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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Druski is no longer wondering what “coulda been,” because the star creator is living his best life. His new dating show brought him to the top spot in the Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report. The first episode of his latest program outranked branded content stalwarts like Ryan Trahan and Sam and Colby by getting more than 10 million views on his sponsored release. Looks like one of Instagram Live’s biggest names is trending up on YouTube as well.
Here’s the full rundown on the week’s top branded videos:
#1 Coulda Been Love Episode 1: Meet the Bachelor
Channel: Druski
Brand: Ro
Views:10,387,303
In an era when Love Is Blind captivates millions of viewers on Netflix, Druski has figured out that he can succeed on YouTube by dating his own collection of questionable suitors. He recruited a diverse cast of eligible women who are interested in dating him and brought them to a Bachelor-style manor where they have a chance to get to know the IG Live star. As a YouTube comment claims, Coulda Been Love does kinda feel like “putting all the worst people from your high school in the same room,” and the resulting interactions have more edge than what you’ll find on The Bachelor. The good news for Druski and sponsor Ro is that people love drama these days, as the show’s first episode — and its 10.3 million views — can attest.
#2 I Survived in an Ancient, then Futuristic Town
Channel: Ryan Trahan
Brand: Shopify
Views: 9,583,992
Ryan Trahan loves taking on a silly stunt in search of massive YouTube viewership, and that’s exactly what he got with his latest sponsored video. He got a blast from the past with a trip to an Italian cave, though I don’t know if they had vloggers in Etruscan times (Trahan may be the first.) He followed up that experience with a trip to the future, i.e. Japan. Ancient cultures may not have been able to buy fried chicken at 7-11, but at least they never had to face the existential horror of robot waiters. As for Trahan, he was born too late to explore the past and too early to explore the future, but he’s just in time to monetize his creator career with help from Shopify. What a world.
#3 I Survived Alone in Top 3 Haunted Prisons
Channel: Sam and Colby
Brand: BetterHelp
Views: 4,902,224
What’s better than getting a bunch of YouTubers together in a haunted location? What about gathering them inside THREE haunted prisons? Master ghost hunters Sam and Colby have produced many chart-topping branded videos by chronicling their encounters with the paranormal, and a 98-minute odyssey spread across a trio of haunted prisons is the next link in that chain. It’s too bad that Sam and Colby have to put themselves through psychological torture just to get YouTube views, but at least they can get some nice counseling sessions on the other side thanks to their video sponsor BetterHelp.
#4 “I want my $17,000 back”
Channel: Blacktail Studio
Brand: Incogni
Views: 4,878,537
Blacktail Studio turned an attempted scam into an opportunity to test out a new build. The top woodworking channel is not the only digital hub that has come into contact with hustlers and bad actors, and Blacktail’s choice of sponsor recognizes how difficult it is for creators to keep themselves safe and secure. Incogni can protect your digital data, but it can’t stop someone from showing up and demanding $17,000 you never promised to them. Moral of the story: Always triple-check your URLs before committing to an expensive piece of home decor.
BONUS #2,086 Living On My Own | cozy apartment chores, ikebana, girly nights at home
Channel: Tammy Mai
Brand: Blueland
Views: 26,705
For streamers, vloggers, and other creators who operate out of their homes, a tidy space is a must. If you want to know about the fallout that comes from a messy video background, just ask Asmongold, who was shamed for his sloppy setup a few months ago. Blueland, a purveyor of cleaning products, has recognized the need for pert creator homes by sponsoring five videos in this week’s Brand Report. One of those clips was uploaded by Tammy Mai, an artsy, homebody vlogger cut from the Emma Chamberlain mold. Mai may not be as big as some other vloggers on YouTube, but thanks to Blueland, her home is neat as a pin. Step one, check.
…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.
