According to a recent analytic study from TubeMogul based on the viewership data from July 2009 to July 2010, there are 10 independent Youtube stars, who is not part of a media company or brand, make over $100,000 in the past year. The revenue is estimated only from from banner ads served near content, which is splitted 50-50 in revenue for Youtube and its partners. So this is the most basic calculation for income of a YouTube Star, regardless other earnings from brand endorsement or other types of commercial business. Then it would be a much higher number in fact. By the way, here is a review of the top ten listed and their most popular videos in terms of viewership.
1. Shane Dawson ($315,000 – 431 million views)
This 22-year-old Californian comic actor has three YouTube channels. The first one is the most popular, consisting his comedy skits and music video parodies. The second channel is a video blog (vlog) and a separate series called "Ask Shane”. The third one includes only videos taken from his iPhone. Targeting teenagers and young people, Shane provides sketch comedy in a teanage sort of way, acts different roles frequently in his own “highschool drama” and delivers a message or question, which is usually quite meaningful, at the end. By the way, I like watching him in different hair styles.
2. The Annoying Orange ($288,000 – 349 mil views)
The Annoying Orange, which often publishs short videos under 2 minutes, starring a talking orange, is a comedy web series that takes place in a kitchen and is about talking fruit. It is funny and honest. Dane Boedigheimer is the mastermind behind the series and is also the voice of Orange.
3. Philip DeFranco ($181,000 – 248 mil views)
Philip Defranco, who began uploading clips while at university, provides parody and satirical content on his show, containing vlogs about various topics
4. Ryan Higa ($151,000 – 206 mil views)
Ryan Higa, the Hawaiian-born Japanese-American, makes comedy skits and is a video blogger. Ryan’s highlights are the “How to be Ganster” and “How to be Ninja” comedy videos. Similar to other YouTube moneymakers in the list, his channel is again another sketch comedy YouTube channel.
5. Fred ($146,000 – 200 mil views)
Lucas Cruikshank plays a character called "a lonely six year old named Fred" who uses his mom's video camera and posts videos on a YouTube channel. The character is so popular that there will be a Nickelodeon movie based on the Fred character. The channel seems to be targeted as a Children’s online TV channel
6. Shay Carl ($140,000 – 192 mil views)
Shay is a 21 year-old Idaho radio DJ and comic posting his comedies on YouTube channel titled “Kalebnation”
7. Mediocre Films ($116,000 – 159mil views)
Greg Benson created Mediocre Films initially for a sketchy comedy TV series called "Skip TV." The show lasted for one season, and now Benson makes low budget comedy videos for the web, published once a week
8. Smosh ($113,000 – 154 mil views)
Smosh is the comedy duo of Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla with their first shot to viral fame called "Pokemon Theme Music Video", which became YouTube's most viewed video in Spring 2006 and unfortunately was removed later due to copyright reasons.
9. The Young Turks – ($112,000 – 153 mil views)
It is a political talk show founded and hosted by Cenk Uygur that also airs on Sirius Satellite Radio. The show focus on politics with some news, pop culture and entertainment. Their vast viewership has proven that the Internet can be a viable broadcast platform
10. Natalie Tran– $101,000
Natalie Tran, 24-year-old Vietnamese-Australian hot girl with adorable Australian accent, is the most subscribed to YouTube user in Australia. She uses her YouTube titled “Community Channel”, consisting vlogs and occasional comedy skits, like most others on this list, to discuss some of the day to day issues with Gen Y women but done with a clever dose of subtle humor and satire.
An article on the reasons behind their success is coming soon. In the mean time, leave your opinion on reasons for success that you think may apply for these viral stars...
