Latest news with #PartnerProgramme
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
How will YouTube's new monetisation policy impact creators?
The story so far: In an update to the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) that allows creators to make money from their videos, YouTube said that on July 15, it would change its guidelines in order to 'better identify mass-produced and repetitious content.' The Google-owned video platform added that the change would better reflect what 'inauthentic' content looks like. While YouTube did not directly mention Generative AI, many creators and content makers believe that the update will affect those who rely heavily on machine generated media to make their videos. What is the new YouTube Partner Program (YPP) policy? YouTubers need 500 subscribers in order for their channels to be eligible to apply for the Partner Programme. After securing 1,000 subscribers, partners can unlock ad revenue and start earning from the ads shown in their videos. This is one way the company ensures that trusted, high-quality content makers are rewarded for their efforts rather than throwaway accounts trying to make a quick buck. There are multiple ways to monetise content as a YouTube partner, with varying eligibility requirements and regional restrictions. Some of these strategies include advertising revenue, shopping, YouTube Premium revenue, channel memberships, and Super Chat/Stickers/Thanks perks that fans can pay for. Monetisation is a serious matter for creators, and especially those aiming to grow a large audience and make high-quality YouTube videos a major source of their income. YouTube shared that it paid more than $70 billion to creators, artists, and media companies from 2021 to 2023. Naturally, many creators also get frustrated when their videos are demonetised for regulatory reasons they do not understand or agree with. What is YouTube's monetisation history? From its early days, YouTube's approach to monetisation has steadily evolved, moving from a largely open system to a more curated environment that prioritises original, authentic content. This progression reflects the platform's efforts to make the content sticky for viewers so that more valuable space can be created for advertisers. In the initial stages of creator monetisation around 2016, the rules were minimal. Channels could be monetised almost instantly upon creation without needing to meet specific subscriber or watch-hour goals. This allowed for the proliferation of 'faceless' channels that primarily relied on low-effort content, such as compiling viral video clips without original commentary. These simple compilation videos could generate significant revenue with relative ease. A significant shift occurred around 2018 when YouTube introduced its now-standard monetisation requirements — 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time. This policy was a clear signal that the platform was beginning to favour channels that could build and sustain a genuine audience. This update effectively demonetised many of the simple compilation channels that lacked original input. Following this, YouTube continued to refine its guidelines, targeting specific niches that were considered low-effort and repetitive. In 2019, channels featuring rain sounds or ambient noise faced demonetisation as they were often seen as non-transformative. According to the U.S. Copyright Law, a transformative use is a kind of fair use that builds on an original content and creates something new. By 2020, YouTube cracked down on the wave of channels that used robotic, text-to-speech voices to read Reddit stories, flagging them as 'mass-produced' and unoriginal. This historical trend will culminate in the upcoming July 2025 policy change. This latest update aims to 'better identify' content that is mass-produced, repetitive, and fails to meaningfully transform source material. YouTube has clarified this is an enhancement of long-standing policies, intended to remove content that viewers often consider spam. This move targets channels that upload high volumes of templated or AI-generated videos. Is YouTube banning Generative AI content? While YouTube did not explicitly mention that it was taking action against Generative AI content, this is what many content creators took the policy update to mean. The use of synthetic content such as visuals, voiceovers, and art now raises complex legal questions about whether YouTube is giving users the ability to monetise content that could one day be hit with copyright strikes or lawsuits. YouTube noted that it always required creators to upload original' and 'authentic' content to monetise as part of its partner programme. Its new policy says it will identify 'mass-produced and repetitious content' but does not currently mention penalising such videos or banning them. Users will have to simply wait and see. In essence, while genuine content creators who deliver well-produced original videos should not be impacted by the update, those who are simply pushing the same low-quality videos made with AI tools to rack up subscribers and views will face increased scrutiny in the future. How does YouTube's new policy affect content creators? For content creators, this policy shift underscores the increasing importance of originality and transformative work. Channels that simply aggregate content without adding a unique perspective or commentary are at high risk of demonetisation. Creators will now have to adapt by focusing on original and authentic videos, where a unique voice and personality can be established. The key takeaway for creators is to move beyond mere aggregation and to use their content to tell a story, offer analysis, or provide a unique and engaging perspective. From YouTube's perspective, this new monetisation policy is a strategic move designed to improve the overall quality and integrity of the platform. By filtering out low-effort, repetitive, and spammy content, YouTube aims to keep users coming back to its platform regularly, which in turn encourages them to spend more time on the site — that's good for its ads business. A higher-quality content library not only makes the platform attractive to advertisers; it can also be used by its parent, Alphabet, as fodder to train its Gemini AI models.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
YouTube to crack down on AI-generated and repetitive content: Google changes payout rules; check if you will be affected
