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Will reorganizing hundreds of staff members help TikTok reach its “full potential”?

Big changes are coming to TikTok. According to The Information, the company’s COO, Adam Presser, is spearheading a mass reorganization that will sort “hundreds of operations staff” into three new subdivisions described as “pillars.”

The first of those subdivisions—aka the Creators Pillar—will focus on educational programs and marketing services under the direction of Kim Farrell, while Nicole Lacopetti will lead the Content Strategy & Policy Pillar (which includes functions like data analysis, content strategy, and editorial policy). A third pillar focused on securing partnerships with top global publishers will fall under the command of James Stafford.

The urge to reorganize is nothing new for TikTok’s top dogs.

CEO Shou Zi Chew has been a vocal proponent for restructuring within the operations division—and he isn’t the only exec pushing for change. Former Disney exec Zenia Mucha is currently leading the reorganization of TikTok’s communications team after just five months at the company.

🔆 SPONSORED 🔆

The future of content creation is almost here. Download the Artlist Trend Report 2024 to prepare for the year ahead:

The Artlist Trend Report 2024 has arrived. For the first time ever, Artlist has collected actionable data from 7,000+ global content creators together with industry insights from Artlist’s experts and business leaders at Google, Amazon, and Meta to empower brands ahead of the new year. 

Here’s a sneak peek at the Artlist Trend Report’s top predictions:

• Minimalist design is out. Thanks to generative AI, surrealist visuals will start trending in 2024. Brands will stand out by leveraging AI tools to reimagine visuals, sound, and video, while creators will find new ways to use FPV drone tech, AR/VR, and immersive experiences.

• Small audiences will have a big impact. 2024 will bring greater opportunities for brands to discover niche influencers with fiercely loyal audiences. Tapping into those niches will allow brands to authentically connect with new and diverse audiences.
  
  

• More content, less technical work. AI will continue to make content creation faster, cheaper, and more accessible—meaning less time spent on editing and post-production. 

Compiled by a creative technology company used by millions of creators and major brands, the Artlist Trend Report 2024 provides the most comprehensive look into the future of video content. 

Hit the link below to read the report for free:

Download the Artlist Trend Report 2024 →

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• TikToker Molly Moon has joined forces with four indie developers to create a new horror video game. (Tubefilter)
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• Threads is testing out its own version of hashtags to help users categorize their posts. (The Verge)
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• Meta’s Global Head of Safety has called on Congress to enact legislation that would require app stores to “get parents’ approval whenever their teens under 16 download apps.” (TechCrunch)
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• Instagram’s latest flurry of updates includes the addition of at least 25 new photo filters. (The Verge)

DATA • STREAMERS ON THE RISE 📈

From podcasts to award shows, this host is shining a spotlight on Black and Brown creators

Ten years ago, Kahlief Adams had an epiphany. As much as he enjoyed his nine-to-five job in IT, he needed to do something he cared about on a deeper level—something he could really “dig into.”

That something turned out to be a video podcast called Spawn on Me.

Inspired by his love of video games, Adams decided to “make a show around supporting and spotlighting people of color” in the industry—and to do that, going live on Twitch “was a necessary evil.” Streaming each episode gave Spawn on Me the ability to explore more topics and reach more viewers “firsthand.” That approach has kept the show going strong for a decade now, both as a live podcast and as the presenter of one of the video game industry’s top award shows: The Spawnies.

That production first came into being in 2022, a few short months after Adams came to a startling realization while sitting in the audience at The Game Awards:

Adams and co-host Riana Manuel-Peña knew there had to be a better way to “bring those people into the forefront.” So, they decided to launch a video game awards show with roots in Black and Brown hip-hop culture. Nearly three years later, The Spawnies has become—in Adams’ words—”one of the best video game award shows on the planet.”

Check out our full interview with Adams here to find out more about his journey and what’s next for The Spawnies.

KEEP AN EYE OUT

YouTube Co-Founder Chad Hurley is leaping into the world of AI startups

Chad Hurley has a knack for breaking into saturated markets. Since co-founding YouTube alongside Steve Chen and Jawed Karim in 2005, Hurley has launched a variety of startups in niches ranging from short-form video to sports. Some of those ventures have been more successful than others; Vine competitor MixBit, for instance, primarily generated controversial headlines, while sports development company GreenPark has raised more than $53 million to date (per Crunchbase).

Now, Hurley is trying his hand at AI.

The entrepreneur’s latest startup, EyeTell, aims to streamline the video production process by generating AI scripts from text prompts and providing creators with audio recording tools. Per The Information, the company’s first product will be released “next year.”

In the meantime, Hurley is gathering resources. According to The Information, a recent seed round for EyeTell was led by A-Star Capital, with participation from venture fund SV Angel. The actual size of the round has yet to be disclosed—but if Hurley hopes to make waves in the rapidly expanding field of AI, he’ll need a strong foundation to stand on.

WATCH THIS 📺

Is there a more iconic duo than makeup and animation?

After seeing the trailer for Netflix’s upcoming Pokemon series, we didn’t think we could possibly be more impressed by a stop-motion video. Then TikTok star @colleen.makeupp decided to devote 15 hours to rotoscoping a full face of makeup.

If you’re not familiar with rotoscope animation, it’s essentially the process of tracing a live-action video frame-by-frame to create your own animated version. The results are usually pretty incredible—but @colleen.makeup’s rotoscoped beauty look takes the whole process to the next level. Check out the full clip here.

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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.