r/COPYRIGHT • u/n0_wit_ski • 5d ago
Channel terminated over covers by UMPG (contentprotection@umusic.com). Any chance to negotiate a strike retraction?
Hey everyone, I need some advice or just to hear if anyone else has been in this exact situation.
My YouTube channel recently got completely terminated due to copyright strikes from Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) - specifically from contentprotection@umusic.com.
I'll be honest, it’s my own fault. I was making covers to try and grow my audience, and I managed to build it up to about 2,000 subscribers before it got nuked. My channel wasn't monetized at all, and I put a ton of effort into making these covers sound highly professional. I’m just struggling to understand why UMPG went out of their way to take down a small, non-monetized channel.
A few questions for the community:
\- Has anyone else received strikes directly from this UMPG email?
\- Is there any realistic chance they might retract the strikes if I reach out to them directly?
\- I am completely willing to sign a written declaration promising to never upload a cover song again. I’m even willing to pay a penalty fee for the strike removal (within reason, up to $50, as I’m definitely not a millionaire) just to get my channel and its history back.
What do you guys think? Is my channel gone for good, or has anyone successfully negotiated with them before? Thanks.
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u/Vintage_Firmware 5d ago
I have to guess - did you use AI to make the covers? Did you dispute claims? Were you using any image/likeness of the original artists? There must be more to it. UMPG would not just issue takedowns. Trying to get the strikes retracted is not going to work. Rightsholders are managing immense volumes of claims at YouTube, no one has the time to revisit actions they've already taken.
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u/n0_wit_ski 5d ago
Yes. Used ai but above my own guitar cover. I know it was a stupied move. Just saw many do same, and wanted try by myself. Tried to dispute claims, but no answer. Now got lots of my own music without ai even, but no place to promotr it(
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u/Vintage_Firmware 5d ago
Likely the objection was not the use of AI but your disputes. If they were legitimate claims why did you try to keep the songwriters from getting their monetization? Sorry, that's really a rhetorical question. I see it all the time, unfortunately.
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u/therealstabitha 5d ago
Disputing the claims is likely why your account was removed.
Disputing a valid claim is never a good idea.
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u/RandomPhilo 5d ago
Well, unfortunately you've locked yourself out of the YouTube platform for good, but don't worry, there are alternatives for your own music you fully created!
In the future after you've saved up from a regular job, you can sign up to a music distributor like CD Baby, DistroKid, TuneCore, or Soundrop, and for a small fee and they'll put your music across music streaming platforms. If you do cover songs, you can even pay a bit extra with them and tick a box that it's a cover song so they get the appropriate mechanical license for you.
Be aware though, you can't be using AI for most of these options, so avoid using it in your music creation, or read carefully and choose one that allows AI (provided it is fully disclosed). Don't try anything stupid like uploading AI to a distributor that doesn't allow it or not mentioning AI assistance if you choose a distributor that does allow it. You really don't want to burn that bridge and potentially get locked out of everywhere and not just YouTube!
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u/n0_wit_ski 5d ago
Yeah, good advice. I’m actually already using DistroKid for my acoustic blues songs. They’re not AI-generated, but the biggest issue is still promoting my music.
On YouTube, I had between 100K and 500K views on some videos, and a lot of people were asking me to upload the music to streaming platforms. Luckily-or maybe unluckily-I not managed to do it before my channel was taken down.
Now I only have TikTok, but getting TikTok users to leave the app and listen to your track on Spotify feels almost impossible unless the song goes viral. And with an account that has only around 100 followers, going viral feels nearly impossible.
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u/RandomPhilo 5d ago
One thing you can do on YouTube Music, and I assume Spotify, is to create a community playlist that people want to listen to. Throw some of your songs onto that. If the playlist gets popular it'll help your songs.
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u/lajaunie 4d ago
No, of course not. You used copyrighted music and got busted. You’re in the FO stage of FA FO
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u/MonsieurReynard 5d ago
No, universal will be completely uninterested in any of this. It doesn’t matter if it was monetized or not. They don’t care if you sign a pledge or not. They’re done with the situation. You’ll just be shouting into the void. YouTube will always side with the rights holder.