YouTube Studio Music Upload Checklist

1. Title & File Naming

• Prepare Exported File: Name the video file standardly before upload (e.g., ArtistName_SongTitle_OfficialVideo.mp4 ).
• Format Video Title: Keep titles under 60 characters for mobile display. Use proper standard formatting:

Video Type Recommended Title Formula     

• Official Music Video Artist Name - Song Title (Official Music Video)    
• Audio / Track Only Artist Name - Song Title (Official Audio)    
• Lyric Video Artist Name - Song Title (Official Lyric Video)    
• Live Performance Artist Name - Song Title (Live at Location Name)    

2. Description Blueprint

Copy and fill in this structured layout in the YouTube Studio description box. The top 2 lines are important for search preview.

[SECTION 1: THE PRIMARY LINK]

• "Song Title" by Artist Name (Official Music Video)
• Stream/Download "Song Title":
• [Insert SmartLink or Spotify/Apple Music Link]

[SECTION 2: SONG STORY]

Brief 2-3 sentence overview of the track's theme, inspiration, or recording background.

[SECTION 3: CREATIVE CREDITS]

• Performed by: [Artist Name]
• Written by: [Songwriter Names]
• Produced by: [Producer Name]
• Mixing/Mastering: [Engineer Name]
• Video Directed by: [Director Name]

[SECTION 4: LYRICS]

• [Paste full song lyrics here]

[SECTION 5: SOCIAL & OFFICIAL LINKS]

• Instagram: @[Handle]
• TikTok: @[Handle]
• Website: [URL]

3. Critical Settings & Compliance

• Audience Setting (COPPA): Select "No, it's not made for kids" unless the song is intended exclusively for toddlers/nursery content. Marking general music as "Made for Kids" disables essential growth features like comments, live chat, notification bells, and playlist adds.

• Category Selection: Under Advanced Settings > Category, set to Music (not Entertainment). This feeds your upload into the YouTube Music ecosystem and recommendations engine.

• Search Tags (8–12 Tags): Include specific terms to assist search discovery:• Core Tags: Artist Name, Song Title, Exact combinations
  • Genre Tags: Teen Pop, Indie Rock, Hip Hop, Acoustic
  • Format Tags: Official Music Video, New Music 2026, Original Song

4. Thumbnail & Final Review

• Custom Thumbnail: Upload a high-contrast 16:9 image (1280×720). Ensure the artist's face and clear title text are legible on mobile screens.
• Visibility Setting: Set visibility to Unlisted at least 24 hours before release. This allows YouTube to finish high-definition processing and run copyright checks before public premiere.

Parental Safety & Moderation Tip

Under Comments & Ratings, set moderation to "Hold potentially inappropriate comments for review." This protects young artists from online spam while preserving healthy audience engagement.