Skip to main content
Stream Wars

Stream Wars

By The Meet Group

Here we explore everything there is to know about the global live streaming industry, covering the latest trends from the top platforms both in China and the West (including MOMO, YY, Huya, Inke, MeetMe, Twitch, Live.me, Bigo and Younow). Stream Wars features interviews with top streamers who share their tips and tricks for hosting a popular stream, what motivates them to stream, and how live streaming has impacted their lives. We’ll also talk to engineers and product developers to learn what it takes to build a popular livestreaming platform.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
PodBean Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

From MyYearbook to MeetMe: Co-founder Catherine Cook Connelly Shares Her Story

Stream WarsMay 23, 2019

00:00
44:28
From MyYearbook to MeetMe: Co-founder Catherine Cook Connelly Shares Her Story

From MyYearbook to MeetMe: Co-founder Catherine Cook Connelly Shares Her Story

Today we get to go back in time and hear all about the origins of MeetMe from the app’s co-founder Catherine Cook Connelly. Catherine founded the company in 2005 while she was still in high school (total #girlboss!) Back then it was a website called My Yearbook and, in this interview, we talk all about the creation of that original platform and how it has transformed into the MeetMe app that you know and love today. 

Catherine shares some of the top successes and struggles in those early years of building the platform, and her advice for entrepreneurs. We also talk about the decision to add live streaming to MeetMe, what are some of her favorite live streams to watch, and her own personal experience with live streaming. 

Catherine also shares what she feels has been the best part of creating MeetMe and why live streaming has only made that better. 

If you want to catch one of Catherine’s streams, find her on MeetMe as CatherineC !

*make sure it’s the account with the official MeetMe tag 

May 23, 201944:28
21: Behind the Scenes – How We Moderate Live Streaming Content

21: Behind the Scenes – How We Moderate Live Streaming Content

Today we’re pulling back the curtain and sharing with you how we at The Meet Group handle an extremely important component of any live streaming platform, and that is content moderation. 

To learn how content moderation works, I interviewed David Brown, VP of Operations at The Meet Group who explains why we moderate content, how we use AI algorithms to help us moderate millions of minutes of live broadcasts every day, what are some of the suspicious behaviors and red flags we’re looking for, and what happens if we find inappropriate content. 

If you’re a streamer on one of our platforms, this conversation is definitely worth listening to, and will help you better understand how our platform works and what we are doing to make it a safe and healthy environment for you to have fun and meet people. 

May 10, 201920:50
BONUS: Is Live Streaming a Real Job?

BONUS: Is Live Streaming a Real Job?

In this episode Anthony and I discuss whether or not live streaming can be considered a real job. A couple months back we posted about this topic on social media and we got so much feedback we thought we’d record an episode all about it. 

The original idea came from a study that was released in China on January 8th. In the 2018 Live Streaming Profession Report, 73% of the 10,000 people surveyed responded that live streaming is a profession. Nearly 30% of users said that one of their friends or family members is a live streamer. The report also shared demographics, salaries, upsides and downsides of this new career path.

In this episode, Anthony and I break down the findings of the report and compare them with the live streaming industry here in the US and the habits or our broadcasters on The Meet Group platforms. 

Thank you to liwavybby, autumnshantel, madisontmt, exotic_kiki, missmuffintv, fetticonfetti, and everyone else who left us comments about this topic on the MeetMe, Tagged, and Skout Instagram accounts! 


Key findings we discuss from the report: 

  • Out of the 5,000 broadcasters surveyed, 79% of them were female and 21% male. 68% were 29 years old or younger and out of that, 16% were under the age of 24.
  • Among full-time streamers the male to female ratio was even more skewed at around 1:5 and 73% of them were 29 years old or younger.
  • The survey found that 21% of full-time broadcasters and 10% of part-time broadcasters earn over 10,000 RMB ($1,478) per month from streaming (which is more than the average salary in Beijing). 
  • The report also found that even when it comes to live streaming, education level has a dramatic impact on earnings. 37% of streamers with a master’s degree or higher earned over 10,000 RMB per month, while only 27% of streamers with a bachelor’s degree and 16% of streamers with an associate degree were able to reach that earnings threshold.
  • About one-fifth of full-time hosts stream more than eight hours a day
  • Because viewership peaks in the evening, livestreamers often work late at night. The survey found that 44% of hosts stream between 7pm and midnight, and as many as 12% of them frequently stream between midnight and 8am.
  • 80% of all streamers surveyed reported that they stream on holidays, and for full-time streamers that percentage is even higher at 94%.
  • In order to hone their skills and further their careers, many streamers were found to re-invest a large portion of their earnings each month into developing their talents (for example taking singing or dancing classes), upgrading their equipment (microphones, lighting, props), or improving their appearance. 44% of full-time broadcasters spend over 1,000 RMB ($148) per month on self-improvement and a 9% of them spend more than 5,000 RMB ($740) per month.

