Music Industry 101: YouTube Watchlist for Understanding Rights, Ownership & Setup

If you don’t already know, Symphonic has a dedicated YouTube channel focused on breaking down music industry topics for artists of all stages.

From distribution and royalties to long-term career planning, the channel covers foundational topics that every artist should understand before releasing music or building a strategy around their catalog.

In this post, we’ve curated a watchlist focused specifically on rights, ownership, and the behind-the-scenes systems that protect your catalog and ensure you’re paid correctly.

This watchlist covers split sheets, publishing, metadata, licensing, and Content ID — the behind-the-scenes systems that protect your music and ensure you’re paid correctly. Check them out below.

Essential Music Rights and Publishing Concepts Every Independent Artist Should Understand

Understanding music rights and publishing isn’t optional. It’s foundational if you want to protect your catalog and maximize long-term revenue.

“How to Make a Split Sheet”

This video walks through what a split sheet is and why it’s one of the most important documents you can fill out when collaborating with other songwriters, producers, or creatives.

A split sheet clearly outlines who contributed what to a track and how ownership and royalties are divided, which can protect your rights and help you get paid correctly later on.

Without a documented split, contributions can be assumed equal by default under copyright law, even if each person’s role was different… and that can lead to disputes down the line.

By the end of the video, you’ll understand not just how to create a split sheet, but why it matters as part of building a professional music career. Check it out below…

“How to Self-Publish Your Music”

This video walks you through self-publishing your own songs and compositions, which is a key part of owning your work and making sure you get paid. It breaks down what it means to publish your music independently, how publishing differs from recording rights, and why owning your publishing can be a long-term financial advantage for creators.

The video also explains the roles of performance rights organizations (PROs), how to register your songs, and what steps you need to take to claim your rights correctly before you start distributing your music.

If you want to understand the business side of your own catalog, this watch is a great foundational piece. Check it out below…

“How To Manage Your Music’s Licensing Rights”

This video breaks down how licensing works and why it matters for independent artists who want to earn from their music beyond just streaming and downloads. It walks through the different types of licenses like sync, mechanical, and performance, and explains who needs them, who issues them, and how they affect your ability to place your music in film, TV, ads, games, and more.

If you’re serious about maximizing every avenue of earning from your creative output, this video offers a solid foundation to build from. Check it out below…

“What Is Music Metadata?”

This video breaks down what music metadata is and why it plays such a critical role in how your music is delivered, discovered, and paid out. From song titles and songwriter credits to ISRCs and contributor details, metadata ensures your tracks are properly identified across streaming platforms and royalty systems.

Getting it right from the start helps avoid credit errors, missed payments, and unnecessary headaches down the line. Check it out below…

“What Is SoundScan and Why Does It Matter?”

This video explains what SoundScan is and why it matters for artists tracking their music’s performance.

SoundScan is the system that counts sales and streams across major platforms and feeds that data into charts, royalty reporting, and industry analytics.

Understanding how it works helps you see where your music is being consumed and how it’s performing in measurable ways that actually impact careers. Check it out below…

“Understanding YouTube’s Content ID + Video Claims”

This video breaks down how YouTube’s Content ID system works and what happens when your music gets claimed or monetized on the platform. Content ID helps rights holders identify when their work is used in other creators’ videos, but it can also lead to claims that affect monetization if material isn’t cleared properly.

The video explains the basics of how claims are tracked, what revenue paths they create, and practical tips to help you manage your music on YouTube without losing control. Check it out below…

“Should Independent Artists Be Afraid of Streaming Fraud?”

This video explains what streaming fraud is, why it happens, and how it can affect your royalties and account health if you’re not careful. It breaks down common fraud tactics, how platforms identify suspicious activity, and what independent artists should watch for so they don’t get caught up in fake streams or illegitimate playlists.

The goal isn’t to scare you, but to give you the knowledge to protect your streams, your data, and your revenue. Check it out below…

Understanding the music industry takes time, and having reliable resources makes a difference. That’s why we created our YouTube channel to support independent artists with clear, practical education around the business side of music.

For those interested in going deeper beyond this watchlist, the channel offers additional videos that expand on these topics and explore new areas of the industry.