Yes, you can make money doing covers on YouTube — but it is more complicated than most creators think.
Cover songs sit in one of the messiest corners of YouTube monetisation because music copyright, publisher claims, Content ID, sync rights, and revenue sharing can all come into play at once.
This guide breaks it down properly: when cover songs can earn, when they get claimed, why the money is often shared or restricted, what legal risks creators ignore, and the smarter ways to use covers as part of a wider music strategy on YouTube.
Why trust this guide?
I am not writing this as an outsider. I am a YouTube Certified Expert. I have coached 500+ clients, built and grown multiple channels, earned six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, built a personal audience of 100k+, and spent years working across YouTube strategy, SEO, retention, metadata, channel systems, and monetisation.
This matters because music channels, cover channels, and artist brands often get trapped between what “seems to work” and what YouTube’s rights and monetisation systems actually allow.
If you want help applying any of this to your own channel, you can book a discovery call.
Jump to what you need
- Quick answer
- Why cover songs are complicated on YouTube
- Can you monetize cover songs on YouTube?
- Content ID, copyright claims, and revenue sharing
- The legal reality behind covers on YouTube
- How creators actually make money from covers
- A smarter strategy for cover-song creators
- Tools that genuinely help
- Related reading
- FAQ
Quick answer: can you make money doing covers on YouTube?
Yes, sometimes — but cover song monetisation on YouTube usually depends on copyright owners, music publishers, and Content ID policies.
That means a cover video can earn money, but the uploader often does not control all of that revenue and may have to share it or lose it entirely depending on the rights situation.
YouTube has official guidance explaining that creators in the YouTube Partner Programme can sometimes share revenue from eligible cover song videos once music publisher owners claim those videos, and that payout is handled on a pro rata basis.
That is the key word: eligible. Not every cover qualifies, not every rights holder allows monetisation, and not every claimed cover turns into revenue for the uploader.
Why cover songs are complicated on YouTube
A cover song seems simple from the creator side. You perform someone else’s song, upload it, and hope the audience loves it.
From a rights and monetisation point of view, though, there are at least two different copyright layers involved:
- the composition itself, owned or controlled by the songwriter or publisher
- the sound recording, which in a cover is your own new recording, not the original master
That is why covers are not the same as uploading the original recording, but they also are not free of copyright issues. YouTube’s broader copyright guidance makes clear that rights holders can use Content ID to block, monetise, or track videos that use copyrighted material, and those actions can differ by territory.
| Issue | Why it matters for cover songs |
|---|---|
| Composition rights | The underlying song still belongs to the songwriter or publisher |
| Content ID claims | The cover can still be identified and claimed by rights owners |
| Revenue ownership | The uploader may not keep all monetisation |
| Territory rules | A cover may be monetised in one region and blocked in another |
Can you monetize cover songs on YouTube?
Yes, but only in the situations YouTube and the rights holders allow.
YouTube explains that some cover videos can be monetised through revenue sharing when the music publisher owners claim the video and opt into that arrangement. It also makes clear that this only applies to eligible cover videos.
Plain English version: you can sometimes earn from a cover, but you should not assume you automatically own or keep all the ad revenue just because you recorded the performance yourself.
What usually happens to monetised covers?
- the rights holder claims the cover
- the video may stay live
- the video may be monetised
- the uploader may receive only part of the revenue, or in some cases none of it
That is why the old “you can make money from covers” advice needs context. It is directionally true, but operationally messy.
Content ID, copyright claims, and revenue sharing
This is where the real platform mechanics show up.
YouTube says Content ID can let rights holders take one of several actions on matching videos, including:
- blocking the video
- monetising the video
- tracking the video’s viewership stats
Those actions can also be territory-specific, which means a video may be monetised in one country and blocked in another.
| Content ID outcome | What it means for your cover |
|---|---|
| Monetise | The video stays live and revenue may go to the rights holder or be shared |
| Track | The video stays up, but the rights holder monitors it |
| Block | The video may be unavailable in some regions or removed from viewing |
This is why some creators see a copyright claim and still keep the video live, while others get blocked or demonetised. It depends on the rights owner’s chosen policy.