Check out our blog post to get the full run down of the report.  

May 01, 201942:26
20: The Challenges for Chinese Live Streaming Apps Expanding Overseas with May Youssef of Uplive

20: The Challenges for Chinese Live Streaming Apps Expanding Overseas with May Youssef of Uplive

Today I speak with May Youssef, who is part of the Public Relations team for Asia Innovations Group, the parent company of the popular live streaming platform Uplive. 

According to May, Uplive is the biggest Chinese live streaming platform outside of China and is very popular in the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. We discuss the unique features of Uplive, the challenges they face when expanding into new markets all over the world, and the tactics they use to assimilate the app into local cultures. 

There are a growing number of Chinese live streaming platforms attempting to develop outside of Mainland China, and Uplive is certainly one of the forerunners so it was very interesting to hear May’s perspective. 

Note: This interview was pre-recorded and at the time of release May has moved on to a new role and is no longer with AIG.


Additional Notes: 

  • What is AIG, the parent company of Uplive 
  • In 2016, Uplive had 100 M users worldwide
  • Biggest Chinese live streaming company outside of China 
  • Popular in the Middle East, Taiwan, HK, Indonesia, and India
  • Before they launch in any region, they do in-depth cultural research 
  • Big emphasis on global interaction 
  • Decentralized system, hire foreigners who understand Chinese, Chinese people in the region, customize the app for the region
  • The platform includes features such as the global village, international PK, and simultaneous translation to encourage users to interact with other users from around the world. 
  • Voice translation and chat translation – viewers can write in their own language and it will be automatically translated into the streamer’s language, also have subtitles for viewers to understand what streamer is saying
  • Launched in India last year, in less than 7 months became top live streaming app in Google Play in India 
  • Originally focused on high growth, large population regions, now starting to shift focus to Africa, South America, and Europe
  • Different regions of the world like different content, for example: in India there is a lot of dancing, viewers in the Middle East love talk shows
  • What is Gifto – taking live streaming virtual gifting model and plugging it in to other platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram 
  • Also working with offline stores so people can use Gifto to pay for things, easy to transfer to other users 

Learn More: 

Asiainnovations.com


Apr 25, 201935:40
19: Playlist Live Mashup Best Friends Edition w/ Ceanna, Ash, Gabe, and Jakeup

19: Playlist Live Mashup Best Friends Edition w/ Ceanna, Ash, Gabe, and Jakeup

Today’s episode is the last in our Playlist Live series and it’s definitely a fun one that really demonstrates the close friendships that can be developed through live streaming. 

The first interview features Ceanna and Ash, two streamers who met on MeetMe and after discovering that they lived only 40 minutes apart, started meeting offline. Fast forward to a couple months later and the girls have become best friends who share their passion of streaming. Following that are interviews with Gabe and Jakeup, two streamers who are best friends and roommates in real life. 

In my interviews with these four streamers we discuss a variety of topics including whether or not you should have a streamer persona or just be yourself, why you don’t need to be a streamer to be an integral member of the community, why both introverted and extroverted people can make great streamers, and much, much more. 


Additional Notes: 

Ceanna and Ash 

  • Their friendship is proof that you can truly meet your best friends through the MeetMe app
  • Playlist was fun because they were able to take online relationships offline 
  • Bond between streamers because this is a passion they all have in common
  • It’s easy to get along with each other in real life because when you’re a stream it’s hard to put up a façade, who you are in your stream is generally who you are in real life 
  • Don’t have to be a streamer to be part of the community, can be a bouncer or a super fan 
  • One way streamers create a loyal community is by selecting an emoji that their followers can add to their screennames to represent that you’re part of a specific streamer’s community 
  • These days it’s harder to meet people in real life, so meeting people through streaming is a great option
  • During your stream it’s very important to diffuse negativity quickly 
  • Ash and Ceanna feel honored that people who support them over the internet trust them with their issues and life problems, they love to be there for their audience

