"Chown" stands for CHange OWNership.
Chowning allows us to move a video from one YouTube channel to another while keeping the URL the same, the views the same, and moving over the comments as well*! This process is handled by both Vevo Content Ops and YouTube.
*Please note for videos with a large number of comments, comments may migrate over a few days or weeks after the video does. This means the comments will "disappear" from the chowned video temporarily. Please see this support article for more info. (linked)
More FAQs can be found at the bottom of this article.
There are two types of CHOWN requests
- In Network chown = Vevo to Vevo: Moving a video from an ArtistVEVO channel to another ArtistVEVO channel. This is typical if an artist has changed their name and is now using a new ArtistVEVO channel, or if a video has been mistakenly gone live on the wrong Vevo channel and we want to save the views.
- Out of Network chown = Non-Vevo to Vevo: Moving a video from outside the Vevo network into the Vevo network. This is typical if an artist/label uploaded a video directly to an Official Artist Channel (OAC) but now need to move the video into Vevo's network.
Please note: Vevo does not move videos out of Vevo's network.
Process for In Network chowns vs Out of Network chowns
In network chowns (Vevo to Vevo):
1. Please submit the chown form https://ops.vevo.com/chown/
2. Sit tight while Vevo Content Ops handles the rest for you! :) We'll follow up when we have updates.
Out of network chowns (non-Vevo to Vevo/ OAC to VEVO/ Artist Channel to Vevo):
(Please read carefully as there are multiple important steps that must be completed correctly for successful out-of-network chowning).
1. Important first step: Before you submit the form, Vevo content ops will ask that you release your claim on the video in YouTube CMS. YouTube will not process the chown unless your claim is released. This step only applies to out-of-network chowns.
For more details about this final step, see this support article "Starting your Out of Network Chown" (linked)
2. Deliver the video to Backstage to the channel invalidvevo.
- Delivering to this channel, invalidvevo will ensure a new, duplicate video is not published. Do not worry about changing the channel name. Vevo content ops will handle changing the channel name and adding the URL later!
- Please ensure the metadata (description, title, thumbnail, territories etc) for the video you've delivered is correct. This metadata from Backstage will update to YouTube once the chown is complete, so make sure what's in Backstage matches what you want to appear on YouTube.
3. Please submit the chown form: https://ops.vevo.com/chown/
4. Content Ops will inform you once the chown is complete.
4. To add the Vevo watermark to the thumbnail of your newly-Vevo video: The Vevo watermark does not automatically appear on the thumbnail after an out-of-network chown. Update the thumbnail via Backstage to add the Vevo watermark, or simply send a reconcile update and check the "thumbnail" box to add the watermark with the current thumbnail.
Bulk chowns:
- If submitting a bulk request, all videos must have the same destination channel. If different destinations, please submit separate requests. We need the legal agreement with the different channel URLs.
- If you would like to chown multiple (15 or less) videos from an artist's Youtube channel to their Vevo channel please fill out the form for one of the videos and then once you receive the automatic approval email, reply with the rest of the URLs you wish to be moved.
- If You are chowning more than 15 videos to the same destination, please submit the chown request form for one of the videos, then reply to the approval email with a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet should have two columns, one with the video URLs that will be moving, and one with the corresponding video ISRC for each URL.
Chown FAQ
Can a request be rushed if the video needs to be moved urgently?
Yes, please flag your request as urgent and Vevo will work in conjunction with YouTube to get the video moved ASAP.
Will comments, views remain when a video is chowned?
Yes. The advantage of chowning is that views and comments are preserved, and the url does not change while the video moves channels.
Help! The comments have disappeared from my recently chowned video!?
This usually happens to videos with thousands of comments, so if the chown is for a priority artist, be sure to manage expectations. Please note that sometimes comments will move over a few days, or weeks after a video is moved. In the case that comments disappear, comments will take a max of two weeks to move/reappear after the chown. The comments will return. The comments cannot be rushed back, this is a limitation at the YouTube level.
Link: The Comments have disappeared from my recently chowned video
Will a chowned video appear as a newly published video when it is moved?
No, the publish date under the video on the YouTube player will remain the same. Subscribers will not be notified. Virtually no changes take effect on the video except for what channel the video is on.
How do I check if a video has moved?
A sure sign a video has been moved is if the Vevo watermark appears on the video. Feel free to also follow up on the chowning ticket with Content Ops.
Why does the YouTube video player display the OAC instead of the Vevo channel, even when the video is moved?
When an OAC is merged with its Vevo channel, the OAC will always show up on the YouTube player, regardless of whether or not the video is on the Vevo channel. The Vevo watermark on the Video is visible after a chown, this is the most accurate indicator that the video has moved.
Will a video still appear on the OAC homepage even though it is chowned?
If an OAC is merged with a Vevo channel - Yes the video will remain on the OAC homepage even though it is chowned. If the video is no longer on the OAC homepage after a chown - the channels may not be merged. Channel merging is handled by YouTube. If a content provider needs channel merging, advise them to contact their YouTube partner manager, or YouTube support.
How can the Vevo watermark be added to the thumbnail for a chowned video?
The Vevo watermark does not automatically appear on the thumbnail after a out-of-network chown. Update the thumbnail via Backstage to add the Vevo watermark!
My video was chowned and now the description has disappeared?
For out-of-network chowns: when you deliver the video to Backstage before the chown, please ensure all the metadata you want to appear on the video is input as well. Once the video is chowned, an update will be sent from Backstage, and if the metadata doesn't match, the metadata in Backstage will overwrite what's on YouTube.
Can a video that premiered be chowned?
Yes! There used to be a YouTube restriction where videos that had premiered on the OAC could not be chowned. This restriction no longer applies. A video that was a premiere, can now be moved to another a channel!
Can I move a video from a Vevo channel to an OAC?
No, once a video is in the Vevo network, it will not be moved out of the Vevo network.
Who can submit chown requests?
Only Content Providers can submit chown requests. We need the legal agreement to be signed by the Content Provider. Label reps, artists, or any other party should not complete these. Only the content owners (The Content Provider).
Can I submit bulk chowns?
Yes, please follow the instructions under the Bulk Chowns heading above.