Resource List

These features are only available to music label and distributor partners who use YouTube Studio Content Manager and the YouTube DDEX feed with version 3.6+ of the Electronic Release Notification (ERN) standard.

This article is for DDEX ERN 3.X only. Please refer to DDEX ERN 4.32 reference samples for details on ERN 4.32.

The contains the details about the primary resources (sound recordings or videos) and secondary resources (associated artwork) that make up the delivery. On a 10-track Audio Album for example, resource references A1 through A10 are the sound recordings and A11 is the album artwork. YouTube uses the album artwork as a key visual element in the generated Art Tracks for recordings from this album. Single Resource Release feeds should not contain any artwork, in accordance with the DDEX profile.

YouTube does not support per-territory metadata in the . If the message includes multiple versions of the metadata for a track, YouTube uses only the version that appears first in the message.

YouTube's proprietary elements

Expand the section below for a quick look at YouTube's proprietary elements. Use the corresponding sections throughout this page for more detailed info and examples.

YouTube's proprietary elements

The following elements are part of the YouTube proprietary namespace:

Sound recordings

[...] Namespace="YOUTUBE:SR_CUSTOM_ID">sound_recording_id_1234

Namespace="YOUTUBE:SR_ASSET_ID">A222222222222222

Namespace="YOUTUBE:SR_ASSET_LABEL">sr_asset_label [...]

Art tracks

[...] Namespace="YOUTUBE:AT_CUSTOM_ID">art_track_id_1234

Namespace="YOUTUBE:AT_ASSET_LABEL">at_asset_label [...]

Music videos

[...] Namespace="YOUTUBE:MV_CUSTOM_ID">music_video_id_1234

Namespace="YOUTUBE:MV_ASSET_ID">A333333333333333

Namespace="YOUTUBE:MV_ASSET_LABEL">mv_asset_label1

9bZkp7q19f0

MyChannel [...]

Web videos

[...] Namespace="YOUTUBE:WEB_CUSTOM_ID">web_video_id_1234

A222222222222222

Namespace="YOUTUBE:WEB_ASSET_LABEL">web_asset_label1

9bZkp7q19f0

MyChannel [...]

Playlists

[...] PLONRDPtQh-FLMXFMM- SJHySwjpidVXmzw [...]

Sound recording resources

Sound recording IDs

YouTube requires every element to include a valid ISRC code. If you also track recordings using a proprietary ID code, you can include the element as a sibling to the element inside the . The format of the element is:



              USRE10400888

              custom_id_1234

Both your DDEX Party ID (Namespace) and the proprietary ID for the track are required. YouTube stores the proprietary ID value in the custom_id field of the sound recording asset (for Content ID deliveries) and the Art Track asset (for YouTube Premium deliveries). For example, the XML above results in an asset with ISRC USRE10400888 and a custom_id value of custom_id_1234.

To add different custom_id values to the Sound Recording and Art Track asset, you can use the dedicated "YOUTUBE:SR_CUSTOM_ID" and "YOUTUBE:AT_CUSTOM_ID" namespaces:



              USRE10400888

              

              
              Namespace="YOUTUBE:SR_CUSTOM_ID">sound_recording_id_1234

              

              
              Namespace="YOUTUBE:AT_CUSTOM_ID">art_track_id_1234

If you are sending an update to an existing Sound Recording asset, you can identify the asset by asset ID by using the dedicated “YOUTUBE:SR_ASSET_ID” namespace:



              USRE10400888

              

              
              Namespace="YOUTUBE:SR_ASSET_ID">A111111111111111

To add asset labels to the Sound Recording and Art Track assets, you can use the dedicated ”YOUTUBE:SR_ASSET_LABEL” and ”YOUTUBE:AT_ASSET_LABEL” namespaces:



              USRE10400888

              

              
              Namespace="YOUTUBE:SR_ASSET_LABEL">sr_asset_label1

              
              Namespace="YOUTUBE:SR_ASSET_LABEL">sr_asset_label2

              

              
              Namespace="YOUTUBE:AT_ASSET_LABEL">at_asset_label

To remove all asset labels from the Sound Recording you can use the dedicated
”YOUTUBE:CLEAR_SR_ASSET_LABELS” namespace:



              [...]

              

              
              Namespace="YOUTUBE:CLEAR_SR_ASSET_LABELS">True

              [...]

