The rise of the creative class is reshaping media and redefining fame and celebrity. The balance of power has shifted from producers, studios, broadcast networks, etc., to the new creative talent. We call this creative class “New New Hollywood” (NNH).
But what’s really profound is the power that these NNH creators wield. NNH personalities have enormous fan bases with extraordinary loyalty and unprecedented engagement - fanatical, in fact.
For example, Nicki Minaj (a traditional celebrity) has <9.5><5mil Twitter fans, while PewDiePie (a NNH celebrity) commands an audience of nearly 40 million on YouTube. NNH has so much influence it could single-handedly reshape culture and society, let alone brand preferences. NNH could even swing the 2016 presidential election!
Brands need to leverage NNH, but to do so, they need to understand the context and unique ways in which NNH operates. The rules of engagement are very different.
This report sets out to shed light on one of the most important cultural forces at work today: NEW NEW HOLLYWOOD.
2. The rise of the creative class is reshaping media and redefining fame and celebrity.
The balance of power has shifted from producers, studios, broadcast networks, etc.,
to the new creative talent. We call this creative class “New New Hollywood” (NNH).
But what’s really profound is the power that these NNH creators wield. NNH
personalities have enormous fan bases with extraordinary loyalty and
unprecedented engagement - fanatical, in fact.
For example, Nicki Minaj (a traditional celebrity) has <9.5 million fans on YouTube
and Hillary Clinton has <5mil Twitter fans, while PewDiePie (a NNH celebrity)
commands an audience of nearly 40 million on YouTube. NNH has so much influence
it could single-handedly reshape culture and society, let alone brand preferences.
NNH could even swing the 2016 presidential election!
Brands need to leverage NNH, but to do so, they need to understand the context and
unique ways in which NNH operates. The rules of engagement are very different.
This report sets out to shed light on one of the most important cultural forces at
work today: NEW NEW HOLLYWOOD.
2
3. 3
SHIFTING BALANCE OF POWER:
There have been sweeping changes in multiple industries, shifting
from centralized authorities to sharing networks, for example…
4. Source: Nielson, Billboard
12.5%
DECREASE
in music track sales, including digital
purchases.
SHIFTING BALANCE OF POWER:
FREEMIUM MUSIC
4
Music streaming services have recently exploded in
popularity. Spotify appears to be the juggernaut that
has constructed a sweet spot in the Freemium space.
However, competitors like SoundCloud,TIDAL, Apple
Music and soon Facebook Music are all attempting to
perfect the formula for a highly demanded service.
OVER
164B
Songs were streamed on-demand
through audio and video platforms in
2014.
5. Source: Khan Academy Press Room
580
MILLION
lessons delivered
on Khan Academy.
SHIFTING BALANCE OF POWER:
EDUCATION HACKING
5
The next generation will be the most educated in history, yet some
argue that bureaucracy prevents the education system from adapting
to rapidly changing economic and business environments. As a result,
more people are turning to nontraditional education options, including
homeschooling and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Khan
Academy is one example of an education portal that provides entirely
free subject lessons and practice problems online.
6. Source: globalvoices.org
SHIFTING BALANCE OF POWER:
CITIZEN JOURNALISM
6
Increasing access to mobile technology and data plans has enabled civilians from around the world
to assume the role of citizen journalists. While citizen journalism is scrutinized for lack of
professional fact-checking and inciting mob mentality, mainstream news networks will often air or
publish civilian-submitted stories. Furthermore, several regions have used social media to express
political views and organize protests. In Ukraine, daily tweets nearly tripled after civilian fatalities
during February 2014 protests.
7. 7
DECLINE OF TRADITIONAL MEDIA
The ways in which we access entertainment, content, and
information are changing, for example…
8. Source:Walt Disney Company 2014 Annual Report, 21st Centural Fox 2014 Annual Report, CBS Corporation 2014 Annual Report , Comcast 2014
Annual Report, Time Warner Cable 2014 Annual Report, Viacom 2014 Annual report
TRADITIONAL MEDIA ARE GATE KEEPERS
8
Over the past few decades, top media companies have pursued a variety of acquisitions and mergers that
resulted in the largest media conglomerates in history. While these conglomerates have astounding budgets
for their content, many of them cling to outdated media practices. As a result, mainstream American media
still struggles to successfully represent diversity and authenticity. Traditional media isn’t going anywhere,
there will always be a demand for big blockbuster movies and major celebrities. However, one cannot
disregard the rise of New New Hollywood and its growing influence on culture.