Instagram: 

@ceanna

@ashlandtwhite


Gabe

  • Originally started streaming on Live.me, also tried a number of other streaming platforms, but feels that MeetMe has been the longest lasting and most reliable platform to be on
  • He started live streaming because he felt other types of content were too saturated
  • What’s great about streaming is you don’t need a talent, just chatting and being yourself is fine too 
  • Consistency is important, doesn’t have to be with same time but just every day 
  • Don’t whine if you’re not getting gifted, be gracious and grateful for what you do get and it will keep coming 
  • He shares his tips for dealing with trolls 
  • Why streaming is good for introverted people à you know people are there for you, you don’t have to try and fit in 

Instagram @geebzer


Jakeup 

  • Likes live for the instantaneous interaction 
  • Got tips from Gabe – helps to have tips training and coaching when you’re first starting out 
  • Likes to keep people guessing, he takes what other streamers do and he puts his own crazy twist on it
  • Unlike some of the other streamers we’ve interviewed, Jakeup shared that when streaming he has an alter ego, in real life he’s quiet and reserved
  • He suggests streamers have rules and guidelines for their broadcasts, but don’t be rude and impulsive when it comes to kicking people out 

Instagram @ohnojakeup 

Apr 18, 201938:46
18: Content with a mission & the unreasonable expectations we put on internet celebrities w/Co-Founder of The Queer Network, Justin Gerhard

18: Content with a mission & the unreasonable expectations we put on internet celebrities w/Co-Founder of The Queer Network, Justin Gerhard

Today’s episode features Justin Gerhard, co-founder of the YouTube channel “The Queer Network” who shares why they created The Queer Network and the goal of the channel. 

To date, Justin has mainly focused on creating content for Youtube and Instagram so we discuss why he has yet to try live streaming and why the medium might actually be a good fit for him. We also talk about some of the panels he moderated at Playlist and some of his biggest takeaways. 

This interview is part of our series that was recorded at the recent Playlist Live conference. If you’re interested in hearing our other Playlist interviews, definitely go back and check out the past few episodes. 


Additional notes: 

  • Justin has his own YouTube channel as well as one that he co-founded called The Queer Network
  • He explains the premise behind that channel and why they chose the word queer instead of using LGBTQ
  • He is currently focused on creating content for YouTube and Instagram, so I ask him why he hasn’t tried live streaming and what is holding him back? 
  • He said as a content creator he strives to have separation between online and real life, and has seen other people use streaming like a vlog in the past and that doesn’t interest him
  • He had never thought of doing a live show before though and that is something that interests him since it would solve the problem he has with news-style videos where the news will be too old by the time the video is out 
  • We discuss how he deals with trolls and the different types of trolls he faces: Religious/moral beliefs vs. giving feedback vs. blatant hate 
  • Growing up in the world of social media, how is the young generation dealing with their internet fame? 
  • The difference between traditional fame and internet celebrities. 
  • They are closer to their fans and people expect more interaction from internet celebrities than from traditional celebrities

Find him on Instagram at: @justingerhard / @thequeernetwork

Apr 11, 201919:09
17: Playlist Live Mashup w/ Top Streamers Donna Diamond and Dylan, and TikTok Star Sebi

17: Playlist Live Mashup w/ Top Streamers Donna Diamond and Dylan, and TikTok Star Sebi

Today’s episode features 3 content creators, Donna Diamond and Dylan from MeetMe, and Sebi from Tik Tok. 

Donna and Dylan share how they first got started with live streaming, how they wound up on MeetMe, their top tips for streaming, and what they have learned from becoming a top streamer. Sebi shares how he grew a following of 1.8 million starting on Musical.ly and now on TikTok, how he feels about the app’s rebranding, and his experiences live streaming on Live.ly and YouNow. 

Today’s episode is also part of a series of episodes that were recorded at the recent Playlist Live conference. If you haven’t heard our other playlist interviews, definitely go back and check out episodes 14, 15 and 16. 


