Heya

I'm recovering from surgery on my broken arm at the moment, and with plenty of downtime I figured I might as well put it to good use and finally get serious about finishing and releasing some music!

I’ve got a few cover songs that I’m working on, and I’d love to release them on Spotify and YouTube (as well as other streaming platforms). The part I’m a bit fuzzy on is how YouTube monetisation works when it’s a cover rather than an original.

I know distributors often handle the licensing side for covers when you put them on Spotify, Apple Music, etc., but how does that carry over to YouTube? Does YouTube automatically take care of the rights through Content ID, or do I need to handle that separately if I want monetisation turned on?

Also, I’d love some recommendations on which distributor to go with...ideally something that makes releasing both covers and original tracks straightforward. I’ve heard good things about DistroKid, CD Baby, and Soundrop etc, but would really like to hear from people who’ve used them and can share their experience and if anyone has any other recommendations?

Any advice, motivation, or tips for getting my first proper releases out there would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

These two platforms are recommended.

Beatport --> www.beatport.com
SoundCloud --> https://soundcloud.com [Free an Paid Versions --> Free accounts can upload up to 3 hours of audio.]

Warning: Subscription model, you pay your intermediary, the software, the service, etc. in advance.
How to Get Your Music on Youtube Music --> www.landr.com/get-your-music-on-youtube-music

Keep in mind that the competition is getting bigger every day. Everyone is vying for attention. Sometimes it's better to copy your own music to a CD-ROM or USB drive, distribute it through your own website or YouTube channel, or give it away for free.

 

Last edited: Nov 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM

Maybe this could help…
watch from 4:32 for Youtube

 

So if that’s the case, where does that leave? Mean in terms of income?