Comcast
$44.1 Billion
21st Century Fox
$31.8 Billion
Walt Disney Co.
$48.8 Billion
CBS Corp.
$13.8 Billion
Viacom
$13.7 Billion
Time Warner Cable
$22.8 Billion
9. Source: Ad Age, Nieslon
48%
of Americans watch video online as of
2011.
625,000
people dropped cable subscriptions in
2015, the LARGEST EVER quarterly
drop in history.
CABLE IS STAGNATING
9
Speculation about a wave of cable cutting — when a
consumer cancels a cable TV subscription in favor of
Internet-only service — has shaken up the cable
networks sector. While consumer interest in new cable
subscriptions becomes stagnant, the movie industry
struggles to fill theaters. Torrenting culture has
normalized free, quality content available at the
consumer’s convenience.
10. Source: Statista, Businesswire, Reuters , Business Insider
SUBSCRIPTION STREAMING IS RISING
10
While illegal streaming devours a certain portion of revenue, there is a growing
number of legal, paid streaming services that consumers turn to for video content.
62M
Subscribers
9M
Subscribers
600K
Subscribers
20M
Subscribers
11. Source: ubergizmo, cnet, cnet
STREAMING DEVICES ENABLE 24/7
ACCESS TO CONTENT
11
What happens to your old TV set when cable cutting or tablet surfing becomes the main source of
entertainment? You turn that TV screen into a second screen for your mobile. The technology sector has
been churning out streaming devices that help consumers access their digital content on any HDMI-
compatible screen. Move over cable box, the streaming dongle has arrived!
10M
units sold
10M
units sold
20M
units sold
CHROMECAST ROKU APPLE TV
12. Source: Pew Research Center, comScore
64%
of American adults now own a
smartphone.
60%
of time spent consuming
digital media occurs on
mobile phones.
MOBILE IS NOW THE NEW #1 FOR
CONTENT CONSUMPTION
12
We are also seeing dramatic shifts in the way people consume media,
specifically the time spent watching and the device they are watching on.
As consumers are adopting these digital services that allow them to
stream from any internet connected device, media consumption on
tablets and smartphones is rapidly increasing (surpassing desktop usage
for the first time in 2014). Currently, brands are spending more ad dollars
on TV media when in reality, the majority of engaged consumption occurs
on mobile devices.
13. Source: Pew Research Center
46%
of adult internet users post
original photos or videos
online.
APPOINTMENT VIEWING IS DEAD
13
Prior to new media platforms, creators would post their content on blogs or personal websites. While
users could bookmark or manually navigate to these sites, it didn’t ensure that users would stay up to
date on new content. In contrast, new media emphasizes the follow/subscribe feature. Subscribe
functionality varies by platform, but it generally involves opting in to receive updates when a creator posts
new content. This distinguishes new media from old, as individual consumers have replaced media
conglomerates as the gatekeepers, deciding which creators are featured on media platforms.
15. THERE ARE 4 ACTORS IN THE
NNH ECOSYSTEM
1515
ACTOR
DIRECTOR
BRAND
MANAGER
COMMUNITY
MANAGER
EDITOR
PR
TALENT
AGENCY
STUDIO
PROFESSIONAL
NETWORK
BUSINESS
MANAGER
TV
CINEMA
RADIO
PRINT
PRESS
PAPARAZZI
PRODUCER
BRAND
AMBASSADOR
THEOLDSYSTEMTHENEWSYSTEM
1
CREATORS
2
MULTICHANNEL
NETWORKS
3
SOCIAL
PLATFORMS
4
FANDOMS
17. Source: YouTube, YouTube
300
HOURS
of video uploaded every
MINUTE!
1B
USERS
YOUTUBE IS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL
PLATFORM IN THE WORLD
17
The largest of all new media platforms, YouTube has
been the main hub of internet video content since
2005. The first New New Hollywood stars found their
success on YouTube, paving the way for future
YouTube celebrities, as well as establishing a model
for success on other new media platforms.
18. Source: Vine Twitter Account, Gigaom
1.5B
DAILY LOOPS
on Vine videos.
40M
registered users on Vine.
VINE IS THE MOST SNACKABLE
FORM OF STORYTELLING
18
Founded in 2012, this new media platform is all about
sharing short-form videos. 6-second videos, to be
exact. While some might see a 6-second window as
extremely limiting, the users who demonstrated the
most creativity quickly garnered sizable audiences.
