YouTube Shorts monetization conditions: Open at 500 people and open at 1,000 people

When looking into shorts monetization, most people only remember the number 1,000 subscribers. However, YouTube has two doors, and the one that opens to streamers first is the 500-person door. This article summarizes the exact requirements of the two doors, the order in which advertising revenue is actually divided into your share, and what will change from February 1, 2027, using YouTube's official document numbers only.

What exactly do you have to overcome to make money with shorts?

Go through the two steps in order. The fan sponsorship function opens at 500 subscribers, and shorts advertising revenue distribution begins at 1,000 subscribers.

Both steps are within YouTube Partner Program (YPP). The application itself can be done at a lower level first, and as more conditions are met, higher level functions are added.

There are three more conditions common to both steps. You must have two-step verification turned on, no active Community Guidelines strikes, and a connected AdSense for YouTube account. If you meet the required number and are still blocked, it's usually one of these three things.

What opens first at 500 subscribers?

Opens fan support features including membership and Super Thanks. This is what YouTube calls the Expanded Partner Program], and the requirements are 500 subscribers, 3 valid uploads of public videos in the last 90 days, and 3,000 hours of valid watch time in the last 12 months or 3 million valid shorts views in the last 90 days.

There is a reason why this step is especially meaningful for those who broadcast on Czizyk or SOOP. This is because we have viewers who are already familiar with Done, Star Balloons, and Cheese. Advertising revenue comes only when the number of views accumulates, but sponsorship is an immediate amount even if the number of people is small. Shorts serve as a conduit to bring those people to your YouTube channel.

Level 1 Fan Sponsorship3,000

Level 2 Ad Revenue4,000

New applications for 20278,000

The watch time path favors long-form channels. If you are editing a broadcast replay and uploading it in long form, this is faster. If you are only uploading shorts, you need to look at the view count path. How to divide the long form and shorts is explained separately in Streamer YouTube Operation Instructions.

Which number of views is used for the requirement?

Valid number of views. It is not the number of views that appears large on the first screen of the dashboard.

Starting March 31, 2025, shorts views will be counted as the number of times the video is played or started playing again, and there is no minimum viewing time that must be met. Subsequently, the existing metric that counted views was renamed to Valid Views. YouTube clarified that this change has no direct impact on YPP eligibility or shorts ad revenue sharing.

What this means in practice is that just because a screen has 3 million views does not mean it has met the 3 million requirement. The difference between the two numbers varies from channel to channel, and the more people watch a clip in the first second, the bigger it gets. Here we have a situation where the number of views has increased but the requirements remain the same.

So what you need to look at when inspecting a clip also changes. Views show whether the thumbnail and front page grabbed a person, and active views show whether the person stayed. In the clip where the two separate, the problem is not in the front but in the back. The difference in this gap depending on where and how it is posted is covered in Made shorts, where should I post them to get views? .

In what order are advertising revenues divided?

Music licensing fees are first subtracted from the revenue tied to qualified views, the remaining amount is allocated to the creator pool, and then 45% of that is paid out to creators.

The expression in the YouTube Shorts Monetization Policy document is as follows. If you write one music track, “half of the revenue associated with the eligible views of that video will be allocated to the creator pool, and the other half will be music licensing fees.” With two, “one-third is allocated to the creator pool and the remaining two-thirds are music licensing fees.” And “monetized creators will be paid 45% of their allocated revenue, regardless of whether their music is used or not.”

If you combine these three sentences into one, you get the calculation formula.

Creator Actual Earnings = (Revenue linked to Qualified Views) x Pool Allocation Ratio x 45%

Pool Allocation Ratio
0 music songs → 1 → 1 x 45% = 45.0%
1 piece of music → 1/2 → 0.5 x 45% = 22.5%
2 pieces of music → 1/3 → 0.33 x 45% = 15.0%

0 music songs45

1 piece of music22.5

2 pieces of music15

Does removing the music double the real number?

If the number of valid views is the same, then yes. Subtract one piece of music and 22.5% becomes 45%.

This is a difficult choice for regular editing channels. Editing without background sound is empty. However, the situation is different for broadcast clips. The streamer's voice, the timing of viewers' laughter, and the sounds made in the game themselves are content. Begeum is a nice decoration to have, not a material you can't do without.

There is an even bigger risk here. YouTube states in the 3-minute Shorts article "Shorts videos exceeding 1 minute in length and with any type of active copyright infringement complaint, including a direct claim, will be blocked from YouTube globally." If you're blocked, it won't be played, recommended, or monetized.

A 90-second clip containing the song played on air exactly satisfies this condition. It is longer than 1 minute and contains sound that could be claimed. What music is played and where is summarized in Broadcast Replay Copyright].

One practical standard when determining clip length. End sections containing sound within 60 seconds, and leave only the original sound for clips longer than 60 seconds. Length and beat are not issues that can be determined separately, but must be decided together.

The number of views for the shorts is 10 million. How much does that translate into broadcast?

This is a number that must be filled within 90 days, so it is quicker to calculate backwards from the number of uploads.

90 days = approximately 12.9 weeks
Total uploads when there are n weekly uploads = 12.9 x n

Average number of valid views required per episode = 10,000,000 / (12.9 x n)

If you insert numbers into this equation, you get something like this: The table below is not statistics, but arithmetic that solves the above equation.

When you look at the numbers, your opinion is divided. If a channel consistently averages 50,000 views per episode, the view count path is realistic. Otherwise, the watch time path is fast. The average here is not a single clip, but the average of all uploads, so it is a much higher standard than you might think.

