How to Create Your First YouTube Music Channel as a Hausa Artist

The first time I filmed a backyard performance in Kano, the sound was rough, the phone kept overheating, and the artist almost gave up. His name was Sadiq from Zoo Road. He rapped in Hausa over a simple beat and the neighbours gathered. Two weeks later we helped him open a channel, upload one clean audio with a simple visualizer, and write a proper title and description. That single upload found its way to WhatsApp groups in Kaduna and Katsina. Views climbed, radio called, and a small Arewa fan base appeared from nowhere. Ba wani magic. It was clarity and the right steps.

This guide shows you those steps, clearly, and in a way that fits how we create and share music in the North. Whether you sing love ballads in Hausa, spit Arewa rap, or blend Afrobeats with traditional rhythms, you can set up a YouTube Music Channel that works for you. Sannu a hankali, and let’s build it.

What a “YouTube Music Channel” really means for a Hausa artist

On YouTube, you will meet three things that sound similar but are different.

1. A normal YouTube channel. This is the channel you create and control in YouTube Studio. You upload your music videos, lyric videos, live sessions, and shorts here.
2. Art Tracks and Topic channels on YouTube Music. When you deliver your audio through a distributor, YouTube auto-generates “Art Tracks” and collects them on a Topic page. Art Tracks are audio plus static artwork, created from your official metadata. (Google Help)
3. Official Artist Channel, OAC. This is a verified artist channel that pulls your uploads and your Art Tracks into one place and gives you a music note badge. You request this after meeting eligibility rules, often through your label or distributor. (Google Help)

Understanding the difference helps you plan. You can start today with a normal channel, then distribute your audio to YouTube Music, and upgrade to OAC when you qualify.

Step 1: Create the channel the right way

1.1 Use a Brand Account so you can add managers later

A Brand Account lets you add your producer, videographer, or manager without sharing your personal Gmail. In YouTube Studio, you can manage permissions and assign roles. This is safer and more professional for an artist or label. (Google Help)

1.2 Choose a clean channel name and handle

Pick a name that matches your artist name. Keep it short, clear, and consistent with your Instagram, TikTok, and Audiomack. You can set or change your handle in YouTube Studio under Customization, Profile, Handle. If the handle is taken, YouTube will suggest alternatives. (Google Help)

1.3 Add proper branding that fits Arewa music culture

You need three visuals at minimum.

• Banner image. Recommended 2560 x 1440 pixels. Minimum 2048 x 1152. Keep text inside the safe area so it does not get cut on mobile and TV. File size 6 MB or less. (Google Help)
• Profile icon. Use a square, high-resolution logo or artist photo. Keep it simple so it reads well at small sizes.
• Custom thumbnails for videos. Recommended 1280 x 720, under 2 MB, 16:9 ratio. (Google Help)

Write a short channel description in both English and Hausa. Mention your city, your style, and how often you release. Add links to Spotify, Apple Music, Audiomack, and your booking email.

Tip from experience. Use colours that reflect your identity. Fulani patterns, Arewa star, or fabric textures look great when used lightly. Kar ka cika hoton da rubutu. Keep it clean.

Step 2: Prepare your audio and artwork like a pro

Great songs suffer online because of small mistakes. Get these basics right.

• Audio master. Export a clean WAV master for your distributor. If you are uploading a music video, render your video with a recommended audio codec and sample rate for YouTube as listed in the official encoding settings guide. Keep levels clean and avoid clipping. (Google Help)
• Cover art. Aim for a square image, minimum 3000 x 3000 pixels for stores. Keep text readable. Avoid explicit or violent images unless you are using the correct metadata tags with your distributor.
• Metadata. Agree on artist name spelling in Hausa and English. Example, “Aliyu J-Town” not “Aliu J Town.” Keep song titles simple. Add ISRC and UPC where applicable.
• File names. Use a clear system. Example, ArtistName_SongTitle_WAV_44k24b.wav.

Little discipline here saves headaches later, especially with Content ID and duplicate uploads.

Step 3: Decide your route to upload songs to YouTube

You have two main routes. Most Hausa artists use both.

