Hi! So our magazine is only 9 weeks old. But recently we’ve decided we need a motto for STORY STREET…Something that encapsulates everything we believe. So this is it…

Never in history have people been able to build whatever they want so easily. Anyone can start a business. Anyone can create a movie. Anyone can build a website. Anyone can do it, and there’s no limit. We can all be creators. Anything you can imagine, there’s a place to learn about it. It’s pretty cool, and it’s the basis of STORY STREET.

Enjoy this week’s read!! 🌐💭🌠✨🪄🔮

Learn From The 5 Most Innovative Men in The Creator Economy

Mr Beast 

YouTuber & Feastables founder

The Kansas local, Jimmy Donaldson a.k.a Mr. Beast stands out as an innovator in the creator economy for his seamless popularisation of extreme challenge and altruistic content. He created the new standard for virality - extreme thumbnails, wild titles, fast paced intros etc.

The craziest part? Whilst other creators catch up in studying his innovative video style, Mr Beast has already moved on in diversifying his near billion dollar creator start-up, “Feastables”, which he can advertise to on average 2 billion viewers a month.

Danny Duncan

Merchandise, sporting stores, fro-yo franchises, animation network

Boasting over 7 million YouTube subscribers and a staggering 1.6 billion views, Danny’s real innovation lies in his business building skills.

• Merchandise: Partnering with Walmart & Zumiez, his clothing brand is in 2,000 stores, with gross product sales around $150M to date

• Good Sport: outdoor games like SmashNet, Backyard Pong and Bubble Bash

• 16 Handles: frozen yoghurt chain, over 35+ locations, bought by Danny Duncan and top franchisee Neil Hershman

• KetNipz: an animation network, 3M+ followers on Instagram, selling cartoon apparel, plushies and accessories. Secured brand deals with Hot Wheels and Samsung, working on a new TV show

Colin and Samir 

Interview & course hosts

The whole creator world can be overwhelming, so much to create, so much to build. Colin & Samir’s innovation lies in humanising the process & teaching people insights from their interviews with successful creators. Their business model includes;

• YouTube Adsense, brand partnerships, merchandise

• A newly released 2024 YouTube course called “Creator Startup” - teaching creatives how to secure brand deals

The whole creator economy is relatively new but no one has executed industry education like them.

Mark Rober 

YouTube & Crunch Labs Founder

Mark Rober has revolutionized the creator economy by leveraging his online audience to build a thriving commercial empire. With Crunchlabs, he's sold millions of science-based subscription boxes, generating over $54 million in revenue within just a year-and-a-half. By expanding to Hack Pack, a tech-focused subscription box, Rober continues to innovate, offering customizable STEM entertainment to both kids and adults, further solidifying his influence in the creator space.

MKBHD

Tech Reviewer & Ridge Creative Director

Considered one of the most influential voices in tech, Marques Brownlee can “push product” like no other. His innovation lies in his reputation. By spending 16 years reviewing the latest tech product releases, his voice has become a beacon of customer education. Some companies public sentiment lies on the line if Marques doesn’t rate the product. You might be thinking, okay where’s the innovation though?

Well it’s an innovation in marketing. His reviews are so technical, thorough & captivating that he’s become more trusted than brands themselves. Imagine being able to control the narrative without having any attachment to the brand.

Its Happening, YouTube Takes down traditional TV…

Depending on how old you are… you may remember the days of flipping through endless channels, desperately searching for something watchable on your national or local free-to-air TV network.

But today that picture, as we know, is really different!

YouTube has become the go-to platform for viewers, with other notable platforms skating close behind… leaving traditional television in the dust.

The statistics paint a clear picture to show the change and the trends:

So, what’s behind this change and what are the factors driving it?

• Limited Choices to Limitless Options - Free-to-air TV was always about a rigid schedule with a handful of channels vying for your attention. YouTube, on the other hand gives you ANYTHING you want WHEN you want it! YouTube and content streaming has matched our demand for the on-demand society we live in.

• Passive Watching vs. Active Engagement - Traditional TV never gave us a choice. We just had to passively watch… and wait during ads. It dictated what we watched and when we watched it. YouTube empowers us now. You choose the video, control playback, and even engage with creators and other viewers through comments and likes. It's a far cry from that passive experience of traditional television we used to know.

• Priced Right (or Free) - Free-to-air TV may seem free upfront, but hidden costs often lurk within cable or satellite installations. But YouTube and other platforms offers various free tiers with minimal ads, or premium subscription It's a cost-effective way to access a vast library of entertainment.

YouTube's rise isn't just about convenience and cost. It fosters a sense of community and caters to niche interests that free-to-air TV simply can't match. In today's world, we crave control, choice, and engagement. YouTube and streaming TV has aligned with our demands and creates synchronicity with our interests, passions and options for choice.

Happenings in the creator space 💡

1. American congress has officially approved the TikTok ban. Parent company Bytedance has to divest within 270 days and sell to an American company.

2. Music video creator, Cole Bennet, released the lineup for the Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash festival - headlined by Travis Scott, Playboi Carti and Chief Keef

3. Dominic Fike drops a YouTube exclusive album called “14 Minutes”

Top 3 Videos Of The Week 🌐