We're partnering with Matter on YouTube. They're a YouTube partner, and starting now they handle Official Artist Channel (OAC) requests for ONCE artists.
OAC requests are open to ONCE Insiders now, through a shorter form that goes straight to Matter. Requests you already sent us have been handed to Matter, so you don't need to resubmit.
Channel allowlisting and YouTube delivery move to Matter too. Insiders get it first, then everyone. You keep getting paid through ONCE the same way you do today.
Why we did this
YouTube has been the weakest part of ONCE, and you've told us so. OAC requests sat in a queue. Some came back rejected without a clear reason. Allowlisting a channel meant asking us, and us asking somebody else.
Matter fixes that at the source. They're a YouTube partner, which means they submit OAC requests straight into YouTube's own partner process and can see why one gets approved or turned down. They also run their own licensing tool for allowlisting, and they deliver music to YouTube directly.
We'd rather hand YouTube to people who do it all day than keep patching around it.
What changes right now
OAC requests go to Matter. The YouTube OAC form on your release page now sends your request straight to Matter. It's open to Insiders first.
Requests you already submitted are with Matter. We sent them the full list before announcing this. They're already working through it.
The new form is shorter. You only need four things:
- Your artist name
- Your main channel ID (the channel you run yourself)
- Your topic channel ID (the auto-generated "Artist - Topic" channel)
- Your Vevo channel, if you have one
Matter fills in everything else.
Check your eligibility first
YouTube has rules for who can get an Official Artist Channel, and they're the reason a lot of past requests got turned down. Before you request one, you need:
At least 3 releases distributed to YouTube
At least 3 music videos on your channel
If you're short on either, hold off and spend that time on the next release or the next video. A request that doesn't meet the bar won't go through no matter who submits it.
How the rollout works
Insiders first. The new YouTube setup is live for ONCE Insiders now: OAC requests through Matter, allowlisting through Matter's licensing tool, and YouTube Music and Content ID delivery moving from our current distribution partner to Matter. Insiders help us find the rough edges before it reaches the whole catalog.
Then everyone. Once it's running cleanly for Insiders, we open it up to every ONCE artist and move everyone's YouTube over to Matter.
We'll post in Discord when it opens to everyone. If your releases are being moved, we'll tell you before it happens.
What doesn't change
You still get paid through ONCE. Matter pays ONCE, and ONCE pays you, in the same place you see your earnings today. No new account to open and no second dashboard to check.
Your releases stay up. Moving YouTube delivery from one partner to another is a back-end change. Your music stays live the whole time.
Support still starts with us. Ask in the ONCE Discord and we'll get your question to Matter if it needs them.
Who Matter is
Matter is a content distribution company working across music, film and comedy. On the YouTube side they handle Official Artist Channels, Content ID, music video delivery and channel licensing for the artists in their network.
We'll share more as it rolls out.