> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.upriver.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Channel Relationships

> How Upriver classifies the relationship between a creator and their channels

Creators often have multiple channels — across platforms or even within the same platform. Not all of these channels are "theirs" in the same way. The `channel_relationship` field tells you how a channel relates to the creator it's listed under.

The field is only present on non-primary channels. If it's absent, the channel is the creator's own.

***

## Values

| Value        | Meaning                                                                                                                                             |
| ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `"attached"` | **Attached.** A separate channel associated with the creator — through their company, a branded property, or a project — but with its own identity. |
| `"group"`    | **Group.** A shared channel that multiple creators participate in, either as co-owners or as members.                                               |

<Info>
  Most channels won't have this field. When `channel_relationship` is absent, the channel is the creator's own — their primary presence on that platform.
</Info>

### Primary vs. Attached

A creator can have multiple channels with different names and still be the primary identity behind all of them. The distinction isn't about branding — it's about whether the channel *is* the creator or is something separate that's associated with them.

**Primary** (field absent): The creator is the identity behind the channel, even if the channel has its own name. Alexandra Cooper hosts the interview show Call Her Daddy — the channel *is* her, just branded as a show. Same with Caleb Pressley's Sundae Conversation and Sonny Side's Best Ever Food Review Show. These all appear as primary channels because the creator is the face, the host, and the sole operator.

**Attached**: The channel has its own independent existence — it may have a different host, belong to the creator's company rather than to the creator personally, or represent a standalone project.

Austin Evans is a tech reviewer on YouTube. He also founded Overclock Media, a company that runs @Denki — a separate tech channel with its own host and branding. Austin's personal accounts are his primary channels. Denki is `"attached"` because it's associated with Austin at the company level, but isn't *his* channel:

```jsonc Austin Evans theme={null}
{
  "channels": [
    // Austin's own accounts — no channel_relationship field
    { "platform": "youtube", "handle": "@austinevans" },
    { "platform": "instagram", "handle": "@austinevans" },
    { "platform": "twitter", "handle": "@austinnotduncan" },
    // Company channel — associated with Austin, but not his personal account
    {
      "platform": "youtube",
      "handle": "@Denki",
      "channel_relationship": "attached"
    }
  ]
}
```

Other examples: @TheStudio is `"attached"` on MKBHD's profile (a production channel run by Marques Brownlee's team, not his personal account), and @doinitmovie is `"attached"` on Lilly Singh's profile (a movie's Instagram, not Lilly's own).

### Group

The channel is shared by multiple creators. No single creator owns it alone.

Sam Golbach and Colby Brock are individual creators who also run a joint exploration channel, @samandcolby. The joint channel appears on both of their individual profiles as `"group"`. It also exists as its own creator entity, where it's primary:

<CodeGroup>
  ```jsonc Sam Golbach theme={null}
  {
    "channels": [
      // Sam's own accounts — primary
      { "platform": "youtube", "handle": "@SamGolbach" },
      { "platform": "instagram", "handle": "@samgolbach" },
      { "platform": "tiktok", "handle": "@samgolbach" },
      // Joint channel — Sam is one of the creators
      {
        "platform": "youtube",
        "handle": "@samandcolby",
        "channel_relationship": "group"
      }
    ]
  }
  ```

  ```jsonc Colby Brock theme={null}
  {
    "channels": [
      // Colby's own accounts — primary
      { "platform": "youtube", "handle": "@ColbyBrock" },
      { "platform": "instagram", "handle": "@colbybrock" },
      { "platform": "tiktok", "handle": "@colbybrock" },
      // Same joint channel — Colby is the other creator
      {
        "platform": "youtube",
        "handle": "@samandcolby",
        "channel_relationship": "group"
      }
    ]
  }
  ```

  ```jsonc Sam and Colby theme={null}
  {
    "channels": [
      // On its own creator profile, the joint channel is primary
      { "platform": "youtube", "handle": "@samandcolby" },
      { "platform": "instagram", "handle": "@samandcolby" }
    ]
  }
  ```
</CodeGroup>

Other examples: @WineAboutItPodcast is `"group"` on Valkyrae's profile (co-hosted show), and @TheYardPodcast is `"group"` on Slimecicle's profile (group show, one member).

Relationships can span platforms. A creator's primary channel might be on YouTube while an attached or group channel is on TikTok or Instagram.

***

## Filtering to Primary Channels

To get only a creator's "main" channels, filter out any channel where `channel_relationship` is present:

```python theme={null}
primary_channels = [
    ch for ch in creator["channels"]
    if ch.get("channel_relationship") is None
]
```

Each channel has its own `subscriber_count`, `display_name`, and [`engagement_metrics`](/metrics) regardless of relationship type. The `display_name` reflects the channel itself (e.g., "Denki"), not the parent creator's name.