The legal reality behind covers on YouTube
This is the bit many creators either never hear or quietly ignore: a cover song on YouTube is not just a YouTube problem. It is also a rights and licensing problem.
YouTube’s own cover-song monetisation guidance is narrow and conditional. The fact that some covers remain online does not mean every cover upload is fully cleared in a simple, universal way.
Important reality: “I uploaded a cover and it stayed live” is not the same as “I fully control the rights and monetisation”.
That distinction matters if you are trying to build a real business around cover content rather than just post for fun.
How creators actually make money from covers on YouTube
There are a few real-world ways creators still use covers to generate income, even when direct ad revenue is unreliable.
| Method | Why it works | How reliable it is |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue sharing on eligible claimed covers | YouTube allows some cover videos to monetise on a shared basis | Moderate to inconsistent |
| Using covers to grow an audience | Popular songs can attract discovery faster than unknown originals | High as a growth tactic |
| Converting fans to original music | Covers can introduce viewers to your own songs | High if your funnel is strong |
| Memberships, Patreon, tips, and direct support | Fans support you, not just the specific song rights | High if audience loyalty is strong |
| Live bookings, coaching, or music services | Your performance ability becomes the product | Potentially very strong |
That is why the smartest cover-song strategy is usually not “I will live on AdSense from covers alone”. It is “I will use covers as one audience-building layer inside a broader music business.”
Smart move for music creators: use cover songs to attract attention, then use DistroKid to release your original music and eligible cover songs properly across streaming platforms. That way you are not just chasing YouTube ad revenue — you are building a music catalogue and audience that can grow beyond one platform.
A smarter strategy for cover-song creators
If I were advising a musician who wants to use cover songs on YouTube, I would not build the whole plan around hoping the ad revenue works out.
A stronger strategy usually looks like this:
- Use covers to attract discovery around familiar songs.
- Use descriptions, pinned comments, and channel structure to lead viewers toward your original music.
- Collect audience attention into email lists, memberships, socials, or streaming follows.
- Treat any cover revenue share as a bonus, not the whole business model.
- Build originals, services, merch, licensing, or fan-supported offers around that audience.
This is the same broader lesson I give many creators: the channels that last usually do not rely on one fragile income stream. If you want the bigger monetisation picture, also read What Percentage of YouTubers Make Money?, Do YouTubers Get Paid If You Have YouTube Premium?, and How Much Money Does 1 Million YouTube Views Make?.
If you are serious about turning cover-song traffic into a real music career, you need somewhere to send people next. That is why I like DistroKid. It is not just for your original songs. DistroKid also supports eligible cover-song distribution and cover licensing, which means you can use covers for discovery and then push listeners toward your own releases, artist profiles, and streaming catalogue. In other words, covers can get you found, but your originals are what help you build something you control.
The harder truth is this: if all your momentum lives only on YouTube, then you are still renting your audience from one platform. If you turn that attention into released music on streaming platforms, you start building a catalogue that can keep working for you long after one cover video cools off.
Important: DistroKid can help with eligible cover-song distribution and licensing, but that does not mean every music idea is automatically safe to upload. Covers, samples, remixes, and derivative works all carry different rights issues, so treat cover licensing as a real process, not a loophole.
Fresh official facts worth knowing
This topic gets much stronger when you anchor it to current YouTube documentation instead of recycled myths.
| Fact | Why it matters | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube allows some eligible cover videos in the Partner Programme to share revenue after publisher claims | Confirms some cover monetisation is possible | Some covers can earn, but only under specific rights-holder conditions |
| Content ID can block, monetise, or track matching videos, including on a territory-specific basis | Explains why covers behave differently across songs and countries | The same cover may be fine in one place and restricted in another |
| YouTube’s copyright systems are built around rightsholder control | Reinforces why the uploader does not control everything | Uploading a cover does not automatically give you full monetisation rights |
| DistroKid offers cover-song licensing for eligible covers for an additional yearly fee | Shows there is a legitimate distribution route beyond YouTube alone | You can use covers for discovery and still build a wider streaming presence |
| DistroKid says artists keep 100% of royalties on its core distribution model | Strengthens the case for using covers as discovery while building an original catalogue you control more directly | Original music usually gives you more long-term leverage than relying on cover-video ad revenue alone |
Tools that genuinely help cover creators build something bigger
The old tools section needed a full rebuild. Tools should support a strategy, not pretend to replace one. These are the ones I would actually recommend first because they are relevant, trustworthy, and already supported by useful content on this site.