19. Source: Twitch PR Director
TWITCH OFFERS THE MOST IMMERSIVE
LIVE CONTENT
19
Founded in June 2011, Twitch is the world’s leading social video
platform and community for gamers. Twitch’s live and video on demand
platform caters to the entire video game industry. This includes game
developers, publishers, media outlets, events, casual content creators,
and the entire esports scene. In February 2014, Twitch was ranked the
4th largest website in terms of peak Internet traffic in the U.S. fortifying
the brand as an entertainment industry leader.
106
MINUTES
Daily average that individual users
watch per DAY.
100M
Community Members on
Twitch.tv
20. Source: Instagram Press , Instagram Press
30B+
Photos Shared!
300M
Monthly active users.
INSTAGRAM IS #1 IN SOCIAL PHOTO
SHARING
20
Instagram is the dominant photo and YouTube sharing
service. Instagram launched in 2010 with a focus on
the mobile experience, although it can be accessed via
desktop as well. With a massive user base and
dedicated Discover functionality, Instagram is yet
another new media platform that highlights creativity
and curation.
21. Source: Snapchat Ads , Snapchat Ads,
60%
of U.S. 13-to 34-year-old smartphone
users are Snapchatters.
100M
Daily active Snapchatters!
SNAPCHAT OWNS BEHIND THE SCENES,
LIFE LOGGING
21
Snapchat is a photo and video messaging app launched in
2012. The app allows users to share photos and videos with
individuals on their contact lists or upload content to a Story
which is viewable by anyone who follows that user. The
feature that has helped Snapchat explode in popularity is the
ephemerality of sharing: individual messages will disappear
after viewing, while Stories disappear after 24 hours.
22. Source: Periscope Blog, Tech Crunch,
1.1M
videos were shared on Beme within
just 8 days of the app’s launch.
Periscope gained
10M
users just 4 months after
launch.
NEW PLATFORMS ARE CONSTANTLY
EMERGING IN THE NEW MEDIA SPACE
22
An exciting aspect of the new media industry is that it is
constantly evolving. Multiple new platforms launched within
the last year, including Periscope, Meerkat and Beme. If these
names don’t sound familiar, they will soon. Their user base is
quickly growing, and we are already beginning to see creators
shape the content and community on these platforms.
23. 23
TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN: CREATORS
The NNH ecosystem is dominated by thousands of content
creators, each with a unique perspective and story, for example…
24. CREATORS COVER A WIDE SPECTRUM OF
SUBJECT MATTER AND AUDIENCE SIZE
24
New media consumers have the luxury of variety. Creators are constantly uploading new content
across platforms, creating a library of infinite content that spans from videos of waffles falling over to
how-to cooking channels. While the super successful creators have audiences well into the millions,
the smaller audiences of more niche channels are often the most dedicated and passionate.
MEGA STARS
(1M+)
EMERGING STARS
(100K+)
NICHE COMMUNITIES
(10k+)
CONTENT GENRES
YOUTUBE
Tyler Oakley
Gigi Gorgeous
FunToyzCollector
MarkE Miller
GentleWhispering
RoseEllenDix
Awkwafina
schnooleheletteletto
Gimmeabreakman
Unboxing Videos
Vlogs
Make Up Tutorials
VINE
King Bach
Thomas Sanders
Lele Pons
Maxwell Kandler
Simply Sylvio
Meagan Cignoli
Wheezer
Swelldesigner
Jereminho Freestyle
Comedy Skits
Music Covers
Art/Design
TWITCH
Syndicate
captainsparklez
PhantomL0rd
kittyplaysgames
markiplier
twitchplayspokemon
OneMoreGameTV
AngryTestie
Slowpoke101
Gaming Livestreams
Competitions
Community Gaming
INSTAGRAM
@baddiewinkle
@Marniethedog
@thefatjewish
@chrisozer
@brosbeingbasic
@carly
@sew_sketchy
@justinliv
@theshortnews
Lifestyle
Curation
Food Porn
25. LELE PONS: SHE HAS OLD HOLLYWOOD LOOKS
WITHOUT THE STUCK-UP ATTITUDE, AND SHE
POKES FUN AT THE COMEDY OF LIFE.
