TOGETHER WITH

It’s Thursday and in honor of Pet Appreciation Week, here’s a high-tech vacuum your dog might actually tolerate: iRobot’s new treat-dispensing Roomba.

PAID TO CREATE

Paywalled TikTok videos have arrived for creators with 10,000+ followers

TikTok is more determined than ever to become a go-to destination for long-term content. Its latest monetization feature, TikTok Series, is a big part of that mission—and now, the platform is encouraging a wider array of community members to take Series for a spin.

TikTok first introduced the new feature back in March as an invite-only monetization option that allowed creators to group videos into paywalled collections, with prices ranging from $1 to $190. As of June 6, eligibility for Series has been expanded to include creators in “select regions” who are 18+ years old, have 10,000 followers or more, and have earned at least 1,000 authentic views over the past 30 days.

The expansion of Series comes with another major perk.

Unlike normal uploads on TikTok (which have a maximum runtime of ten minutes), Series videos can be up to 20 minutes long. That extended time limit is a boon for long-form video makers hoping to expand their TikTok presence—but it’s also a big win for the platform itself. After all, if TikTok hopes to compete with YouTube for the allegiance of long-form creators and viewers, offering (hypothetically) solid monetization options is a good place to start.

🔆 SPONSORED 🔆

VidCon Anaheim 2023 is almost here. Do you have your ticket?

From June 21-24, the world’s leading creators, industry professionals, and fans will converge at the Anaheim Convention Center for one incomparable event: ​VidCon Anaheim 2023​. VidCon is the can’t miss event for anyone living or working in digital media and the creator economy. The first step: choosing your track.

Here’s a sneak peek at 2 of VidCon’s most popular tracks:

🌟 Creator Track 🌟 
The Creator Track is where aspiring creators develop their brands through expert panels, workshops, and more:

• Network in the Creator Track Lounges.

• Uncover industry secrets during the Creator Track Mentorship Series.

• Participate in the Creator Certification Program and receive a free year of VidCon’s Industry & Creator Track On Demand subscription!

• Enjoy access to all Community Track programming and activities.

🌟 Industry Track 🌟 
The Industry Track unites digital creators and industry professionals to learn from leading experts. Gain access to ​every Creator and Community Track perk​—plus these exclusive opportunities:

• Make connections at the Industry Track Lounge and Welcome Reception.

• Strengthen your business with Industry Track-only programming from the creators and disruptors driving the new era of digital media.

• Access exclusive networking opportunities through the VidCon app.

Now that you’ve chosen your track, it’s time to secure your spot.

​Snag your ticket to VidCon →

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• Grammy Award-winning musician Maria Schneider has called for an extension of her ongoing court battle against YouTube in order to address a judicial decision she described as “erroneous.” (Tubefilter)
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• Select Management partner Amy Neben sat down with Tubefilter to discuss how sports representation has evolved for creators. (Tubefilter)
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• Twitch has announced the immediate removal of new Branded Content Guidelines that would have heavily regulated sponsored streams. (TechCrunch)
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• According to new reports, Amazon Prime Video could be the next streaming service to launch an ad-supported tier. (Engadget)

DATA • STREAMERS ON THE RISE 📈

This streamer is all about the value of a great game. Here’s how he found his niche in Web3:

Brycent calls himself “the Web3 gaming guy” on Twitch, but crypto and NFTs aren’t actually his top priorities—or even near the top. According to the streamer, it’s the quality of the games themselves that makes or breaks any Web3 elements:

That unorthodox approach to Web3 games reflects Brycent’s unexpected journey into the world of streaming. Originally, the creator was aiming to go to law school—but with student debt looming overhead, he decided it made more sense to give software engineering a try. It was the right choice, especially since working remotely gave Brycent the chance to dive back into gaming and livestreaming.

Nowadays, the creator is a full-time Twitch streamer with just over 50,000 followers and a fresh contract with creator org XSET. So, what’s his advice for other gamers and creators?

Brycent encourages everyone to “to go into Web3 with an open mind.”

Check out our interview with Brycent here to get the full scoop on his Web3 gaming journey.

READING BETWEEN THE LINES

Indie authors are ❤ing TikTok Shop (even if the rest of the West isn’t)

So far, Western consumers don’t seem to be that interested in TikTok Shop (at least, not according to the prevailing narrative). But even though the ecommerce platform has struggled to expand beyond Asia, Shop makes sense for at least one group: Indie authors.

Take Adam Beswick, who publishes under his pen name A.P. Beswick. The U.K.-based fantasy author has made £11,000 (or around $14,000) in less than a year by selling his books through Shop. In a recent interview with Insider, Beswick described how he harnessed those profits—and the fervor around #BookTok—to become a full-time writer.

TikTok is well aware of the power wielded by #BookTok.

Last year, the platform boosted the #BookTok hype by establishing literature as its own Shop category in the U.K. That added visibility has helped independent authors like Beswick (who currently claims around 76,000 followers on TikTok) to sell books in much larger volumes—and the publishing industry is taking notice:

WATCH THIS 📺

This retail worker’s story shows that some people actually do scream for ice cream

Between long hours and irrational clientele, working in customer service can seem like a fever dream. But there is one way to make even the worst retail nightmare a little less infuriating: animation.

YouTuber Ice Cream Sandwich’s recent adaptation of a Redditor’s “customer tantrum story” is a prime example of that comforting phenomenon. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the drama of a sweet treat gone terribly wrong.

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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.