Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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YouTube monetization policy changes are coming. Learn the new Shorts revenue requirements effective February 1, 2027, to keep your channel eligible.
This update breaks down the specific adjustments to the YouTube Partner Program, including the new threshold of 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. If you are a creator focused on short-form content, understanding these YouTube monetization policy changes is essential for maintaining your revenue stream. We cover the shift in how ad and Premium revenue will be calculated under the new rules.
Beyond the primary view count requirements, this video explains the new incentive programs and discusses whether watch time will become a primary payment metric for creators. Whether you are already in the partner program or working toward your first payout, these YouTube monetization policy changes directly impact your strategy for the coming year. Knowing these YouTube monetization policy changes now allows you to adjust your content planning before the February deadline.
0:00 Breaking News: Massive YouTube Monetization Changes
0:35 Breaking Down the New Monetization Requirements
1:10 Three Major Changes to How You Earn
1:50 What is Premium Light and How Does It Pay?
2:25 The Future of Shorts Payouts and Incentives
3:36 The New Shorts Revenue Sharing Requirements
5:20 New Incentive Programs for Smaller Creators
6:24 New Entry Thresholds for Future Partners
8:43 Why Is YouTube Making These Difficult Changes?
10:35 Staying Active in the Partner Program
20:28 Answering Your Questions from the Live Stream
38:33 Final Thoughts on the New Monetization Era
Get vidIQ Boost for an exclusive price! vidiq.com/podcast
Check out our audio podcast! https://vidiq.ink/podcast
Auto-clip your long form into viral shorts- link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shorts
Want a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1
Join our Discord! vidiq.com/discord
YouTube monetization policy changes are coming. Learn the new Shorts revenue requirements effective February 1, 2027, to keep your channel eligible.
This update breaks down the specific adjustments to the YouTube Partner Program, including the new threshold of 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. If you are a creator focused on short-form content, understanding these YouTube monetization policy changes is essential for maintaining your revenue stream. We cover the shift in how ad and Premium revenue will be calculated under the new rules.
Beyond the primary view count requirements, this video explains the new incentive programs and discusses whether watch time will become a primary payment metric for creators. Whether you are already in the partner program or working toward your first payout, these YouTube monetization policy changes directly impact your strategy for the coming year. Knowing these YouTube monetization policy changes now allows you to adjust your content planning before the February deadline.
0:00 Breaking News: Massive YouTube Monetization Changes
0:35 Breaking Down the New Monetization Requirements
1:10 Three Major Changes to How You Earn
1:50 What is Premium Light and How Does It Pay?
2:25 The Future of Shorts Payouts and Incentives
3:36 The New Shorts Revenue Sharing Requirements
5:20 New Incentive Programs for Smaller Creators
6:24 New Entry Thresholds for Future Partners
8:43 Why Is YouTube Making These Difficult Changes?
10:35 Staying Active in the Partner Program
20:28 Answering Your Questions from the Live Stream
38:33 Final Thoughts on the New Monetization Era









![He Works With Apple & WWE —How Andru Works With The Biggest Brands
Get vidIQ Boost for an exclusive price! https://vidiq.com/podcast
Check out our audio podcast! https://vidiq.ink/podcast
Auto-clip your long form into viral shorts- https://link.vidiq.com/podcast-to-shorts
Want a 1 on 1 coach? https://vidiq.ink/theboost1on1
Join our Discord! https://www.vidiq.com/discord
We talk with @Andru Edwards about turning YouTube from a popularity contest into a real business built on trust, fair opinions, and long-term brand relationships. Andru shares what early YouTube monetization looked like, why he keeps learning, and how a smaller channel can outperform bigger creators on sales.
• Andru’s path from tech blog to video and podcasting as the industry shifts
• Early YouTube Partner Program history and why AdSense payouts changed
• Work habits, staying motivated, and picking a niche you genuinely love
• Personal adversity, self-belief, and focusing on where you are going
• Learning as a daily practice, from platform shifts to AI
• Views versus revenue, why shorts can mislead, and concerns about low-paid UGC
• How we build brand relationships by treating companies as people
• Why fairness and genuineness make brands trust you and audiences buy
[0:00] Cold open: Ive seen my mother get shot in the head
[2:00] Meet Andru Edwards — 22 years a full-time creator
[3:17] Why he bet on video back in 2006
[3:59] 300 videos in ONE week at CES
[6:35] YouTube before YouTube (huge server bills, no platform)
[9:02] The phone call: channel #14 ever monetized
[9:53] When AdSense paid 10x more — $180K/year
[13:33] Watching YouTube like a pro, not a viewer
[17:06] Find the niche you actually love (and never burn out)
[21:07] Foster care, 26 homes, and refusing the label
[23:13] A 2-lb baby and a $2M hospital bill
[27:04] Why he never stops learning (the Tiger Woods reset)
[28:24] AI is bigger than the smartphone — dont get left behind
[31:40] The brand list: WWE, Apple, Airbnb, National Car Rental
[46:08] Fairness & honesty are why brands pick him He Works With Apple & WWE —How Andru Works With The Biggest Brands](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BBuQmxnZ2uE/mqdefault.jpg)
