YouTube has released an eraser tool update that makes it easy to remove copyrighted music from videos without disturbing the remaining audio, like dialogue and sound effects. The Erase Song update uses an AI algorithm to detect and remove the offending material, making it more accurate than what had previously been available, as well as easier. Creators whose material has Content ID claims can now excise the objectionable material without having to manually edit and upload a new video, thereby avoiding potential restrictions on where the video is viewable or whether it can be monetized.

Previous creator challenges in dealing with copyrighted music claims required traditional editing methods, which “often involved removing entire video segments or manually muting sections,” disrupting the content flow, Tech Times points out, calling it “the solution you’ve been waiting to see.”

YouTube said “it had been testing the eraser tool for a while, but it wasn’t as accurate in removing a copyrighted song,” writes TechCrunch, citing a “sneak peek” video with instructions. According to The Verge, the beta version of the tool “wasn’t always accurate.”

On a support page with instructions on how to use the new tool, YouTube notes, however, that the AI-powered version can make mistakes too, sometimes failing to remove only the intended song.

“This edit might not work if the song is hard to remove. If this tool doesn’t successfully remove the claim on a video, you can try other editing options, such as muting all sound in the claimed segments or trimming out the claimed segments,” YouTube writes.

Tech Times calls the updated tool “impressively accurate” and says it “empowers creators with greater control over their content.”

After successfully cleaning up your video using the eraser tool, “YouTube automatically removes the Content ID claim,” writes Tech Times, noting the claim flag is automatically “triggered by the platform’s system when it detects copyrighted material in uploaded clips.”

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan welcomed the update, posting on X, “Good news, creators: our updated Erase Song tool helps you easily remove copyright-claimed music from your video (while leaving the rest of your audio intact).”