YouTube is raising the entry bar for its YouTube Partner Program (YPP), doubling the minimum watch time and Shorts view counts that new creators must meet before they can begin earning a share of advertising and subscription revenue.
In a company blog post, YouTube announced that new applicants will now need to accumulate 8,000 qualified watch hours on long-form content within the past 365 days, or 20 million qualified Shorts views within the past 90 days. Both figures represent a doubling of the previous thresholds. Creators who are already in the program but fall below the new minimums will not be removed.
Shorts revenue sharing to require 10 million views
Separately, YouTube is introducing a higher bar specifically for Shorts ad and subscription revenue sharing. Starting February 1, 2027, only channels that have reached 10 million qualified Shorts views in the preceding 90 days will be eligible to earn from Shorts monetization.
Channels that do not meet this threshold will remain in YPP and continue to generate revenue from long-form content. Shorts revenue sharing will automatically resume once a channel surpasses the 10 million view mark again.
New earning opportunities for smaller channels
For creators who fall below the 10 million Shorts view threshold, YouTube says it will introduce alternative ways to earn tied to specific milestones. These include:
- Bonuses for YouTube Shopping activity
- Incentives for securing brand deals
- Earnings boosts for starting and growing trends
Details on these programs have not yet been released.
Broader industry context
YouTube was among the first major platforms to popularise the model of requiring creators to meet minimum engagement thresholds before sharing revenue. In 2023, Spotify adopted a similar approach, announcing that tracks would need at least 1,000 streams in the prior 12 months to qualify for royalties, a move that drew criticism over the potential for future increases. YouTube’s latest adjustment demonstrates that such thresholds can indeed be raised over time.