25
CONTENT: Viner, creates comedy skits
STRATEGY: “Whenever I post I try to create a
concept that is relatable to my audience. So if
school is starting, I'll do a post about school. If
prom is coming up, I'll post about prom. I like to
think of my Vine as a diary that my fans can be a
part of. It's important to me for my audience to
feel like I'm relatable to them.”
FANDOM: 6.7B vine loops
9.2M
452K
352K
3M
26. LOGAN PAUL: A MODERN CLOWN WHO ISN’T
AFRAID OF BREAKING SOCIAL NORMS.
26
CONTENT: Viner, physical comedy
STRATEGY: Logan was one of the early adopters
of Vine, uploading content regularly and quickly
garnering a massive fanbase. Most recently, Paul
has moved to the Los Angeles “Vine Complex,” an
apartment building where multiple successful
Vines live, allowing them to network and concrete
regularly.
FANDOM: 1B vine loops
8.4M
2.3M
571K
1.7M
27. CONTENT: Instagram, regular content of Marnie
on assorted adventures
STRATEGY: Marnie’s owners have clearly leaned
into the Unapologetic and Perfectly Imperfect
trends. Advocating for senior dog adoptions, daily
photos of Marnie exploring New York fill viewers
with a sense of happiness and adoration. Marnie’s
signature floppy tongue and tilted head are
always a welcome site on any Instagram feed.
FANDOM: 100K+ likes on photos
MARNIETHEDOG: A PERFECTLY IMPERFECT
CANINE LIVES IN PERPETUAL HAPPINESS.
27
1.6M
336K
103K
774K
28. HOTDUDESREADING: A METICULOUSLY
CURATED FEED OF LITERATE BACHELORS.
28
CONTENT: Instagram, curated photos of…well…
Hot Dudes Reading
STRATEGY: “The key to maintaining growth is to
always put ourselves in the position of our
followers: Why do we unfollow popular accounts?
What sponsored posts have gotten us to take an
action and comment and like? Does this post feel
relevant and authentic? Do we want to hang out
with the person behind the profile? Does the
account feel good/positive?…Our captions are
always complimentary inserting a little bit of
snarky, sometimes dirty, storytelling to keep the
likes and followers coming.”
FANDOM: 60K+ likes on photos
661K
18K
6.5K
29. Source: linky link link
SEW_SKETCHY: A SASSY FASHIONISTA
EXPRESSED IN STUNNING ORIGINAL
ILLUSTRATIONS.
29
CONTENT: Instagram, daily uploads of fashion
design illustration
STRATEGY: “You have to stay true to your voice
and constantly create original content that no one
has ever seen before…I'm creating a fantasy
world where fashion-crazed people can walk into
a dream. I see that in my “likes." People go onto
my Instagram and don't just "like" one picture,
they scroll through and like more than 20 images.
That's my way of knowing they stepped into my
world, and the moment that the "started following
you" notification shows up is when I know they're
here to stay.”
FANDOM: 1,600+ likes on photos
21.8K
30. KITTYPLAYSGAMES: LIGHTHEARTED
COMMENTARY AND DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH
FANS.
30
CONTENT: Twitch, Gameplay Livestream
STRATEGY: “I think it is really important to truly
love your community. With that as a foundation, I
focus on creating value in my stream and not
comparing myself to what others are doing. Also,
one of the best things you can do as a live
streamer is make sure that you are consistent
with your stream. Providing regular scheduled
streams and equal value each time ensures that
people come back every day to see what you are
up to.”
FANDOM: 15M video views
598K
236K
76K
109K
31. CASEY NEISTAT: METICULOUS LIFE LOGGING
COUPLED WITH A KEEN EYE FOR CINEMATICS.
31
CONTENT: YouTube, daily video blogs (vlogs)
capturing everyday life
STRATEGY: Casey is a talented videographer, but
the day he turned the camera on himself would be
the start of an incredibly successful new media
career. His daily vlogs caught the attention of
mainstream media, and he has been asked to
create multiple videos for large corporate brands.
When he’s not giving Snapchat consultations,
Casey is working on his newly launched app,
Beme, which is one of the latest additions to new
media platforms.
FANDOM: 209M video views
995K
133K
189K
416K
32. 32
WHAT CREATORS WANT
BRANDS TO KNOW
“be fully aware of our voice and our image, not just theirs. In
order for a great collaboration to work, it needs to be a
marriage of the two brand visions, and that’s how you’ll
break the internet.”
