In a move that further blurs the lines between short-form video platforms, YouTube is introducing a feature that allows users to incorporate or "remix" a music video into their shorts. This development comes as the company continues to challenge TikTok’s dominance in the short-form video space.
A Competitive Advantage
YouTube’s vast library of official music videos gives it an edge over rival platforms like TikTok, which had previously removed popular artists’ song catalogs from its platform. Universal Music Group pulled their song catalog from TikTok a few weeks ago, removing the ability for users to add music from artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Ariana Grande in their videos.
Four Tools for Remixing Music Videos
When remixing a music video on YouTube Shorts, creators have four tools at their disposal:
1. Collab Tool
The Collab tool allows you to display the music video right alongside your own video. For instance, you can create a Short where you are dancing along to the choreography of a music video while having the music video play alongside your own.
2. Green Screen Tool
The Green Screen tool lets you use the music video as the background to your Short. This format could be used for reaction videos. Many people upload videos of them reacting to a new music video for the first time, and this format makes that process easier.
3. Cut Tool
The Cut tool allows you to take a five-second clip of a music video and add it to your short. This feature is particularly useful when creating shorter-form content that focuses on specific moments from the original music video.
4. Sound Tool
The Sound tool lets creators take just the sound from a music video and use it in their Short. This feature enables creators to focus solely on the audio aspect of the music video, which can be especially useful for creating reaction videos or other types of content that rely heavily on audio cues.
Getting Started with Music Video Remixing
To get started with the music video remixing feature, you need to go to the music video you want to remix into a Short and tap the "Remix" button. You’ll then be presented with options to choose from one of the four tools mentioned above.
Important Note
It’s worth noting that not all music videos can be remixed using this feature. YouTube notes that in some cases, an artist or music label may have opted out of letting Shorts creators remix their music videos.
A Competitive Advantage Over Rivals
In a blog post announcing the feature, Sarah Ali, Senior Director of Product Management at YouTube, wrote:
"On YouTube, you can watch the music video on repeat, check out other Shorts that have been created from the same song by fellow fans, and discover deep catalog cuts from your favorite artists and relive those moments by remixing them as your own. All of that can happen in one place and it’s only on YouTube."
Ali highlights that Shorts is offering a capability that isn’t available on rival products like TikTok and Meta’s Reels, giving it an advantage over its competitors.
Healthy Growth for YouTube Shorts
Today’s announcement comes a few months after Google revealed that YouTube Shorts has crossed 70 billion daily views. This growth is impressive, especially considering the platform previously reported 50 billion daily views back in February 2023.
Although daily views on Shorts still lag behind Reels, which garnered 140 billion daily views across both social networks last October, this development is a significant step forward for YouTube’s short-form video ambitions.
Chasing TikTok’s Dominance
YouTube Shorts is still chasing TikTok, which remains arguably the most popular short-form video platform. With this new feature, however, YouTube is narrowing the gap between itself and its rival.
Related Topics
- Apps: A comprehensive guide to the latest app releases and updates.
- Social: The latest news and trends in social media platforms.
- TikTok: In-depth coverage of TikTok’s features, updates, and impact on the short-form video space.
- YouTube: Everything you need to know about YouTube’s features, updates, and strategies for creators.
Stay Up-to-Date with TechCrunch
Don’t miss out on the latest tech news and trends. Follow TechCrunch on social media or subscribe to our newsletters for exclusive coverage of the world’s top startups, apps, and social platforms.