YouTube just rolled out a new AI-powered music-making tool designed specifically for Shorts creators. The platform is giving select users early access to a set of experimental features that make it easier to create original soundtracks for short-form content.
How the tool works
YouTube is introducing two new features: Dream Track and Music AI tools.
Dream Track lets creators generate a 30-second original track in the voice and style of major artists like Charli XCX, John Legend and T-Pain.
Music AI tools help creators generate instrumental backing tracks with simple text prompts like “hip hop beat with a relaxing vibe” or “80s synth pop for cooking video.”
Both tools are directly integrated into the Shorts creation workflow, so you don’t need any external software or editing tools. You can generate, test and publish — all within YouTube.
Licensing issues with YouTube videos
Music licensing is one of the biggest friction points for creators. YouTube’s AI tools aim to eliminate that issue by giving you free tracks built into the platform that won’t receive copyright strikes.
It also could make production faster. Instead of spending 20 minutes digging through audio libraries or re-editing a clip to fit a trending sound, you can prompt YouTube’s AI and have a track ready in seconds.
Public access coming up
YouTube hasn’t opened up public access yet, but creators can sign up for experiments and features through YouTube’s Creator Research program.
In the meantime, it’s a good idea to start brainstorming short-form content where original music could help you stand out. Think about concepts that focus on a specific mood or vibe, since the AI tools work best with clear, descriptive prompts. You’ll also want to keep your Shorts under 30 seconds to match Dream Track’s current format.
When the feature rolls out more widely, you’ll already have a strategy ready to plug in and use.