YouTube Creator Awards#Silver Creator Award

When a YouTube channel reaches a specific milestone and is deemed eligible for a YouTube Creator Reward, they are awarded a relatively flat trophy in a metal casing with a YouTube play button symbol. The trophies are of different sizes: each button and plaque gets progressively bigger with the channel's subscriber count.{{Cite web |title=YouTube Creator Hub |url=https://www.youtube.com/yt/creators |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201025841/https://www.youtube.com/yt/creators/ |archive-date=February 1, 2017 |access-date=February 1, 2017 |publisher=YouTube}} The Gold Creator Award was introduced at VidCon 2012,{{Cite web |last=Jcohen |first=Joshua |date=2012-06-29 |title=YouTube Gives 24-Karat Gold 'Play Button' to Channels with 1M+ Subs |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2012/06/29/youtube-gold-play-button-million-subscribers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203092226/https://www.tubefilter.com/2012/06/29/youtube-gold-play-button-million-subscribers/ |archive-date=2021-02-03 |access-date=2021-01-14 |website=Tubefilter.com}} alongside the Silver Creator Award at VidCon 2013{{Cite web |last1=Storbeck |first1=Devon |last2=Wang |first2=Christine |date=September 3, 2013 |title=VidCon Round-Up: What's New |url=https://blog.youtube/creator-and-artist-stories/vidcon-round-up-whats-new/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826051149/https://blog.youtube/creator-and-artist-stories/vidcon-round-up-whats-new/ |archive-date=August 26, 2021 |access-date=January 1, 2022 |website=YouTube Official Blog}} and the Diamond Creator Award at VidCon 2015.{{Cite web |date=2015-07-24 |title=YouTube Gives New Diamond Play Button To Channels With 10 Million Subscribers |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2015/07/24/youtube-diamond-play-button-10-million-subscribers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410185557/https://www.tubefilter.com/2015/07/24/youtube-diamond-play-button-10-million-subscribers/ |archive-date=2019-04-10 |access-date=2021-01-14 |website=Tubefilter.com}} The Creator Awards are made by the New York firm Society Awards.{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=James D. Jr. |title=Some of the most famous trophies in the entertainment world get their finishing touches in Grove |url=https://tulsaworld.com/lifestyles/magazine/some-of-the-most-famous-trophies-in-the-entertainment-world-get-their-finishing-touches-in/article_38032bde-6c98-5db8-9630-26256fc64eae.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801133415/https://tulsaworld.com/lifestyles/magazine/some-of-the-most-famous-trophies-in-the-entertainment-world-get-their-finishing-touches-in/article_38032bde-6c98-5db8-9630-26256fc64eae.html |archive-date=2022-08-01 |access-date=September 2, 2020 |website=Tulsa World|date=July 10, 2020 }}

Prior to March 2021, YouTube featured three additional benefit levels. These are not eligible for Creator Rewards, but they do offer several preliminary benefits:

• Graphite was for channels with 1 to 999 subscribers.{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2018 |title=Graphite |url=https://www.youtube.com/creators/benefits/graphite/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204093123/https://www.youtube.com/creators/benefits/graphite/ |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=YouTube Creators}}
• Opal was for channels with 1,000 to 9,999 subscribers.{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2018 |title=Opal |url=https://www.youtube.com/creators/benefits/opal/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204093127/https://www.youtube.com/creators/benefits/opal/ |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=YouTube Creators}} This is the minimum subscriber count required for the YouTube Partner Program, which also requires a minimum of 4,000 total viewer watch hours in the past 12 months, plus a manual review of the channel's content to determine compliance with the program guidelines.{{Cite web |title=Channel memberships eligibility, policies, & guidelines |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7636690 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402044436/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7636690 |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |access-date=May 6, 2019 |website=YouTube Help}}
• Bronze was for channels with 10,000 to 99,999 subscribers.{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2018 |title=Bronze |url=https://www.youtube.com/creators/benefits/bronze/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204093132/https://www.youtube.com/creators/benefits/bronze/ |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |website=YouTube Creators}} The YouTube NextUp program is exclusive to channels meeting this threshold and other program criteria. This is also the minimum subscriber count required for a Spreadshop{{Cite web |date=November 12, 2020 |title=Spreadshop Partners with YouTube to Grow Merchandise Sales Globally |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201112005455/en/Spreadshop-Partners-with-YouTube-to-Grow-Merchandise-Sales-Globally |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801133416/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201112005455/en/Spreadshop-Partners-with-YouTube-to-Grow-Merchandise-Sales-Globally |archive-date=2022-08-01 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |website=Business Wire |location=Greensburg, Pennsylvania}} or Teespring merchandise shelf.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=June 21, 2018 |title=YouTube partners with Teespring to help creators sell official merchandise |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/21/17484512/teespring-youtube-creators-merch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822050239/https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/21/17484512/teespring-youtube-creators-merch |archive-date=August 22, 2018 |access-date=August 21, 2018 |website=Polygon}}

