diff --git a/docs/config.rst b/docs/config.rst
index adb05693..7a9736e0 100644
--- a/docs/config.rst
+++ b/docs/config.rst
@@ -250,8 +250,6 @@ subtitles
 video_tags
 ''''''''''
 .. autoclass:: ytdl_sub.plugins.video_tags.VideoTagsOptions()
-  :members:
-  :exclude-members: partial_validate
 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/src/ytdl_sub/plugins/video_tags.py b/src/ytdl_sub/plugins/video_tags.py
index 07b57e07..ebc4607d 100644
--- a/src/ytdl_sub/plugins/video_tags.py
+++ b/src/ytdl_sub/plugins/video_tags.py
@@ -7,8 +7,11 @@ from ytdl_sub.entries.entry import Entry
 from ytdl_sub.plugins.plugin import Plugin
 from ytdl_sub.utils.ffmpeg import add_ffmpeg_metadata_key_values
 from ytdl_sub.utils.file_handler import FileMetadata
+from ytdl_sub.utils.logger import Logger
 from ytdl_sub.validators.string_formatter_validators import DictFormatterValidator
 
+logger = Logger.get("video_tags")
+
 
 class VideoTagsOptions(OptionsDictValidator):
     """
@@ -21,10 +24,9 @@ class VideoTagsOptions(OptionsDictValidator):
        presets:
          my_example_preset:
            video_tags:
-             tags:
-               title: "{title}"
-               date: "{upload_date}"
-               description: "{description}"
+             title: "{title}"
+             date: "{upload_date}"
+             description: "{description}"
     """
 
     _optional_keys = {"tags"}
@@ -41,12 +43,12 @@ class VideoTagsOptions(OptionsDictValidator):
 
     def __init__(self, name, value):
         super().__init__(name, value)
-        old_tags = self._validate_key(key="tags", validator=DictFormatterValidator, default={})
 
         new_tags_dict: Dict[str, Any] = copy.deepcopy(value)
-        new_tags_dict.pop("tags", None)
+        old_tags_dict = new_tags_dict.pop("tags", {})
 
-        self._tags = DictFormatterValidator(name=name, value=dict(old_tags._dict, **new_tags_dict))
+        self._is_old_format = len(old_tags_dict) > 0
+        self._tags = DictFormatterValidator(name=name, value=dict(old_tags_dict, **new_tags_dict))
 
     @property
     def tags(self) -> DictFormatterValidator:
@@ -63,6 +65,13 @@ class VideoTagsPlugin(Plugin[VideoTagsOptions]):
         """
         Tags the entry's audio file using values defined in the metadata options
         """
+        # pylint: disable=protected-access
+        if self.plugin_options._is_old_format:
+            logger.warning(
+                "video_tags.tags is now deprecated. Place your tags directly under video_tags "
+                "instead. The old format will be removed in October of 2023."
+            )
+
         tags_to_write: Dict[str, str] = {}
         for tag_name, tag_formatter in self.plugin_options.tags.dict.items():
             tag_value = self.overrides.apply_formatter(formatter=tag_formatter, entry=entry)
diff --git a/tests/e2e/youtube/test_video.py b/tests/e2e/youtube/test_video.py
index 3219692d..7916eab4 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/youtube/test_video.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/youtube/test_video.py
@@ -7,6 +7,32 @@ from expected_transaction_log import assert_transaction_log_matches
 from ytdl_sub.subscriptions.subscription import Subscription
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def single_video_preset_dict_old_video_tags_format(output_directory):
+    return {
+        "preset": "music_video",
+        "download": {"url": "https://youtube.com/watch?v=HKTNxEqsN3Q"},
+        # override the output directory with our fixture-generated dir
+        "output_options": {
+            "output_directory": output_directory,
+            "maintain_download_archive": False,
+        },
+        # embed thumb into the video
+        "embed_thumbnail": True,
+        # download the worst format so it is fast
+        "ytdl_options": {
+            "format": "worst[ext=mp4]",
+        },
+        # also test video tags
+        "video_tags": {
+            "tags": {
+                "title": "{title}",
+            }
+        },
+        "overrides": {"artist": "JMC"},
+    }
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def single_video_preset_dict(output_directory):
     return {
@@ -25,9 +51,7 @@ def single_video_preset_dict(output_directory):
         },
         # also test video tags
         "video_tags": {
-            "tags": {
-                "title": "{title}",
-            }
+            "title": "{title}",
         },
         "overrides": {"artist": "JMC"},
     }
@@ -71,6 +95,25 @@ def single_video_preset_dict_dl_args(single_video_preset_dict):
 
 
 class TestYoutubeVideo:
+    def test_single_video_old_video_tags_format_download(
+        self,
+        music_video_config,
+        single_video_preset_dict_old_video_tags_format,
+        output_directory,
+    ):
+        single_video_subscription = Subscription.from_dict(
+            config=music_video_config,
+            preset_name="music_video_single_video_test",
+            preset_dict=single_video_preset_dict_old_video_tags_format,
+        )
+
+        transaction_log = single_video_subscription.download(dry_run=True)
+        assert_transaction_log_matches(
+            output_directory=output_directory,
+            transaction_log=transaction_log,
+            transaction_log_summary_file_name="youtube/test_video.txt",
+        )
+
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("dry_run", [True, False])
     def test_single_video_download(
         self,