Much confirmed today that Much Digital Studios, its online network of YouTube creators and digital influencers, is now live along with the newly revamped Much.com. It was also revealed today that 13 established and emerging Canadian YouTube creators, including comedian Jus Reign (500,000 subscribers), beauty vlogger Melissa Merk (300,000 subscribers), and comedic troupe 4YallEntertainment (250,000 subscribers), are the first group of talent to partner with Much Digital Studios. With more than 1.4 million subscribers collectively, and representing a diverse range of genres, the YouTube and digital creators joining Much Digital Studios also include: comedy channels The Danocracy, Ron Dias TV, and Shane Cunningham; beauty, fashion, and lifestyle experts AllegraLouise and Mila Victoria; musicians Dan Talevski, SickickMusic, and Tyler Shaw; illusionist Rayn Magic; and podcaster Mike Veerman from THE MIKE ON MUCH CULTURE PODCAST.
For the first look at the new Much Digital Studios creators click here.
“It’s extremely rewarding to see Much Digital Studios launch with such influential and diverse creators,” said Justin Stockman, Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. “These 13 creators are original and irreverent, and perfectly embody both the spirit of Much, and what it means to be young in Canada today. With more talent announcements to come this summer, we look forward to further engaging Much’s loyal fan base as well as new fans alike.”
About the Much Digital Studios creators:
Name: 4YallEntertainment
Genre: Comedy
Bio: Brothers Jae and Trevaunn Richards, and twins Duwayne and Durran Ferguson, make up 4YallEntertainment. Each week, the Brampton, Ont. natives release comedy sketches with an urban feel, with genres ranging from funny movie parodies, rants, skits, and much more. In the past, they have collaborated with the Toronto Raptors, Boi1da, and King Bach. Their YouTube channel has more than 200,000 subscribers, and features popular videos including: Pornstars Read Mean Comments, Draw my Life – Chief Keef (Parody), and He Sleep! (Worldstar Fight) – each surpassing 1 million views.
Name: AllegraLouise
Genre: Fashion and Lifestyle
Bio: Allegra Shaw is a 22 year-old student, blogger, and YouTuber from Toronto. Inspired by the videos she grew up watching on YouTube, her channel, AllegraLouise has fun and interesting fashion and lifestyle content that has created a strong connection with her followers. Her most popular videos include: Minimalist: Look book, Ways to Wear: Little Black Dress, and Liquid Eyelinner for Beginners.
Name: The Danocracy
Genre: Comedy
Bio: Dan Rodo, a proud Canadian currently living in Dallas, started making YouTube videos in early 2007. He recently launched his own humour and inspiration-filled channel, The Danocracy, which now has more than 75,000 subscribers. Dan’s how-to videos, including 6 Tips For Dealing With a Bully, and 6 Ways To Deal With Change, inspire youth in a fun, relatable way.
Name: Dan Talevski
Genre: Music
Bio: Dan Talevski, a singer-songwriter from Georgetown, Ont., started making YouTube videos in 2007 after he decided to upload his cover of “What Goes Around” by Justin Timberlake. In 24 hours, Talevski captured the attention of thousands of viewers, and soon began getting requests from fans across the country. Signed to eOne Music Canada, Talevski has now worked with many established artists including, will.i.am, Shawn Desman, Danny Fernandes, and Keisha Chante.
Name: Jus Reign
Genre: Comedy
Bio: Jasmeet Singh, better known as Jus Reign, posted his first YouTube video five years ago. The Guelph, Ont. native’s commentary on race, along with his pop-culture parodies and comedic deadpan has earned him more than 500,000 YouTube subscribers, more than 1 million followers on Vine, and one of the largest followings on Snapchat within Canada. With a combined channel view total surpassing 70 million, some of Jus Reign’s most-watched YouTube videos include: The Swag Song, Shit White Guys Say to Brown Guys, Goodbye Official Remix, Desi Parents and Money, and Bounce.
Name: Melissa Merk
Genre: Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle
Bio: Melissa Merk is an avid YouTuber and part-time model from Vancouver with a passion for beauty and fashion. Her lifestyle and beauty YouTube channel, Melissa Merk, has garnered more than 300,000 subscribers. Her most popular hair and make-up tutorial videos include: Everyday Makeup ♡, quick back to school hairstyles , and basic back to school hairstyles – each surpassing 1 million views. Merk also has a beauty blog and has recently launched her own online clothing boutique, Just Kingsley.