| Tool | Best for | Why it earns a place here | Best next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Studio | Monitoring claims, watch time, audience behaviour, and revenue mix | This is where you can see how your cover content is actually performing and whether claims affect monetisation | Learn how to read the right signals |
| vidIQ | Researching song-driven demand and discoverability | Useful when you want to understand which music-related topics and titles attract search or suggestion traffic | Try vidIQ or read my vidIQ review |
| TubeBuddy | Workflow and publishing support | Helpful when you need a cleaner process around uploads, metadata, testing, and optimisation | Try TubeBuddy or read my TubeBuddy review |
| StreamYard | Live performance, fan interaction, and direct support formats | Useful if you want to turn music attention into live sessions, chats, Q&As, and stronger viewer relationships | Try StreamYard or read my StreamYard review |
| DistroKid | Publishing original music and eligible cover songs to streaming platforms | Covers can bring attention, but DistroKid helps you turn that attention into a real catalogue by releasing your original songs and eligible cover songs across major platforms. That makes it easier to build an artist profile, grow monthly listeners, and move beyond relying only on YouTube cover traffic. | Try DistroKid |
Which tool should you pick first?
- Start with YouTube Studio if you want to understand how claims and audience behaviour affect your covers.
- Use vidIQ or TubeBuddy if you need help packaging and discovering opportunity.
- Use StreamYard if direct fan interaction matters to your model.
- Use DistroKid if your bigger goal is to convert cover attention into original-music growth.
Related reading on YouTube money, music, and monetisation
What I would do if I wanted to build a cover-song channel today
- Use covers for discovery, not as the whole business plan.
- Expect claims and plan around them.
- Build clear bridges to your original music and owned audience.
- Diversify beyond ad revenue from covers.
- Treat every cover upload as a funnel, not just a one-off performance.
Final thoughts
If you came here for the fast answer, here it is again: yes, you can sometimes make money doing covers on YouTube, but the rights holders, Content ID, and YouTube’s policies often control how that money is shared or restricted.
That means covers can be useful, profitable, and audience-building — but they are rarely the clean, simple monetisation lane many creators imagine.
The smartest move is to use covers strategically, not blindly. Let them bring attention, then turn that attention into something you control more directly.
If you want help building that kind of channel, start with Who Is Alan Spicer?, read how I help creators and brands grow, or book a discovery call.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make money doing covers on YouTube?
Sometimes, yes. YouTube says creators in the Partner Programme can share revenue from eligible cover videos when music publisher owners claim them, but this is conditional and not universal.
Do you own the monetisation on your cover song video?
Not necessarily. Rights holders and publishers can claim the video and may share, track, or take monetisation depending on their policy.
Can cover songs get copyright claims on YouTube?
Yes. Content ID can identify and act on videos containing copyrighted music, including monetising, tracking, or blocking them.
Can a cover song be blocked in some countries but not others?
Yes. YouTube says Content ID actions can be territory-specific.
Are covers a good growth strategy on YouTube?
They can be. Covers can attract discovery around familiar songs, but the strongest long-term strategy usually uses them to lead viewers toward original music or direct support.
Should musicians rely on cover-song ad revenue alone?
Usually not. Covers are better treated as one discovery layer inside a wider artist business model.
What is the smarter business move for cover artists?
Use covers to attract attention, then convert viewers into fans of your originals, memberships, live shows, products, or direct support.
Do rights holders always block cover songs?
No. Some rights holders monetise, some track, and some block, depending on their policy.
