A YouTube Official Artist Channel (OAC) brings an artist’s music presence together in one official channel. Requests are typically submitted through an eligible music distributor, record label, or music partner rather than through standard YouTube Studio settings.
Once approved, the channel receives the Official Artist Channel music-note indicator and brings eligible artist content and audiences together under one channel.
Official Artist Channel Eligibility
Artists generally need to meet several requirements before requesting an OAC:
- Artist channel: Have a YouTube channel representing a single artist or band.
- Official release: Have at least one official music release delivered to YouTube through a distributor or record label.
- Channel activity: Maintain an active YouTube presence with artist-related content.
- Policy compliance: Follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, and copyright policies.
- Music focus: The channel should primarily represent the artist and their music rather than unrelated content.
Additional eligibility requirements may apply depending on the artist’s distributor, label, or YouTube partner.
How to Request an OAC
The exact process varies by distributor, but generally:
- Sign in to your music distributor or label account.
- Locate its YouTube Official Artist Channel or YouTube for Artists section.
- Select the eligible artist.
- Provide or connect the artist’s YouTube channel.
- Confirm the artist and channel information.
- Submit the request for review.
Your distributor or label then sends the request to YouTube.
After Approval
An Official Artist Channel can consolidate different parts of an artist’s YouTube presence, including:
- Official music releases
- Music videos
- Albums and singles
- Artist uploads
- Subscribers from eligible associated channels
The resulting OAC becomes the primary destination for the artist’s music and YouTube presence.
Processing Time
OAC approval is not immediate. Processing times vary depending on the distributor, eligibility review, and YouTube’s processing. Creators should check with their distributor or label for the current expected timeline.
You generally cannot activate an Official Artist Channel yourself in YouTube Studio. Eligible artists should request one through their distributor, record label, or other eligible YouTube music partner.