Additional notes: 

Donna Diamond

  • When she first started streaming her content was mainly pranks
  • Loves the simplicity of MeetMe, less complicated than Live.me which felt too overwhelming 
  • Suggests other streamers make sure they have a niche, and that they also think of the bigger picture. Don’t just think of yourself only as a live streamer but as a content creator 
  • Build true friendships, don’t make people feel used 
  • Moving forward she wants to help other streamers and coach them 

Find her on Instagram @amy.boiss 


Dylan

  • His streams are all about positivity and he strives to create a drama free environment to help people escape their problems 
  • Paid attention to what top badges were doing, put in a lot of hours, then things finally took off 
  • Won the contest to come to playlist and has been blown away by the experience
  • Has heard of Twitch but likes this format of streaming better 
  • Dylan said he doesn’t really get competitive, just likes having fun, always seeking advice from other top badges, would rather learn from them than compete against them
  • Streaming can be draining, harder that you think, you want to constantly entertain people, answer comments, be high energy
  • He has gotten to know so many other streamers through live streaming and now getting to meet them in real life it feels very natural
  • A lot of people, the way they act during a stream is the way they are in real life, harder to play a role when you’re live streaming because you’re streaming so often and for such long periods of time 

Find him on Instagram @dylan.fitness_


Sebi

  • Originally starting growing a following on Musical.ly which has now become TikTok. He doesn’t like the re-branding but still sticking with it because he has such a large audience there
  • Currently has 1.8 million followers
  • Mainly posts workout and comedy videos 
  • Seemingly simple videos actually take a lot of effort and he’ll often shoot them several times before he gets them right
  • Besides creating content, he has to put in a lot of time responding to comments
  • He really liked streaming on Live.ly because that was directly connected to his Musical.ly account, but now Livel.ly no longer exists. He has also tried streaming on YouNow but didn’t like it as much. 

Find him on TikTok @Sebi

Apr 04, 201933:25
16: Playlist Live Mashup w/ Top Streamers Katy B and THEJAYYSHOW

16: Playlist Live Mashup w/ Top Streamers Katy B and THEJAYYSHOW

“I never imagined streaming could have such a big impact on my life.” 

Today’s episode is also part of a series of episodes that were recorded at the recent Playlist Live conference. If you haven’t heard our other Playlist interviews, definitely go back and check out episodes 14 and 15. 

Today’s episode features two top streamers from both the MeetMe and Tagged platforms, Jayy from THEJAYYSHOW and Katy B. 

First, I chat with Katy B, an actress and former dancer for the 76ers, who shares how live streaming is the perfect complement to a creative career and how she’s benefitted from it - from improving her improv skills to giving her a chance to practice in front of live audience from the comfort of her home. 

We also talk about community building and she shares how she loves thanking her audience by sending them physical gifts, from Christmas present giveaways to mailing over 130 Valentines cards. 

I then talk with Jayy, who goes by the screen name THEJAYYSHOW. She shares her story of growing up feeling socially awkward and alone, then one day going on MeetMe to find friends and accidentally hitting the live stream button. Fast forward to today, and she is a full-time live streamer who is very passionate about providing entertainment for her followers. We also discuss common misperceptions that people have about being a live streamer and how she overcame that with her family. 

Mar 28, 201947:26
15: Playlist Live Mashup w/ Playlist Host Sean Klitzner & Freestyle Rapper Ellevan

15: Playlist Live Mashup w/ Playlist Host Sean Klitzner & Freestyle Rapper Ellevan

Today’s episode is part of a series of episodes that were recorded at the recent Playlist Live conference. If you haven’t heard our first mashup of playlist interviews, definitely go back and check out episode 14 with top streamers Russell vision and Chris. 

Today I have on two content creators who shed light on the social media industry as a whole as well as their views on live streaming’s place within the industry. 

First I speak with Sean Kiltzner, the host of the Playlist Live conference. We were lucky to get to snag a couple minutes to speak with him during what is obviously very busy weekend for him. I got his perspective on live streaming and why he thinks it’s become so popular. We also talked about how playlist has evolved over the years, and what are some trends he sees moving forward. 

Next up I spoke with Ellevan, a music producer and freestyle rapper, who actually performed at the MeetMe pool party that took place during the conference. Ellevan and I spoke a lot about the power of consistency. In 2018 he committed to creating a new freestyle song every single day for a year, which he accomplished, and he shares in our interview how that has affected both his skills, and his social media following. We also discuss his experience with live streaming and how using live streaming to get immediate feedback on his songs has been very useful for him. 


