Will my lyric video get a Content ID claim?

It might, if your music is registered with YouTube's Content ID, and a claim on your own song is usually harmless: it isn't a strike, and it can be released.

What the download page tells you

When your video is ready, a card called 'Before you upload: Content ID' sits under your files. In short:

• 'A Content ID claim is not a strike.'
• If you aren't in the YouTube Partner Program, the claim is how you get paid for the video.
• Upload as Unlisted first, and wait for YouTube Studio's 'Checks' step before you publish.
• A claim from your own distributor? Ask them to release it, with the video URL and the release's UPC. They release claims one video at a time, after the claim lands.
• Covers: post it on your own channel, labelled as a cover. Don't register it in Content ID.

Step by step

1. Upload your video to YouTube as Unlisted. See How do I upload my lyric video to YouTube?
2. Wait for the 'Checks' step in YouTube Studio to finish.
3. No claim? Make it public.
4. A claim from your own distributor? Decide whether to keep it or have it released:
   • Keep it if you're not in the YouTube Partner Program. The claim sends the video's earnings to you through your distributor.
   • Have it released if you'd rather earn from the video on your own channel.
5. To have a claim released, ask your distributor. Send them the video's URL and your release's UPC.
6. Once the claim is released (or you've chosen to keep it), make the video public.

Add your YouTube channel (optional)

On the Download step, before you pay, you can open Add your YouTube channel (optional) and paste your channel's link. 'It helps with Content ID later. We never post anything.'

• Paste the full link, starting https://www.youtube.com/ or https://youtube.com/, for example https://www.youtube.com/@yourname.
• Links copied from the YouTube app (m.youtube.com or youtu.be) and a bare @handle aren't saved, and there's no message to say so. Open your channel in a browser and copy the link from there.

Covers

A claim on a cover goes to the song's writers and publishers, not to you. They may take the earnings, or occasionally mute or block the video. That isn't grounds for a refund (this doesn't affect your statutory rights). Don't register a cover in Content ID. See Can I make a lyric video for a cover song?

Good to know

• lyrik never uploads or posts anything to your channel.
• Releasing a claim is up to your distributor, not lyrik.

If something goes wrong

• The claim says the music belongs to someone else. If it's your own song, contact your distributor. If it's a cover, see above.
• I'm not sure whether my distributor runs Content ID for me. Check your plan with them, or ask their support.