The wording with subsequent year is new this year. Before, you would only earn for the year that you stayed the required nights. So currently, if you stay 50 nights in 2021, but less than 50 in 2022, you would earn an elite status year for 2021 and 2022. Previously, you would only earn it for 2021.
I believe that this was also the case in Marriott Rewards, but can't remember for sure.