MICO agency commission structures range from 50-85% host retention rates, with elite hosts keeping 75-85% of Income Diamonds after platform conversion. The critical conversion rate: 286 Income Diamonds = $1 USD. This guide breaks down the complete earnings pathway from viewer gifts to host payouts, weekly streaming targets (35+ hours across 15+ days monthly), and common misconceptions about coin top-ups that don't benefit hosts directly.
Understanding MICO Live Agency Commission Structure
MICO operates on a retention model, not deduction. Platform converts virtual gifts into Income Diamonds at 286:1 USD. Independent verified hosts retain 75%, while agency-signed hosts get 50-85% based on tier and performance.
Three commission tiers:
Standard (50-65% retention): Entry-level, minimal support
Mid-tier (65-75%): Consistent revenue, enhanced promotion, priority support
Elite (75-85%): High viewership, matches independent rates plus agency resources (equipment, marketing, account management)
Platform fees deduct before agency commission. MICO Live coins top up services like BitTopup let viewers buy coins, but gift conversion rates of 15-25% mean only a fraction reaches host Income Diamonds—regardless of agency status.
Regional variations: US/Canadian agencies (like Agency ID 8387 - Times Infinity) typically offer 75-85% retention for hosts with 100+ followers and 4.5-star ratings.
What Is MICO Agency Commission?
Agency commission = percentage of Income Diamonds agencies retain for providing infrastructure, training, promotion, and technical support. Hosts are independent contractors receiving revenue shares, not salaried employees.
Purpose: Aligned incentives. Higher-performing hosts generate more Income Diamonds, motivating agencies to invest in host success through equipment recommendations, growth strategies, and content optimization.
Elite hosts maintain agency relationships despite matching independent retention rates because support infrastructure justifies the arrangement.
Standard Commission Ranges: Why 50-85% Varies
50-65% retention: New hosts needing extensive training, equipment loans, intensive management. Inconsistent streaming, modest Income Diamonds, frequent support needs.
65-75% retention: Consistent performers meeting monthly minimums (35 hours across 15+ days). Less hand-holding, predictable revenue, platform compliance (fewer than 3 violations monthly).
75-85% retention: Top performers with large follower bases and high engagement. Negotiating leverage—could stream independently at 75% or switch agencies. Agencies compete with premium rates, exclusive bonuses ($900 Super-Talent bonus at 1.5M Diamonds), white-glove support.
Agency Commission vs Platform Fee: Critical Difference
Platform fees occur first, before agency commission. When viewers buy coins and send gifts, platform converts at 15-25% rates—meaning 75-85% of viewer spending never reaches Income Diamonds, regardless of agency.
Agency commission applies only to surviving Income Diamonds. Example: Viewer sends 1,000-coin gift ($10 purchase) → platform converts to 200 Income Diamonds (20% rate) → elite host at 80% retention receives 160 Income Diamonds = $0.56. Platform kept $9.30, agency commission was $0.14.
This two-layer system explains why hosts earning substantial Income Diamonds receive modest USD payouts. Host collecting 100,000 Income Diamonds monthly (≈$5,000 in viewer gifts at 20% conversion) receives $279.72 at 75% retention (100,000 ÷ 286 × 0.75).
Complete MICO Host Salary Calculation: Coins to Cash
Four conversion points: viewer coin purchase → virtual gift selection → platform conversion to Income Diamonds → agency commission.
Typical earnings:
Entry-level (first 3 months): $200-$500
Experienced hosts with loyal audiences: $2,500-$6,000+ monthly
Maximize earnings by streaming peak hours (7-11 PM local) when viewer activity and gifting peaks.
Step 1: MICO Coin Values and User Purchases
Viewers buy coins from small packages (100 coins) to bulk (10,000+). Private rooms cost 50-100 coins/minute. Public stream gifts range from single-coin stickers to thousands-of-coins premium gifts.
Viewer's purchase price doesn't correlate to host earnings. Promotional packages (Buy 1,000, get 200 free) reduce viewer cost but don't increase Income Diamond conversion for hosts.
Step 2: Platform Revenue Split (First Deduction)
MICO converts at 15-25% rates: hosts receive 150-250 Income Diamonds per 1,000 coins sent. Conversion varies by gift type—premium animated gifts convert lower due to rendering costs.
Platform retains 75-85% for operational expenses, payment processing (2-5% fees), content moderation, servers, profit.
Viewer spending $100 generates only $15-$25 worth of Income Diamonds before agency commission. Hosts must generate substantial engagement—consistent streaming across 15+ days monthly is essential.
Step 3: Agency Commission Application (15-25% Explained)
After platform conversion, agency commission applies. The 15-25% figure represents the inverse—hosts retain 75-85%, agencies take 15-25%.
