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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Veritasium gets a double-header in our latest Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report, proving yet again that people on the internet really like science content. Before his two slots, though, we have a bit of a sober start with an in-depth car crash report from Midwest Crime (sponsored, perhaps unsurprisingly, by a personal injury law firm). Then we wrap up with an appearance from YouTube‘s favorite lobsterman, and just a spot of celebrity tech.
See all five of this week’s most-watched branded videos right here:
#1 The Moment She Realized She Killed Two People
Channel: Midwest Crime
Brand: Morgan & Morgan
Views: 8,925,461
Like we said, this week has a sober start. Midwest Crime, a channel whose goal is “unmasking the hidden crimes of the Midwest,” uses police body cam footage to cover car crashes, criminal chases, confessions, and more. In this video, he covers a 2021 crash where a brother and sister who were road racing caused an accident that killed 22-year-old couple Tayler Garza and Dalton Ford. Both drivers were convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years and 15 years in prison, respectively. The video focuses largely on police interactions with the sister, whose car was not impacted by the crash. We’ll let Midwest Crime cover the rest of the case, but we do think there’s something to be said about a moment in the video where one police officer at the scene criticizes bystanders for showing up, crowding the injured and dead victims, and using their phones to “film for their commentary.” True crime has grown immensely as a genre since the start of COVID, and there’s always a fine line between coverage and exploitation. This video (along with nearly 20 others this week) is sponsored by personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan, which has an overwhelmingly negative rating on Trustpilot.
#2 I used to hate QR codes. But they’re actually genius
Channel: Veritasium
Brand: Saily
Views: 5,898,462
For our first Veritasium entrant of the week, we have QR codes, those things no one wants to see in place of real paper menus. QR codes have been around since 1994, and while they pop up all over the place (including here on YouTube, where connected TV ads often prompt viewers to scan with their phone), are they actually good? Veritasium thinks so–and he’s a recent convert, thanks to the contents of this video. We won’t spoil the rest, but we will say this video is sponsored by eSIM company Saily, which sponsored just one other video this week: #46, a deep dive into AI from Incognito Mode.
#3 Seeing Inside A Thermite Reaction
Channel: Veritasium
Brand: Incogni
Views: 5,088,412
Things get hot in Veritasium‘s second video of the week. This one’s about thermite, a pyrotechnic material that gets real heated real quick. To really get a look at what happens when thermite is heated, the Veritasium team (along with a few scientists from German company Goldschmidt) got the idea to create a cutaway container where you can see through on one side, looking directly into the reaction. The trick was getting that container to work. This video (sponsored by data broker removal service Incogni) is the start of a series where Veritasium looks at this particular reaction, so buckle up–there’s more experiments where that came from.
#4 I tested every Celebrity Tech product!
Channel: Mrwhosetheboss
Brand: Insta360
Views: 4,169,256
Celebrities become celebrities because they’re skilled (or because they have a really catchy catchphrase). But can those skills cross credit? Mrwhosetheboss wants to answer that question: in his latest upload, he takes a look at tech products that come from celebs you may not expect, including Will Smith and Kim Kardashian, to find out whether they’re boss or toss. And if viewers like this one (which, judging by the 4+ million views it’s racked up, they do), he’s offering to maybe test YouTuber products next, which we’re sure will be one heck of a ride. This video is, intriguingly, sponsored by a tech company: Insta360, which makes action cameras. That company sponsored just one other vid this week–#96, I Travelled 500km to Japan’s Most Overrated Town.
BONUS #1,316 Keeping an ocean MONSTER as my pet!
Channel: Jacob Knowles
Brand: Ethos
Views: 60,514
Jacob Knowles has been on our radar for a few years now. He’s a fifth generation lobsterman, and started regularly uploading videos about his seafaring adventures during the early days of COVID. His channel is an in-depth look at his profession, teaching viewers everything from what a notched lobster tail means (a breeding female, don’t kill her!) to why removing barnacles from sea life is important to why giving every lobster a snack is very important. Knowles has made hundreds of Shorts and long-form videos, and now has over 2 million followers watching him for his expertise and easygoing vibe. In this video sponsored by life insurance company Ethos, he releases Calico Jack, a one-in-a-million lobster who was living in his garage, and has to find another short-term resident for his aquarium.
…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.
