Business of Creators
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It's Ziwe's world, we're just living in it

It's Ziwe's world, we're just living in it

...How Ziwe got tender on her own terms in her first book...

Business of Creators
October 20, 2023

Business of Creators 💬

Greetings! 👋

Welcome to the newest edition of the Business of Creator newsletter! Immerse yourself in today's top stories:

💅 Ziwe's versatile creative journey
🎶 YouTube working on tool that lets creators sing like Drake
💸 Celeb YouTubers to invest in startups
📲 TikTok rolls out Out of Phone to bring videos to bigger screens

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📲 Platform updates unpacked

Get the lowdown on the latest digital platform tweaks and additions to stay one step ahead…

📲 X: Musk mulls removing X from EU to dodge disinformation laws.

📲 YouTube: YouTube takes steps to help amplify authoritative news sources in the app. Plus, YouTube added new display options for affiliate products.

📲 Meta: Meta expands Broadcast channels to Facebook and Messenger.

📲 TikTok: TikTok Music is now live in five countries. Spotify has to be concerned.

📲 Snapchat: Snapchat launches new tools to facilitate creator collaborations with brands.

📲 Fortnite: Fortnite creators will get paid for encouraging players to spend.

Ziwe's versatile creative journey

In her debut book, "Black Friend," comedian Ziwe Fumudoh takes a surprising turn from the expected "anti-racist guide" to deliver a funny and unexpectedly tender essay collection, sharing intimate moments that shaped her life.

From satirical grilling on her Showtime series to her upcoming comedy tour, Ziwe remains true to her instincts, defying categorization and embracing different creative expressions, showcasing her versatility beyond traditional comedy.

Blurred lines and bold moves…

Ziwe's persona, both on and off-screen, blurs as she explores pottery, revealing a looser side to her career path. She reflects on spirituality, emphasizing a connection to her work and the clay she molds, challenging perceptions about her identity and creative process.

At a career pivot point, Ziwe, known for her incisive social commentary, navigates cancellation, a debut book, and a sold-out comedy tour. Ambitious and unbounded by formats, she hints at a potential future on The Daily Show, underscoring her commitment to expression without limits.

YouTube working on tool that lets creators sing like Drake

In a bid to amplify creative expression, YouTube is reportedly developing an AI-powered tool allowing content creators to record audio using the voices of renowned musicians. Negotiations with major music companies for song rights are ongoing, with YouTube aiming to navigate the legal intricacies of AI and creativity, presenting itself as a collaborative partner in ushering in this innovative technology (Reported by Bloomberg).

Celeb YouTubers to invest in startups

A group of prominent British YouTubers known as the Sidemen are planning to set up a venture capital fund called UpsideVC, Sifted reports. The Sidemen – who publish videos on various challenges, sketches, and video game commentaries – have 20.2 million subscribers on their main YouTube channel. Members of the group also have their fingers in other pies including clothing lines and food and beverage brands. "We can see that startups can gain massively from engaging with creators, and similarly creators are increasingly willing to engage more deeply with relevant startups," a spokesperson for Sidemen told Sifted.

TikTok rolls out Out of Phone to bring videos to bigger screens

@tiktoknewsroom
Introducing Out of Phone! This new out-of-home solution enables brands and partners to extend TikTok content beyond the platform, into the... See more

TikTok is broadening its advertising horizons with the introduction of "Out of Phone," a feature allowing brands to showcase TikTok content on various surfaces such as billboards, in-store displays, and cinema screens. The move aims to amplify promotional reach, though the tailored nature of this option may pose budget challenges for smaller brands, requiring direct collaboration with the TikTok team for implementation.