Each week, we handpick a selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry.
This week, one of YouTube’s biggest kids’ media companies is doing it live, a TikToker is going to the big screen, and a one-time Minecraft star is moving into the world of investing.
Creator commotion
Super Simple Songs is turning its IRL tour into a “surprise party.” With more than 57 billion views on its main YouTube channel, Super Simple Songs is a favorite of young kids (and their overtaxed parents). With a six-city swing through Southern Ontario, Super Simple Songs will host a “surprise party” that will feature the musical stylings of primary star Caitie Classens. The tour kicks off in September.
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Not all creator fast food promos are created equal. That’s what Popeye’s found out when it invited streamers to use its foodstuffs to design their ideal plates. Cinna and FaZe Lacy both endured confusing moments after learning that these combos aren’t being listed as actual menu options. Lacy was even spurned when he went to Popeye’s and tried to order his meal for himself. Can I get a side of omegalul with that?
Barber-turned-influencer VicBlends battles recidivism with prison hairstyling school. After getting millions of social media followers, VicBlends is providing a way forward for incarcerated inmates. His barber school is now opening its doors at the Valley State Prison in California. Now there’s a good guy who’s a cut above the rest.
The biz
JeromeASF joins a rising creator investment firm. Once upon a time, Jerome Aceti was one of the biggest names in the Minecraft world. His YouTube channel isn’t as active as it used to be, but he’s making big moves in the investing world by joining HotStart, a VC firm whose partner roster also includes top creators Sasha Pieterse and Marina Mogilko. Members of the HotStart team have already previously helped to start notable entities like Feastables and is looking to invest in more creator-led companies.
Slow Ventures kicks off $60 million creator fund by backing Jonathan Katz-Moses. Earlier this year, early-stage firm Slow announced its plan to target “high-value verticals” through strategic investments in enterprising creators. Katz-Moses, a woodworker who publishes sharp, polished videos, is definitely the type of creator Slow is looking for — and he’s getting $2 million toward his holding company as a result.
Grocery store tourism is surging thanks to TikTok. If you’re the kind of person who likes to live vicariously through the konbini snack hunters of TikTok, good news — you’re contributing to a significant trend in the realm of food and drink.
Pop culture minute
It’s not Wishful Thinking to believe Jake Shane deserves a role in a feature film. The TikToker known for silly reenactments of historical events has been cast in a romantic comedy that is currently in production. Like his new castmates Randall Park, Amita Rao, and Kate Berlant, Shane is repped by UTA.
GSTV is bringing creators to a gas station near you. A campaign themed around road trips will turn social media notables like Tank Sinatra and Paul Virzi into pump-side entertainment. Can you fill it up with premium content, please?
Crunchyroll’s Demon Slayer marathon will make a popular anime free on YouTube. By streaming one episode of the shonen series at a time, Crunchyroll will prepare viewers for an upcoming Demon Slayer movie while taking advantage of YouTube’s promotional potency. If you miss the initial marathon, you can catch VOD versions of the episodes on YouTube for a week.
The ad world
YouTube is going all-in on its exclusive NFL broadcast. Colombian pop star Karol G has been announced as the halftime entertainment for the Brazil-set, season-opening tilt between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s hoping this broadcast has fewer technical glitches than Travis Kelce’s previous big moment on YouTube.
Viewture onboards Jellysmack vet to deepen creator partnerships. The firm known for investing in top YouTube talent has brought in Jason Kingston-Brown as its Head of Sales and Creative Strategy. In a LinkedIn post, Kingston-Brown said his new role “will focus on accelerating commercial partnerships, growing our creator pipeline, and supporting more talent to scale on their own terms.”
Members of the beehiiv Media Collective are reaching thousands of subscribers. Newsletter platform beehiiv has provided an update on its effort to support independent journalists. Ryan Broderick’s creator-focused periodical Garbage Day is one of the biggest winners, with more than 100,000 subscribers on board.
The internet is a strange place
“Musical festival” is the new protest code word. If the federal government is going to monitor social media to punish protestors, than those dissidents need to use coded language to talk about their plans. So if you think that Washington, D.C. is suddenly full of live music events, you may be misreading the latest posts.
Miniature Ikea stores are opening up inside of Best Buy locations. I call this one the “blue-and-yellow logo alliance.” Is there room in that team-up for Goodyear, Pokemon, WD-40, or West Virginia University? Inquiring minds want to know.
Anthropic is giving credence to people who think that AI company logos look like buttholes. The evidence is mounting. I mean, just look at this post. It’s very Greendale Community College of them.
