It appears YouTube has cracked the code once again when it comes to paying creators. Officially setting itself up as TikTok’s biggest threat, YouTube announced a new way for creators to earn ad revenue on its short-form offering, Shorts.
Starting in 2023, eligible Shorts creators will be able to earn 45% of the revenue generated from ads that run between Shorts videos. Each creator will then be paid based on their share of total Shorts views. However, creators must have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and have amassed at least 10 million views in the previous 90 days to qualify for the program.
Revenue from the ads will also cover the costs of music licensing, allowing creators who use music in their content to get paid for their videos under the ad-revenue sharing program. And although YouTube says the money going towards music licensing will not affect the creator’s earnings, some, like content creator and author John Green, have pointed out that the 45% will actually be split between creators and record labels, and YouTube will take the remaining 55%.
Regardless, the announcement marks a significant shift in the battle of short-form and could pose a serious threat to TikTok. The app has already received backlash from creators who have struggled to make money from TikTok’s Creator Fund. And if creators can make more money on Shorts, then this just might see history repeat itself with creators flocking to YouTube as they did in 2016 triggering Vine’s demise.
Read more on YouTube’s blog here.
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The new feature will offer creators access to a catalogue of music to use in long-form videos with the option to buy the licence or share video revenue with rights holders.
Read more here.
In 2023, the streaming platform will be cutting its revenue share with bigger creators from what was originally a 70/30 split to 50/50.
Read more here.
The short-form app is introducing restrictions that will make it harder for politicians and political groups to raise money on the platform.
Read more here.
This includes Rising Creator Labels to discover emerging creators and Creator Endorsement to recommend creators through notifications.
Read more here.
Following in the footsteps of TikTok and Instagram, YouTube has added a new option to create a video clip reply to comments.
Read more here.
Users in the US are now able to purchase and listen to more than 300,000 audiobook titles, from major publishers including Penguin Random House.
Read more here.
Called TikTok Now, the BeReal-inspired feature allows users to capture what they’re doing in the moment using their front and back cameras.
Read more here.
Other headlines…
Twitch bans users from streaming unlicensed gambling content (Read more here)
Meta launches Collaborative Ads on Facebook for local delivery (Read more here)
TikTok partners with Penguin Random House to tag titles in videos (Read more here)
Amazon’s live radio Amp launches new Creator Fund (Read more here)
