YouTube generates "Art Tracks" automatically when you upload music via YouTube Music.
These are basic videos that display your album artwork alongside the audio.
If a similar version of the audio already exists in a user-uploaded video—like an official music video, lyric video, or live performance—YouTube Music might automatically swap the Art Track with that video. These replacements come from user-created channels and are different from YouTube's auto-generated "Topic" channels.
In some cases, viewers can toggle between the Art Track and the alternate video, depending on their device or the app being used.
It’s important to know that eMastered or distributors cannot reverse or separate these changes if YouTube merges them. When someone watches your song through your album playlist on YouTube Music, it counts toward your streaming royalties just like the Art Track would.
If they view it through your regular “Uploads” section, it might not register as a YouTube Music stream—though you could still earn revenue via Content ID if you’ve enabled it.