YouTube announced sweeping changes to its creator monetization rules on Monday, raising entry requirements for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) while promising expanded earning opportunities for top performers.
New Thresholds Take Effect in 2027
Starting February 1, 2027, new channels seeking ad revenue share will need 8,000 watch hours in the past 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days — double the current requirements of 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. Creators already enrolled in YPP will keep their eligibility even if they fall short of the new benchmarks. YouTube VP of Creator Product Amjad Hanif said the change aims to ensure creators earn meaningful income rather than “a few cents” a month. Fan-funding features like Super Chat and channel memberships will keep their existing thresholds of 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours.
Shorts Get New Revenue Streams
The update is largely driven by Shorts, which now draws more than 200 billion daily views. YouTube is introducing new ad formats letting advertisers target five or fewer channels, with creators earning 45% of that revenue on top of Shorts Creator Pool payouts. Additional bonus programs tied to YouTube Shopping, brand deals, and “cultural trend activations” are also coming, though details remain limited.
YouTube is also expanding its ad-free Premium Lite tier to all countries where Premium is offered, adding another revenue pool for creators. The company says it has paid over $100 billion to creators, artists, and media companies over the past four years, and expects that figure to grow further as it pushes to concentrate rewards among its most active, high-performing creators.