Sound recording metadata

For guidelines on how to populate the Sound Recording metadata, please refer to the Music Metadata Style Guide from the Music Business Association. The metadata from the tag is used for:

Content ID deliveries: metadata stored on the Sound Recording asset.
YouTube Premium deliveries: Art Track creation and metadata stored on the Art Track asset.

Sound recording ownership

Sound Recording ownership is obtained from the tag under the element. As per the DDEX standard, the tag indicates where you own exclusive rights for the recording. This is separate from the Deals provided, but you should only provide Content ID deals for territories in which you own exclusive rights. Please note that we do not support or for the controller composite.

To add ownership to a SoundRecording asset, you must send either a Single Resource Release feed, or an Audio Album feed that has YouTube_ContentID as a MessageRecipient.

Sound Recording ownership is applied using the tag under the element. The must match that of the tag (or the tag, if provided).

The XML example below specifies that ABC Label owns the Sound Recording in South Africa:



              

                  [...]

                  A1

                  [...]

                  

                      

                      ZA

                      [...]

                      

                      

                          

                              ABC Label

                          

                          PADPIDAZZZZXXXXXXU

                          RightsController

                          100.00

                      

                  [...]

                  

              [...]

Art Track ownership

Art Tracks are created based on licensed (non-exclusive) streaming rights. Therefore, Art Track assets are never used for Content ID and the ownership on the Art Track asset will be inferred from the Deal. The element is ignored in feeds that only create Art Tracks.

Music video resources

Video type

The type of video can be specified using . The allowed Music Video types are:

LongFormMusicalWorkVideo
ShortFormMusicalWorkVideo

Music video IDs

YouTube requires every Music Video element to include a valid ISRC code. This ISRC code must be different from the one used for the sound recording as per IFPI guidelines. If you also track video resources using a proprietary ID code, you can include the element as a sibling to the element inside the . The format of the element is:



                    USRE10400889

                    custom_id_1234

YouTube stores the proprietary ID value in the custom_id field of the music video asset (for Content ID deliveries). For example, the XML above results a Music Video asset with ISRC USRE10400889 and a custom_id value of custom_id_1234.

To add a custom_id value to the Music Video asset, you can use the dedicated "YOUTUBE:MV_CUSTOM_ID" namespace:



                    USRE10400889

                    

                    
                    Namespace="YOUTUBE:MV_CUSTOM_ID">music_video_id_1234

If you are sending an update to an existing Music Video asset, you can identify the asset by asset ID by using the dedicated “YOUTUBE:MV_ASSET_ID” namespace:



                    USRE10400889

                    

                    
                    Namespace="YOUTUBE:MV_ASSET_ID">A222222222222222

To add asset labels to the Music Video asset, you can use the dedicated "YOUTUBE:MV_ASSET_LABEL" namespace:



                    USRE10400889

                    

                    
                    Namespace="YOUTUBE:CLEAR_MV_ASSET_LABELS">True

                    [...]

To specify the channel into which the video should be uploaded, you can use the dedicated "YOUTUBE:CHANNEL_ID" namespace:



                   USRE10400889

                   

                   MyChannel

A channel ID must be specified for all video uploads, any message without channel ID will fail processing.

To update a previously uploaded video, you can use the dedicated "YOUTUBE:VIDEO_ID" namespace:



                    USRE10400889

                    9bZkp7q19f0

To upload a Music Video as unlisted, you can use the dedicated “YouTube: IS_DISCOVERBALE” namespace:



                    USRE10400889

                    false

Music video metadata

For guidelines on how to populate Music Video metadata in DDEX, please refer to the Music Metadata Style Guide from the Music Business Association. The following elements from the tag are used to populate video and metadata on YouTube:

Video: Title	`[...] <br> <TitleText><strong>A little bit of Foo</strong></TitleText><br> [...]`
Video: Tags/Keywords	`[...] Keyword1 Keyword2 [...]`
Asset: Song
Asset: Label Name	`[...] Test Label [...]`
Asset: Artists	`[...] Jonny and the Føøbars MainArtist` `Some Other Artist MainArtist [...]`
Asset: Genre	`[...] Hip Hop [...]`

The video description is populated from the , not the . See the Release List section for more information.

