TOGETHER WITH

It’s Tuesday and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg seems to know something we don’t. So…what’s with the secret underground bunker, Zuck?

BEWARE OF THE GOATMAN 🐐

MoistCr1tikal, Wendigoon, and Jackson Clarke’s new crime-and-cryptids podcast is already ranked #2 in the U.S.

True crime and conspiracy theory junkies are in for a terrifying treat. YouTubers MoistCr1tikal, Wendigoon, and Jackson Clarke have teamed up to “investigate the peculiar space just beyond reality” through a new podcast called Red Thread.

The Goatman: Red Thread‘s first episode explores the historical context and origins of the Goatman, an urban legend (and popular YouTube meme) that has sparked horror stories in “pretty much every state” since the 1970s.

• Episode #2 introduces fans to Charles Morgan, a regular Joe who vanished on March 22, 1977 and reappeared three days later suffering from intense paranoia.

Fan response: According to the CEO of Mana Talent Group—which is owned by MoistCr1tikal and reps both Wendigoon and Clarke—Red Thread quickly rose to #1 on U.S. true crime podcast charts and #2 across all categories.

• (The Joe Rogan Experience has laid claim to the #1 spot for a long time now).

The takeaway: YouTube and TikTok audiences are clamoring for more content from their favorite creators—and they’re willing to try out new formats (and even new platforms) to get it.

• Toss three popular creators from the same agency into the mix and the potential for cross-platform audience growth skyrockets.

🔆 SPONSORED 🔆

Ready to grow your brand? Here’s a 3-step guide to funding your future with Spotter:

As a YouTuber, expanding your brand is a big step. Maybe you’re ready to grow your team, set up a studio, or launch a new project. Either way, Spotter is here to make it happen. In fact, their team of experts has already invested $850+ million in creator careers, with personalized funding deals ranging from $100,000 to $50 million. 

Here’s how to kickstart your funding journey with Spotter:

Step 1: Visit the website to hear what top creators have to say 💬
Spotter’s website is full of FAQs and creator stories. Learn more about Airrack’s funding journey, or find out how Deestroying has leveled up his channel.

Step 2: Get in touch with the team 🤝
Fill out a quick online contact form and Spotter experts will reach out ASAP. After that initial conversation, you’ll receive upfront funds within a matter of days.

Step 3: Spend your fresh capital however you choose 💸
Spotter is committed to helping creators achieve financial and creative freedom—meaning you can use your new funds to reinvest in yourself. And if you ever do need support? 

Spotter’s community team is on hand to provide invaluable YouTube performance insights, personalized guidance, and the additional resources you need to succeed at scale. 

Start your funding journey →

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• MrBeast is teaming up with the Shop app to answer “thousands” of holiday gift requests. (Tubefilter)
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• Thanks to a new update, TikTok users can expect a “clear video feed,” “streamlined navigation bars,” and “support for portrait or landscape use” on larger devices like tablets. (TikTok Newsroom)
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• The European Commission has initiated “formal infringement proceedings” as part of an investigation into X’s “suspected breach” of the Digital Services Act. (Engadget)
  

• Cinephiles can now add a new indie-focused “Film Movement Plus” channel to their Prime Video subscriptions for $5.99/month. (Gizmodo)

DATA • GOSPEL STATS 📈

What do you get when you combine Mark Rober, GlitterBombs, and T-Mobile?

The latest Gospel Stats Weekly Brand Report is in and a new face is at the top of the rankings. Here’s a rundown of this week’s most-viewed sponsored YouTube videos:

🥇 Mark Rober x T-Mobile and Crunchlabs: NASA engineer-turned-YouTuber Mark Rober teamed up with T-Mobile to collect footage of his latest Glitterbomb: a thief-deterring weapon armed with fart spray and a jump-scare mechanism.

• In total, “Car Thief Gets Instant Karma (the FINAL Glitterbomb 6.0)” garnered 16 million views—a hefty haul for T-Mobile and the video’s other sponsor, Rober’s own Crunchlabs STEM subscription box.

🥈 George Janko x Lectric Bikes: More than 8 million viewers tuned in to catch Episode 47 of the George Janko Show.

• The segment’s controversial guest star—”self-proclaimed ‘misogynist’ influencer” Andrew Tate—generated significant buzz for its sponsor, e-bike company Lectric Bikes.

🥉 Dhar Mann Studios x Dragon City: Dhar Mann‘s latest YouTube morality tale leveraged a sponsorship from multiplayer game Dragon City and a 20-person cast to hammer home the dangers of youth gang activity.

• Moral of the Story: when in doubt, choose video games over gangs. (Or just rewatch “Mom Finds Out Her TEENAGER Is INSIDE GANG, What Happens Next Is Shocking.”)

FYI: The Weekly Brand Report is just a sliver of GospelStats’ in-depth analysis of video sponsorships, top creators, and rising stars. Check out the website here for more info.

WATCH THIS 📺

Here’s a 30-minute recap of all things Elon Musk

Jon Oliver isn’t letting 2023 wrap up without a thorough examination of Elon Musk’s hectic year. An episode on the eccentric X owner has officially joined the ranks of Last Week Tonight segments on everything from prison healthcare to beloved Disney Channel movie Air Bud.

Here are the highlights:

• On Musk’s “messianic streak”: Who else would say “I’ve done more for the environment…than any single human on Earth”? (5:00)
  
  

• On (alleged) safety violations: According to one Tesla factor worker, Musk isn’t a fan of anything yellow—including caution tape and safety signs. (14:42)
  
  

• On Musk’s Twitter-slash-X tenure: “He cut about 80% of the staff, dissolved the Trust and Safety Council, blew up the verification system, exercised the same censorship he claimed to be against…” (22:12)

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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.