Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: MrBeast leads us out of the YouTube wilderness

Welcome to our rundown of the most-watched branded YouTube videos of the week.

We’re publishing this snippet of a larger Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report in order to analyze sponsorship trends in the creator economy. Any video launched in tandem with an official brand partner is eligible for the ranking.

And – as the name up above would imply – all the data comes from Gospel Stats. If you’re interested in learning more about Gospel – and which brands are sponsoring what creators on YouTube – click here.

It’s MrBeast’s world. We’re all just living in it.

June 2024 has been an astonishing month for the world’s most popular creator. He caught T-Series to gain the title of most-subscribed YouTube channel, hit the #1 spot in our Global Top 50 after getting more than 1.3 billion weekly views, and reached the top of our Weekly Brand Report as well. Oh, did I mention the month is only ten days old? There are plenty more opportunities for Jimmy Donaldson to continue adding to his impressive YouTube repertoire.

#1 $10,000 Every Day You Survive In The Wilderness
Channel: MrBeast
Brand: Samsung, Zaxby’s

MrBeast’s latest chart-topping sponsored video might be a metaphor for his career on YouTube. Once upon a time, all of us viewers were wandering through the proverbial woods. Then, MrBeast showed up with a briefcase full of money, and YouTube has never been the same since. His latest video features a pair of sponsors. Samsung has been one of Jimmy Donaldson’s regular sponsors for months, while Zaxby’s is a newer entrant to the MrBeast universe. The Southern chicken chain recently partnered with Donaldson for a Feastables-themed promotion across its locations.

#2 14 most AWKWARD Tech Fails of all time
Channel: Mrwhosetheboss
Brand: Bitdefender

Arun Maini is wading into the wonderful world of rage bait. The tech reviewer known as Mrwhosetheboss was one of the creators who went viral for his negative review of the much-maligned Humane AI Pin. Now, he’s following up that viewership success with a similar video that runs through some of the least successful tech products of all time. Luckily, Maini’s sponsor isn’t on the list. His latest foray into our Weekly Brand Report is brought to us by Bitdefender, a digital tool that helps its users identify and root out scams.

#3 How Scammers Steal Your Card Info
Channel: Zack D. Films
Brand: Ridge

Speaking of scammers, Zack D. Films is examining a dastardly trick for his entry in this week’s Report. The fast-rising Shorts creator has opened up plenty of sponsorship opportunities since he broke into our Global Top 50, and his latest collab is with Ridge, the wallet company that has brought on Marques Brownlee in a creative role. Apparently, the heavy-duty exterior of Ridge’s signature product contains an RFID shield to protect your personal data from IRL phishing attempts. The more you know!

#4 MARCUS RASHFORD SPENT THOUSANDS MODIFYING HIS ROLLS ROYCE .. NOW I HAVE TO DO THE SAME
Channel: Mat Armstrong
Brand: carVertical

It’s time for the next chapter in the saga of Mat Armstrong and Marcus Rashford’s totaled car. Armstrong has made two previous appearances in our Weekly Brand Report; both of those videos related to the Rolls Royce Wraith previously owned by Rashford. The Manchester United forward wrecked his vehicle, but Armstrong is now restoring it by adding in all the bells and whistles. His project will cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars, but luckily for him, his YouTube traffic is helping him recoup some of those costs.

BONUS #1,939 Spend The Day With Me In New York
Channel: Lizzy Hadfield
Brand: J.Crew

What’s next for J.Crew? The retailer known for its preppy looks has had a long fall since its days as an archetypical mall anchor. After filing for bankruptcy in 2020, J.Crew is turning to YouTube to find its next generation of spokespeople. Fashion creator Lizzy Hadfield partnered with J.Crew for a vlog that depicts her day in New York City. You can still find J.Crew locations in the Big Apple, but the chain doesn’t have nearly as many locations as it once did. This is its only sponsorship in the latest Weekly Brand Report, but maybe YouTube videos are about to become its next big thing.

…and there’s a lot more data where that came from. If you’re interested in learning more about Gospel – and which brands are sponsoring what creators on YouTube – click here.