Music video ownership

Music Video asset ownership is obtained from the tag under the element. As per the DDEX standard, the tag indicates where you own exclusive rights for the video. This is separate from the Deals provided, but you should only provide Content ID deals for territories in which you own exclusive rights.

Music Video asset ownership is applied using the tag under the element. The must match that of the tag (or the tag, if provided).

The XML example below specifies that ABC Label owns the Music Video asset in South Africa:

Web video resources

Video type

The type of video can be specified using . The allowed web video types are:

LongFormNonMusicalWorkVideo
ShortFormNonMusicalWorkVideo

Web video IDs

If you track video resources using a proprietary ID code, you can include the element as a sibling to the element inside the . The format of the element is:



                        custom_id_1234

YouTube stores the proprietary ID value in the custom_id field of the web video asset (for Content ID deliveries). For example, the XML above results a Web asset with a custom_id value of custom_id_1234.

To add a custom_id value to the Web asset, you can use the dedicated "YOUTUBE:WEB_CUSTOM_ID" namespace:



                        

                        web_video_id_1234

If you are sending an update to an existing Web asset, you can identify the asset by asset ID by using the dedicated “YOUTUBE:WEB_ASSET_ID” namespace:



                        

                        A222222222222222

To add asset labels to the Web asset, you can use the dedicated "YOUTUBE:WEB_ASSET_LABEL" namespace:



                        

                       MyChannel

A channel ID must be specified for all video uploads, any message without channel ID will fail processing.

To update a previously uploaded video, you can use the dedicated "YOUTUBE:VIDEO_ID" namespace:



                        9bZkp7q19f0

Web video metadata

The following elements from the tag are used to populate video and metadata on YouTube:

Video: Title	`[...] <br> <TitleText><strong>A little bit of Foo</strong></TitleText><br> [...]`
Video: Tags/Keywords	`[...] Keyword1 Keyword2 [...]`

The video description is populated from the , not the . See the Release List section for more information.

Web video ownership

Web asset ownership is obtained from the tag under the element. As per the DDEX standard, the tag indicates where you own exclusive rights for the video. This is separate from the Deals provided, but you should only provide Content ID deals for territories in which you own exclusive rights.

Web asset ownership is applied using the tag under the element. The must match that of the tag (or the tag, if provided).

The XML example below specifies that ABC Label owns the Web asset in South Africa:

Set your video's audience

Regardless of your location, you’re legally required to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and/or other laws. You’re required to tell us that your videos are made for kids if you make kids content.

Set a video as made for kids or not

To upload a non-Art Track video (i.e. Music Video or Web Video) as made for kids or not made for kids, use the element with either MadeForKids or NotMadeForKids following this format:

Worldwide [...] MadeForKids UserDefined [...]

The field is either optional or required, depending on the channel default you’ve chosen for the channel the video will be uploaded to.

Optional made for kids flag

The made for kids flag is optional if the channel default for the channel you are uploading your video to is set to either:

“Yes, set this channel as made for kids. I always upload content that’s made for kids.”
“No, set this channel as not made for kids. I never upload content that’s made for kids.”

Note: We’ll also use machine learning to help us identify videos that are clearly directed to young audiences. We trust you to set your audience accurately, but we may override your audience setting choice in cases of error or abuse. However, do not rely on our systems to set your audience for you because our systems may not identify content that the FTC or other authorities consider to be made for kids. If you need help determining whether or not your content is made for kids, check out this Help Center article or consult legal counsel.

If you've already set your audience for your video and YouTube detects error or abuse, you will see your video marked as “Made for kids - Set by YouTube". You won't be able to change your audience setting. If you disagree, you can use the “Send Feedback” button.

Required made for kids flag

The made for kids flag is required if the channel default for the channel you are uploading your video to is set to:

“I want to review this setting for every video.”

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Resource List

YouTube's proprietary elements

YouTube's proprietary elements

Sound recordings

Art tracks

Music videos

Web videos

Playlists

Sound recording resources

Sound recording IDs

Sound recording metadata

Sound recording ownership

Art Track ownership

Music video resources

Video type

Music video IDs

Music video metadata

Music video ownership

Web video resources

Video type

Web video IDs

Web video metadata

Web video ownership

Set your video's audience

Set your video's audience

Set a video as made for kids or not

Optional made for kids flag

Required made for kids flag

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