Standard host at 50% retention = 50% commission
Elite host at 85% retention = 15% commission
Calculation is automatic. Host earning 10,000 Income Diamonds at 80% retention gets 8,000 credited to withdrawal balance. Agency receives 2,000. Transparent tracking via host dashboard.
Step 4: Final Host Payout with Real Examples
Final USD payout: 286 Income Diamonds = $1. Host with 8,000 Income Diamonds after commission receives $27.97 (8,000 ÷ 286).
Payments process 15th-20th of each month for previous month's earnings. Minimum withdrawal: $50 USD (≈14,300 Income Diamonds after commission). Below minimum carries forward to next month.
New hosts should expect 2-3 months of accumulated earnings before reaching withdrawal eligibility unless they quickly build audiences.
MICO Coin Economics: What Hosts Actually Receive
Reality: Hosts receive $0.50-$2.50 per 1,000 coins sent by viewers, depending on commission tier and gift conversion rate.
Example: Host receiving 100 gifts of 100 coins (10,000 total) at 20% platform conversion = 2,000 Income Diamonds. At 75% agency retention = 1,500 Income Diamonds = $5.24.
To earn $2,500 monthly requires ≈1,190,000 coins in viewer gifts—demanding consistent daily streaming and substantial audience cultivation.
MICO Coin to Dollar Conversion: Hosts vs Users
Viewers pay $0.01-$0.015 per coin. 1,000-coin gift costs viewers $10-$15.
Host receiving same 1,000-coin gift at 20% conversion (200 Income Diamonds) and 75% retention (150 Income Diamonds) earns $0.52.
Viewer-to-host value ratio: 19:1 to 29:1—viewers spend $19-$29 for every $1 host receives.
Virtual Gift Values: User Cost vs Host Earnings
Premium gifts (5,000-10,000 coins) create stark gaps. Viewer spending $75 on 5,000-coin animated gift generates ≈1,000 Income Diamonds at 20% conversion. After 75% retention, host receives 750 Income Diamonds = $2.62. Viewer spent $75 to deliver $2.62—a 28.5:1 ratio.
Lower-cost gifts often provide better value. Viewer sending 75 individual 100-coin gifts (7,500 total, $75 cost) might generate 1,500 Income Diamonds at 20% conversion. After 75% retention = 1,125 Income Diamonds = $3.93—a 19:1 ratio, 50% better than single premium gift.
Savvy hosts educate audiences about gift economics to maximize earnings per viewer dollar.
Why 1,000 Coins Received ≠ Full Dollar Equivalent
Psychological disconnect: 10,000 coins in daily summary suggests significant earnings, but reality is $1.75-$3.50 after conversions and commissions.
Education improves host retention. 1,000 coins = ≈70-200 Income Diamonds depending on gift type = $0.18-$0.52 after agency commission. 100,000 coins monthly generates $200-$500 actual earnings.
Calculating Effective Hourly Rate
Divide monthly USD earnings by total streaming hours. Host earning $350 monthly while streaming 35 hours = $10/hour—comparable to entry-level service jobs with flexible scheduling.
Peak hours (7-11 PM) generate 2-3× higher coin rates than off-peak. Host streaming 20 peak hours + 15 off-peak might earn $400, while another streaming 35 off-peak earns only $200 despite identical total hours.
Strategic scheduling optimization significantly impacts effective hourly rates.
Weekly Targets: Hours, Coins, and Performance Metrics
Minimum requirements:
35 streaming hours monthly
15+ separate calendar days (PST/GMT-8 timezone)
30-minute minimum stream duration per session
Streaming 59 minutes = zero credit toward monthly target. Combined with 30-min minimum, hosts must plan carefully to avoid technical issues jeopardizing targets.
Typical Weekly Streaming Hour Requirements
Weekly: 8-12 hours for standard contracts. Agency 8387 requires 25 regular hours + 5 Game Live hours = 35-hour monthly minimum.
Game Live = broadcast mobile gaming while interacting with viewers. Diversifies content, accesses gaming audiences. Hosts uncomfortable with gaming may negotiate alternatives but face higher total hour requirements.
Agencies track hours automatically. Hosts falling behind get automated reminders and account manager support. Consistent underperformance triggers improvement plans, potential contract termination, or commission reductions.
Coin Collection Targets: Minimum Thresholds
Standard-tier: 50,000-100,000 coins monthly = 10,000-25,000 Income Diamonds at 20% conversion = $262-$873 gross before commission.
Mid/elite-tier: 200,000-500,000+ coins monthly. Often include growth expectations (5-10% monthly increase).