Name: Mila Victoria
Genre: Beauty
Bio: Toronto-based Mila Victoria is an experienced makeup and hair artist who has worked with high profile clients including Cody Simpson, Ashley Benson, Shawn Mendes, Wiz Khalifa, The Weeknd, Majid Jordan. She previously lived in London, working with the fashion industry’s top artists in London Fashion Week. Her work has been featured in Archetype Magazine, Fashion Magazine, and Pitch-Zine, to name a few. In 2014, Mila was named the first Beauty Ambassador for Topshop Canada’s makeup line. She currently works as a freelance artist, and runs her own beauty YouTube channel where her most popular video, Ombre Lips Tutorial with 3 Different Styles, has surpassed 1.5 million views.
Name: Rayn Magic
Genre: Magic
Bio: Toronto-born YouTuber Rayn Magic is a self-described manipulator of mind, magic, and music who started studying his craft at the young age of 11. His local performances soon progressed into large crowds, which eventually evolved into bigger international events. Rayn’s show involves card manipulation, mind-reading, hypnosis, and powerful magic. Rayn is the creative partner of fellow Much Digital Studios creator SickickMusic.
Name: Ron Dias TV
Genre: Comedy
Bio: In 2013, the Dubai-born, Toronto-raised actor Ron Dias launched his own YouTube channel, Ron Dias TV. His channel features comedy sketches, short films, and vlogs that give insight into his day- to-day adventures, friendships, travel, and positive outlook on life. With more than 4 million combined views on his channel, his most popular videos include Viagra Prank Gone Wrong, and Our First Kiss. Ron is also working on a new sketch comedy series called THE RON DIAS TV SHOW, which is scheduled to premiere on his channel this summer.
Name: Shane Cunningham
Genre: Comedy
Bio: Shane Cunningham is a Toronto-based writer and producer whose passion for video production began in high school. Cunningham started a comedy YouTube channel where his humorous videos, including Wiz kalifa Streeters, Harlem Shake Segment, Teen Wolff 3, and VJ Search Video with Ashley Leggat, have reached more than 200,000 combined views. In 2013, Cunningham wrote Mucho, a commercial promoting CONAN on Much. Currently, Cunningham works at Much where he has participated in projects with the cast of PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, Coldplay and his idol, Conan O’Brien.
Name: SickickMusic
Genre: Music
Bio: Sickick is a Canadian producer, writer, and singer with a passion for hip hop and electronic dance music. His R&B and melodic roots have inspired his unique style of dance music – #SICKHOP. Over the past year, Sickick has gained more than 150,000 followers across his social media accounts, and has surpassed 3 million views on Soundcloud. With his Mortal Kombat inspired image, Sickick continues to “spread his sickness.”
Name: Tyler Shaw
Genre: Music
Bio: Tyler Shaw is a singer-songwriter from Coquitlam, B.C. who quickly became a fan-favourite after his debut single “Kiss Goodnight” was a Top 10 smash on radio, as well as certified gold in Canada. Following a second Top 10 single with “By My Side,” Shaw’s latest single “House of Cards,” and its MuchFACT funded heroic video, is quickly racing up the charts. His charm and charisma comes across in his YouTube channel which features his official music videos, covers and regular #TuesdayswithTyler segments. Signed to Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Shaw will open for pop star Kelly Clarkson during the Canadian leg of her tour this fall.
Name: THE MIKE ON MUCH CULTURE PODCAST
Genre: Entertainment Podcast
Bio: Hosted, written, and produced by Hamilton’s Mike Veerman, a Senior Writer/Director/Producer for the Bell Media Creative Agency (Much and The Comedy Network), THE MIKE ON MUCH CULTURE PODCAST is a weekly show featuring long-form interviews with compelling cultural figures from the world of music, comedy, acting, and writing. He engages listeners with relatable stories from his professional and personal life, while discussing pop culture with reoccurring entertainment industry professionals. The show is co-produced by Max Kerman, lead singer of the four-time JUNO Award-winning rock band, Arkells, and also features fellow YouTuber and pop culture aficionado Shane Cunningham, who contributes a “Top 5” segment at the end of every episode. The podcast launches this summer on Much Digital Studios.
