The YouTube talent companies that have sprung up over recent years are no stranger to innovation. What was once called The Cloud Media has been transformed into Big Frame, a hybrid production/management company focused on helping creators find their voices and build their audiences. Read more »
As YouTube’s self-made stars have grown in popularity, a number of companies have been founded to maximize their online influence across multiple platforms. Here’s an overview of those working behind-the-scenes on big deals for Ryan Higa, Annoying Orange, ShayCarl and Mystery Guitar Man. Read more »
YouTuber Josh Sundquist was named today as YouTube’s On the Rise star for January, getting a featured spot on the front page. Looking at his videos, it’s not hard to see why — the author, Paralympian and motivational speaker’s work isn’t just fun, but truly inspirational. Read more »
Partners Project, which focuses on YouTube creators finding success with full-time video making, is not for anyone who hasn’t heard of Sxephil or LisaNova. But for those who are invested emotionally or financially in the future of online video, there is much of interest here. Read more »
This week’s 5 Questions With… features Phil DeFranco, a YouTube star who regularly tops the Most Viewed page. Here, Phil talks about the power of being an Internet personality and how he manages to keep up with his own YouTube channel as well as other projects. Read more »
It’s been almost two years since we last wrote about Jon Lajoie — whose comedy sketches and songs helped him build international fame online — but while he’s been doing pretty well for himself thanks to acting gigs and an original album, he’s still maintained his web popularity. Read more »
In the first 24 hours of Weezer’s YouTube invasion, timed to promote their new album Hurley, the multiple videos featuring cameos by the band earned a combined five million views. But the promotion may not have had much effect on record sales. Read more »
The band Weezer has been a YouTube enthusiast for ages, and to promote their new album Hurley (coincidentally, available in stores today!), they gave YouTubers like Mystery Guitar Man, Fred, and Hot for Words a chance to put the band in their videos. Read more »
Recent coverage of popular and successful YouTube creators making a profit off their content has lead to a backlash regarding the quality of what’s being created. But dismissing YouTubers means dismissing their genius at audience engagement, doing all of web video a disservice. Read more »
Attendees of the inaugural VidCon conference last weekend were largely on the young side, but watching fans interact with their favorite YouTube creators made it clear that entertainment is changing, with audiences expecting a greater level of connection with creators than ever before. Read more »
In the online video world, there are no shortage of conferences — but they’re aimed specifically at the business of the industry, not the culture of it. Enter Vlogbrothers’ Hank Green’s VidCon, which will run from July 9-11 in Los Angeles. Read more »
YouTuber Olga Kay’s past life as a circus performer and juggler has lead the actress to team up with director Andrea Ball and producer Sarah Evershed to make the Kickstarter-funded Olga Kay’s Circus, a lushly-filmed short that claims to be YouTube’s first interactive circus. Read more »
Created by popular YouTube users Pedro D. Flores and Tim Chantarangsu, this independent film musical project has been acquired by Lakeshore Entertainment’s transmedia division for distribution — a path which may take the film to festivals, DVD, and maybe even a theatrical release. Read more »
YouTuber Week continues with JP Metz, one of many vloggers making videos about applying cosmetics. However, she’s the only one regularly cussing out her fans and offering don’ts instead of dos, and her particular brand of snarky ranting is great parody and great fun. Read more »
Day Three of YouTuber Week focuses on self-taught filmmaker Julian Smith, whose acting talents are almost overshadowed by his incredible production values. However, the 23-year-old creator puts his comedy first, and himself second, for a varied assortment of sketches, music videos, and random video experiments. Read more »
YouTuber Week continues with a look at artist and vlogger Kat Sketch. Having joined YouTube in September 2008, Sketch’s viewcounts rarely break the six figure mark, but her art pieces using unconventional materials are just one part of her online success. Read more »
YouTuber Week begins with a look at the work of Joe Penna, known on YouTube as MysteryGuitarMan. The Brazilian-born musician and creator combines clear musical talent with technical ability and a quirky, relatable sense of humor, resulting in videos which are charming, well-produced and fun. Read more »
A group of YouTube creators have filed an amicus brief in the ongoing legal battle between Google and Viacom voicing their support for the site’s value as it currently operates and arguing that to make YouTube responsible for content posted site could destroy what’s been built. Read more »
