By MICHELLE LU
YouTube is becoming more and more popular as a career choice. People who film and upload YouTube videos can make money by joining YouTube’s partner program and putting ads on their videos. In recent years, many Youtubers have accomplished things outside of YouTube such as writing books, appearing on talk shows and magazines, and even going on tours.
Video blogger Tyler Oakley is certainly succeeding on YouTube. Over 6 million people have subscribed to his YouTube channel which has been viewed more than 348 million times. Aside from making videos, last year Tyler raised over half a million dollars for The Trevor Project, an organization which helps LGBTQ youth. He also began going on tour around the country and has started a podcast with his friend, Korey Khul.
Youtuber Grace Helbig published “Grace’s Guide: The Art of Pretending to be a Grownup,” a handbook about growing up which hit the “New York Times” bestseller list. Grace has also begun her own successful podcast, “Not Too Deep.” She is set to have her own comedy talk show on the E! Network in April of this year.
Helbig isn’t the only Youtuber to release her own book. In November of 2014, British beauty vlogger Zoe Sugg (known as ‘Zoella’ on YouTube), published her novel “Girl Online.” It sold over 78,000 copies in its first week, breaking the record for the fastest selling debut novel. Zoe has also been featured in the November 2014 edition of “Vogue.”
YouTube is also a place for upcoming singers to post covers of songs or even showcase their own work. Australian Youtuber Troye Sivan, who currently has over 3 million subscribers on YouTube, released his first EP, ‘TRXYE’ in August of 2014. The EP has topped the iTunes charts in 58 different countries. His single, “Happy Little Pill” peaked at number 10 on the Australian charts and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.
PewDiePie is a popular gaming Youtuber with approximately 34 million subscribers who has raised over a million dollars for various charities. Smosh is a comedy duo made up of Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox. They create comedy skits for others to enjoy, and have other smaller channels where they do other things like play games or vlog. On their main channel alone, they have over 19 million subscribers. The duo are set to appear in a feature film directed by Alex Winter.
Why are they going beyond their YouTube channels? Enamul Ahsan, a freshman at Jericho High School says,”YouTube is only so big of an audience. Books and television often reach even further than YouTube and they want to get their word out to even more people.”
Jericho High School junior Ashley Myrah thinks it is a positive transition when Youtubers become authors, “I think it’s good that Youtubers are doing things besides making YouTube videos. They’re appearing in magazines and talk shows and I think it’s really great,” she said.
