YouTube is changing the rules around creator monetisation, introducing stricter requirements for some creators while expanding alternative ways for them to earn money on the platform.

The company announced that parts of its YouTube Partner Program (YPP) will be updated from February 1, 2027. The changes represent the platform's first major overhaul of the programme since 2018 and come as YouTube looks to place greater emphasis on sustained audience engagement rather than short-term view spikes.

YouTube currently has more than 3 million creators participating in its Partner Program and says it expects to distribute more money to creators in 2027 than it did in 2026.

Shorts creators face a higher threshold

The biggest change will affect creators who earn advertising and subscription revenue from YouTube Shorts.

From February 1, 2027, creators will need to generate at least 10 million qualified Shorts views within 90 days to remain eligible for Shorts advertising and subscription revenue sharing.

Creators who fall below the threshold will not lose their entire YPP membership. Instead, they will continue to be eligible to earn from qualifying long-form videos. Their Shorts revenue-sharing eligibility can return once they reach the required 10 million views within a 90-day period again.

The change could particularly affect smaller creators whose income depends heavily on occasional viral Shorts rather than consistent audience activity.

YouTube wants creators to explore other revenue streams

While the platform is raising the bar for Shorts monetisation, it is also developing additional opportunities for creators to make money.

YouTube said it plans to introduce incentives connected to YouTube Shopping, brand partnerships and creators who successfully drive or participate in trends on the platform.

The company has not yet released full details of those programmes, meaning creators will have to wait for further announcements to understand exactly how the new opportunities will work.

Premium subscriptions become another income source

YouTube is also expanding Premium Lite to every market where YouTube Premium is available.

Premium Lite is designed to provide users with a more uninterrupted viewing experience and includes features such as offline and background playback for most content.

Under the new arrangement, creators will receive a portion of subscription revenue based on factors including watch time and views.

YouTube says 30% of net subscription revenue goes into the creator pool for YouTube Premium, while Premium Lite allocates 60%. Creators receive 55% of the relevant pool for long-form content and 45% for Shorts.

According to YouTube, creators can potentially earn more from a Premium subscriber than from that same viewer watching advertising-supported content.

New creators will also face tougher entry requirements

YouTube is also increasing the requirements for new creators seeking access to advertising and Premium revenue sharing.

From February 2027, new applicants will need to achieve either 8,000 qualified public watch hours over the previous 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views within 90 days.

However, the requirements for accessing fan-funding and shopping features will remain unchanged.

Existing YouTube Partner Program members will also not be affected by these new entry requirements.

What this means for creators

The changes suggest YouTube is moving toward a creator economy where consistent audience engagement matters more than simply producing a video that happens to go viral.

That could make it more important for creators to develop loyal audiences, maintain regular publishing schedules and diversify their income rather than depending entirely on Shorts advertising revenue.

For creators who already produce long-form content, the changes could also make YouTube's wider monetisation ecosystem more attractive, particularly as subscription revenue, shopping and brand partnerships become increasingly important.

YouTube's scale continues to grow

The platform says its Shorts product now generates more than 200 billion views every day, while viewers watch more than 1 billion hours of YouTube content on television daily.

With that level of activity, YouTube is increasingly treating its creator ecosystem as a mature commercial marketplace rather than simply a video-sharing platform.

Creators will be able to review and accept the updated Partner Program terms through YouTube Studio before the new rules take effect on February 1, 2027.

For creators, the takeaway is clear: viral views alone may no longer be enough. Building sustained engagement, diversifying revenue and developing a loyal audience could become increasingly important to making money on YouTube.