There are currently three regular Creator Awards tiers,{{Cite web |title=YouTube Creator Rewards |url=https://www.youtube.com/yt/creators/rewards.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825092259/https://www.youtube.com/yt/creators/rewards.html |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |access-date=April 12, 2016 |publisher=YouTube}} plus a fourth and fifth that have been awarded a few times:

{{Gallery

|title=Silver, Gold, and Diamond Creator Awards

|width=192 | height=192

|align=center

|File:Youtube Creator Award.jpg

|alt1=Silver Creator Award

|Example of a Silver Creator Award

|File:Gewitter im Kopf.png

|alt2=Silver and Gold Creator Awards

|Left: Jan Zimmermann, Silver award
Right: Tim Lehmann, Gold award

|File:PANDA BOI diamond play button.jpg

|alt3=Diamond Creator Award

|Italian YouTube Sensation PANDA BOI with his Diamond Creator Award

}}

File:YouTube Silver Play Button 2.svg

Awarded to the channels that reach or surpass 100,000 subscribers. The old version was made of nickel-plated cupronickel alloy.{{Cite web |title=What is the Gold Play Button REALLY Made Of? | date=December 3, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHA2HbNtcG4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903220556/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHA2HbNtcG4&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1&bpctr=9999999999 |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |publisher=YouTube}} The new version (as of March 1, 2017) is 92% nickel, 5% carbon and 2.5% zinc, with traces of other metals.{{Cite web |title=What is the NEW Silver Play Button REALLY made of?! | date=March 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kRy6r2e-bM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904104557/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kRy6r2e-bM&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1&bpctr=9999999999 |archive-date=September 4, 2019 |access-date=April 29, 2018 |publisher=YouTube}} In March 2018, the look of the Silver Play Button was updated from a metal button housed within a window box with the channel's name printed on the front glass pane to a cleaner-looking flat designed metal plaque award featuring the channel's name embossed on it.{{Cite web |title=YouTube's silver and gold play buttons are getting a new look |url=https://socialblade.com/blog/youtube-silver-gold-play-buttons-refresh/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615191346/https://socialblade.com/blog/youtube-silver-gold-play-buttons-refresh/ |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=June 15, 2018 |website=SocialBlade.com}}{{Cite web |title=YouTube's Silver and Gold play Button Awards Get Redesigned |url=https://www.youtubermag.com/youtubes-silver-and-gold-play-button-awards-get-redesigned/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616084135/https://www.youtubermag.com/youtubes-silver-and-gold-play-button-awards-get-redesigned/ |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |access-date=June 1, 2018 |website=Youtubermag.com|date=April 2018 }} Channels at this level are also eligible to apply for a digital verification badge.{{Cite web |last=McPhie |first=Jonathan |date=September 19, 2019 |title=Updates to YouTube's verification program |url=https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2019/09/updates-to-youtubes-verification-program.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920234607/https://youtube-creators.googleblog.com/2019/09/updates-to-youtubes-verification-program.html |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |access-date=September 20, 2019 |website=YouTube Creator Blog}}

