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It's Sunday and here’s a handpicked selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry. |
But first, are TikTokers “catholicmaxxing” now? A recent trend piece claimed that the FYP has filled up with videos that pay tribute to the trinity. We’re guessing the Pope is a little more likely to bless this trend than looksmaxxing. |
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CREATOR COMMOTION |
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Gaming Historian is moving on. |
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Creators are retiring, staging Human Trials, and moving to Manchester |
The retiree: Happy trails to the Gaming Historian. For more than 15 years, Norman Caruso has published video essays that tell the stories of the most iconic franchises in the gaming world. Now, as burnout takes its toll, Caruso is saying goodbye to his Gaming Historian persona. |
The hot spot: Is Manchester the U.K.’s hot new influencer hub? Inspired by pioneering creators like Molly-Mae Hague and Zoella, influencers have started filling up high-rise apartments in the third-most populous urban area in the U.K. This is your regular reminder that cities with lower costs of living tend to find themselves on creators’ radars. |
The gamer: Jynxzi’s budding chess career is bringing him to PogChamps. After getting tutelage from GothamChess, the Rainbow Six Siege streamer has thrown himself into the next edition of Chess.com’s creator tournament. |
The show: Comedian Mark Normand is staging some Human Trials on YouTube. Normand’s upcoming show will put comedians in front of niche audiences like clowns or bald men. |
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THE BIZ |
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Ms. Rachel is bringing kids’ shoes to a Stride Rite near you. |
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The creator economy is leaving its mark on everything from baseball to Law & Order |
The WWE debut: iShowSpeed is stepping into the squared circle. At WrestleMania 42, the man who was born to be a heel will make his official WWE debut. The pro wrestling event kicks off on April 18; will Speed’s Monkey D. Luffy-inspired stretchy arms be ready in time? |
The shoe line: For Ms. Rachel, it’s gotta be the shoes. The kind-hearted educator—who shepherds a massive audience of “littles” on YouTube and Netflix—has announced her first shoe deal. Stride Rite shoppers can pick up the colorful, intricate designs for their own littles. |
The skincare drop: Alix Earle needed no time at all to sell out her latest skincare drop. The TikToker’s newest product is Reale Actives, a product collection focused on acne. Within five minutes of the initial launch, Reale Actives had racked up $1 million in sales. |
The baseball hub: MLB is inviting the next generation of fans to step into the Clubhouse. With a youth-focused YouTube channel, the MLB wants to turn more kids into diehard baseball fans. |
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MOVERS & SHAKERS |
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Open World has a new SVP of Marketing. |
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This week in executive comings and goings… |
The departure: TikTok’s Khartoon Weiss is moving on to pursue “a new opportunity.” Weiss, who was TikTok’s top ad exec in North America, hasn’t yet revealed what her next move will be. Thanks to her departure, TikTok will have to replace the operative who spearheaded the app’s recent presentation at the NewFronts. |
The SVP: StreamHatchet and BENlabs vet Justin Smith has joined gaming consultancy Open World—which is affiliated with talent firm Loaded—as its new SVP of Marketing. Smith wrote about his excitement regarding “the future of consumer marketing in gaming,” which he is now in a position to unlock. |
The next chapter: Tuma Basa’s eight-year stint at YouTube is coming to an end. Basa joined the platform in 2018 as its Director of Black Culture and Music. Now, he’s ready to confront “my next chapter” as he closes the book on his YouTube tenure. Basa’s previous work experience included stints at MTV and Spotify. |
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WATCH THIS 👀 |
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A single proposal could spell the end for Bunch of Friends. |
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These creators won’t stop until one of them gets hitched |
The retirement clause: The Bunch of Friends channel will only come to an end when one of its hosts gets married. We hope somebody finds love before anyone in the bunch has a falling-out—because if not, this setup could turn 90-Day Fiancee real quick. |
Here’s what the Friends have to say about their unique requirement for retirement. |
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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Drew Baldwin, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen. |