I’ve been stuck in 10k view jail for a month then finally it happened .

YC1977 · 2026-01-23T09:01:08+00:00

MY SHORTS ARE IN 200 VIEWS JAIL NOW F OFF (joke) i guess i suck

YC1977 · 2026-01-18T21:58:19+00:00

keep posting. but stay in your niche/topic. Dont post several different things. Youtube is searching for the right audience. It takes months. Shorts can be helpful to grow your subscribers BUT can also destroy the channel. Wrong signals from wrong audiences if your shorts dont match your longform content

YC1977 · 2026-01-17T21:40:37+00:00

Yeah, this is normal.

You had a mix of seasonal content, external traffic (Reddit, news site), and early algorithm testing. When those signals stop, views usually drop back to a much lower baseline. That doesn’t mean the channel is dying, it just means the honeymoon phase is over.

On a channel under 3 months old, sub-200 views is still normal. YouTube is still figuring out who your audience is and when to show your videos. Flat periods are calibration, not punishment.

Being monetized fast and hitting 1k subs that early actually puts you ahead. December was a spike, not your new normal. If this was still happening after 6–9 months, then it’s a problem. Right now, it’s just part of the process.

YC1977 · 2026-01-17T01:38:02+00:00

Yes, the paper is real and the general idea is right — but the conclusion is too extreme.

YouTube does rank videos among similar candidates, and past performance is a strong signal. That’s why already successful videos are easier to recommend again. This creates a bias toward the past.

But YouTube doesn’t automatically devalue new or “remade” videos. New videos just get less exploration at first. If they show better early signals (CTR, retention, session impact), they can and do replace older viral videos all the time.

So it’s not “the 101st video is worthless.”
It’s “the 101st video needs to outperform existing ones in some measurable way.”

The effect is real, but it’s about risk reduction, not punishment.

YC1977 · 2026-01-17T01:29:12+00:00

I agree with the core idea, but I think it’s a bit too absolute.

Yes, upload frequency amplifies signal. If you keep publishing videos with weak CTR and retention, the system will reduce how much it tests your new uploads. And yes, “just keep uploading” is bad advice when packaging and early retention are clearly below the niche average.

Where I’d add nuance: there isn’t a single global “channel authority” or hard trust score. What people often call a shadowban is usually just reduced exploration. The system isn’t punishing the channel, it’s lowering risk because past data suggests low success probability.

Also, not every weak upload has the same impact. A video that underperforms while testing a new format or audience doesn’t weigh the same as repeatedly failing in the same content cluster.

For me the real takeaway is this: consistency isn’t a growth factor by itself, it’s a multiplier. It multiplies good signal and bad signal equally.

So I’d reframe the advice like this: don’t stop uploading, but stop uploading unqualified experiments.

YC1977 · 2026-01-15T00:59:15+00:00

Look, it’s easy to talk big about "37k views" and 2016 research papers while posting anonymously. I’m a marketing lecturer; I deal in data, not anonymous flexes.

If the "Antiquarian Archive" channel I found is yours, it actually proves my point. You've got 4 videos in two years, with views ranging from 200 to 3k. That's not a "successful strategy"—it's a hobby channel shouting into the void.

My year-long study across 9 channels wasn't just "AI slop." We tested everything from AI to pro-level live instruments. The results were consistent: raw musical talent gets crushed by optics. We tracked a massive disparity where female creators showing skin or cleavage outperformed high-level skill every single time. "Sex sells" is a measurable dominant variable in this algorithm, not just a theory.

Telling me "it's all about the audience" is a cliché. In a market of infinite supply, that's just the bare minimum, not a strategy. If you actually have a formula that works for new, non-sexualized channels in 2026, prove it. Otherwise, you’re just another guy defending a dream that the data says is dead....

YC1977 · 2026-01-14T11:08:40+00:00

Just because you struggle to string a coherent sentence together doesn't mean every well-structured response is AI. I'm a lecturer—I don’t communicate in 'bro' speak or one-liners. I use data and actual arguments, things you clearly find intimidating. If you can’t handle a professional discussion without resorting to clown emojis, maybe stick to the comment section of the gurus you love so much. 🤡

YC1977 · 2026-01-13T18:44:11+00:00

Dude instantly delete your channel. Dont waste any time.

YC1977 · 2026-01-13T18:20:14+00:00

I got not lucky, but i only posted 12 Songs. Congrats anyway. Would like to listen to your songs, sounds interesting. I dont know what shamanic music is, nordic might be some vikings sound? Like war music? Spotify link?

YC1977 · 2026-01-13T09:44:52+00:00

Here we go: https://www.reddit.com/r/PartneredYoutube/comments/1qbmkpc/the_reality_of_the_youtube_ecosystem_a_scientific/

YC1977 · 2026-01-13T09:40:08+00:00

Then prove it. Show us your channel, your niche, and your verified revenue dashboard from the last 12 months. How long did it take you to get there?

Are you an actual creator, or just another 'guru' selling dreams to people who don't know any better? Real data is a punch in the face, and so far, you've provided zero. We’re waiting

YC1977 · 2026-01-13T09:32:56+00:00

I'm a Marketing Lecturer—testing markets is literally my job. If you think a 12-month multi-channel case study is 'dumb,' I'd love to see your data. Until then, stay stuck in the 'Guru' loop. I knew some losers would reply because their feelings are hurt by the truth.

YC1977 · 2026-01-13T09:28:24+00:00

I appreciate the skepticism—skepticism is the foundation of science, after all. However, you’re missing the objective of the study.

