From YouTube's documentation: A YouTube Official Artist Channel is a combination of your various owned channels on YouTube.
When you get an Official Artist Channel, YouTube merges subscribers from your Topic Channel Vevo channel (if available), and your existing channel into your new channel. The subscribe button and subscriber count will no longer be displayed on your existing channel or Topic Channel.
You may see an increase in your Official Artist Channel subscriber count as YouTube consolidates your audience.
Your subscribers will see your new music videos regardless of whether they subscribed to your Official Artist Channel or your other channels. This merge should help you promote and distribute new music more effectively.
Currently, YouTube requires us to submit a request on your behalf for your channel to become an Official Artist Channel (OAC).
Before Requesting an Official Artist Channel:
- You need a YouTube channel whose name exactly matches your artist name and that has at least one uploaded video (YouTube Shorts do not qualify).
- You must have at least one release sent to YouTube Music via eMastered with the artist name you are trying to obtain the OAC for.
- Your artist must have an exclusive auto-generated YouTube Topic Channel. If your Topic Channel contains releases from multiple artists with the same name, YouTube must separate it before we can submit your OAC request. If your Topic Channel requires separation, please let us know before requesting your OAC so we can handle the requests in the correct order.
- If you already have an Official Artist Channel through another distributor, please let us know when submitting your request.
If you meet the requirements above, please email help@emastered.com with the following information:
- Your Artist Name (please ensure it is spelled correctly)
- Your full country name. (e.g, Canada, not CA)
- The full URL of your current owned and operated (essentially your normal) YouTube Channel, including the 24 character code.For example, a correct url would look like: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXX1xxXX1XxxxX_xXXxXXX . Please do not provide vanity urls like https://www.youtube.com/c/memberX or https://www.youtube.com/user/memberX . If you do not know the true url, go to the channel, click on a video, then below where it says the artist's/channel's name, right click to open the channel in a new tab, and in that new tab the 24 character url will appear.Your Vevo Channel ID, if applicable (please enter full url including 24 character code)For example: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXX1xxXX1XxxxX_xXXxXXX . Please do not provide vanity urls like https://www.youtube.com/c/memberX or https://www.youtube.com/user/memberX . If you do not know the true url, go to the channel, click on a video, then below where it says the artist's/channel's name, right click to open the channel in a new tab, and in that new tab the 24 character url will appear.Your Topic Channel (please enter full url including 24 character code)
**For example: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXX1xxXX1XxxxX_xXXxXXX . Please do not provide vanity urls like https://www.youtube.com/c/memberX or https://www.youtube.com/user/memberX . If you do not know the true url, go to the channel, click on a video, then below where it says the artist's/channel's name, right click to open the channel in a new tab, and in that new tab the 24 character url will appear.Be careful when selecting your YouTube channel. Official Artist Channel (OAC) assignments are intended to be permanent and generally cannot be transferred, removed, or reversed by eMastered or YouTube—even if the channel is later deleted. Make sure the channel you select is the one you want permanently designated as your Official Artist Channel.
Key Notes on OACs:
- eMastered does not control the approval decision or timeline for OAC requests. According to YouTube, the review process can take anywhere from several weeks to a few months. While we will submit your request and follow up where possible, we cannot guarantee approval or influence the outcome.
- If your Topic Channel contains releases from multiple artists with the same name, it must first be separated by YouTube before an Official Artist Channel request can be submitted.
- The YouTube channel name must exactly match your artist name.
- Only one artist can be linked to a YouTube account. Label channels cannot become OACs.
- Your auto-generated Topic Channel will be linked to your Official Artist Channel once approved.
- Official Artist Channel assignments are intended to be permanent.
Submission of an Official Artist Channel request does not guarantee approval. Approval is solely at YouTube's discretion.