Music Policies

Music Policies was a powerful database on YouTube that gives out information on what happens to a YouTube videos if it uses a certain copyrighted song. The database was implemented on December 8, 2014 and has been considered helpful for those wanting to use copyrighted music as they don't have to upload a video containing a copyrighted song just to see the caused effect. The database was shut down in late July 2020. YouTube shut the system down as a result of the new YouTube studio, claiming that the database was not used very often, so it would be one of the features that they were dropping. Eventually YouTube would be able to license more songs in an attempt to compete with TikTok. Shorts are often unclaimed but sometimes they get claimed. 
==Types of playback restrictions==
There exists different types of restrictions.
===Viewable worldwide===
If the playback say's "Viewable Worldwide". That means any videos receiving the claim will be available around the world however the video won't be monetizable. A Matched Third Party content notification will be shown next to the video on video manager. Most cover songs of artists are Viewable Worldwide. Most common in obscure artists though artists who had restricted songs may have all songs Viewable worldwide. ex. Michael Jackson, The Verve, The Clash, etc.
===Blocked in one country===
If the playback say's "Viewable everywhere except (One Country)". The video is blocked in that one country and that one country cannot view the video. A well known example is "Viewable everywhere except Germany" which is the result in which you use a song by a GEMA protected artists prior to October 31, 2016. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division is mostly viewable worldwide but at one time was viewable everywhere except Australia. Love is meant to last forever by John Norum is Viewable everywhere except Sweden even if you perform a cover. Same instance for a song by Usher and Alicia Keys with it being Viewable everywhere except the United States. Some songs are blocked only in Antarctica which happened to Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Ray Charles. 
===Blocked in a few countries===
Happens when the song you're using will get your video blocked in 2 - 50 countries. The playback will say "Viewable everywhere except for (2 - 50) countries". Most older songs would be blocked in Germany and Switzerland for GEMA protected artists during most of 2016.
===Blocked in a lot of countries===
Happens when the song you're using will get your video blocked in 51 - 249 countries. The playback will say "Blocked in (50 - 249) Countries. Depending on computer size, the top of the countries list may not be able to be seen if the song your using will get your video blocked in more than 170 countries. Though uncommon. Obscure artists such as Cabaret Voltaire and Fad Gadget are known for having these restrictions on most of their songs.
When a song says it's blocked on 249 countries, it cannot be used but it may be allowed to be covered. Examples are some songs by Jimi Hendrix and Bill Withers.
===Totally Blocked===
Usage of the song will result in your video getting muted (but viewable worldwide) or blocked entirely. The message would say "This song is not available for use in your YouTube videos. If you use this song, your video may be blocked or muted. Learn More". Examples Include Scatman John which the singles from his first album is blocked entirely due to some Scandinavian Neighbor Rivalry or other weird changes along with it's non singles blocked in 248 countries. The Ramones and a-ha with half songs Viewable worldwide and not available for use as being part of Warner Bros which although are not GEMA protected but have many different restrictions. Bryan Adams could be considered a GEMA protected approach to the situation. And some artists belonging to Sony record labels. One Direction (Columbia Records), Michael Jackson (Epic Records), and Justin Timberlake (RCA Records). Universal Music Group also has artists with such restrictions examples being The Weeknd (Republic), Bryan Adams (A&M), The Verve (Hut), etc. Merlin is also known for blocking videos using songs from artists such as Ace of Base, Radiohead, etc. While others are part of many different record labels. ex. David Guetta, Martin Garrix, etc. Others artists may have only one a few songs blocked. Example being Suicide, Elton John, etc. Keep in mind that songs that cannot be used may be allowed to be used again which is the case for Ed Sheeran's "Castle on the Hill". Any artist can have such restrictions; Including rather obscure artists such as Purity Ring. Some songs are blocked in all countries but only say Blocked in 249 Countries. A lot of song with those restrictions would have their songs blocked in Turkey when covering it ex. Eurythmics, Frank Sinatra, etc. Radiohead from 2017 - 2019 was notorious for having all the songs blocked during that time. In 2023, they can be used with very little hassle. Jimi Hendrix songs were extremely met with very strict policies from Not Available for Use or Blocked in 249 countries until eventually they would only be blocked in Russia. 
===Unlisted===
Some songs are not listed on music policies. While most of them would have a playback of being Viewable worldwide and would even allow you to monetize off of the video. Prince is hardly listed on the music policies yet anyone using his songs would get copyright strikes. The Beatles also had many of their songs unlisted (though the policies for their songs are completely random). Happens to any artist. ex. Depeche Mode, Calvin Harris, etc. One even mentions how Violator is blocked in 235 countries but Songs of Faith and Devotion are untouched. Prince and the Revolution had almost it's entire catalogue unlisted until after he passed away and was the most strict out of any artist. 
===Inconsistency===
Music policies aren't always right. For example, there was a Ryuichi Sakamoto song that says viewable worldwide although those who upload the song have the videos blocked in 5 countries. Quiet Riot also has a viewable worldwide restriction at the time but it's shown some videos claimed with the song being blocked in the United States. Tom Petty has a not available for use restriction but songs are still often unblocked even with the exact claim. Many artists like MGMT often have their songs blocked in Russia or Belarus and sometimes can be viewed worldwide. Aphrodite's Child song Aegean Sea is very often claimed as 2 different songs from different artists. 2Pac's song Changes is often claimed as Love Trump's Hate. The Caretaker and Xxtarlit has no copyright claims but will be claimed under a different artist as many of their songs use samples. Policies always change with each song so a song that may be completely fine to use may be completely blocked in the future and vice versa. 
==External Links==
https://www.youtube.com/music_policies
Category:History of YouTube