Hosts exceeding targets qualify for bonuses:
Month 1: $100 after 35+ hours
Month 2: $150
Month 3: $150-$250
Engagement Metrics: Followers, Viewers, Interaction
Beyond hours and coins, agencies monitor:
Follower growth (10-20% monthly = healthy)
Average concurrent viewers (20-30 generates significantly more gifts than 5-10)
Chat message frequency
Viewer retention rates
4.5-star minimum rating (post-stream viewer satisfaction)
Requirements:
100+ followers (entry threshold; successful hosts cultivate 1,000-10,000+)
Reliable internet (10+ Mbps upload recommended)
Professional conduct (max 3 violations monthly)
Consequences of Missing Targets
First-time minor shortfalls (10-15% miss): Warning notifications, account manager consultations.
Repeated/severe shortfalls (25%+ miss or multiple consecutive months): Performance improvement plans, temporary commission reductions, bonus ineligibility, reduced promotional support.
Contract termination: Early termination fees $200-$500. Agencies exhaust support options first.
3-12 month lock-in contracts protect both parties—agencies recoup training investments, hosts receive committed support during growth phase.
Common MICO Coin Top-Up Misconceptions Debunked
Misconception #1: Hosts Get 100% of Coin Gift Values
Reality: 15-25% platform conversion means hosts receive 150-250 Income Diamonds worth $0.52-$0.87 per 1,000-coin gift before agency commission. After 75% retention = $0.39-$0.65—approximately 3-6% of what viewers paid.
Volume matters more than individual gift size. Receiving 100 gifts of 100 coins generates similar or better earnings than one 10,000-coin gift due to conversion rate variations.
Misconception #2: User Top-Up Bonuses Directly Benefit Hosts
Promotions like 20% bonus coins on purchases over $50 reduce viewer cost per coin but hosts receive identical Income Diamonds regardless of whether viewers bought during promotions.
1,000-coin gift generates same 150-250 Income Diamonds whether viewer paid $10 or $8.
Some hosts report decreased earnings during promotions as viewers delay gifting to stockpile discounted coins, then spread gifting over longer periods. Promotional benefit accrues to viewers (reduced cost) and platform (increased sales), not hosts.
Misconception #3: Agency Commission Is the Only Deduction
Platform's 75-85% retention of viewer spending ($7.50-$8.50 per $10 viewer purchase) never reaches Income Diamonds. This dwarfs agency commission.
Host negotiating from 70% to 75% retention gains only $0.13 per 1,000 Income Diamonds. Increasing coin collection from 50,000 to 75,000 monthly (50% increase) gains more income than negotiating commission from 70% to 80% (14% increase) on same volume.
Effort in audience building yields better returns than commission negotiations.
Misconception #4: All Coins Are Worth the Same
Different gifts convert at varying rates despite similar coin costs. 1,000-coin animated gift might convert at 15% (150 Income Diamonds) due to rendering costs, while 1,000-coin static gift converts at 25% (250 Income Diamonds).
Premium gifts (5,000-10,000 coins) often convert lower than mid-tier gifts (500-2,000 coins), making them less efficient despite impressive visuals.
Savvy hosts create gift menus or verbal cues highlighting preferred gifts. This can increase effective conversion rates by 15-30%.
Truth About Promotional Packages
Platform campaigns serve user acquisition/retention, not host earnings. Buy 1,000, get 300 free reduces viewer cost from $0.01 to $0.0077 per coin, potentially increasing total purchases 20-40%.
Hosts only benefit if increased purchasing translates to more gifts during their streams vs viewers stockpiling for future use.
Data: Promotional periods generate 10-25% increases in total platform gifting. Individual impact varies—hosts with loyal audiences streaming regularly during promotions capture disproportionate benefits. Inconsistent streamers see minimal impact.
Real-World MICO Host Earnings Examples
Examples use 286 Income Diamonds = $1 USD, 20% platform conversion (middle of 15-25% range), varying agency retention.
Example 1: Entry-Level Host with 10,000 Coins Monthly
35 hours monthly across 15 days, 10,000 coins received.
20% conversion = 2,000 Income Diamonds
60% agency retention = 1,200 Income Diamonds = $4.20/month
Falls below $50 minimum withdrawal—requires 12 months accumulation.
Why new host bonuses are critical: Signup bonus $50-$100 within 48 hours + Month 1 bonus $100 after 35+ hours provides immediate validation. Without bonuses, entry-level hosts wait nearly a year before payment.
Improving to 25,000 coins monthly (achievable in 2-3 months) = 5,000 Income Diamonds = $10.49 at 60% retention. Combined with bonuses totaling $400-$500 across first three months, realistic Q1 earnings: $430-$531.
Example 2: Mid-Tier Host with 50,000 Coins Monthly
50 hours monthly, 50,000 coins.
20% conversion = 10,000 Income Diamonds
70% retention = $24.48/month
Still below $50 withdrawal minimum—requires two-month accumulation or performance bonuses.
To reach $50 monthly withdrawal: Need ≈14,300 Income Diamonds after commission = 20,429 pre-commission at 70% = 102