporting. Your payouts are then sent from the platforms to us, and from us to you.

What Is the Difference Between YouTube Music and YouTube?

YouTube is the world’s largest video platform, home to content on just about every topic you can think of, from tutorials and vlogs to, of course, music.

YouTube Music is a dedicated streaming app built specifically for listening. While it still includes videos, its main focus is on audio content like music and podcasts. The app was created to meet the demand for enjoying music on YouTube without ads, and without having to keep the main YouTube app open.

Although they’re closely linked and share a lot of the same content, YouTube and YouTube Music work as separate apps, each designed with a different user experience in mind.

How Much Does YouTube Music Pay Per Stream?

YouTube Music offers revenue through subscriptions from in-app streams. In 2025, it pays around $0.008 per stream on average, though payouts can vary depending on factors like your distributor’s terms and where your listeners are located.

At that rate, you'd need roughly:

• 125 streams to earn $1

• 1.250 streams to earn $10

• 12.500 streams to earn $100

How to Get a YouTube Content ID for My Music?

It’s simple! Upload your music to iMusician, select the YouTube Content ID option in the release process, and we’ll handle the rest. You’ll start earning ad revenue from any YouTube video that uses your track once the data is available.

How to Use YouTube Content ID as an Artist?

As a musician, you own the copyrights to your music. The YouTube Content ID system identifies and flags videos using your copyrighted content, allowing you to earn ad revenue from them. By partnering with iMusician, even smaller artists can access this tool, which is typically reserved for larger channels.

How Can I Contact iMusician?

If you're new to iMusician and require guidance on selecting a plan or starting with us, simply reach out to us via our Community. Our moderators and members are here to address your questions quickly. Learn more about how to get in touch.

Does iMusician Have Any Hidden Fees?

No. With iMusician, you won't encounter any hidden fees down the line. You keep 100% of your earnings from over 200 streaming and download shops, and 80% from social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Since we’re Swiss, we also don’t keep any withholding taxes.

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