heroboard
At the core of everything we do is a simple idea: we want our music to be heard. We actively choose to make our catalog available to creators because their content is one of the most powerful ways for music to reach new audiences. Every video, stream, or short that uses our tracks helps the music travel further than it ever could through traditional release channels alone. Our goal is not to limit usage, but to encourage it — so long as it’s done in a way that respects the artists and the ecosystem that makes this possible.
If you’ve used music from our catalog, you might have noticed that some uploads receive a Content ID claim from heroboard. That’s intentional, but not meant to get in your way. It’s there to protect both the artists we work with and the creators who rely on our music.
After many years in the music industry, we’ve found this to be the most effective and sustainable approach for protecting music at scale. Here’s a transparent look at why we’ve chosen to register our music in copyright detection systems like YouTube Content ID, and what that means in practice.
A note on claims, whitelisting, and support
Content ID claims are not copyright strikes, penalties, or takedowns. They’re simply how platforms recognize and manage the use of copyrighted material. All of our music is copyrighted material licensed to the label by our artists.
For creators working with us long-term:
- Channels can be whitelisted, meaning no Content ID claims will be issued on videos using our music (typically once a channel is part of the YouTube Partner Program).
- If you’ve used our music before monetization, claims can be removed retroactively once your channel is whitelisted.
We also actively support creators when things don’t go as expected:
- If a fraudulent third-party claim appears, we’ll step in and work directly with our distributor to resolve it.
- If a claim was issued before whitelisting or needs review, we’ll help get it sorted quickly.
The goal is simple: keep things predictable, fair, and friction-less for creators who are using the music as intended. You can request whitelisting for your channel at any moment.
It helps prevent fraudulent claims from 3rd parties
One of the biggest issues in the creator ecosystem is copyright hijacking. If a track isn’t registered in Content ID, it’s surprisingly easy for a bad actor to upload it and claim ownership. Once that happens, they can start collecting revenue from videos that aren’t theirs — or even issuing takedowns.
By proactively registering our tracks, we establish a clear, timestamped ownership record. This makes it extremely difficult for anyone else to step in and falsely claim the music.
It facilitates tracking usage and supports creators
We use Content ID not only to track where our music appears, but also to ensure it is being used in line with our terms and to support creators who are using it correctly.
This system gives us visibility into how the music is being distributed, which helps in two important ways. First, it allows us to identify cases where usage may require a separate license or falls outside of our standard permissions, such as:
- Use in commercial or agency-produced content
- Paid advertising campaigns
- Film, TV, or serialized productions
- Reuploads by music channels or “audio libraries”
- Redistribution in templates, packs, or bundled assets
Second, it acts as an initial layer of guidance for creators. When a claim appears, it helps signal that the usage has been detected by our system, making it easier for us to step in if something needs clarification and ensuring creators understand how the music is intended to be used.
At the same time, it allows us to actively support legitimate usage — helping ensure that creators who are following the rules are not disadvantaged and that their use of the music remains smooth, predictable, and properly attributed within the system.
It directs revenue to the artists
Platforms like YouTube often place ads on videos regardless of whether a creator is part of their partner program.
In cases where a channel isn’t monetizing yet, Content ID allows us to collect that ad revenue and redirect it to the artist who created the music. That way, the value generated by the content supports the people who made it possible.
Once a creator joins a monetization program, we can review and remove claims where appropriate.
It helps keep the label sustainable long-term
Running a label that offers high-quality, usable music at scale requires a sustainable model. This model helps us:
- Fund future releases
- Invest in better production and more artists
- Keep the catalog growing without introducing restrictive licensing fees
And that’s pretty much it…
Content ID isn’t perfect, but it’s the system we have to work with to keep things fair and sustainable for everyone involved.
At the end of the day, we just want the music to be used, shared, and discovered as much as possible, without it being abused or taken out of context. If a claim shows up and something doesn’t make sense, it’s usually fixable, and we’re always around to sort it out.
If you’re using the music the way it’s intended, you really don’t need to worry about it. And if something ever feels off, just reach out — we’ll take a look.