Monetization tiers
Every channel on BEAM has a monetization tier. Your tier sets your share of the revenue from subscriptions and gifted subscriptions to your channel. The more you stream, the more you keep.
The tiers
Section titled “The tiers”| Tier | You keep | How to reach it (last month) |
|---|---|---|
| Associate | 70% | Every channel starts here. No requirements. |
| Affiliate | 80% | 60 hours or more streamed, or 40 hours or more streamed in 3 or more categories |
| Partner | 90% | 100 hours or more streamed |
Your share is of the net amount, after taxes and payment-processing fees. The BEAM Monetization Terms set out exactly how it is calculated.
Embers sent as tips and stickers are not split by tier. BEAM currently takes no platform fee on them; see the terms for details.
How your tier is decided
Section titled “How your tier is decided”Your tier is decided by one thing: how much you streamed in the previous calendar month, plus how many different categories you streamed in.
- Hours are the total length of your streams that month. A stream that runs across midnight at the end of a month counts toward each month for the part that fell in it.
- Categories are the different categories or games you streamed in that month. Three or more lets you reach Affiliate with 40 hours instead of 60.
- Streams shorter than one minute don’t count.
- Months follow UTC.
When it changes
Section titled “When it changes”Tiers are reviewed once a month, on the 1st. Your activity in one month sets your tier for the whole of the next month. For example, what you stream in September decides your tier for October.
The review is the same for every channel, and it starts again from zero each month. A strong month doesn’t carry over: if you stream 100 hours in September and 10 in October, you are a Partner in October and an Associate in November.
A new tier applies to subscriptions from the moment it takes effect. Earnings you’ve already made keep the share they were earned at.
Checking your progress
Section titled “Checking your progress”Your current tier and share are shown on the monetization overview in Studio.
Select your tier there, or the tier badge on your channel’s profile, to see your hours and categories for this month and the two before it. For the current month it also shows:
- the tier you’re on pace for next month, projected from how much you’ve streamed so far, and
- how many more hours you need this month to reach the next tier.
Do I need BEAM Premium to earn a tier?
Section titled “Do I need BEAM Premium to earn a tier?”No. Tiers are worked out for every channel that streamed in the previous month.
Does earning more money move me up a tier?
Section titled “Does earning more money move me up a tier?”No. Your tier comes only from hours streamed and categories. Revenue doesn’t count toward it.
Does time I’m away from the stream count?
Section titled “Does time I’m away from the stream count?”Yes. Hours are measured from when a stream starts to when it ends, so a short break in the middle of a stream still counts.
Does a stream that’s still live at the end of the month count?
Section titled “Does a stream that’s still live at the end of the month count?”Only streams that have ended are counted when the review runs on the 1st. If you’re live across the end of the month, that stream may not count toward the month that just ended.
I streamed in a lot of categories but under 40 hours. Do I qualify?
Section titled “I streamed in a lot of categories but under 40 hours. Do I qualify?”No. The category route needs both: 40 hours or more, and 3 or more categories.
I didn’t stream at all last month. What happens?
Section titled “I didn’t stream at all last month. What happens?”Your channel is an Associate for the month, and keeps 70%. Stream again this month and your tier is reviewed on the 1st like everyone else’s.
When do I get paid?
Section titled “When do I get paid?”See Getting paid.