“The top 10 YouTube stars have one thing in common. They’re awful. Just really, really bad. What I mean to say is, they suck. So who the hell is watching them? According to analytics and advertising company TubeMogul, these guys — and one gal —brought in six figures over the last year.
The “how” is fairly obvious. The money comes from banner ads — the revolving advertisements for Tortino Pizza Rolls, “World of Warcraft,” Vitamix blenders, etc., that reload every time you click a video. The more views a video gets, the more money it earns from banner ads — and splits with YouTube parent company Google. To earn the $100,000 to $315,000 that TubeMogul estimates, each YouTube rock star gets watched a whole heck of a lot. But it’s why these YouTube auteurs are raking in six figures that’s annoying.
You won’t see one-hit viral wonders such as “David After Dentist” or “Double Rainbow” in the top 10. The YouTube stars in the Top 10 have a growing body of work and a loyal viewer following that pretty much guarantee repeat viewings. It helps that the majority of the top earners appeal to an adolescent audience, that special demographic that enjoy watching videos over and over ad infinitum if it’s something that strikes their funny bones. Have a look at the list and you’ll get what I mean.
Shane Dawson $315,000…”
Read more at MSNBC (Thanks @XxLadyClaireXx)
I saw a similar article recently, clicked on some of the YouTube links, and was surprised to find that there was nothing there that appealed to me. I’d have expected at least one of the top 10 to make me want to watch again. But no – utter rubbish!
I watched a few episodes of the annoying orange with my mate, I personally thought it was quite clever. I didn’t like what it promoted not just industrially… The mannerisms and aggression he uses and how he does it seems to drill it into people’s head. I didn’t trust it.
No one fact checks anymore.
Here’s Greg Benson of Mediocre Films talking about the ORIGINAL article that has been copied by every “news” outlet – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XPe8_YHfN0
Msg from Abeo: Love this response, I recommend everyone checks that youtube link out
its crazy, but hell, if YOU were in the top ten I doubt you/me would complain
DOUBLE RAINBOW!!
I have two words for anyone who wants to find something genuinely funny on YouTube…
‘Moonwalking bird’
Firstly it’s worth noting that all the youtubers on this list have announced that the predictions of their income is very much incorrect. And also, the lady who wrote this category cites them as “awful” when it’s just opinion. Just because she doesn’t enjoy the humour doesn’t mean it’s unfunny. And besides, they’re successful. They must be doing something right.
She almost seems like she doesn’t -want- them to earn the amount they are claimed to be earning.
I am interested why this article says it is annoying that they earn this much (whether they do or not).
Is this just not jealousy that they aren’t the ones earning money from such a thing?
I completely agree with Jake. It’s her opinion. If they make so much money, the HAVE to be doing something that’s causing all these viewers. And shouldn’t she be happy for them? I mean they’re making a living doing something that they love, something that not a lot of people are able to do these days. She probably is a 70 year old woman who makes less than all of these people, and is jealous of their success. The actual article caused so much controversy in the YouTube community that MSNBC took it down. Big YouTube success stories like the FineBros were making videos devoted to bashing Helen Popkin. She’s a popular culture writer, yet everyone in the “pop culture” hates her. I hope she was fired.
Okay, I know this is old but seriously, the three previous posts can not go unchallenged!
Look here kids! Just listen to yourselves!? That’s why it’s awful! That such vile ‘entertainment’ has compelled you to react like a blood thirsty mob should make you reflect a little bit! The point is that what most of these ‘stars’ do is appeal to the most base of human instincts for their benefit! They promote and promulgate a cheap antagonistic outlook amongst the world’s youth culture, and I can’t help but feel contempt for what their popularity might actually mean as a diagnosis of our society (at least western). No, I’m not 50 years old! I’m part of the enlightenment; if I-do-say-so-myself!! Now, please excuse me, I need to wash my hands; I feel dirty!
By the way: Derren, you’re great.
Thanks for the chance to rant a little bit, hope you guys don’t mind.
Peace.