File:YouTube Gold Play Button 2.svg

Awarded to the channels that reach or surpass 1,000,000 subscribers. It is made of gold plated brass. In March 2018, the look of the Gold Play Button was updated from a metal button housed within a window box with the channel's name printed on the front glass pane to a cleaner-looking flat designed metal plaque award featuring the channel's name embossed on it.{{Cite web |last=Acuna |first=Kirsten |date=July 19, 2012 |title=YouTube Is Rewarding Its Most Popular Users With Gold |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/largest-youtube-channels-receive-gold-play-buttons-2012-7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421084822/http://www.businessinsider.com/largest-youtube-channels-receive-gold-play-buttons-2012-7 |archive-date=April 21, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2016 |website=Business Insider}}{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Joshua |date=June 29, 2012 |title=YouTube Gives 24-Karat Gold 'Play Button' to Channels with 1M+ Subs |url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/06/29/youtube-gold-play-button-million-subscribers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409172613/http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/06/29/youtube-gold-play-button-million-subscribers/ |archive-date=April 9, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2016 |website=Tubefilter.com}}

File:YouTube Diamond Play Button.svg

Awarded to channels that reach or surpass 10 million subscribers. It is made of silver-plated metal inset with a large piece of colorless crystal in the shape of a play button triangle.{{Cite web |last=Brouwer |first=Bree |date=July 24, 2015 |title=YouTube Gives New Diamond Play Button To Channels With 10 Million Subscribers |url=http://www.tubefilter.com/2015/07/24/youtube-diamond-play-button-10-million-subscribers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410185557/https://www.tubefilter.com/2015/07/24/youtube-diamond-play-button-10-million-subscribers/ |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |access-date=April 12, 2016 |website=Tubefilter.com}}{{Cite web |last=Dillon |first=Poppy |date=August 3, 2015 |title=YouTube Announced Diamond Play Button |url=http://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/03/youtube-announces-diamond-play-button/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117155711/http://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/03/youtube-announces-diamond-play-button/ |archive-date=January 17, 2019 |access-date=April 12, 2016 |publisher=TenEighty}} When introduced during VidCon 2015, 35 channels qualified for the award.{{Cite web |title=YouTube Announces Diamond Play Button |url=https://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/03/youtube-announces-diamond-play-button/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117155711/http://teneightymagazine.com/2015/08/03/youtube-announces-diamond-play-button/ |archive-date=2019-01-17 |access-date=September 2, 2020}} As of March 23, 2024, there are 995 channels that have reached this level.{{Cite web |title=Top 5000 Subscribed YouTube Channels (Sorted by Subscriber Count) |url=https://socialblade.com/youtube/top/5000/mostsubscribed |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224221145/https://socialblade.com/youtube/top/5000/mostsubscribed |archive-date=February 24, 2020 |access-date=February 27, 2020}}

{{Update|section|date=August 2023}}

File:YouTube Ruby Play Button 2.svg

Formerly awarded to channels that reach or surpass 50 million subscribers. Since September 1, 2020, it is the sole award to be missing from the Creator Awards FAQ.{{cite web |title=Join the Creator Awards Program - YouTube Help |url=https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7682560 |website=YouTube Help |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901153312/https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7682560 |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |date=September 1, 2020 |url-status=live}} However, it continued to be granted at YouTube's discretion after this date. PewDiePie gave the nickname of Ruby Creator Award to this award, as he received a ruby-colored award in the shape of his channel's logo. The color can vary per creator, however: for example, T-Series received a colorless award, while Blackpink received a black award on top of a pink base. Channels with a hash tag ({{number sign}}) symbol have presented their Custom Creator Award to the public. {{As of|2024|10|17|df=US}}, 18 channels have reached this level.