YouTube monetisation policy update Scroll through YouTube today and you will run into the same pattern again and again: a synthetic voice gliding over stock video, a top-ten list clipped from a news site, or a slideshow padded with royalty-free loops. Advertisers complain, viewers bounce, and original creators watch their work sink beneath low-effort uploads. On 15 July 2025, YouTube will tighten its Partner Programme rules, cutting ad revenue for channels that push 'mass-produced, repetitious, or inauthentic' content. The entry bar—1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days—stays the same, but it will no longer be enough on its own. YouTube says the update simply clarifies a long-standing requirement for 'original and authentic' videos and gives reviewers better language for spotting spam and AI-generated slop. Creators who ignore the new line risk demonetisation even if their audience numbers look healthy. Why the 2025 YouTube monetisation policy targets 'inauthentic' uploads The support note explains that the platform must 'better identify mass-produced and repetitious content' because automated tools now churn out near-identical clips at scale. This includes AI voice essays, templated slideshow channels, and endlessly recycled reaction footage that adds nothing new for viewers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo Mass-produced vs repetitious: How YouTube draws the line Mass-produced clips are generated (often by AI) with minimal variation, for example, hundreds of list videos that differ only in title text. Repetitious uploads are so alike that a casual viewer gains no fresh value; think lightly cropped re-uploads or looping compilations. To pass review, a creator must add significant commentary, analysis, or creative storytelling, not just filters or speed changes. Authentic vs. AI-Generated YouTube Content YouTube's eligibility filter blocks AI-generated repeats Channels must still hit 1,000 subscribers and the watch-time or Shorts views goal before applying to the Partner Programme. Reviewers will then check recent uploads for authentic value. A channel that relies on reused footage with only minor tweaks can meet the numbers yet fail monetisation. YouTube is not banning AI tools; it is banning lazy AI usage. A synthetic narrator that adds genuine insight over fresh footage can still earn ads. An AI voice that reads a blog post on top of stock clips will likely fail. The same standard applies to templated slideshows or compilations that offer no added context. YouTube sets 16+ age limit for solo streams from July 22 Separate guidance on YouTube's help pages confirms that creators must be at least 16 years of age to stream alone. Younger teens can only appear if an adult host runs the broadcast. The rule fits YouTube's broader push for safety and accountability. YouTube monetisation policy update 2025 FAQs 1. When do the new rules start? They take effect on 15 July 2025 worldwide for all channels in the YouTube Partner Programme . 2. What exactly counts as 'mass-produced' or 'repetitious' content? Any video that looks factory-made or repeatedly reuses the same template without adding fresh commentary, education, or entertainment will fall under the new restriction. Typical examples include AI-generated listicles, looped compilations, and near-duplicate slideshow news. 3. Are AI-generated videos banned from monetisation? No. AI can still be used if the creator adds clear value, original insight, editing, or storytelling. Purely automated clips that read text over stock footage are likely to be demonetised. 4. Do the subscriber and watch-time thresholds change? No. You still need 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days to apply. The review process, however, will weigh originality more heavily. 5. What happens if my channel is flagged for inauthentic uploads? YouTube's primary penalty is demonetisation. Ads, Super Chat, and other revenue features shut off until you delete or significantly rework the problematic videos and reapply to YPP. 6. Are reaction videos or clip compilations automatically disqualified? Not necessarily. If the creator adds substantial commentary, transforms the clips, and provides real educational or entertainment value, the videos can still earn revenue. Simple re-uploads or minimal edits will not qualify. Also read | What is dry mode in AC: How a simple setting cuts moisture in rainy season and saves power AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Mint
28-04-2025
- Business
- Mint
Spotify pays over $100 million to podcasters in Q1 2025, reveals first-ever creator earnings data
Spotify has disclosed that it paid out in excess of $100 million to creators of both audio and video podcasts during the first quarter of 2025, marking the first time the company has made such figures public. The Stockholm-based streaming service announced on Monday that these payments, which encompass advertising revenues as well as proceeds from its Spotify Partner Programme, highlight its growing investment in the creator economy. The Partner Programme, which launched earlier this year in select markets, offers podcasters additional avenues for monetisation alongside traditional ad-based models. Spotify said the milestone demonstrates its commitment to supporting audio and video content producers around the world.6 Having first introduced non-music audio and video content in 2015, Spotify significantly bolstered its podcasting efforts with the acquisition of Gimlet Media in 2019. These moves have helped the platform to foster a diverse array of shows and formats, from true-crime documentaries to live-streamed conversations. In its most recent full year of trading, Spotify generated revenues of €15.7 billion, and in 2024 recorded its first annual net profit of €1.1 billion. The company is due to release its first-quarter earnings report on Tuesday, which investors will be watching closely for indications of continued growth in both its music and podcasting divisions. In other news, the music streaming platform had faced a major service disruption earlier this month, affecting tens of thousands of users globally. According to outage tracking site users across various regions reported difficulties accessing core features of the app, including searching for music and viewing artist profiles. Despite the disruption, many confirmed that previously downloaded tracks remained accessible and could still be played offline. Spotify acknowledged the issue in a statement shared on social media platform X, stating, "We're aware of some issues right now and are checking them out." However, the company has not yet provided details on the cause of the outage or offered an official timeline for full restoration of services. (With inputs from Reuters) First Published: 28 Apr 2025, 10:47 PM IST
