If you're an artist on YouTube, your Official Artist Channel (“OAC”) brings together all your subscribers and content from your different YouTube channels into one place. You will also have access to a suite of tools built for artists, including Analytics for Artists.
Official Artist Channel Features
All your fans come together on your Official Artist Channel
When you get an Official Artist Channel, we merge subscribers from your topic channel, Vevo channel (if available), and your existing channel into your new channel. The subscribe button and subscriber count will no longer be displayed on your existing channel or topic channel.
You may see an increase in your Official Artist Channel subscriber count as we consolidate your audience.
Your subscribers will see your new music videos regardless of whether they subscribed to your Official Artist Channel or your other channels. This merge should help you promote and distribute new music more effectively.
Other features available with your OAC include Ticketing, Merch, and Analytics for Artists.
Program criteria and eligibility
To be eligible for an OAC, you must meet the following requirements:
- Own and operate a single artist’s or band’s YouTube channel that is focused on the artist’s or band’s music
- Have at least 1 official music release on YouTube that has been delivered and distributed by a Music Distributor or Label
- Your channel complies with all YouTube policies including YouTube’s Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, and Copyright policies
And at least one of the following:
- Work with a YouTube Partner Manager
- Be part of the YouTube Partner Program (“YPP”)
- Be part of a label network that works with a YouTube Partner Manager
- Your music is distributed by a music partner listed in the YouTube Services Directory for Music Partners.
Tip: It's recommended to have at least one video uploaded publicly to the artist channel in addition to an official release. OAC requests for channels with no public videos uploaded may be rejected or require additional verification.
How to Apply for an Official Artist Channel
Please contact your label or distributor to request an Official Artist Channel. If you do not have a label or distributor, please reach out to a Music Service Partner who can request an Official Artist Channel on your behalf. You can find a list of our Music Service Partners in the
YouTube Services Directory. Music Service Partners can request an Official Artist Channel on your behalf as part of delivering your music content to YouTube.
Official Artist Channels Policies and Programs
Official Artist Channels Policies and Programs
If you have an Official Artist Channel on YouTube, it’s important that you follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines.
Your Official Artist Channel will be suspended and become a standard channel if it gets a Community Guidelines strike or has content with limited features. Your channel will be restored automatically to an Official Artist Channel if and when your channel no longer has active Community Guidelines strikes or content with limited features, and it meets all other program criteria listed above.
Artist on the Rise
YouTube is a place where individualism thrives, diversity flourishes and new genres / content formats can get discovered.
We’re highlighting creators and artists who are “On The Rise” in a new section of our Trending Tab.
Learn more at our Artist on the Rise Help Center.