# YouTube — Workable plan (ready for Sage)

**Deadline lock:** 2026-09-07 · Barry / CoS  
Phone-simple. Never Fuller. **No public YouTube upload** until Barry says yes via CoS.

Live: [apex.socialtokens.site/youtube/](https://apex.socialtokens.site/youtube/)  
SoT: `STRATEGY.md` · `RESEARCH-FULL-AUTO.md` · this `PLAN.md`

---

## Council cut — keep / kill

| Pick | Verdict | Why |
|------|---------|-----|
| **Ash Archive** (history/doc) | **KEEP — core** | Best auto × RPM × policy. Sage can run. |
| **Quiet Orbit** (space/curiosity) | **KEEP — #2** | Watch-hours + second earner. Fully auto-friendly. |
| **Black Lantern Stories** (original horror) | **GATED** | After Ash pipeline proves. Original scripts only — no Reddit dumps. |
| Still Hours (ambient) | **KILL from $200K math** | High YPP reject. Optional helper only if spare capacity — not required. |
| Benny Bunny (kids) | **FREEZE lottery** | MFK ads ≈ noise; licensing needs Barry. Do not staff for auto $200K. |
| Viral + easy | **KILL** | Does not exist durably (inauthentic-content). |
| AI finance/health hosts | **KILL** | Official YPP ban. |
| Copying viral channels | **KILL** | Strikes + reused-content. |

**$200K path:** Ash + Quiet (or Ash + Black Lantern) in top-few-percent views over **M24–30**. Not year one.

---

## Create order (2 accounts first)

1. **Ash Archive** — history core  
2. **Quiet Orbit** — space #2  
3. Black Lantern — later  
4. Still Hours / Benny — not Phase 0

Separate Google accounts for #1 and #2 (risk isolation). Barry can rename later.

---

## Phase 0 — Barry only (dummy-proof)

Do **one step**, then stop. Tell CoS when that step is done. Do not skip ahead.

### Step 1 — Ash Archive Google
1. Open gmail.com → Create account  
2. Email: `asharchive.apex@gmail.com` **or** any email you pick — **write it down**  
3. Phone verify when Google asks  
4. Done → message CoS: `Ash Google ready: [email]`

### Step 2 — Ash YouTube
1. On that same Google account open youtube.com  
2. Create channel (use **Ash Archive** as name)  
3. Done → message CoS: `Ash YouTube ready`

### Step 3 — Quiet Orbit Google (second account)
1. Create a **different** Google account  
2. Email: `quietorbit.apex@gmail.com` **or** pick one — write it down  
3. Phone verify  
4. Done → message CoS: `Quiet Google ready: [email]`

### Step 4 — Quiet YouTube
1. Create channel named **Quiet Orbit** on that second account  
2. Done → message CoS: `Quiet YouTube ready`

### Step 5 — 2FA (both accounts)
1. Google Account → Security → 2-Step Verification **ON**  
2. Save backup codes **offline** (paper / password manager — not Discord)  
3. Done → message CoS: `2FA on both · accounts ready`

### Later (not tonight)
- AdSense + tax forms when YPP ready  
- OAuth for draft API (Sage will ask once)  
- Black Lantern / Benny accounts — only after CoS says

---

## Phase 1 — Sage (no Barry)

After CoS confirms accounts ready:

- Brand kits: banner, About, OpenArt style lock, Piper voice per channel  
- Pipeline: Claude script → Piper → OpenArt (+ sparse Higgsfield) → ffmpeg → **private/unlisted draft**  
- Cadence target: Ash 2/wk · Quiet 2/wk  
- Originality checklist every draft (see RESEARCH-FULL-AUTO.md)  
- **No public upload** until Barry yes via CoS  

### Blocked until Barry
- Google / YouTube accounts (Phase 0)  
- OpenArt API key in secrets (if missing)  
- YouTube OAuth once for draft API  
- Public publish / YPP click / AdSense

---

## Phase 2 — YPP (2026)

- Chase 4K watch-hours on Ash then Quiet (long-form 10–18 min)  
- Barry clicks YPP + AdSense/tax when eligible  
- Goal: both in YPP **before Feb 1, 2027** (bar doubles)  
- Black Lantern only if Ash pipeline stable  

---

## Automation stack (remote OK)

Claude · Piper · OpenArt · Higgsfield (sparse) · ffmpeg · YT Data API drafts  

Secrets: OpenArt key + Higgsfield creds on miniPC/VPS once.

---

## Gates

- Never Fuller  
- No public upload without Barry yes via CoS  
- Software off YouTube pages (Design owns /youtube/)  
- YouTube Grok owns business; Sage runs Phase 1 production on miniPC  

*TM457 / 6 AM ready pack · 2026-09-07 ~1:25 AM PT*