-sew_sketchy, 22.4k followers
“Traditional flashy ads all over the page have a tendency of
diluting the streamers’ value and making them look
like a "sellout" which loses their ability to sell their viewers on a
product or service.”
-KittyPlaysGames, 600k followers
“Trust in my ideas. I know my fans and I know what will get them
thinking and interested…it’s important for me to feel
relatable with my audience.”
-Lele Pons, 9m followers
34. MULTICHANNEL NETWORKS (MCN)
& TALENT AGENCIES
34
As creators’ audiences grew to rival those of mainstream cable networks, several other MCNs were
created to cater to a variety of new media creators. MCNs represent a variety of talent across genres
and social platforms.
Channels Views/Month Investments/Acquisitions Clients
Maker Studios 1,800+ 6.5 billion+
$500-$950M
Disney Acquisition
(March 2014)
Target, Disney, WB, Universal, Sony
Pictures, Mattel, Kia, Pepsi, EA, Old Navy
Fullscreen 10,000+ 3 billion
~$30M invested by
The Chernin Group
AT&T, CNN, Ford, HBO, Lexus, McDonalds,
NBC, P&G, Taco Bell
Machinima 10,000+ 1.11 billion+
$35M Google Investment,
$18M Time Warner share acquisition
Gamer Industry
Collective Digital Studio 690+ 200 million
Founded by talent agent,
Michael Green
Verizon, Dodge, Toyota, Estée Lauder,
etc…
Big Frame 300 135 million $15 mil AwesomenessTV acquisition Virgin Mobile, Tide, Macy’s, Ubisoft, Pepsi
Grapevine 29,000+ 500 million $1.1M in seed funding
Remington, NatureBox, Walgreens, NYX,
Tweezerman, BH Cosmetics
35. ORIGINAL NETWORKS WERE BORN FROM
NNH CREATORS
35
After successful new media creators began to develop their own network, many of them recognized the
need for professional representation. While some partnered with traditional talent agencies, others
wanted agents and managers that understood the rapidly changing world of new media. Thus, a group of
creators created the first multichannel network: Maker Studios. Maker served as a creative network,
providing talent with equipment, studio space and access to management and representation.
36. THE ROLE OF AN MCN IS A HYBRID OF
STUDIO, AGENT AND PROMOTER
36
New media creators are attracted to MCN partnerships because they provide a variety of
resources without attempting to take ownership or creative control over the content. MCNs
play a supportive role, taking care of brand relationships, negotiations and sometimes even
editing and data analytics needs so that creators can focus on creating quality content.
37. MCNS ARE NOT EXPLOITING CREATORS
37
While brands certainly have the opportunity to help develop this new sector of media and
entertainment, there are examples of traditional media outlets hindering the success of
new media creators. The rock group, Unlocking the Truth, is one such example. After one of
its live Brooklyn performances went viral, the teens were signed by Sony for $1.8M.
Unfortunately, the boys struggled to adapt to the corporate circus and felt they were
sacrificing their artistic integrity for the sake of the contract.
39. FAN COMMUNITIES ARE
THE HEARTBEAT OF NNH
39
New New Hollywood stars would be nothing without their audiences. One key tactic for developing a
dedicated and engaged audience is to foster a strong sense of community between the creator and the
audience as well as between audience members. Creators are often very careful not to label their
audience as fans. To both creator and viewers, the relationship is far more intimate than a typical
celebrity/fan relationship. Creators are often sharing their personal lives or passion projects to be
consumed by viewers in the intimacy of their own bedrooms.
40. VIEWERS WILL TRAVEL, QUEUE, AND
PURCHASE WITH FERVOR
40
Successful new media creators experience a celebrity status akin to mainstream celebrities. For
thousands of fans the chance to meet their favorite new media star is priceless, including the hours of
wait time, travel costs and VIP access for meet and greets. Many new media creators open online merch
stores as a source of added revenue, and new T-shirt and hoodie designs will often sell out within hours.
In 2013, a twerking Tyler Oakley instigated the entire Staples Center to chant his name at a Tyler Oakley
concert, a small feat for someone who can routinely start globally trending hashtags on Twitter.
41. NNH EVENTS WILL BECOME THE
COMIC CON OF TOMORROW
41
Similar to many other special interest communities, there are several specific events focused entirely on New
Media that provide an opportunity for fans to meet their favorite creators in real life. While tickets to these
events are typically not cheap, they include access to multiple days of entertainment, education and merch.