File:YouTube Red Diamond Play Button.svg

Awarded to channels that reach or surpass 100 million subscribers. Inspired by the Diamond Creator Award, it features a play button triangle with a large dark red crystal. It was added to the Creator Awards FAQ by September 1, 2020. There are currently 14 channels that have reached this level:

{{div col|colwidth=27em}}

1. {{flagicon|IND}} T-Series (May 29, 2019){{Cite web |last=Leskin |first=Paige |date=May 31, 2019 |title=Bollywood music channel T-Series beat out PewDiePie after a months-long battle to become the first YouTube channel to reach 100 million subscribers |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/pewdiepie-t-series-youtube-battle-100-million-subscribers-2019-5?r=US&IR=T |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728055523/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/pewdiepie-t-series-youtube-battle-100-million-subscribers-2019-5?r=US&IR=T |archive-date=2020-07-28 |access-date=April 3, 2020 |website=Business Insider}}{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Geoff |date=September 9, 2019 |title=YouTube Forges New 'Red Diamond Creator Award' For Channels With 100 Million Subscribers |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/09/09/youtube-red-diamond-creator-award/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327085657/https://www.tubefilter.com/2019/09/09/youtube-red-diamond-creator-award/ |archive-date=March 27, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2020 |website=Tubefilter.com}}
2. {{flagicon|SWE}} PewDiePie (August 25, 2019){{Cite tweet |number=1165444428988743680 |user=YouTube |title=Married to @marziapie 💍Revived our love of Minecraft ⛏️ Reached 100 million subscribers on YouTube ✔️ What a month to celebrate and congratulate @PewDiePie 👊 |date=August 25, 2019}}{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=August 26, 2019 |title=PewDiePie becomes the first individual YouTube creator to hit 100 million subscribers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/26/20831853/pewdiepie-100-million-subscribers-youtube-tseries-competition |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826173850/https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/26/20831853/pewdiepie-100-million-subscribers-youtube-tseries-competition |archive-date=August 26, 2019 |access-date=April 3, 2020 |website=The Verge}}
3. {{flagicon|USA}} Cocomelon (December 12, 2020){{Cite web |last=Bean |first=Travis |date=December 14, 2020 |title=100 Billion Views And Counting: 'CoComelon' Is Absolutely Dominating Netflix And YouTube |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbean/2020/12/14/100-billion-views-and-counting-cocomelon-is-absolutely-dominating-netflix-and-youtube/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731165141/https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbean/2020/12/14/100-billion-views-and-counting-cocomelon-is-absolutely-dominating-netflix-and-youtube/ |archive-date=2022-07-31 |access-date=August 1, 2022 |website=forbes.com}}
4. {{flagicon|IND}} SET India (March 28, 2021){{Cite web |date=April 6, 2021 |title=Sony Entertainment Television reaches 100 million global subscribers on YouTube |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/digital-news/youtube-was-streamed-on-tv-by-over-55-million-indians-in-december-2021-google-121583.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731165810/https://www.exchange4media.com/digital-news/youtube-was-streamed-on-tv-by-over-55-million-indians-in-december-2021-google-121583.html |archive-date=2022-07-31 |access-date=August 1, 2022 |website=exchange4media.com}}
5. {{flagicon|USA}} MrBeast (July 28, 2022){{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=July 28, 2022 |title=MrBeast Tops 100 Million YouTube Subscribers: 'I Hope to Do YouTube Until the Day I Die' |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/mrbeast-100-million-youtube-subscribers-1235328739/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729201818/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/mrbeast-100-million-youtube-subscribers-1235328739/ |archive-date=2022-07-29 |access-date=August 1, 2022 |website=variety.com}}
6. {{flagicon|UKR}} {{flagicon|USA}} Kids Diana Show (August 16, 2022)
7. {{flagicon|RUS}} {{flagicon|USA}} Like Nastya (August 25, 2022)
8. {{flagicon|RUS}} {{flagicon|USA}} Vlad and Niki (August 13, 2023)
9. {{flagicon|IND}} Zee Music Company (September 24, 2023)
10. {{flagicon|USA}} WWE (March 8, 2024)
11. {{flagicon|IND}} Goldmines (September 20, 2024)
12. {{flagicon|USA}} {{flagicon|PRC}} Stokes Twins (November 30, 2024)
13. {{Flagicon|IND}} Sony SAB (March 17, 2025)
14. {{Flagicon|KR}} KIMPRO (April 17, 2025){{Div col end}}

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Creator Awards

Category:Awards established in 2012