Additional Notes: 

Sean Klitzner 

  • How did he become the host of Playlist Live 
  • Difference between live streaming and video content creation 
  • People want instantaneous interaction – our society has changed
  • When live streaming you have to be “on” and entertaining with no breaks, you might have to change and adjust what you’re doing on the fly, similar to what he does on the stage 
  • Streaming takes a lot out of you, can’t just stream for 5-10 minutes, really need to commit to an hour at least 
  • The moment you stop interacting and talking is the moment your show stops 
  • Live streaming and super short videos are the two trends this year, instead of seeing people vlogging at Playlist you see people streaming 

Follow him: Youtube.com/sean 


Ellevan

  • Challenged himself to create 365 songs last year; inspired by Gary Vaynerchuk
  • Instagram – people tend to keep up with you in a passive way, but when you start putting out new content everyday people really start to sit up and notice
  • The power of consistency – negative people disappear when you’re consistent because you’re really stepping it up, putting in the time and effort 
  • He’s a songwriter and producer for hire, this experience has made him much more efficient
  • He wants to live stream more because it would be a good platform for freestyling
  • He doesn’t have time to perform every day, so live streaming allows him to get in front of a live audience from anywhere 


Follow him: @ellevanmusic


Hope you enjoy this podcast and keep an eye out for another Playlist Live mashup coming out next week! 

Mar 21, 201928:26
14: Playlist Live Mashup w/ Russell Vision & Chris - From Zero Social media experience to Top Streamer status

14: Playlist Live Mashup w/ Russell Vision & Chris - From Zero Social media experience to Top Streamer status

Today’s episode is the first in a series of episodes that were recorded at the recent Playlist Live conference. Playlist Live is a huge gathering of top content creators across a number of platforms and mediums from Youtube, to TikTok, to MeetMe. MeetMe showed up in a big way this year and we had dozens of top streamers converge upon the event. 

Taking advantage of so many content creators in one place, we took Stream Wars podcast on the road and recorded a number of mini-interviews with MeetMe streamers as well as creators from other platforms. 

This first mashup is with Russell Vision and Chris, both top streamers on MeetMe. 

Russ brought everything to the table in this interview, sharing his emotional journey of using live streaming to help with anxiety and depression. What really hit me was when he shared how he never thought he was good enough to become a top streamer, and he shares what happened that changed that mindset. He also shares the emotional story of how he was able to pay for his trip to Playlist and the big takeaways that he got from the conference. 

Then I chat with Chris, who told his story of getting into live streaming with no background in social media, never realizing he would be good at it or enjoy it as much as he does. Chris treats his live streams like a talk show, inviting audience members to jump in the guest box (which is like a video screen within a screen) and be interviewed. He shares his tips for having people in the box and emphasizes how important it is for streamers to create their own niche. 


Additional notes:

Russell vision 

Instagram @russell__vision

  • Got into streaming because of anxiety and depression
  • He started streaming but nobody was coming to his streams, so he started to go to other streams and connect with streamers, become part of their communities, and because of that they started to go to his streams. 
  • A top streamer believed in him, he started learning how to be a streamer, and then it just took off. And he appreciates so much that someone believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself. 
  • Biggest takeaway from playlist was the energy other top streamers have, he feels like he needs to be bringing even more to his streams
  • Likes to play video games and watch funny YouTube videos to pump himself up and get himself in a good mood for his streams
  • How he got to Playlist Live - his fans pulled together and gave him enough gifts that he could travel to playlist 


Chris

Instagram: @chrisc4sper

  • Chris barely used social media before he got on MeetMe. He feels live streaming is accessible for people even if they’ve never been involved in social media before
  • How Chris uses the guest box feature
  • He feels that going in the box is a stepping stone to live streaming
  • Balancing responding to viewer comments with focusing on the guest in the box, the way he juggles it varies depending on what is going on in the box – heartfelt vs goofing around 
  • Focus your talents on one area and you will grow more quickly 
  • Why it’s essential to network with other people on the app 
  • Be genuinely interested in live streaming and your audience
  • Uses Instagram to drive people to his streams 


Check out their streams on MeetMe and watch out for the next Playlist Live mashup coming out next week! 