VIDCON
The largest convention
for online media,
providing a space for
creators, viewers and
industry reps to meet,
communicate and learn.
Attendance: 19,500
PLAYLIST LIVE
An annual event hosted in
Orlando, FL, bringing
creators and their
supporters together for 3
days of interactive
activities and experiences.
This year, Playlist Live will
also be held in Washington,
D.C.
Attendance: 8,000
DIGITOUR
DigiTour is the world’s first
social media tour and
festival, taking place in
cities all over the world
showcasing popular talent
from YouTube, Vine,
Twitter and Instagram.
Attendance: 110,000
BUFFERFESTIVAL
Combining YouTube
content and a film festival,
multiple theaters will
showcase YouTube videos
from specific genres or
themes. The content
creators are in attendance
for intimate Q&A sessions
with the audience.
Attendance: 100s
42. FANDOMS REMIX AND CREATE
NEW, ORIGINAL CONTENT
42
For creative fans, creators are the perfect muse. They’ll draw
portraits, write fan fiction, and create an infinite number of GIFs
and memes to share within their fandom. Creators are happy to
feature this work, and will often incorporate fan designs and
soundtracks into their content, social profiles and merchandise.
43. VIRAL SHARING CREATES NEW
ICONS IN COMMON CULTURE
43
The creation and sharing of Internet memes has become a
normalized form of communication. While many memes are
created using stock images or illustrations, some memes
are created when a candid photo goes viral. The subjects of
these photos, such as Grumpy Cat or Overly Attached
Girlfriend, gain a type of celebrity status due to their
widespread recognizability.
44. Source: YouTube Statistics, YouTube Statistics
YouTube is available in
61
languages.
~60%
of creators’ views come from
outside their home country.
GLOBAL AUDIENCES ARE SHAPING A NEW,
UNIVERSAL FORM OF COMMUNICATION
44
The New New Hollywood audience is markedly international.
Wherever one can find an Internet or network connection, new media
can be accessed. Without a dependency on distribution channels
(movie theaters, cable networks) audiences are no longer limited to
localized content. South Americans can now watch content created in
Asia just as easily as a boy who lives in a rural village can watch
content from the next town over.
46. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CREATORS ADHERE TO A
STRATEGIC FORMULA
46
For the time being, traditional media stars remain the most widely recognizable and financially
successful. As this era of New New Hollywood continues to become normalized, however, the
path to stardom seems to be shifting.
Among the most successful New New Hollywood stars, there are 5 distinct factors that always
play a role in developing massive online audiences:
1. Cross Platform
2. Authenticity
3. Collaboration
4. Diversity
5. Consistency
47. ESTABLISH AN ‘ALWAYS ON’ SOCIAL
MEDIA PRESENCE
47
Creating content and uploading it to the Web is not enough to develop a successful career in
new media. New New Hollywood stars are incredibly dependent on social media platforms to
promote their content. Facebook fan pages, Twitter, and Tumblr also serve as communication
lines between creators and their viewers — as well as fan-to-fan communication. Maintaining
an active social media presence allows viewers to feel connected to creators even though they
may never meet.
48. SHARE THE MOST AUTHENTIC SELF
POSSIBLE
48
At this point, the public meltdown has become a commonplace occurrence in celebrity culture. There are
certainly plenty of examples of meltdowns in the new media space as well. This type of raw, unfiltered
authenticity is another factor in developing strong relationships with viewers. Many creators disregard the
fourth wall in their content, often addressing their viewers directly to make confessions ranging from
skipping showers to battling mental illness.
49. CREATORS LEAN INTO THEIR NETWORKS, RELYING ON
COLLABORATION OVER COMPETITION
49
Collaboration is one of the most powerful tools in a new media creator’s arsenal. When new media
creators collaborate, they are gaining exposure with an audience that may be unfamiliar with their content.
Collab projects are some of the highest viewed content in the new media space, so it is no surprise that
many new media creators relocate to L.A. to have better access to a wider community of collab partners.
50. THERE IS NOW AN INFINITE NUMBER OF DIVERSE
PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES ONLINE
50
Diversity sets New New Hollywood apart from traditional media. There is definitely a long way to go
regarding diversity, as many creators have pointed out systemic racial issues reflected in the way
platforms feature and promote creators. Despite this, the very low barrier to entry allows individuals from
all different backgrounds to share their unique perspective with the world. While representation of
diversity in traditional media has remained disappointingly unchanged, many viewers see POC and Queer
creators as the few authentic representations of themselves in popular culture.
