Short-form creator agency comparison: 8 terms to check before you sign
Most agencies do not publish their fees, so creators compare offers clause by clause. These are the eight terms that decide what you keep. The middle column shows what public sources say about the industry; the last column shows AZ Entertainment's own terms.
| Term | What to ask | What public sources show | AZ Entertainment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform ad revenue | Does the agency take a cut of your YouTube, TikTok or other platform ad revenue? | YouTube pays creators 45% of the Shorts revenue allocated by views and 55% of long-form Watch Page ad revenue [1]. MCNs "typically take a percentage of revenue from the creator's portion before paying them" [2]. Korean press puts the usual creator share at 70–80% [6]. | 0%. Your platform ad revenue, tips and memberships stay 100% yours. |
| Brand deals the agency brings | What share of a brand deal does the agency keep? | Two large Korean MCNs' 2021 audit reports imply creators received about 69–71% of company revenue [5]. US talent managers commonly take about 20% [7]. | You keep 70% on the 30% plan, or 50% on the 50% plan with a Pro analytics plan included (excluding VAT). |
| Deals you find yourself | Does "all commercial revenue" include deals you bring in? | Seoul's standard MCN contract leaves the share of revenue from "all commercial contracts" blank for each side to agree [3]. | 0%. Only a deal you sign directly within 6 months with a brand we sent you a deal sheet for counts as ours. |
| Minimum term and renewal | How long is the contract, and does it renew on its own? | The Seoul guide says contracts usually run 2 or 3 years and renew automatically unless refused 30 days before the end [3]. In 2021 the Fair Trade Commission made three large MCNs notify creators before automatic renewal [4]. | No minimum term and no automatic lock-in. You can leave any day. |
| Leaving early | What do you pay if you leave? | After the 2021 corrections, penalties of "average monthly revenue × remaining months" stayed in the three MCNs' terms [4]. | No penalty. Deals you have already accepted are completed and paid as agreed. |
| Exclusivity | Can you work with other agencies or platforms? | Exclusive contracts that renew one year at a time appear in the terms the Fair Trade Commission reviewed [4]. | Not exclusive. Your channel stays yours. |
| Written offers and payment | Will you see the fee, deliverables and payment date before you agree? When are you paid? | YouTube pays between the 21st and 26th of the month after earnings are finalised [1]. Seoul's standard contract leaves the payment period blank [3]. | Every offer comes in writing before you decide. You are paid within 14 days of the brand paying us. |
| What the fee pays for | Which services come with the fee? | YouTube asks creators to check "the specific services and level of support offered" and "how to terminate your agreement" [2]. | Brand deals found and negotiated for you, help with contracts, usage rights, ad disclosure and takedown requests, itemized statements, and a Pro analytics plan on the 50% plan. |
Before you sign anywhere, ask for the full contract and read it with these eight rows in mind. YouTube's own advice is to understand the fees, the services, your obligations, the duration and how to end the agreement before joining [2].
Sources
- [1] YouTube Help — YouTube Partner Program overview & revenue shares — https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72902?hl=en
- [2] YouTube Help — Multi-Channel Network (MCN) overview for creators — https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2737059?hl=en
- [3] Seoul Metropolitan Government — standard contract for joining an MCN (Dec 2022) — https://news.seoul.go.kr/economy/archives/521079
- [4] Korea Fair Trade Commission press release on unfair terms at three MCNs (5 Jan 2021), via KFCF — https://kfcf.or.kr/news/news/read.do?no=1359
- [5] Topdaily — creator share in two Korean MCNs' 2021 audit reports (9 Jan 2023) — https://www.topdaily.kr/articles/92689
- [6] Asia Economy — typical Korean MCN revenue splits (2 Mar 2018) — https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/2018030210572636008
- [7] Sponcon — questions to ask a talent manager ("20% is industry standard") — https://sponcon.substack.com/p/the-need-to-know-questions-to-ask
Last reviewed 2026-10-17. Public sources were read on the dates shown in each document; terms change, so check the current contract.
Read next: What an MCN does for YouTube Shorts creators