YouTube Unveils New Features for Shorts, TV App, and Music Updates

Highlights

• Over 25% of YouTube Partner Program creators now earn from Shorts.
• YouTube TV app introduces auto-generated key moments for easier video navigation.
• YouTube Music transitions to quarterly recaps, introducing a dynamic now playing indicator.
• New Samples shelf in YouTube Music for a streamlined user interface.

YouTube continues to evolve, introducing new features and avenues for creators and viewers alike to engage with content in dynamic ways.

From the monetization of Shorts to enhanced viewing experiences on TV apps and quarterly recaps in YouTube Music, here’s a breakdown of the latest updates.

YouTube Shorts: A New Revenue Avenue for Creators

YouTube Shorts have taken the platform by storm, amassing over 70 billion views a day.

What started as an experiment has now become a staple on YouTube’s homepage and mobile apps, offering creators a fresh, creative canvas.

A year after introducing revenue sharing for Shorts, YouTube has revealed that over 25% of creators in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) are now earning from this format.

Moreover, those excelling with Shorts often see gains across other monetization features, such as ads on longer videos and subscriptions, with over 80% of Shorts creators benefiting from multiple revenue streams.

Key Moments on YouTube TV App

Understanding the unique interaction patterns on TV, YouTube has rolled out a new feature to improve content navigation on its TV app.

Announced by CEO Neal Mohan, the app will now auto-generate key moments for videos, allowing users to jump to the most engaging parts effortlessly.

This innovation addresses the challenges of navigating with a TV remote, enhancing the viewer experience by bypassing the need for precise seeking.

For videos without manually created chapters by the uploader, this feature ensures that users still enjoy an organized viewing experience, marking a significant upgrade in how content is consumed on larger screens.

YouTube Music’s Quarterly Recaps

Transitioning from bi-monthly to quarterly recaps, YouTube Music aims to provide a more comprehensive overview of new features and updates.

Among the recent highlights is the dynamic now playing indicator, which moves in rhythm with the song’s tempo.

This modern equalizer graphic, introduced at the end of the previous year, adds a sleek visual element to the listening experience.

Additionally, the new Samples shelf showcases smaller thumbnails, a change prompted by user feedback for a less intrusive presence on the home feed.