Tyler Oakley, an openly gay YouTuber,
has over
7.5M
SUBSCRIBERS
~540,000
results for transgender content on
YouTube.
51. A CONSISTENT PUBLISHING SCHEDULE
ALLOWS FOR A WEALTH OF FEEDBACK AND
REITERATION
51
Few creators gain millions of viewers overnight. For many, it took years of posting regular content (daily in
some cases) to grow their audiences. Developing a set schedule for posting content provides a structure
and sense of familiarity. In addition, creators are likely to get regular feedback when they have a set
schedule for content. This allows them to refine the creative process and cater to their audiences’
preferences, such as post time, collab partners, and themes.
53. TODAYS CREATORS WILL BE
TOMORROW’S POLITICIANS
53
First and foremost, we will continue to see a blending of new media and old. More mainstream celebrities
are evolving their digital brands, recognizing their fans’ desire for more connection and authenticity. Next,
NNH moves from entertainment to politics. NNH creators are already far surpassing politicians with
regards to influence on the world’s young people. Once these creators begin giving political endorsements,
(a practice already typical of mainstream celebrities), it won’t be long before they are endorsing each other.
Consider also that these creators are no strangers to democracy, they are constantly taking viewer
feedback to inspire new content — and next, legislation.
54. 9 TIPS FOR BRANDS
54
1. Watch New New Hollywood content!
New media is a fantastic place to
observe and learn more about
emerging cultural trends.
2. Reach out to a new media creator.
Ask him or her to come to your office
and share their thoughts about the
changing world of marketing and
entertainment with your team.
3. Decide if your brand DNA allows for
participation in new media.
NOVICE EXPERIENCED EXPERT
1. Allocate a budget for new media
exploration. Use this budget for
collaborations with established
creators or for developing internal
talent.
2. Establish a relationship with the
creator network. Meet with an MCN
or creative studio to learn more about
their services and network of
creators.
3. Attend a new media event. This is the
best way to get a feel for the energy
and momentum behind this
movement.
1. Create a new media app. Leverage
connections with existing creators to
create a new content network.
2. Sponsor a new media event, or start
an entirely new one! Providing
opportunities for creators and their
viewers to meet and interact is one of
the biggest white spaces ripe for
development!
3. Invest in developing new media talent,
such as creating studio space for
creators or promoting undiscovered
talent.
55. 55
CULTURAL STRATEGY
We use 24/7 cultural intelligence to identify trends
and territories attuned to brand DNA.
• Cultural Tension and White Space Mapping
• Collaborative Workshops
• Organizational Design
• Tailored Culture Operating Systems
55
SPARKS & HONEY OFFERINGS
OPEN RESEARCH
We are always on, tracking signals and establishing cultural
context in a collaborative and agile environment.
• Cultural Listening
• Trend Analytics
• Research Entertainment
• Open Research Platforms
CONTENT & BRAND
EXPERIENCE
We create branded content and storytelling experiences
that conquer new territories.
• Editorial & Content Strategy
• Social Marketing
• Future-Focused Brand Experiences
• Collaborative Executions with Persons of Interest
INNOVATION
We partner with people and organizations to promote curiosity
and drive innovation, leading to new business models, next
generation products and groundbreaking ideas.
• Incubator Design, Start-up Matchmaking, Start-up Incubation
• Expert Forums
56. Sign up on our website to receive updates and future reports:
www.sparksandhoney.com
For more information:
212.894.5100
info@sparksandhoney.com
@sparksandhoney
facebook.com/sparksandhoney
56
57. IMAGE SOURCES
57
Page 1: Photo by Gage Skidmore, 2014 VidCon at the Anaheim Convention Center, June 28, 2014.
Page 2: Photo by Merco Recuay, 2010 Creative Emmy Awards, August 21,2010.
Page 3: Photo by cea +, "NetWork," September 3, 2009.
Page 4: Photo by Johan Larsson, "Spotify," September 3, 2009.
Page 5: Photo by Alberto G., "Exam," July 26,2006.
Page 6: Photo courtesy of kris krug, Heart Attack — Anti-Olympic Protest, February 12, 2010.
Page 7: Photo by Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ, Domino, October 11,2014.
Page 8: Photo courtesy of Brad Clinesmith, Time Warner Center, June 6, 2015
Page 9: Photo by Chris Brown, "Television," April 22, 2013.
Page 10: Photo courtesy of James Spinks, “Static Wallpaper,” 1995.
Page 11: Photo by iannnnn, "Chromecast," December 16, 2013.
Page 12: Photo by Japanexperternase, "Close up person using smartphone," May 8, 2015.
Page 13: Photo courtesy of Jason Howie, “Instagram and other Social Media Apps,” September 1, 2012.
Page 14: Photo by Bob ~ Barley Time, "Hope for Balance," April 3, 2015.
Page 15: Photo courtesy of Jason Howie, “Instagram and other Social Media Apps,” September 1, 2012.
Page 16: Photo by Got Credit, "Upload Keyboard Button," March 16, 2015.
Page 17: Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore, ”Idol of MyMusic speaking at VidCon 2012,” June 30, 2014.
Page 18: Photo by Esther Vargas, “Vine, Twitter,” January 29, 2013
Page 19: Photo courtesy of chase@twitch.tv, Twitch Official Facebook Page, August 18,2015.
Page 20: Screenshot of Instagram
Page 21: Photo by Patrik Nygren, "Selfie," April 15, 2014.
Page 22: Photo by Anthony Quintano, “Meerkat App & Periscope App from Helicopter over NY”, March 21, 2015.
Page 23: Photo by Kelly Mercer, "Blackbook Collective Halifax NS", July 13, 2015.
Page 24: Photo courtesy of James Cridland, “Crowd”, June 23, 2007.
Page 25: Photo courtesy of Lele Pons, all rights reserved.
Page 26: Photo courtesy of Logan Paul, Facebook post, Jan 24, 2015, all rights reserved.
Page 27: Photo courtesy of Marnie The Dog, Instagram, all rights reserved.
Page 28: Photo courtesy of Hot Dudes Reading, Facebook post, all rights reserved.
Page 29: Photo courtesy of Sew Sketchy, all rights reserved.
Page 30: Photo courtesy of KittyPlaysGames, all rights reserved.
Page 31: Photo courtesy of Casey Neistat, all rights reserved.
Page 32: Photo by Flazingo Photos, "Handshake man - woman," April 27, 2014.
Page 33: Photo by Vancouver Film School, "Inside the Digital Design Campus," May 26, 2009.
Page 34: Photo by fr4dd, "studio0030," November 4, 2013
Page 35: Photo by bikeriderlondon, "Man talking to receptionist at the reception desk in office,"
Page 36: Photo by Kokulina, "backstage," XXXX.
Page 37: Photo by Gajus, "Businessman or salesman handing over a contract attached to a clipboard for signature offering
Page 38: Photo by Gage Skidmore, "Hannah Hart," June 28, 2014.
Page 39: Photo by Michael Dunn, Line outside the Anaheim Convention Center for VidCon 2014, June 26, 2014.
Page 40: Photo by Gage Skidmore, "VidCon attendees," June 27, 2014.
Page 41: Photo by Gage Skidmore, "The 2014 VidCon at the Anaheim Convention Center," June 28, 2014.
Page 42: Screenshot of Tumblr
Page 43: Photo courtesy of Ben Lashes, all rights reserved.
Page 44: Photo by Michael Coghlan, "Facebook Connections," Dec 21, 2010
Page 45: Photo by The Bui Brothers, "Streamy Awards Photo 1595," April 11, 2010
Page 46: Photo by Jon Rawlinson, “Paris Hilton and the paparazzi,” May 17, 2007.
Page 47: Photo by mkhmarketing, "The Art of Twitter," July 31, 2011.
Page 48: Screenshot of YouTube video, “Leave Britney Alone”
Page 49: Photo courtesy of Michael Dunn, "Nofilter_Portland_20131222-40," December 22, 2013
Page 50: Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore, "IISuperwomanII & Kingsley," June 28, 2014.
Page 51: Photo by Brendan Murphy, “twelve,” Sept 19, 2009
Page 52: Photo by Vinnie C, "Hollywood," Oct 21, 2009.
Page 53: Photo by PBS NewsHour, "Webcam5," August 28, 2012.
Page 54 Photo courtesy of Andrea Rascaglia, "APV_BACKGROUND_only_B," August 15, 2008.