YouTube is rolling out the ability for users to incorporate or “remix” music videos directly into their short-form videos, also known as Shorts, as it continues to compete with TikTok. YouTube’s vast library of official music videos gives it a unique advantage in this arena.
The timing is particularly noteworthy following Universal Music Group’s recent decision to remove its song catalog from TikTok, which included popular artists like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande.
YouTube has introduced four tools for Shorts creators to remix a music video. These include the “Collab” tool which allows users to simultaneously display their video alongside the original music video – perfect for matching choreography. The “Green Screen” tool enables using the music video as a backdrop for reaction Shorts. The “Cut” tool provides the ability to integrate a five-second clip from a music video into a Short, while the “Sound” tool allows creators to use the soundtrack from a music video in their own Short.
To use the new feature, users go to the music video they wish to remix, tap the “Remix” button, and select one of the four tools. However, not all music videos are eligible for remixing, as artists or music labels may choose to opt-out.
“In one spot on YouTube, you can watch the music video on repeat, explore other Shorts created from the same song by fellow fans and relive moments by remixing your favorite artists’ deep catalog cuts,” wrote Sarah Ali, Senior Director of Product Management at YouTube, in a blog post.
According to Ali, this functionality provided by Shorts is not available on competitor platforms like TikTok and Meta’s Reels, giving YouTube a competitive edge.
The announcement comes a few months after Google reported that YouTube Shorts had achieved 70 billion daily views, a significant increase from the 50 billion daily views reported in February 2023. Despite this positive growth, Shorts’ daily views remain lower than its competitor, Reels, which reported 140 billion daily views across its two social networks last October.
Despite these developments, YouTube Shorts still trails TikTok, widely considered the leading platform for short-form videos.
