Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: One cave, one chill, and the Jumbotron at the Paris Olympics

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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After a one-week MrBeast interregnum, the embattled creator is back on top of our Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report. The North Carolina-based creator epitomized one of two groups that dominated our sponsored video ranking this week: The top places were occupied by two Brand Report regulars and two creators who are bringing lesser-heralded content categories to the forefront. All of the details and analysis can be found below, so let’s get to it:

#1 7 Days Stranded In A Cave
Channel: MrBeast
Brand: Moose Toys, Swarms
Views: 92,242,177

For Jimmy Donaldson (a.k.a. MrBeast), I’m sure that a week-long trip to a dark cave feels like an apt metaphor for the darkness that has engulfed his brand in recent weeks. A fortnight ago, our Weekly Brand Report revealed that Donaldson’s videos are still performing up to his usual standards. Now, we’re getting a reminder about the brands that are still eager to attach themselves to his content. The MrBeast Lab toy line, which has hit shelves thanks to a partnership with Moose Toys, got a shout-out in the cave video. Something tells me that Donaldson has plenty more spelunking to do in the seemingly boundless world of influencer marketing.

#2 Fever Feels Horrible, but is Actually Awesome!
Channel: Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
Brand: 80,000 Hours
Views: 4,712,151

Kurzgesagt has become a regular in this column by breaking the mold. Animation videos typically require a lot of resources and the channel’s brand of “optimistic nihilism” doesn’t exactly resemble the feel-good bent of a MrBeast or Dhar Mann video. But maybe the optimistic nihilists have always been Kurzgesagt’s secret weapon. What fits that description better than a worker who continues to seek new employment even though they’ve hated every job they’ve done thus far? That’s an oversimplified description of what video sponsor 80,000 Hours is about, and Kurzgesagt is amplifying the brand’s message to its unique subscriber base.

#3 Can I Get on the Jumbotron at the Paris Olympics? #Paris2024

Channel: Jenny Hoyos
Brand: Olympics
Views: 3,412,956

Tentpole sports events give creators opportunities to crash the Weekly Brand Report with one-off Shorts. That’s what Mark Rober did during the Super Bowl, when his Jumbotron antics provided a coup for his sponsoring brand, the NFL. During the 2024 Summer Olympics, it was Jenny Hoyos’ turn to ride a popular partnership with a sporting body. The fast-rising creator pulled out all the stops to show up on the big screen at an Olympic event, and as a result, she delivered one of the biggest sponsored videos of the week on behalf of the quadrennial competition.

#4 Mean Green Machine
Channel: Jaeger Z999
Brand: MidwayUSA
Views: 3,138,909

Jaeger Z999 is another creator who is bringing a specific category into the spotlight though his branded Shorts. Unlike Hoyos, Jaeger isn’t appealing to sports fans. His product demonstrations appeal to firearms enthusiasts, who may be compelled toward their next big purchase thanks to his videos. (There’s also some ASMR in there with all the clicking and popping noises in this Short.) Firearms creators haven’t always had the easiest time dealing with YouTube’s restrictions, but those restrictions didn’t stop this clip from amassing more than three million views.

BONUS #755 How to look Bad Every Day
Channel: Teachingmensfashion
Brand: Keeps
Views: 110,979

You would think that personal grooming brands would want their customers to look good and feel good, but the Teachingmenfashion channel has other ideas. The latest video on that hub is a completely straight-faced guide for men who want to look terrible all the time. If you’ve ever wanted to make sure your hair is gross, you have acne all over your body, and your clothes are dirty, Teachingmenfashion has you covered. From that standpoint, the grooming solutions from sponsor Keeps start to look better and better. But the funniest part of this video may have been completely unintentional. 20 years ago, some of this advice (especially the tips pertaining to baggy pants) would have been seen as completely acceptable. Oh, how fashion changes.

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…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.