YouTube Research — Doable vs Not

Composite ranks niches by automation × RPM × policy survival × time-to-YPP. $200K = M24–30 run-rate, not year one. ~3.3M monetized long-form views/mo at ~$5 blended RPM ≈ $16.7K/mo.

Niche ranking (keep / gate / demote / kill)

NicheCompVerdictCite / note

NicheHistory / dark documentary Comp320 · best VerdictKEEP Ash NoteSTRATEGY d1 · RESEARCH #1

NicheSpace / science curiosity Comp~300 VerdictKEEP Quiet NoteRESEARCH #2 · replaces ambient

NicheOriginal scary fiction Comp180 VerdictGATE Black Lantern NoteSTRATEGY scary · no Reddit

NicheMythology / folklore Comp240 VerdictLATER NoteRESEARCH #3 · not Phase 0

NicheSleep / ambient Comp100 VerdictDEMOTE NoteSTRATEGY d4 · highest YPP reject

NicheKids / Benny MFK Comp24 VerdictLOTTERY NoteSTRATEGY d2 · not ad earner

NicheTrue crime doc Comp48 VerdictSKIP NoteNot max-auto · editorial load

NicheAI finance / health hosts Comp0 VerdictKILL NoteOfficial YPP ban

NicheTemplate Top-10 / scrapes Comp0 VerdictKILL NoteInauthentic Jul 2025

NicheCopy viral channels Comp0 VerdictKILL NoteSTRATEGY d3 rejected

YPP & policy (refresh Sep 2026)

Now → Jan 31 20271K subs + 4K watch-hrs / 12 mo or 10M Shorts / 90d
From Feb 1 2027 (new applicants)1K subs + 8K watch-hrs or 20M Shorts / 90d — doubled. Existing YPP not requalified at 8K.
Inauthentic content (Jul 15 2025)Mass-produced / templated / minimal variation → YPP reject or demonetize. AI OK if original + curated.
ImplicationGet Ash + Quiet through YPP in 2026. Prefer long-form watch hours over Shorts spam.

RPM snapshot (STRATEGY §1)

NicheRPMNotesBoard

NicheHistory / docRPM$5–12NotesEvergreenBoardAsh

NicheScary / storiesRPM$4–13NotesOriginal onlyBoardBL gate

NicheSleep / ambientRPM$1–5NotesYPP reject riskBoardDemote

NicheKids MFKRPM$1–3 / ~$0.05 ShortsNotesCOPPA taxBoardLottery

NicheShorts generallyRPM$0.01–0.15NotesAudience builderBoardNot earner

Automation truth

Can automate: topic → script → Piper → OpenArt → ffmpeg → private draft → analytics iterate.

Cannot zero-Barry: Google/phone verify · 2FA · AdSense/tax · YPP apply · appeals · bank · public publish gate (current Apex rule).

Sources

InternalSTRATEGY.md · RESEARCH-FULL-AUTO.md · PLAN.md · PLANS-DOABLE.md · FIRST-VIDEOS.md · PIPELINES.md
YouTubeHelp monetization policies · YPP eligibility · Blog Aug 10 2026 (2027 thresholds)
Secondary RPMDirectional only — OutlierKit, VidIQ/Gyre (MFK), creator reports

Doable vs not

Niche ranking (keep / gate / demote / kill)

YPP & policy (refresh Sep 2026)

RPM snapshot (STRATEGY §1)

Automation truth

Sources