About YouTube Content ID
YouTube Content ID is YouTube’s fingerprinting system allowing content owners (you) to monitor and monetize the use of the music used by YouTube video creators without purchasing a license to do so.
In 2024, 3.7 million new videos were uploaded to YouTube every day. Most of those videos contain a musical work created by an artist like you. But not all of those videos contain a musical work that was properly licensed.
YouTube Content ID is a great tool that allows you to monitor how your work is used. Using YouTube Content ID not only allows you to track down those uses; it also allows you to monetize them as well.
How does it work
When you register your tracks to YouTube Content ID, we’ll send them over to YouTube. YouTube will put a fingerprint on them. It means that the track will be analyzed and identified through a unique series of digits. Think DNA for music.
With the fingerprint, YouTube Content ID can identify your works whenever they are used in a video. Whether the videos were uploaded years ago or just a minute ago doesn’t make any difference, most of them will be spotted.
Whenever there is a match (an identification), the video creator will receive a "Copyright Infringement Notification", also called a claim. This claim adds advertisements to the video in question. The revenues of these ads will then go to you. Normally, YouTube Content ID revenue is $0.00087 per stream .
Content ID Eligibility
YouTube's Content ID system allows you to earn revenue from videos featuring the tracks you've distributed with us. Essentially, YouTube's detection algorithm automatically identifies your music in videos uploaded by other users.
When your music is detected, YouTube generates claims against those videos, enabling you to monetize them.
Before submitting your track to Youtube content ID, it's important to verify whether your music meets YouTube's eligibility criteria. This ensures that your content aligns with the requirements set by YouTube for monetization.
Each track that fails to meet the requirements outlined below will be declined and consequently excluded from consideration for YouTube Content ID.
Before submitting your Track for Content ID, make sure that:
- You're submitting only one version of your track. We recommend submitting an original.
- The track is registered under:
- All Rights Reserved license
- Creative Commons license, with the following terms: BY-NC-ND.
- The track isn't a cover, medley, sample, or remix of another artist's song.
- The track isn't a live performance, speech recording or podcasts.
- The track isn't in public domain.
- The track isn't an alternate version of a track already distributed for CID.
- The track isn't distributed for Content ID by another distributor, for example Jamendo, Haawk, Tunecore, RouteNote, Believe,..
- The track's duration is longer than one minute.
- The track doesn't contain audio made available for free from Garage Band, Logic, Fruity Loops, Abelton, and other Digital Audio Workstations
- The track hasn't been generated by AI.
If you're still uncertain about whether your track meets the eligibility criteria for Content ID, please feel free to reach out to us or visit the official YouTube page. You can access it via the following link: YouTube - Qualify for Content ID. This page explains the eligibility criteria set by YouTube.
Start using Winamp Content ID
To submit your tracks to Winamp Content ID, start by uploading and publishing the tracks you want to submit via the Media in the Winamp artist dashboard.
Each eligible track will appear in the media selection in the Content ID tab. Click on the track you want to submit to Youtube Content ID and click Monetize.
After selecting a track, you'll be prompted to confirm that your track:
- does not contain public domain recordings or songs
- does not contain sounds from video games, television and movies
- does not contain any audio from other peoples' YouTube videos
as well as that you currently don't use Content ID through another company and that all your statements are true.
Finally, click Subscribe & submit, after which your track will undergo processing by the moderation team.
Understanding Content ID Statuses
Once you submit your track(s) to Winamp Content ID, your track might receive one of the following statuses.
Status | Description |
Active | Indicates that moderation was successful, and your tracks have been provided to AdRev, where the content ID services are being performed. |
Accepted | Indicates that following moderation, the metadata you've completed and the audio quality align with YouTube's and Winamp's requirements set for monetization. The monetization of your track using Content ID has started. |
In Moderation | Indicates that we are currently verifying whether the metadata you've completed and the audio quality align with YouTube's and Winamp's requirements set for monetization. This process usually takes up-to 3 business days. |
Ready | Indicates that you have completed the specific metadata for this track but have not saved/confirmed to submit your track to YouTube monetisation. |
Draft | Indicates that you need to enter the metadata of your track. |
CID Conflict | Indicates that your track has been submitted to the YouTube Content ID program with another provider, and as a result, a Content ID conflict has arisen. The monetization of your track has been paused and YouTube will not release any of your earnings until the conflict is resolved. |
Not Eligible | Indicates that the metadata completed for this track does not align with YouTube's and Winamp's requirements set for monetization |
Rejected | Indicates that following moderation, the metadata you've completed and the audio quality did not meet YouTube's and Winamp's requirements set for monetization. |
Take down requested | Indicates that you have requested that your track be removed from the Content ID program. |
Taken down | Indicates that your request to remove your track from the Content ID program has been processed. |
Earnings and Revenue Share
The revenue earned through the Winamp Content ID program is based on a revenue share model.
You are entitled 75%-85% of the gross revenue received by Winamp from YouTube.
Subscription Plan | Artist Revenue Share | Winamp Revenue Share |
Early Adopters* | 80% | 20% |
Essential | 75% | 25% |
Standard | 80% | 20% |
Ultra | 85% | 15% |
Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
*The Early Adopters subscription plan is an exclusive offer, available to everyone who subscribed to Winamp for Creators between 2nd April and 30th June, 2025.
Revenue Reports
Your Content ID revenue reports and payments will be available in your Wallet once Winamp processes the earnings received from YouTube. These reports are typically imported monthly and reflect sales from two months prior. For example, revenue earned in January will be imported in your Wallet by the end of March.
Payment Schedule
After your Content ID revenue is imported into your account, you can request a payment one month later. Once requested, your payout will be processed between the 1st and 10th of the following month, ensuring timely access to your earnings.
Winamp will provide you with details of all earnings owed to you in the "Revenue" section of Admin tab in your Winamp for Creators account.