YouTube is rolling out a new feature that enables users to seamlessly integrate or “remix” music videos into their short-form videos, known as Shorts, as the platform continues to rival TikTok. With a vast library of official music videos unavailable on TikTok, YouTube is leveraging this advantage to enhance its short-form video capabilities.
This development is particularly significant following Universal Music Group’s decision to withdraw its song catalog from TikTok, depriving users of the ability to incorporate music from popular artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Ariana Grande into their videos.
Shorts creators now have access to four tools for remixing music videos on YouTube. The “Collab” tool allows users to showcase the music video alongside their own video, enabling scenarios like dancing along to choreography while the music video plays alongside. The “Green Screen” tool allows the music video to serve as the background for the Short, ideal for reaction videos where users respond to new music videos. The “Cut” tool permits users to extract a five-second clip from a music video and incorporate it into their short, while the “Sound” tool enables the use of only the audio from a music video.
To utilize this feature, users simply navigate to the desired music video, tap the “Remix” button, and choose from the available tools. However, it’s worth noting that not all music videos are eligible for remixing, as some artists or music labels may have opted out of this feature.
Sarah Ali, a senior director of product management at YouTube, emphasized the platform’s unique offering in a blog post, highlighting the ability to watch music videos on repeat, explore Shorts created by fellow fans, and discover deep cuts from favorite artists, all within the same ecosystem.
Ali underscored that Shorts provides capabilities not available on competing platforms like TikTok and Meta’s Reels, positioning YouTube as a frontrunner in the short-form video space.
This announcement comes on the heels of Google’s revelation that YouTube Shorts has surpassed 50 billion daily views, marking significant growth from the previously reported 30 billion daily views. Despite this progress, Shorts still trails behind Reels, which Meta disclosed garnered 140 billion daily views across its social networks. Nonetheless, YouTube Shorts remains in pursuit of TikTok, widely regarded as the leading short-form video platform.