Mar 14, 201933:47
Bonus Episode: What it Was Like to Be a Professional Live Streamer in China with Stream Wars Host Lauren Hallanan
Mar 07, 201937:15
Ep. 13 - “Question of the Day”, Niching Down, and Setting Boundaries with Twitch Broadcaster and Stream Coach Ashnichrist

Ep. 13 - “Question of the Day”, Niching Down, and Setting Boundaries with Twitch Broadcaster and Stream Coach Ashnichrist

In this episode we hear from Ashley Christ, a Twitch streamer and stream coach. 


Now you may be thinking, what is a stream coach? Well, it’s an amazing new job that Ashley essentially invented for herself, where she helps train emerging live streaming talent to become the best broadcasters they can be. 


Ashley has an incredible passion for sharing her personal branding and community building acumen with aspiring streamers, and during our conversation she shares a bit of her background and personal experience and the adversity she faced when she first tried to become a Twitch streamer back in 2013 and how that has shaped what she is doing today. 


She is clearly very knowledgeable about this industry and over the course of our conversation she offered many tips that will be valuable for both new and old streamers alike. Some of the things we touch on include: 


  • How studying personal branding, entrepreneurship, and content creation tips helped her become a better streamer
  • Live streaming is still a fairly new industry and there’s still a lot of opportunity to claim your place 
  • The importance of understanding why your audience is watching your stream, what they are getting out of it
  • Ashley’s “Question of the Day” strategy – how getting deep fast can generate closer relationships with your audience
  • Tactics that help you grow in the beginning VS. tactics for when you get big 
  • The important of niching down when you first get started, don’t try to appeal to everyone
  • Set boundaries - Be inclusive and respectful, but also stand up for what you believe in, this will allow people who resonate with you to find you 


Noteworthy Quotes: 

“If you have the why behind those strategies, you’re far more likely to follow through on those strategies and to stay consistent with them” 

“If you don’t stand for something, no one can stand with you”


Glossary of Terms: 

IRL - Throughout the episode we frequently use the term IRL which is a term commonly used on Twitch and stands for “in real life”. IRL content refers to non-gaming content, anything from chatting and cooking, to singing and travel. 


Guest: Ashley Christ

twitter.com/ashnichrist
twitch.tv/ashnichrist
instagram.com/ashnichrist
youtube.com/ashnichrist
patreon.com/ashnichrist
 

Business email: ashnichrist@pressstartmgmt.com

Feb 27, 201953:39
12: Live Streaming In Europe: Managing Talent Across Different Languages and Cultures

12: Live Streaming In Europe: Managing Talent Across Different Languages and Cultures

When it comes to the global live streaming industry, we often hear about developments in China, the emerging markets, and the US, but what about Europe? In today’s episode I chat with Eric Jangor, VP Brand and Communication, and Talent Manager Linda B. from the German dating and live streaming app LOVOO, which was acquired by The Meet Group in 2017. 

LOVOO was originally a location-based pure-play dating app. Over the course of 2018 it integrated live streaming into the platform, and so far it appears to be a hit with the app’s users.

In this interview, Eric starts off by sharing how live streaming complements a dating app and give us an idea of who LOVOO’s users are and how they are using the live feature.  We then discuss the European live streaming industry and its advantages and disadvantages.

In the second half of the episode we focus on talent development. We hear how LOVOO built its talent management team from scratch and the tactics they use to train and retain top talent. They share how encouraging streamers to meet offline, and giving them opportunities to do so, has allowed them to develop very tight-knit talent communities. I also got them to tell me about some of the entertaining and innovative content they are seeing from their streamers. 

We cover: 

  • Learn why live streaming can work well within a dating app 
  • Still no clear market leader for entertainment/IRL live streaming segment in Europe, this is an opportunity for LOVOO
  • European market is fragmented, how to scale live streaming?
  • Regional proximity makes it easier to create offline communities
  • European culture generally more reserved, modest
  • Many of their top streamers are male
  • Many of the top streamers were originally LOVOO users, and didn’t have any prior streaming or social media experience 
  • The benefits of ephemeral content 
  • Differences between male and female streamer content 
  • The importance of building streamers communities and how to do that
  • Why it's important to have talent managers for each market


Streamers mentioned in the episode: 

Niknando: A Top Streamer on LOVOO who created his own dating show

Instagram: Niknando_official

Freaks in Cotton: German musicians who integrate audience and virtual gift names into their songs and have raised enough money from cash rewards on LOVOO to fund the studio recording of their first single

Instagram: freaks.in.cotton


Disclaimer:

The views expressed by our guests are not necessarily those of The Meet Group. This discussion also includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. More information is contained in our SEC filings. We caution you against placing undue reliance on these statements and disclaim any intent or obligation to update them.

