video Youtube

Music is a universal language that unites people around the world. It reminds us of who we are, where we come from, and the moments that matter the most.

Tomorrow, the Orchestra of Syrian Musicians, which features former and current members of the Syrian National Orchestra, will take the stage at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London for a special performance, presented by Africa Express, that will be live streamed globally on YouTube from 7:30 p.m. BST (11:30 a.m. PST) at youtu.be/aH_FP67cLP0.

As a result of the ongoing conflict, many Syrian musicians, including the orchestra’s conductor Issam Rafea, have been forced to leave their homes. This performance will see musicians who previously worked with Damon Albarn on the Gorillaz track “White Flag,” travelling from both inside and outside Syria to reunite for an orchestral performance of Arabic music with Albarn and other guest performers - including Bashy, Bassekou Kouyaté, Bu Kolthoum, Eslam Jawaad, Faia Younan, Julia Holter, Malikah, Mounir Troudi, Noura Mint Seymali, Paul Weller, Rachid Taha, and Seckou Keita - to highlight and celebrate the remarkable music culture of Syria.

 

Communities around the globe are likewise coming together to host viewings of the performance, including at the YouTube Space in New York and Berlin; at the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts Brussels; and in homes and cultural centers around the world.

The live stream will be hosted by music artist Faia Younan alongside FlyWithHaifa.

Tune in on Saturday, June 25 at 11:30 a.m. PST, 7:30 p.m. BST to watch the concert live alongside viewers around the world, or catch the event afterwards, all at youtube.com/africaexpress. The concert was co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and Holland Festival.

David Mogendorff, Artist Relations and Music Partnerships for YouTube, recently watched “Saviour by Jacob Collier.”

If we ask our creators, most of them will tell you that there’s a project, an idea, a collaboration, or a vision that they’ve always wanted to bring to life. YouTube has helped them achieve incredible things—build a fanbase, gain exposure, even earn serious money—but sometimes, they dream of something more.

Late last year we launched YouTube Red Originals for exactly that reason. We wanted to help our creators realize their ambitions on the platform where their community already lives.

With nine projects launched so far—including “Scare PewDiePie,” “Foursome” and “MatPat’s Game Lab” —we’re seeing fans sign up, tune in, binge and share their enthusiasm with their friends. Our original series and movies are one of the leading drivers of YouTube Red subscriptions, with viewership that rivals similar cable shows.

We’re also seeing creators featured in YouTube Red Originals get a boost in subscribers and watchtime on their main channels, with most of this watchtime coming from viewers who haven’t watched that creator’s content before. It turns out that there’s a virtuous cycle from YouTube Red that actually supports their existing channel on YouTube.

We’re also seeing fans consume these series and films in unexpected ways. Over half of the time spent watching Red Originals is happening on people’s mobile phones. Maybe that’s why the social buzz around YouTube Red Originals is so large. “A Trip to Unicorn Island” earned more Twitter mentions and impressions at launch than “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “House of Cards” and “True Detective” saw when they were released.

Based on the success we’ve seen so far, we’re thrilled to announce our latest slate of YouTube Red Originals.

RENEWALS:
“SCARE PEWDIEPIE” - SEASON 2: Produced by Maker Studios, the creator and executive producers of “The Walking Dead” franchise from Skybound Entertainment, and Felix Kjellberg under the Revelmode banner, the second season of the reality adventure series, “Scare PewDiePie,” promises even more thrills and chills.

“FOURSOME” - SEASON 2: Produced by AwesomenessTV, the second season of “Foursome” returns to YouTube Red following Andie's adventures in the high school dating world. We meet a brand new Andie, a new era of extracurricular hooking up and high school awkwardness.

UNTITLED SMOSH MOVIE: After releasing the episodic series “Part Timers” on YouTube, Smosh is coming back for a feature-length comedy on YouTube Red. Luckless Charlie (Anthony Padilla) moves into a new apartment, only to find he has a roommate: a self-centered ghost named Max (Ian Hecox). Max makes Charlie’s life a living hell, until they learn that the only way Max can get into heaven is by working together.

NEW TO YOUTUBE RED:
“STEP UP” SERIES: “Step Up,” a fan favorite dance film franchise that launched the career of Channing Tatum, transitions to a new series with a heart-pounding, sexy, music-filled and dramatic look at dancers in a contemporary performing arts school. Adam Shankman, Jennifer Gibgot and Meredith Milton, all producers of the original "Step Up" films, will executive produce the series, along with Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan Tatum, who both co-starred in the original "Step Up" film.

“RHETT & LINK’S BUDDY SYSTEM”: In this new scripted comedy series, Rhett & Link must go out of their way to regain control of their internet empire from their mutual co-ex-girlfriend who is now an evil Infomercial Queen holding a very big secret over their heads. The series also features “Saturday Night Live” alums Molly Shannon and Chris Parnell, as well as Leslie Bibb and Page Kennedy.

