What do labels need to deliver to YouTube that publishers typically don’t?

Labels need to deliver References to YouTube, which are audio or video files used for Content ID matching. These references allow YouTube to identify and claim user-generated content that incorporates the label's copyrighted sound recordings or music videos. Publishers, on the other hand, primarily manage the composition (lyrics and melody) and typically don't deliver audio or video references for Content ID, as their rights are tied to the underlying musical work, not the specific recording. While labels and publishers both deliver Assets (the actual music files or videos), Metadata (information about the music), and Ownership information (who owns the rights), the specific requirement for "References" for Content ID matching is distinct to labels for their sound recording and music video rights.