Feb 14, 201935:24
11: The Growing Importance of Live Streaming in Hollywood with Social Producer Roberto Quinn

11: The Growing Importance of Live Streaming in Hollywood with Social Producer Roberto Quinn

 Today we’re discussing a different side of live streaming, and that how live streaming is being used by the entertainment industry to augment TV shows, market movies, take people backstage at events, and help celebrities grow their audiences. My guest is Roberto Quinn, who is a social producer out in Hollywood. It is his job to help entertainment companies and celebrities plan and produce their social strategies, and that often includes live streaming. 

Roberto and I talk about the growing trend of what is called the second screen experience and why live streaming in being used more and more in Hollywood. 

We also discuss: 

  • What makes a good live streaming show – is it the equipment? The talent? The content? 
  • How to select talent; what to look for
  • The role of a social producer
  • Why many shows are missing out by pre-taping behind the scenes or sit-down shows with the cast (hint: live streaming adds a sense of urgency)
  • The ways producers can get viewers involved in the show
  • The important of addressing viewers more informally


Key Quotes:

“Viewer interaction should be a core part of a live streaming show, not an afterthought” 


“Shows don’t need to be overly produced, but even if they’re done with a cell phone and a selfie-stick, it’s important that they still have a bit of structure and provide clear value to the audience.”


“Don’t belittle the audience. These days there’s no added value in simply slapping a viewer’s Twitter handle and a comment up on the screen and not acknowledge or interacting with it. Integrating the viewer at home is essential. Allow viewers to actually shape the contents of the show.”


Mentioned in the Episode: 

The Talking Dead 

Integration Tools: 

Second screen experience is a growing trend 


Guest: Roberto Quinn

Instagram @robertoquinn

Website: http://www.quinnsocial.com/ 

Email: roberto@quinnsocial.com 


Disclaimer: 

The views expressed by our guest today are not necessarily
those of The Meet Group. Today’s discussion also includes
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which are subject to
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. 
More information is contained in our SEC filings. We caution
you against placing undue reliance on these statements and
disclaim any intent or obligation to update them.

Jan 31, 201944:39
10: Battles - Bringing A Competitive Dynamic To Live Streaming w/Jeremy Zorn, Head of Product at TMG
Jan 10, 201930:52
Ep. 9: Propel Your Creative Career Forward w/ Live Streaming Featuring Lindita and Izzy

Ep. 9: Propel Your Creative Career Forward w/ Live Streaming Featuring Lindita and Izzy

This week we speak with Lindita and Izzy, two amazing live streamers from the platform Tagged who will be sharing with us how they have incorporated live streaming into their careers as creatives and entertainers. 

Lindita is a singer songwriter, originally from Europe and now based in the US. If you’re a fan of American Idol you may recognize her from season 15 where she made it into the top 25. Over the past year or so Lindita has started using live streaming as a way to gain exposure to new audiences and develop closer relationships with her fans. In our interview she shares how live streaming benefits her career and why she thinks all entertainers need to be doing it. 

Then I speak with Izzy, a poet and radio DJ. Izzy originally started using live streaming as a way to get over a bad breakup and after performing spoken word one day discovered that it really resonated with her viewers on Tagged. Now she hosts weekly poetry slams which have become very popular on Tagged, so much so that she got recruited to become a radio DJ in Atlanta where she lives. It’s an incredible story. 


Follow our guests: 

Lindita -  

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tagged: @linditaworld

Izzy -

Twitter, Instagram and Tagged: @IzzDoesItBetta

To submit music to Izzy for her radio show, email her at IzzDoesItBetta@gmail.com

The name of the app/radio show is Highly Unique Radio, the sokoldaffair


Check out more podcast interviews and articles about the livestreaming industry at: www.themeetgroup.com/blog

Dec 27, 201836:41
8: Future of Twitch & the Importance of Streamer Tools w/ Peter Yang, Sr Product Manager at Twitch

8: Future of Twitch & the Importance of Streamer Tools w/ Peter Yang, Sr Product Manager at Twitch

Today my guest is Peter Yang, Senior Product Manager at Twitch. Peter has been in the Western live streaming industry for more than four years, starting out at Facebook working on Facebook live, then jumping over to Twitter where he helped develop Periscope after Twitter had acquired it. Most recently he has joined Twitch, where he works specifically to develop tools for streamers (or creators as he calls them) to improve their streaming experience, help them grow their followings, and monetize better.