Route A: Upload to your channel directly

Use this for music videos, lyric videos, live sessions, or official audio with a simple visualizer. In YouTube Studio, click Create, Upload videos, and follow the steps. There is a clear guide for the upload process in YouTube Help. (Google Help)

When you upload, set these fields correctly:

• Title. “Artist Name – Song Title (Official Video)” or “(Official Audio).”
• Description. First two lines should carry a hook and credits. Add Hausa lyrics or translation. Add streaming links and your booking contact.
• Tags. Include Hausa artist, Arewa music, city names, language, and genre.
• Thumbnail. 1280 x 720 as noted above. (Google Help)
• Playlist. Add to an Album or Singles playlist for order and autoplay.
• End screens and cards. Point viewers to your newest release and to subscribe.

Route B: Deliver audio to YouTube Music through a distributor

To appear on YouTube Music with Art Tracks, you need a music services partner. YouTube maintains a list of verified Music Aggregators that can deliver your releases to YouTube Music and other stores. Examples include global distributors and regional partners. Pick one and follow their rules for audio, artwork, and metadata. (Google Help)

Once delivered, YouTube creates Art Tracks for your songs and places them on a Topic page. This is automatic and based on your ISRC and other metadata. (Google Help)

Why use a distributor even if you can upload videos yourself

• Art Tracks give you proper catalog presence inside YouTube Music.
• Your distributor can help manage rights and revenue and can support your Official Artist Channel application when you qualify. (Google Help)

Step 4: Upgrade to an Official Artist Channel when ready

After you have a channel you control, plus official releases on YouTube Music, you can request an Official Artist Channel. Eligibility is defined in YouTube’s help pages and is usually handled through your label or distributor. Benefits include a music note badge, organized discography, album playlists, and unified analytics. (Google Help)

This step is not day one. Focus on releasing and consistency first. When your catalog looks tidy, apply through your distributor.

Step 5: Make your first upload count

Here is a simple launch checklist for an Arewa artist.

1. Plan the assets
   • Final audio master and video export.
   • Thumbnail at 1280 x 720. Keep the artist face or clear typography. (Google Help)
   • One square cover image for cross-platform sharing.
2. Write a clean title and description
   • Title example. “Maryam Arewa – Labari Na (Official Video).”
   • Description first lines. One sentence that sells the song’s mood, then credits.
   • Include Hausa lyrics or a short translation. Fans appreciate this.
3. Use playlists
   • Create “Singles,” “Live from Kano,” “Behind the Scenes.”
   • Playlists help autoplay your own tracks.
4. Add chapters if the video is long
   • For live sessions or documentaries, chapters make it easier to navigate.
5. Pin a comment
   • Welcome fans in Hausa and English. Drop links and a question to spark replies.
6. Share thoughtfully
   • WhatsApp broadcast is powerful in the North. Share to community groups with context, not spam.
   • Tag relevant pages in Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Bauchi, Sokoto, and college communities.
7. Check analytics after 48 hours
   • Look at reach, thumbnails CTR, average view duration. Adjust your next upload based on what you learn.

Step 6: Brand your channel with intention

Branding is not decoration. It signals trust.

• Banner. Use the recommended 2560 x 1440 size and keep the main text in the safe area so it reads well on mobile and TV. (Google Help)
• About tab. Write a short bio in English and Hausa. Include booking and management contacts.
• Upload defaults. In YouTube Studio settings, set default description blocks for credits, hashtags, and links, so you do not type them every time. (Google Help)
• Consistent visuals. Use the same colour family, fonts, and logo across thumbnails. One look, one identity.

Tip. In Arewa, modest styling reads as honest and serious. Clean outfits, calm colours, confident posture. Ka tuna, fans judge with the eyes first.

Step 7: Monetization and rights in Nigeria

You can monetize through the YouTube Partner Program once you meet the thresholds. There are two levels. The expanded YPP lets you access fan funding features at lower requirements, and standard YPP gives ad revenue sharing at the higher threshold. YouTube documents these pathways, and Nigeria is in the expansion list. Read the official details and choose your path as you grow. (Google Help)

About rights and Content ID

Content ID is YouTube’s system that identifies copyrighted audio. Music partners manage claims through this system. If your song is delivered to YouTube Music by a distributor, they usually manage Content ID on your behalf and help avoid conflicts. This is one big reason to use a recognized distributor. (Google Help)

Practical advice

• Do not upload beats or songs you do not own without written permission.
• Keep producer agreements and split sheets.
• If a video gets a claim for your own song, contact your distributor with the link and ISRC. They can fix metadata conflicts.

