Delivering Music to the YouTube Shorts Audio Library

Songs in the YouTube Shorts sound picker come from music delivered to YouTube by labels and distributors. The usual way for your release to become selectable in Shorts is to deliver it to YouTube Music with YouTube Content ID enabled through DistroVibe.

Which songs appear in the Shorts sound picker, and when, is decided by YouTube, so availability is not guaranteed.

How YouTube Shorts Audio Availability Works

• Sound Picker Availability: Once your track has been delivered and processed by YouTube, it may become available in the Shorts sound picker in the YouTube app.

• Creation vs. External Edits: When a creator adds your track from the Shorts sound picker, YouTube links the Short to your recording. If a creator edits your audio into a video outside YouTube before uploading, Content ID can detect the match and claim the video, with the resulting ad revenue credited to your DistroVibe wallet.

• YouTube Music Pairing: Content ID is linked to the sound recording delivered for YouTube Music, so keep YouTube Music selected as a store when you enable Content ID.

Eligibility Requirements

Before enabling Content ID, make sure your recording meets the exclusive ownership rules:

• 100% Exclusive Master & Publishing Rights: You must own all songwriting, composition, vocal performances, and sound recordings outright.

• No Third-Party Loops or Stock Audio: Tracks containing non-exclusive sample library elements (Splice, Looperman, DAW presets), royalty-free beats, or leased instrumentals are not eligible.

• No AI-Generated Audio: Releases with AI-generated or AI-assisted audio cannot be submitted to Content ID.

• No Covers, Public Domain, Ambient, or Soundalike Content: These are not eligible either.

Submitting ineligible tracks to Content ID can lead to a fee of up to €100 per track.

For a full breakdown of eligibility, restricted audio types, and claims, see our guide: YouTube Content ID: Audio Fingerprinting & Monetization Guidelines.