Anna Akana is a “Sell Out”…NOT!
“Selling out” is a common expression for a person’s integrity, authenticity, morality, or principles for personal gain; such as money. In terms of entertainers online, selling out is associated with attempts to tailor material to a mainstream or commercial audience.
Brand deals or sponsored videos are the “bread and butter” for an up-and-coming YouTuber. Although they are a financial staple for most YouTubers, it does come at cost to both their channel growth and audience perception — oftentimes sponsored videos are continually met with audience backlash and a windfall of unsubscribers. While brand deals and sponsored videos are an essential financial staple for YouTubers, it’s a two-way street for both brands and influencers.
A great example is a Comedian Anna Akana is a YouTube star on the rise. She has more than 1.2 million YouTube subscribers, a podcast and an event series, and she just launched a clothing line. Now and then, she has to contend with people calling her a “sellout” for the income she makes through brand sponsorships. Now she’s taking her trolls to task.
She lost some subscribers, self-proclaimed die-hards accused her of “selling out” in the comments section. Her response?
“If a sellout is someone who puts high value on their work, than sure. If a sellout is someone who recognizes that money frees up your time to work on non-paying passion projects, awesome! If a sellout is someone who loves what they do, but also wants to make a living at it, than yeah.”
Call her a sellout!
Akana points out that “sellout” is an insult we only hurl at people in entertainment when they try to get paid for their work. It’s not something you’d say, for example, to a waitress, insurance agent, salesman or even some athletes.
Everyone hates ads, but the way we see ads is changing. Online advertisements used to stay relegated to pop-ups and sidebars. But running banners and pre-rolls next to articles and videos has become so cheap on the Internet that it’s nearly impossible to sustain a business on those kinds of ads alone.
Arguably, it’s more ethical to warn viewers that what they’re watching is supported financially by a brand. But if artists can’t run ads that people end up clicking on or viewing, it’s only going to get more difficult for anyone to make money doing what they love on the Internet.
Honestly, I’m so sick of the whole starving-artist idea. As Cliché as this sounds, people need to get-off their high-horse and understand everyone needs to make a living. Yes, it may put into question their authenticity- which I believe should be the not only YouTubers, but other social media bloggers moral responsibility to ensure their fans/follower, that they are 100% genuine! But then again, it’s not called social media. Don’t just work hard, work smart- you didn’t sell out! Anna Akana you stay awesome!
Watch Akana’s hilarious video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgd30_JiK24#action=share
#RTA902