Step 8: A simple Arewa growth playbook

This is how I guide new Hausa artists in Kano and Abuja.

• Release cadence. One main song or music video every 4 to 6 weeks, with Shorts and behind-the-scenes in between.
• Shorts. Post hooks, dance clips, Hausa lyrics on screen, or quick studio moments. Shorts can introduce you to new viewers quickly.
• Local collaborations. Feature young videographers from Kaduna, dancers from Jos, or Kannywood faces for cameos.
• Community posts. Use Hausa and English. Ask fans to vote on your next single.
• Radio and street teams. Send clean edits to Arewa radio, use QR codes on posters that point to your channel.
• Live sessions. Film in familiar settings, from Unguwa Uku to Sabon Gari. People love to see places they know.
• Consistency. Set a schedule and keep it.

Case study: “Maryam Arewa” and her first 90 days

Maryam is a fictional example based on real patterns. She sings soft Hausa pop, lives in Katsina, and works with a friend who produces on a basic laptop.

Week 1 to 2

• Create a Brand Account channel and set the handle to @MaryamArewaMusic. (Google Help)
• Upload a clean banner at 2560 x 1440 with simple text and a subtle Arewa motif. (Google Help)
• Write a bilingual channel description and add links.
• Record a one-take live session in a neat courtyard. Use a lavalier mic and daylight.

Week 3

• Upload the live session as “Maryam Arewa – Zuciya Ta (Live Session).”
• Set a custom thumbnail at 1280 x 720 with a close face crop. (Google Help)
• Share the link to local WhatsApp groups with a short Hausa note and a thank-you.

Week 4 to 5

• Distribute the studio version of “Zuciya Ta” through a verified aggregator so it appears on YouTube Music as an Art Track. (Google Help)
• On release day, post a lyric video to her channel and pin a comment linking to the Art Track.

Week 6 to 8

• Drop a behind-the-scenes vlog and two Shorts that highlight the hook.
• Create a “Singles” playlist to help autoplay her songs.

Week 9 to 12

• Release a second single through the distributor.
• Upload an official video to the channel on the same day.
• Start planning for OAC once she has a few official releases live and a consistent channel presence. (Google Help)

By day 90, Maryam has three uploads on her channel, two Art Tracks on YouTube Music, a neat banner, and a small, loyal Arewa audience that comments in Hausa and shares to cousins in Abuja. This foundation is enough to grow slowly and aim for monetization when the time is right. (Google Help)

Expert and fan quotes

“Northern audiences value story and humility. Keep your visuals tidy, keep your tone respectful, and deliver on schedule.”
— Musa Dikko, Kaduna-based music publicist

“Ina son in ji Hausa a cikin waƙa amma kuma in ga subtitles. It helps me share with friends who do not understand.”
— Maryam Zainab, fan in Katsina

“Most new artists jump to paid ads too early. Fix your thumbnails, titles, and descriptions first, then collaborate with creators in Kano and Jos.”
— Ibrahim “IBK” Bello, YouTube strategist

Actionable checklist for your next upload

• Pick a short, clean channel handle that matches your name. (Google Help)
• Use the correct banner and thumbnail sizes. (Google Help)
• Set upload defaults in YouTube Studio for credits and links. (Google Help)
• Deliver your audio through a verified aggregator to reach YouTube Music. (Google Help)
• Plan titles, descriptions, and playlists before release.
• Post Shorts around your hook.
• Keep learning from your analytics and adjust.

Frequently asked questions

Final words and call to action

Ku duba, this is your turn. Open the channel, brand it clean, and release on a steady schedule. If you have questions, drop them in the comments. Tell us your city, your sub-genre, and your next release date. Share this with an Arewa artist who needs a simple roadmap. Allah ya bada sa’a.

Sources and further reading

• Manage your channel branding and banner guidelines. (Google Help)
• Custom thumbnail size and rules. (Google Help)
• Upload videos in YouTube Studio. (Google Help)
• Music Aggregators list for YouTube Music delivery. (Google Help)
• What is an Art Track. (Google Help)
• How to upgrade to an Official Artist Channel. (Google Help)
• Official Artist Channel overview and eligibility. (Google Help)
• YouTube Partner Program pathways and expansion to Nigeria. (Google Help)
• Recommended upload encoding settings. (Google Help)
• Content ID overview for music partners. (Google Help)