TOGETHER WITH

It’s Wednesday and Spotify has (finally) debuted podcast comment sections. The catch: only creators will have the power to actually publish that thought you’ve been dying to share since Episode 1.

YOUTUBE GETS POLITICAL

Hasan Minhaj gets up close and personal with politicians in a new YouTube series

The new series: Hasan Minhaj is gearing up for the 2024 election cycle. The political commentator serves as the titular host of Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know, a new YouTube series centered around interviews with prominent politicians.

• First up: Elizabeth Warren. The former presidential candidate appeared in the debut episode of Minhaj’s new show, which set a precedent for the type of comedic quips and tough questions viewers can expect. After describing Warren as an “intellectual athlete,” Minhaj hit the Massachusetts Senator with hard-to-evade queries like “How old is too old to be President?”

The context: Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know is far from the comedian’s first political rodeo—on or off YouTube. In addition to releasing viral YouTube videos like this 2023 interview with Barack Obama, Minhaj drew both critical acclaim and allegations of a toxic work environment during the six-season run of his Netflix series, Patriot Act.

The big picture: Minhaj’s new show on YouTube is co-created by Patriot Act alum Prashanth Venkataramanujam. While Netflix has its own vibrant viewership base, social media has proven to be a key battleground state in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.

• YouTube channels belonging to hubs like Comedy Central have garnered millions of views with politically-driven content, while Joe Biden and Donald Trump have turned to TikTok to woo voters and court creators (despite outwardly showing support for a forced sale of the Bytedance-owned app).
  
  

• The Biden Administration plans to double down on that social media-first strategy in August, when influencers head to the White House for the first-ever “Creator Economy Conference.”

🔆 SPONSORED 🔆

Looking for talent representation? Here’s one creator’s three-step FAQ to get you started:

As a creator, you have a clear vision for your future. Now, it’s time to find an agent who can make those dreams a reality.

But what exactly should creators look for when seeking talent representation?

We linked up with Viral Nation star LaToya Forever to answer creators’ most-asked questions. Here’s what she had to say:

1. What advice would give a creator seeking representation?

“Knowing what sets you apart from others in your field and effectively conveying this will not only attract the right representation but also establish a sturdy foundation for a successful partnership.”

2. What questions can a creator ask to find the right agent?

“Can you share examples of how you've helped creators align their vision with opportunities in the past? How do you typically identify and secure brand partnerships for your clients?”

3. What do you think is the biggest misconception creators have?

“Creators often mistakenly believe that securing representation guarantees instant success…While agents facilitate opportunities, creators must continue to hone their craft.”

So, why did LaToya Forever sign with Viral Nation? As the world’s #1 creator talent agency, Viral Nation provides 360 PR, brand deal management, and content distribution services at a scale like no other. 

Learn more about Viral Nation →

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• YouTube has begun testing an ‘Add Yours’ sticker that will give Shorts creators a way to encourage viewers to remix their videos. (Tubefilter)
  
  

• Instagram is keeping things short and sweet. According to exec Adam Mosseri, the Meta-owned app has no interest in shifting its focus to long-form videos (at least, not “anytime soon”). (The Verge)
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• Is X stuck in a rut? According to The Financial Times, the platform has seen a mere 1.6% year-over-year increase in global daily active users. (The Verge)
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• In a Truth Social post uploaded Tuesday, Donald Trump threatened “Election Fraudsters” with jail time and warned Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg “to be careful” ahead of the 2024 elections. (Gizmodo)

DATA • GLOBAL TOP 50 📈

This motorcycle channel jumped from the Top 500 to the Top 50 in just 7 days

The channel: M50 Redox is on a roll. The India-based channel has become a recognizable favorite on YouTube Shorts thanks to its helmet-wearing creators and comedic skits.

• Sweet rides and open roads might set M50 Redox apart from other popular Shorts channels, but motorcycle enthusiasts make up only a portion of the hub’s 4.7 million subscribers.
  
  

• In truth, cycling mainly serves as a thematic backdrop to M50’s primary offering: dialogue-free skits centered around over-the-top road etiquette, romances gone wrong, and seconds-long comedy bits.

The strategy: The broad appeal of M50’s humorous skits places it in the same category as top Shorts channels like KL BRO Biju Rithvik. By tapping into universally beloved categories like “boys vs. girls” challenges, morality tales, family humor, and PG-rated romance, M50 has attracted an audience that transcends age, language, and gender. That wide-ranging approach is paying off in a major way:

The stats: After six years on YouTube, M50 Redox experienced its best-ever week at the start of July.

• A seven-day total of 256.3 million views tripled the channel’s traffic, bringing it to #40 in the U.S. Top 50.
  
  

• One week earlier, M50 Redox barely reached the Top 500. Now, the motorcycle-themed hub is just days away from reaching 1.8 billion lifetime views.

NIGHT OF THE YEAR

The world’s most prominent influencer boxing event is getting back in the ring on July 13

The big event: La Velada del Año IV is just three days away. The latest installment of Ibai Llanos’ influencer boxing event will take place on July 13 at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the 80,000-seat home of soccer club Real Madrid.

• 2024 marks Llanos’ fourth round as the organizer of La Velada del Año, but last year’s event is the one to beat. La Velada del Año III drew 70,000 fans to Madrid’s Civitas Metropolitano stadium and attracted a record-breaking 3.4 million concurrent viewers on Twitch (where Llanos claims 15 million followers).

The fight card: Fans who tune into the event via Llanos’ Twitch channel will see creators like El Mariana and La Cobra compete across four individual matches. A two-on-two match and a ten-participant “King of the Ring” free-for-all are also on the agenda, alongside musical performances from Bizarrap, Anuel, and Will Smith.

Industry perspective: Those stars aren’t the only ones preparing in earnest for La Velada del Año IV—at least, they shouldn’t be. While last year’s event was a resounding success, technical difficulties cast doubts on Twitch’s ability to serve as a reliable host for major creator events:

• As creator event platforms like Kiswe become increasingly desirable options for stars like Rhett & Link and The Try Guys, Twitch will need to prove its mettle to retain the allegiance of influencer hosts like Llanos.

WATCH THIS 📺

Sam Riegel is back with a message for Critical Role fans: “Listen to your bodies”

The triumphant return: Sam Riegel has long been “the fearless leader” of the YouTube sensation Critical Role—but in last few months, fans began to notice that he was less present in the hub’s viral D&D adventures.

• An explanation for Riegel’s absence came on Monday, when he revealed that he’s now “on the road to recovery” after being diagnosed with HPV-related oropharyngeal carcinoma (or tonsil cancer).
  
  

• After outlining his treatment and recovery process in a short video, the voice actor encouraged viewers to “listen to your bodies” and get vaccinated to avoid the “100% preventable” forms of cancer caused by HPV. Check out Riegel’s full video here to learn more.

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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen. Drew Baldwin helped edit, too. It's a team effort