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.
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Last week, MrBeast took the #1 spot in our ranking of the most-watched sponsored YouTube videos released over a specific seven-day period.
One week later, Jimmy Donaldson is still involved in the most-watched branded video, but the clip in question was not uploaded on his record-breaking channel. Instead, MrBeast showed up as a guest star alongside Airrack, who has gotten more than seven million views with footage of an epic “transformation.”
Have I set the stage well enough yet? Let’s get on with the first video in the ranking:
#1 My 600 Day Transformation Against MrBeast
Channel: Airrack
Brand: SoFi
When it comes to challenge videos, MrBeast and Airrack are two of YouTube’s biggest names, so it’s no surprise that they drew millions with a contest of strength. Both creators attempted to shape up their doughy bodies as much as possible over a fixed period. The result: A showdown between the two at an actual bodybuilding contest. Airrack’s dedication to his stunt is a show of personal discipline, and the same could be said about his relationship with sponsor SoFi. Airrack talked financials on SoFi’s Richer Lives podcast as part of his pact with the brand.
#2 I Built a Car out of Scooters
Channel: Michael Reeves
Brand: Odoo
Michael Reeves is one of YouTube’s premier builders of stuff that’s flat-out weird and impractical. That description definitely applies to Reeves’ latest creation: A car that has scooters-for-hire as its wheels. I can’t say I want to ride in that monstrosity myself, but then again, I’m already sheepish about Lime scooters in general. Don’t be surprised if Reeves himself throws caution to the wind. If you’re attending Open Sauce in the Bay Area this week, please report back on the car Reeves is driving. I want to know if he’s willing to take this beast out in public.
#3 Inside Air Force One During 9/11
Channel: neo
Brand: Ground News
Ground News has emerged as a reliable sponsor for channels that support its mission of clear, unbiased news. The outlet previous showed up in our ranking attached to videos from Kurzgesagt and others, and it is now backing a clip that brings viewers back to September 11, 2001. Neo‘s cinematic output put viewers in a set on Air Force One as the events of that ignominious day unfold. The exacting, precise nature of the video makes it a perfect complement to Ground News and its middle-of-the-road approach to news reporting.
#4 I brought the boy to his homeland
Channel: PewDiePie
Brand: Ridge
The past decade and change has been a long, winding arc for PewDiePie, the gamer who once ruled YouTube as its most-subscribed creator. Felix Kjellberg has undergone a lot of growth since, you know, all of that stuff, and he seems to have settled down into a life of fatherhood. The latest chapter in that story brought him, his wife Marzia, and their baby Bjorn to Japan, where the youngest member of that trio was born. Perhaps trips to PewDiePie’s ancestral Sweden or Marzia’s native Italy are up next — will wallet maker Ridge back those videos as well?
BONUS #1,677 I Went Book Shopping at Barnes and Noble… LET’S DO A MASSIVE BOOK HAUL!!!
Channel: Alexandra Roselyn
Brand: Book of the Month
For all the buzz #BookTok gets, marketers must keep in mind that YouTube is still a premium platform when it comes to literary content. A recent video from bookworm Alexandra Roselyn shows the potential for YouTube-based lit partnerships. Roselyn supported the subscription service Book of the Month in a recent clip that showed off one of her massive reading hauls. My only complaint is that Roselyn bought her books at Barnes & Noble. Maybe next time an indie bookshop can get a sponsorship alongside Roselyn’s other backers.
…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.