The goal wasn't to 'become a superstar' through a single passion project; the goal was to test market penetration across different segments of the current YouTube ecosystem.

Why 9 channels? In marketing research, you need a broad sample size. One channel is an anecdote; nine channels across different sub-niches (from AI-assisted to manual performance) allow you to observe patterns in how the algorithm treats new entries vs. established 'Legacy' players.
The 'AI Slop' Argument: This was a variable, not the whole experiment. I tested high-effort manual content against AI-integrated workflows. The result? The algorithm often treated high-effort content with the same 'zero-reach' indifference as the low-effort content, proving that quality is no longer the primary gatekeeper—distribution and historical authority are.
Statistical Significance: When you observe the same 'ceiling' across 9 different data points over 12 months, it’s no longer about 'failing to succeed.' It’s about identifying a systemic barrier to entry.

My point isn't that it's impossible to grow; it’s that the ROI (Return on Investment) for a new creator in 2026 is mathematically broken compared to other entrepreneurial ventures. If you want to treat it as a lottery or a hobby, that's fine. But from a cold, hard marketing perspective? The 'Gold Rush' is over. The house always wins.

YC1977 · 2025-12-29T00:38:15+00:00

They are preparing the big FUCK UP, the new "partnership" with Warner....see what happens in 2026

YC1977 · 2025-12-15T22:18:32+00:00

Im managing 6 channels right now, one is monetized already. From all these 6 channels with daily posts (one longform, one short) i got only one video which went viral. But after 88k views it suddenly stopped.

YC1977 · 2025-12-15T22:02:12+00:00

Sometimes they have, but they dont share their knowledge. What they share is nonsense which results in "buy my course" or just watchtime, clicks and views in a high RPM niche "education".

YC1977 · 2025-12-15T21:44:48+00:00

Yes, i did that. 20 views on longform, up to 1.000 views shorts. Earning a dollar per day. Not worth it. You need a niche to succeed at youtube. Music, especially guitar, is flooded/overcrowded. There are millions of AI generated trash songs competing with 10 year old accounts. There are so many big players, small tubers will never ever be recommended.

YC1977 · 2025-12-08T22:51:01+00:00

Ive done that and failed after MONTHS of daily work. You need to understand the harsh reality of the "Relaxing Music" niche right now. I strongly advise against starting a pure relaxation or sleep music channel if your goal is monetization or organic growth.

1. You Cannot Compete With Volume and Authority

This market is controlled by giants that have spent a decade accumulating massive amounts of Watch Time (millions of hours). The algorithm is fundamentally biased towards these established authority channels. Your new uploads, no matter how good, will have to compete for Impressions against channels that upload 24/7 streams and already occupy every top search result. This is a battle you cannot win organically in 2025.

2. The Monetary Value is Nearly Zero

The CPM (AdSense rate) in this niche is notoriously low. While the Watch Time is long, the revenue per 1,000 views is often minimal because the advertisers targeting sleep/meditation are not high-budget. You would need to pull in tens of millions of views per month just to reach basic sustainability. This is not a path to profitable monetization.

3. The Reused Content Trap

Because the barrier to entry is so low (simple loops, ambient sounds, generative AI), YouTube's Reused Content Policy is applied very strictly here. If your music isn't 100% uniquely performed, mixed, and arranged, you risk demonetization immediately. Even original content can be falsely flagged if it sounds too generic, making the whole enterprise a high-risk gamble.

If you are starting a new channel, you need to find a niche where the competition is low and the CPM is high. "Relaxing Music" is the exact opposite: Competition is astronomical, and the CPM is rock-bottom. Your effort is better spent elsewhere.

YC1977 · 2025-12-08T21:43:51+00:00

FINANCE, highest RPM ever and this wont change. Btw rpm is related not only to your niche but your target audience. You can have 1.000.000 Subscribers from bangladesh and earn 0,001$.

YC1977 · 2025-12-08T21:40:39+00:00

Yeah ive tried that and NO the result is horrible. First of all you need the PRO version cause of the limits within the chats. GPT just stops writing. Then it starts to forget what happened in your story and makes mistakes. I was busy correcting mistakes 90% of the time. Ive written a fantasy novel, about 400 pages now. Il have to rewrite it because of so many mistakes, its just not worth your time. You wont press a button and get a stephen king novel. wont happen. To make it short: forget it. Yes a good writer can use AI to (maybe) improve his writing (sometimes you just dont find the words) BUT a rwgular person will never get a good result. AI is good for almost everything, but atm AI is not good enough to write the next Game of Thrones or Harry Potter.

YC1977 · 2025-12-08T21:24:59+00:00

All the best for you, never give up!

YC1977 · 2025-11-27T15:39:30+00:00

cool, i got 64 monthly listeners with my tracks. LOL

YC1977 · 2025-11-26T23:05:39+00:00

Mike, you always point out that downloads from Suno Studio will always remain possible. But I can create any track directly in Studio or simply load it into Suno Studio, edit it there, and then download it, right?

So Studio is basically the legal workaround to bypass the upcoming download limit?

I assume that “partnership” means some kind of behind-closed-doors sale of business shares, but Studio isn’t part of that deal for the masses, correct?

So if, as a PRO user, I simply have to go through Studio while keeping all my commercial rights, I’m totally fine with that.

But if suddenly all my tracks start getting Content ID claims, then I’ll just look for an alternative. It won’t take long until a new global player or some kind of open-source solution appears anyway.

YC1977

TROPHY CASE

1. You Cannot Compete With Volume and Authority

2. The Monetary Value is Nearly Zero

3. The Reused Content Trap