Higher thresholds begin in 2027
YouTube is making it significantly harder for new creators to qualify for advertising and subscription revenue.
Beginning February 1, 2027, applicants to the YouTube Partner Program will need at least 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified watch hours during the previous year or 20 million qualified Shorts views within 90 days.
The current requirements are 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views, along with 1,000 subscribers. The new rules therefore double both viewing thresholds.
Creators already participating in the program will not have to qualify again. However, creators earning from the Shorts Creator Pool will need to maintain 10 million Shorts views within a rolling 90-day period to continue receiving that particular revenue.
Read the source: TechCrunch: YouTube raises creator monetization thresholds ↗
Creators need more than one income source
YouTube says the changes reflect the platform’s growth, including more than 200 billion daily Shorts views. The company is also expanding Premium Lite and says creators will receive a share of eligible subscription revenue.
For developing creators, the higher entry requirements mean it may take much longer to earn money, even while their work generates attention for YouTube. Creators should build direct connections with their audiences and consider multiple income sources—memberships, merchandise, sponsorships or other platforms—rather than relying entirely on one company’s changing rules.
Read the source: The Verge: New YouTube Partner Program requirements ↗
Sources and further reading
TechCrunch: YouTube raises creator monetization thresholds ↗