10 People Made Famous by Youtube
Glen Allsopp /
18 Comments /
January 2nd, 2008 /
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Youtube has consistently proved itself as a great platform for aspiring artists / comedians / actors and anyone else to be noticed by its millions of users and helping change peoples lives for good. Therefore we decided to put together this list of 10 people that have been made famous by the site, and the success that they have generated.
They are not really in any order, just ordered slightly in the amount of success they have had but also our favourites as well. Number 10 is a new ’star’ that we think has big potential, and although not exactly famous yet we felt she deserved the spot.

Update: I found this cool guide on how you can Become a Youtube Superstar
10. Kina Grannis signing a song aimed at Digg.com users ‘Gotta Digg’
Success: The video was created in order to help her promote an entry in the ‘crash the superbowl’ music competition and appealed to the digg audience. Lots of diggers turned up to her live performance on December 21st (2007) and Techcrunch is also reporting that a record label might be signing her.
9. Marie Digby singing Rhianna’s Umbrella
Success: Although she was already signed by disney, the song allowed her to be snapped up by Hollywood Records. She was asked to play on Star 98 Radia LA, performed on the Carson Daly show and the song was also featured on the MTV show ‘The Hills’.
8. Amber Lee Ettinger singing ‘I Got a Crush…On Obama’
Success: Although Amber had been featured in magazines such as Maxim and FHM, she certainly didn’t have the fame she has now. Appearing on multiple american news sites and featured on ABC’s show ‘icaught’ she’s had no problem getting more modelling gigs being named ‘babe of the month’ by playboy.
7. Esmee Denters singing ‘What Goes Around’
Success: Although she started off imitating famous artists, when she performed her own music she was an instant hit on youtube and has since appeared on dutch tv shows like Life & Cooking and Jenssen. More recently she has actually had the chance to perform with Justin Timberlake and has been signed by Tennman records. (Source)
6. Jessica Rose (LG15) and her fictional teenage life
Success: Although this 16 year-old named ‘Bree’ was found out to be a fake, she did garner a lot of success on youtube and myspace tv. Since she’s moved on from the series she is a cast of ABC’s family show ‘Greek’, had a law & order episode created that was inspired by her, featured in Wired magazine and was also voted ‘Biggest Web Hit’ by VH1.
5. Brooke Brodack goes bonkers for Numa Numa
Success: Had to be included simply due to the fact she is crazy and thought to be the first youtube made ‘celebrity’. The 20 year old was recognised by Carson Daly and signed a talent / development deal, doing work for mobile, tv and internet media.
4. Tom Dickson with “Will it Blend?”
Success: Tom, CEO of blender makers blendtec started a series blending unusual products. The videos soon became a hit as did tom. He has his own line of merchandise available on the WIB website, has been on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and also appeard on KDRF radio in mexico.
3. Adam Bahner by creating Chocolate Rain
Success: I won’t write any filler because this has been everywhere…*deep breaths* homepage of LA Times, Opie & Anthony show, G4TV’s Attack of the Show, VH1, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Toronto Star, CNN, People Magazine and the Australian Daily Telegraph. He was paid by dr pepper to create a new video named ‘Cherry Chocolate Rain’.
2. Liam Kyle Sullivan with a funny episode named Shoes
Success: Since the american comedian / actor has been adding videos to youtube, he has appeared on TV shows such as Gilmore Girls, 8 Simple Rules and alias. He now stars in the popular VH1 show ‘I hate my 30’s’, has been in a skittles commercial and has his own album.
1. Andy McKee with help from his song ‘Drifting’
Success: Andy is now signed by candyrat records thanks to the success his videos had on youtube (the one above has over 10 million views). He is currently on a world tour promoting his music and other songs that were big on youtube, Rylynn and Africa. He famously left a comment on thepiratebay after one of his albums were added there.
Video Version of this Post & How you can become a Youtube Celebrity

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Thats a good roundup! One of my favs not on your list because they prob arent that big (yet?) are Wrong Trousers. Video: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VSUX9byu6NY
That video is pretty funny. I realise there is a few people who didn’t make the list but I can’t include everyone, I’ve never heard of them and didnt realise they are pretty well known now? Glad you like the list and thanks for stopping by:)
Glen, i think you missed the biggest of the year…
“Chris Crocker”
This dude was on the news and a bunch of tv shows because of this stupid video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc
I actually had him down as the ‘1 that didnt make it’, it was between him and kyle sullivan (2)
The reason i didnt pick him is because hes going to be doing a lot i.e. own tv show and i think that is more special, most of the people did tv interviews
Great roundup - shows you what amazing talent (and slightly scary people) exist out there. It is very humbling.
I’d add Christine of HappySlip in there, William Sledd of Ask a Gay Man, Michael Buckley from What The Buck?, and Charice Pempengco who’s internationally known now (featured on Ellen DeGeneres, Star King Korea, etc). Yep, this list is quite small — you’ve got to expand this.
The list would get far too big in my opinion, and i was only trying to pick 10 people so theres’ nothing really to ‘expand’
Thanks for stopping by
I especially like the song to Obama number 8.
haha yeah, the girl who made it actually got in touch with me after making the video
None of the videos work now. Damn YouTube
Really? They are all working fine for me…
Yea, they are all working now. Maybe you had just uploaded them when I was looking and they hadn’t gone through that video unavailable time period when I tried watching.
My bad! Sry.
[...] 10 People Made Famous by Youtube from ViperChill. [...]
i can guarantee you that brooke brodack is indeed as crazy as a shit house rat!!
Don’t forget Grammy Consideree Anand Bhatt with his Hey There Delilah Parody (Plain White Tees):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PkTYyoimsmc
[...] portal de video se han echo famosos, algunos por estupideces y otros por su talento. Bueno pues en vipercchill han echo una lista de 10 personas que se han vuelto famosas gracias a Youtube, pero no por [...]
soulja boy
[...] for me on iTunes! Thanks Kina! You can find the video to the song as the first video on our ‘10 People Made Famous by Youtube‘ [...]