YouTube Opens Paid Fan Memberships To Smaller Creators

YouTube is opening membership benefits and profits to smaller creators. Now creators with 50,000 subscribers will be able to offer their viewers a $4.99 monthly membership fee in exchange for exclusives and perks. Previously, the cap was 100,000 subscribers.

YouTube's membership program borrows from Patreon and Twitch, and is part of an ongoing campaign to keep ever-restless creators happy. 

New policies and changes to the monetization of some channels have made it more difficult for  smaller creators to succeed on the platform, making alternative income streams like merch sales,  live performances and subscriptions increasingly important.