However, if you recklessly increase the number of episodes, you will hit another wall. If you keep pulling out similar clips from the same broadcast, the channel's monetization policy gets closer to mass-produced content. This boundary line was organized separately in AI-edited broadcast clip, line taken during monetization review.

How much will the shorts ultimately make?

YouTube does not disclose the unit price per view. The only thing that has been confirmed is the structure, and the unit price varies depending on the channel.

So, most calculations that take other people's channel numbers and substitute them into your own are wrong. Advertising prices vary depending on viewer country, advertiser demand, and content topic. The only thing that's certain is the numbers stamped on my studio earnings report.

As far as calculations are concerned, the equations are simple.

Expected monthly revenue = (monthly effective views / 1,000) x (my actual revenue per 1,000 views)

My actual earnings per 1,000 views are in YouTube Studio
→ Monetization tab → Check in profit report

The important thing is not to borrow the right-hand side of this equation from others. When two months' worth of actual data is accumulated, the value of my channel comes out, and from then on, calculating the target number of views becomes meaningful. Until then, the goal is to achieve requirements and not predict profits.

What will change from February 1, 2027?

The criteria for new channels will be doubled. Channels already on YPP will not be affected.

The new standard revealed by YouTube's official blog is 8,000 hours of valid viewing time in the last 365 days or 20 million valid views of shorts in the last 90 days. The 1,000 subscriber requirement remains the same. The same announcement said the subscription criteria for fan sponsorships and shopping products would not change.

Level 1 Fan Sponsorship300

Level 2 ad revenue1,000

New applications for 20272,000

The implications of this announcement for those currently channeling are clear. If you are approved by January 31, 2027, the existing criteria will apply. Conversely, if you plan to start now and apply two years from now, you should plan for 8,000 hours. Counting back the remaining period will tell you what to do now.

What should I do now?

First, determine what stage your channel is at and target only one nearby door.

1️⃣ Check where you are: In the Monetization tab of YouTube Studio, enter three numbers: Subscribers, Last 12 Months Valid View Time, Last 90 Days Valid Shorts Views. You should look at the number of active views, not the number of views on screen.

2️⃣ Choose the closest door: Compare the three numbers against 500 and 1,000 people, and target the one with the shortest remaining distance. If you aim for both doors at the same time, your upload plan will be shaken.

3️⃣ Choose a route: If you can post long forms, go for the view time route, and if you only post shorts, go for the view count route. Once you have chosen the view count route, set your per-episode goal using the inversion table above.

4️⃣ Clear any blocking conditions first: Clear three things first: 2-Step Verification, Active Community Guidelines Violation Warning, and AdSense Connection. If you fill in the numbers and get stuck here, you'll just waste your time.

5️⃣ Establishing music rules: First, establish a rule not to include sound sources in clips longer than 60 seconds. It is difficult to fix later because it is a point where both the mistake reception rate and the risk of blocking occur.

If the repetitive task of selecting clip candidates from broadcast replays and adding subtitles and titles is a bottleneck, ClipSpray receives the entire replay of Chzzk and SOOP and selects candidates based on chat and Done reactions as signals. A timeline report explains which section was selected and why.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make nothing if I don’t have 1,000 subscribers?

No. Channel membership, Super Chat, Super Thanks, Jewels and Gifts, and YouTube Shopping will be opened first if you have 500 subscribers, 3 valid uploads of public videos in the last 90 days, 3,000 hours of valid viewing time in the last 12 months, or 3 million valid shorts views in the last 90 days. Advertising revenue distribution is at the 1,000-person level.

Is 10 million shorts views the number that appears on the dashboard?

No. What is used for the requirement is the number of valid views. Starting March 31, 2025, Shorts Views will be counted as the number of times a video is played or started to play again, the minimum watch time requirement will be removed, and the existing metric that counted views will be renamed to Valid Views.

How much do you make with a pair of shorts?

YouTube does not disclose the unit price per view. Only the structure is confirmed. Of the revenue linked to valid views, 45% of the share allocated to the creator pool is paid to creators, and if music is written, licensing fees are deducted first before allocation. You should check your YouTube Studio Revenue Report to see your channel's actual unit cost.

Can you really double your profits if you don't add music?

For the same number of valid views, the amount allocated to the creator pool is doubled. This is because when you write a piece of music, half of the revenue goes toward music licensing fees and only the other half is allocated to the pool. Broadcast clips are primarily comprised of voices and on-site sounds, so it is easy to leave out the music.

If I apply before 2027, will the old standards apply?

YouTube announced that it will apply the strengthened standards to new creators applying starting February 1, 2027, and that creators already on YPP will not be affected. Subscription criteria for fan sponsorship and shopping features will remain the same.

Are clips cut from replays eligible for monetization?

Clips that I cut from my broadcast and added substantial editing are eligible. However, non-original shorts, for example, unedited clips from other people's programs, are not subject to monetization, and views increased by bots are not counted.

Source

• YouTube Help Center (YouTube Partner Program Overview and Eligibility Requirements)
• YouTube Help Center (Overview of the expanded YouTube Partner Program)
• YouTube Help Center (Shorts Monetization Policy)
• YouTube Help Center (Getting Started with Shorts)
• YouTube Help Center (Understanding 3-minute YouTube Shorts)
• YouTube Help Center (Channel Monetization Policy)
• YouTube Official Blog (New monetization opportunities and changes to YouTube Partner Program)