It's Tuesday and Warner Bros’ latest Batman-powered YouTube drop is sure to keep DC fans entertained long after Superman flies out of theaters.

Today’s News

TIKTOK TALK

TikTok isn’t just getting a new owner. It’s getting a whole new app.

TikTok 2.0: A TikTok sale appears to be on the horizon, and a brand-new app could follow close behind.

After receiving a third ban extension from the Trump administration, TikTok seems to be on the verge of clinching a deal with a non-Chinese investor group that includes software conglomerate Oracle. If that arrangement goes through, Bytedance will surrender primary ownership and transfer control to Oracle et al., but the TikTok parent company could still retain a minority stake.

The deal will also include a new, U.S.-only version of the TikTok app (per The Information). Dubbed “M2,” the app is reportedly set to debut in September with the intention of assuaging governmental concerns about data security. TikTok will start nudging its ~170 million stateside users to transfer to M2 on September 5, but will continue operating the original app until March 2026.

The context: That process is reminiscent of musical.ly’s final days. Less than a year after acquiring the competitor app, Bytedance shut down musical.ly and pushed people over to TikTok, instantly bulking the platform’s user base. In this case, however, TikTok actually stands to lose users who are unwilling to deal with the friction of transferring their login credentials.

Even so, we’re not surprised that ByteDance is going along with this setup. The parent company has already found success with a single-region version of TikTok, Douyin, which was designed for users in mainland China. M2 is essentially Douyin for the U.S.; in time, it might even earn its own region-locked features or a localized monetization system.

To kickstart that evolution, the White House will need the Chinese government’s sign-off—but given that Trump says the deal is “pretty much” done, we’re guessing a nod of approval isn’t too far off.

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• Threads is gaining on X. The platform’s mobile Android and iOS apps hit 115.1 million daily active users in June, clocking in just 17 million mobile DAUs behind X. (TechCrunch)
  
  

• Apple’s head of AI models, Ruoming Pang, is reportedly exiting his role to join Meta’s new superintelligence team. (TechCrunch)
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• Bluesky users will now be able to receive push notifications “when someone likes or reposts posts you’ve reposted.” (Bluesky)
  
  

• Sports streaming service Fubo has agreed to pay $3.4 million in order to settle a class-action lawsuit that accuses it of unlawfully disclosing customers’ data to advertisers. (Ars Technica)

GOSPEL STATS 📈

Top Branded Videos: Dave Ramsey and MrBeast are at it again

Two weeks ago, a sponsored clip from The Ramsey Show’s highlights hub clocked in at #1,947 on Gospel Stats’ weekly branded ranking. Days later, the show’s host jumped all the way up to #3. Now, Dave Ramsey has claimed spots at both #3 and #4—and he’s not the only repeat creator in this week’s Brand Report.

🥇 #1. MrBeast Gaming x Epic Games: Last Team Standing Wins $250,000 (12.2M views)
MrBeast’s primary and gaming hubs frequently swap spots at the top of Gospel’s branded rankings. This week, the latter channel is sitting pretty at #1 with one of its creator’s signature challenges and a category-appropriate sponsorship from Fortnite publisher Epic Games.

🥈 #2. Adam W x Old Spice: #OldSpicePartner #ad When @oldspice stops u from sweating (10.2M views)
Adam W and Old Spice seem to have a good thing going. Only a couple weeks after hitting #1 in the charts with a promotional Short, the creator and meme-embracing deodorant brand are back at it with a pointed question: is it better to flood an elevator with water or B.O.?

🎰 #3. The Ramsey Show Highlights x Yrefy: Talk Me Out Of Buying A Super Car (9.8M views)
For the second time in two weeks, a Dave Ramsey video has snagged a spot at #3 thanks to some well-timed financial advice. His latest tip for indebted callers: you might want to pay off the money you already owe before buying a fancy sports car. And if that debt just so happens to be a student loan, you can always turn to video sponsor Yrefy for refinancing.

Check out the full branded ranking here and head over to Gospel Stats for more YouTube sponsorship insights.

THE BIZ

AMP is getting Toned at Target

The supergroup: AMP is having a moment. The group collectively entertains tens of millions of followers across Twitch and YouTube. Their current monthlong subathon follows a series of record-breaking events from members like Kai Cenat—who is, of course, arguably the biggest creator on Twitch. Now, AMP (which includes creators Duke Dennis, Fanum, Agent 00, ChrisNxtDoor, ImDavisss, and Cenat) is extending that impressive reach to Target.

The retail rollout: Enter Tone. AMP launched the personal care brand back in February with a collection of body lotions, deodorants, and lip balms. Within three days, it had netted seven figures in digital sales.

Now, that brand—which was created in partnership with Dallas-based management company Night—is making its IRL retail debut with a nationwide rollout at Target. And to mark the occasion, AMP is launching two new products: body wash and body mist, both in “Fresh, Citrus, Woodland and Coconut” scents. That move from DTC (digital purchase only) to retail, Tone says, is strategic:

The context: AMP used Twitch to introduce Tone, so we won’t be surprised if their fortuitously timed subathon includes a reminder to stop by your local Target.

Fans who follow that advice won’t see just one creator brand on the shelves. In addition to carrying Tone, the retail chain has become the flagship destination for Ryan Trahan‘s Joyride candy brand (which is getting a big spotlight as Trahan travels the U.S. raising millions for St. Jude).

WATCH THIS

Chef Jean-Pierre is “taking some time off” after decades in the kitchen

The hiatus: A beloved culinary creator is stepping away from the stove (at least, for now). “After 58 years in the kitchen and barely any breaks,” Jean-Pierre Brehier announced in a recent video that he’s “finally decided it’s time to slow down and enjoy life beyond the sauté pan.”

The French chef and James Beard nominee has spent decades sharing recipes and cooking tips with fans on and offline. Now, Brehier says he’s taking some time off to “soak up a little sunshine” while his editor, Jack, keeps his iconic YouTube channel up and running.

Check out the chef’s hiatus announcement here for more details.

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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Drew Baldwin, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen.