Andrew Rea's bold new ventures beyond YouTube

Heyyyy!

Meta just launched AI Studio, letting US Instagram users create AI versions of themselves to interact with followers. Creators can now have AI profiles auto-reply and manage comments, blurring the line between human and bot interactions on the platform.

Top updates

❌ Meta has scrapped its celebrity AI chatbots, including ones modeled after Charli D'Amelio and MrBeast, due to low user engagement.

👀 Meta's new AI model tags and tracks every object in your videos.

💬 Runway, the AI video-generation tool company, secretly trained its model using videos scraped from YouTube, according to a 404 Media investigation.

☕️ Substack launched a mobile editor, allowing creators to write and publish posts via its app, the company announced Thursday.

⭐️ Skibidi Toilet, a YouTube series by Alexey "Boom" Gerasimov, is being developed for film and TV by director Michael Bay, Variety reports.

🖥️ Ava Kris Tyson, co-host on the MrBeast YouTube channel, announced she will "permanently step away" following grooming allegations. She apologized for "past behavior" but denied the claims in a post on X.

🍵 Hailey Welch, known as “The Hawk Tuah Girl,” joined the fan subscription site Fanfix, which avoids explicit sexual content. After a NSFW comment in a viral video, some speculated she would join OnlyFans.

🐛 An Apple bug was causing Substack writers to panic.Some saw a lower-than-usual email open rate beginning July 24th — which Substack tied to last weekend’s iCloud Private Relay outage.

💡 Canva has acquired local startup Leonardo.ai to bolster the design platform’s Magic Studio AI tools.

^{Beyond YouTube}

How mega creators like Andrew Rea are planning long-term engagement

Andrew Rea, the mind behind the Babish Culinary Universe on YouTube, isn't stopping at 10 million subscribers. Known for recreating iconic dishes from movies and TV shows, Rea is now pushing beyond the digital sphere.

New ventures…

Rea is diversifying his brand with several exciting projects:

• THC-infused sugar: Introducing Bakes with Babish, a specialty baking product inspired by Rea's love for cannabis.

• Bed & Babish: A short-term rental in upstate New York, equipped with top-notch cooking essentials. Rea aims to expand this concept, partnering with Airbnb owners to upgrade their kitchen offerings.

Unique features: Rea’s rental isn’t just about cooking; it offers a nostalgic media room with classics like Seinfeld on VHS, aiming to create a memorable experience for guests.

Into the film industry: Rea is also venturing into film with a unique short about a consciousness waking up as a new person daily and falling in love, adding another layer to his creative portfolio.

Setting trends: Rea’s expansion into real estate and specialty foods is part of a broader trend where creators leverage their online success into tangible products. For example, travel YouTuber Damon Dominique has found success with practical, relatable language courses.

The bigger picture: Rea’s moves highlight a shift for content creators aiming for longevity. By branching out beyond digital platforms, creators can sustain engagement and monetize their influence in innovative ways.

Andrew Rea’s ventures beyond YouTube set a blueprint for creators looking to expand their brands. His approach shows that with creativity and strategic planning, long-term success is within reach.

^{Partnered with Jasper AI}

Elevate your content game with Jasper AI

Hey Creators! Ready to supercharge your content? Jasper AI is your new secret weapon. Whether you’re a YouTuber, influencer, or just a content wizard, Jasper helps you brainstorm ideas, write scripts, and even generate catchy social media posts in minutes. Say goodbye to writer's block and hello to endless creativity. Ready to level up? Click here to start creating smarter, faster, and better with Jasper AI.

Discover Jasper AI now!

Should Twitch creators be worried about Twitch’s finances?

The financial lowdown: Twitch pulled in $667 million in ad revenue in 2023. Compared to Amazon’s $575 billion total revenue and YouTube’s $31.51 billion ad revenue, Twitch's earnings are just a drop in the bucket. This revelation comes from internal documents recently viewed by the Wall Street Journal.

Concerns and declines: The same documents reveal a drop in spending on channel subscriptions and Bits, along with declining new user growth and engagement. This has sparked internal worries about potential layoffs or even the platform’s future.

More than just revenue: Despite financial concerns, Twitch's cultural impact is undeniable. Big names like Post Malone have streamed on the platform, and homegrown stars like Kai Cenat continue to break viewership records, like his recent stream hitting 712,600 concurrent viewers.

Amazon's perspective: Amazon sees Twitch as more than just a revenue stream. A company spokesperson emphasized Twitch’s role in connecting with hard-to-reach audiences and hinted at a long-term commitment to the platform.

The bottom line: Twitch isn’t going anywhere (at least we hope). For creators, this means the platform remains a solid place to grow your audience and connect with fans, despite any financial hiccups. Keep streaming and stay tuned—Twitch is still in the game.