CPM vs. RPM: the creator distinction
CPM (Cost Per Mille) is the advertiser's rate — what advertisers pay YouTube per 1,000 ad impressions. RPM (Revenue Per Mille) is the creator's metric — your earnings per 1,000 total video views. The gap between the two is YouTube's 45% revenue share cut.
Gross Ad Revenue = (Monetized Playbacks ÷ 1,000) × Advertiser CPM. Creator Net Revenue = Gross Ad Revenue × 55% (standard YouTube partner share). Creator RPM = (Creator Net Revenue ÷ Total Views) × 1,000.
If you have 100,000 views with 60,000 monetized playbacks and an advertiser CPM of $5: Gross Revenue = (60,000/1,000) × $5 = $300. Creator net = $300 × 55% = $165. Creator RPM = ($165 / 100,000) × 1,000 = $1.65.