James Hale

• Crocs’ new sales strategy? A five-part microdrama
• Night raises $70 million to “build, operate and acquire businesses embedded in internet culture”

  Night, the Dallas-based talent management company that reps creators like Kai Cenat, Sam & Colby, and Safiya Nygaard, has raised $70 million to "build, operate and acquire businesses embedded in internet culture across all facets of media and entertainment, including digital media, music, sports, gaming, podcasting, streaming and live events," it says.

  
• Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: Blueberries, superjets, and Polymarket

  MrBeast's reign continues: He's #1 and #2 this week, and in video #1, he presents the idea of a future where Elon Musk puts us all on Mars so we can watch his videos there, too. Other videos in this week's Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report bring us back to Earth: It's tax season and the tail end of football season. But don't worry--our bonus will bring you right back to the stars, WALL-E-style.

  
• Netflix is doing it live

  On Jan. 25, Netflix drew over 6 million people with a livestream of famed free solo climber Alex Honnold scaling Taipei 101 with zero safety gear. 

  
• Moose Toys brings in Mark Rober, Salish Matter
• Little Dot’s new data digs into YouTube viewer habits across video lengths (and what happens when the algorithm changes)
• Law&Crime just bought Court TV
• Top 5 Branded Videos of the Week: MrBeast goes to SpaceX
• Netflix just signed its biggest creator deal yet
• “YouTube has kind of this attitude, like, ‘You’re lucky to be on YouTube'”: Spotify’s Head of Talk Strategy dunks on YouTube after Netflix deal
• The BBC is giving production companies £600,000 to make content for YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch
• YouTube is making people pay up for background play