Has Shorts Monetization Paid Off for YouTube?
As we mark a year since YouTube introduced monetization for Shorts, it’s time to sift through the data and understand what it really means for content creators. YouTube’s blog has unveiled some figures, but let’s dive deeper and see beyond the surface.
By the Numbers
- Shorts uploads have surged by 50% over the past year.
- 2 billion creators are actively posting Shorts, driving 70 billion daily views.
Analyzing the Payout
While YouTube proudly shared that its overall payout to creators over the past three years totals an astonishing $70 billion, it has not disclosed how much of that figure is attributed to Shorts. This omission leaves creators in the dark about the true value of Shorts in YouTube’s monetization ecosystem.
The revenue split for Shorts also differs from that for long-form content. Creators receive 45% of the revenue generated from Shorts, a notable contrast to the traditional split, with the larger portion going to YouTube, primarily due to the costs associated with music licensing for these bite-sized videos.
Why Shorts Matter for Your Channel
While Shorts’ earnings may not match long-form content, they are a brilliant promotional platform. You can broaden your reach with minimal extra effort by repurposing content from longer videos or livestreams into Shorts.
Maximize your content’s potential by sharing across multiple platforms. Each platform has its own audience, and by posting on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, you’re ensuring no viewer is left out.
“YouTube Shorts has been absolutely transformative. The ability to find new audiences with videos that take a fraction of the time to produce has been such a key catalyst for our growth[…] The monetization, while still not close to the income generated by long-form content, has been really helpful in covering the costs of our shorts shoots.”
Mrwhosetheboss (18.2M subscribers)
Monetization Requirements
To qualify for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and earn from Shorts, creators need 500 subscribers and either:
- 3 million public Shorts views in the past 90 days, or
- 3,000 public watch hours on long-form content in the past 12 months.
Final Thoughts
As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of monetization for YouTube Shorts, it’s becoming increasingly clear that this format is far from a fleeting fad—it’s carved out its niche and is here to stay. Advertisers are taking note, steadily gravitating towards the platform, especially with the recent uncertainties surrounding TikTok in the US courts. YouTube’s stability seems to shine through as a beacon for ad dollars seeking safer harbors.
From my conversations with fellow creators, there’s a shared sentiment that Shorts are becoming less of an unknown financial burden for content creation. For many, the income from Shorts is beginning to offset their production cost. In some cases, it’s even fully covering them. Beyond the financials, Shorts can catapult your work into the view of audiences who might never stumble upon your longer videos or livestreams.
🔥 Pete’s Content Corner
Delve into my weekly selection of content creation highlights—handpicked videos, podcasts, and tweets that promise to captivate, educate, and entertain.
- Twitch has once again updated its content guidelines to prevent content that focuses on intimate body parts for prolonged periods. I have no doubt we’ll see another “innovative” approach by streamers looking to bypass the rules of what is/isn’t allowed.
- Elgato has launched a new version of its Facecam webcam. The Facecam MK.2 is capable of 1080p60 HDR, giving a sharper and more natural-looking image even in harsher lighting conditions.
- Discord’s April Fools Lootbox video skyrocketed to a record-breaking 1.4 billion views within 24 hours on YouTube, eclipsing the former record-holder, the GTA VI trailer release, by a massive 1.3 billion views. The video would autoplay on loop in every Discord user’s application.