DAN & PHIL TOUR DOCUMENTARY: Top YouTube comedy stars, Dan Howell and Phil Lester are taking their fans inside their latest world tour, “The Amazing Tour Is Not On Fire.” With hilarious anecdotes, sketches, and lots of surprises for their fans, we’re bringing Dan and Phil’s successful live stage show exclusively to YouTube Red. They’ll also be giving audiences a behind-the-scenes look with a documentary about the making of the tour.

“VLOGUMENTARY”: Executive produced by award-winning filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, Maker Studios, and Shay "ShayCarl" Butler, “Vlogumentary” provides a personal, intimate lens into the world of some of YouTube's biggest creators and demonstrates the power of the platform in shaping the lives of creative voices, their audiences and the media landscape.

UNTITLED ANIMATED SERIES: 3BLACKDOT and its top YouTube creators SeaNanners, TheMrSark and VanossGaming star in an animated comedy series, helmed by Michael Rowe, Emmy Award-winning writer of “Futurama” and “Family Guy,” about a team of ill-equipped paranormal investigators who struggle to unfold the mysteries of the paranormal universe for their desperate clients.

UNTITLED MICHAEL STEVENS PROJECT: In this new educational series, Vsauce creator Michael Stevens will take a deeper look into the human mind, using real subjects, including himself and special guests, to show some of the most mind-blowing, important and least understood aspects of human nature.

Susanne Daniels, Global Head of Original Content, recently watched the first episode of “Escape the Night with Joey Graceffa.”

Over the past 11 years, people around the world have turned to online video as a rich medium to help explore, share, and celebrate who they are. It makes us incredibly proud that over these years, YouTube has also become a platform where the LGBTQ community can express themselves, start new conversations, and create solidarity around the globe.

From commemorating Pride parades to opening up about transitions and explaining the ABCs of LGBT, YouTube is a place where anyone can belong no matter who they are or who they love. That is why today we want to help people honor and celebrate who they’re #ProudToBe:


Now, more than ever, it’s important that we help accept, love, and celebrate one another. In the wake of the tragic events in Orlando, we stand together in support of the LGBTQ community. We stand together with everyone who has the courage to own and share their identity. We stand together to show the power of solidarity, the power of love, the power of pride. To those beautiful and brave voices who continue to make YouTube the vibrant, diverse and empathetic community it is, we are #ProudToBe with you.

The YouTube Team recently watched “LoveExists / We are #OrlandoUnited.”

Whether it’s for entertainment, indulging a passion, or discovering something new, more people are turning to YouTube to watch video. In fact, growth in watch time on YouTube is up at least 50 percent year-over-year.¹ Now, more than ever, businesses can connect with their customers through video advertising on YouTube.

But we know that creating a video ad can be challenging. To make it easier for every business— from a dog walker to a barber shop owner—to get started with advertising on YouTube, we’re launching the YouTube Director suite of products. Three products that make video ads more accessible to businesses.

Make a video ad right from your phone

With the free YouTube Director for business app (available for iPhone today in the U.S. and Canada) anyone can create a video ad for their business quickly and easily—right from their phone. No editing experience required. People like Woody Lovell Jr., owner of the The Barber Shop Club in Los Angeles, are already seeing positive results with YouTube Director.

Woody shot and edited a video ad by himself, uploaded it to YouTube, and worked with an AdWords expert to run a campaign. As a result, Woody’s business saw a significant increase in potential customers being able to remember and recognize his ad.²

We challenged five business owners—including Woody—to create a video ad in 20 minutes or less. Watch what happened and download the app to give it a try.



Get a professional to make your video ad

In select U.S. cities, we’re also offering YouTube Director onsite, a service that sends a professional filmmaker to shoot and edit a video ad for free whenever a business spends at least $150 to advertise on YouTube. YouTube Director onsite is available in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C.—and coming to more cities soon.

Is your business an app? We can create a video ad for you too

YouTube Director automated video creates a video ad automatically from existing assets like logos and app screenshots in the App Store or Google Play Store, and is available globally. Reach out to a Google expert (1-855-500-2756) for more information.

No matter what kind of business you’re in, getting started with advertising on YouTube just became a whole lot easier. We can’t wait to see what you make. Happy filming.

Max Goldman, Product Manager, YouTube Director, recently watched "YouTube Director Video Challenge."


¹ Google Data, 2016

² Woody's YouTube Director video ad for The Barber Shop Club drove a 73 percent increase in ad recall among target customers on YouTube, and a 56 percent lift in brand awareness (AdWords Brand Lift Study, June 2016)