We start out our conversation talking about some of Peter’s opinions on the Western live streaming industry, it’s differences with China, the future of the Twitch IRL category and the potential for the audio only live streaming vertical. Then we dive into his role at Twitch and discuss some of the specific products that he has worked on including Raids, Achievements, and Squad Streaming.

There are a couple terms that Peter uses quite a bit that you may not be familiar with. The first one is IRL, which stands for “in real life”. Video game live streaming is the main type of streaming content on Twitch and anything outside of that such as painting, dancing, a talk show, etc. is referred to as IRL content.

The second is Subs, which is simply an abbreviation for subscriptions. As we discuss in the interview, subscriptions are one of the ways that Twitch streamers can monetize their streams. viewers are able to pay a small fee to Subscribe to a Twitch streamer’s channel. This unlocks special privileges for them and the streamer earns money from each subscription.

The last one is Emotes, which are essentially emojis, stickers, and gifs used in the Twitch viewer chats. As Peter explains in the interview, the vast majority of Twitch emotes are what's known as subscription emotes. Fans of a particular broadcaster can unlock a bespoke set of emotes when they subscribe to that particular broadcaster. And broadcasters earn the ability to have a greater number of their own emotes by racking up more subscribers.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to learn more about Peter, you can find him on:
Twitter @petergyang
And on Medium at:
medium.com/@peteryang

About Stream Wars:
This bi-weekly podcast will explore everything there is to know about the global live streaming industry, covering the latest trends from the top platforms both in China and the West (including YY, Huya, Inke, MeetMe, Twitch, Live.me, Bigo and Younow) while also addressing basic questions such as “what is livestreaming and why would anyone watch it?” Stream Wars will feature interviews with top streamers who share their tips and tricks for hosting a popular stream, what motivates them to stream, and how live streaming has impacted their lives. We’ll also talk to engineers and product developers to learn what it takes to build a popular livestreaming platform.

Learn more about live streaming at: www.themeetgroup.com/blog
Dec 13, 201847:26
7: MeetMe Top Streamer Holly on the Power of Community to Transform Lives

7: MeetMe Top Streamer Holly on the Power of Community to Transform Lives

This week’s guest is top MeetMe streamer Holly. If you’re a MeetMe user or streamer, you probably know who Holly is. Holly is not only A top streamer but THE top streamer on MeetMe in many ways from virtual gifts earned, number of viewers, contests won, and more.

Last year, Holly, a self-proclaimed socially awkward loner, hopped on MeetMe to make friends and discovered live streaming. She gave it a try and immediately became hooked. She has streamed every day since, and that was over a year ago! In this episode we talk about her streamer journey and some of the things that have made her successful, consistency being one of them!

From this episode it is obvious how seriously Holly takes her streaming career and she reveals the amount of effort that goes into planning fun, entertaining, and original content for her viewers.

To learn more about Holly, check her out on MeetMe or follow her on Instagram @HollyCalifornia27
Nov 29, 201841:41
BONUS Episode: How to Take the Plunge and Become a Successful Live Streamer

BONUS Episode: How to Take the Plunge and Become a Successful Live Streamer

In this episode McKenzi Troyano and Anthony Lario, two of our talent specialists at The Meet Group, share tips, tactics and mindset shifts specifically for Youtubers and other content creators who would like to start live streaming. Of course, current live streamers are sure to find their suggestions helpful as well.
Some of the things we talk about include:
What does it feel like to live stream for the first time?
The difference between live streaming on Youtube, Facebook Live and Instagram Live vs. a pure live streaming platform
Why developing your emotional intelligence can help you become a top streamer
Why you need to stop overthinking and just be yourself
Nov 21, 201819:33
6: Why Youtubers Don’t Always Make Good Live Streamers

6: Why Youtubers Don’t Always Make Good Live Streamers

Are Youtubers good live streamers? While your gut reaction might be yes, It turns out that oftentimes when Youtubers go on live streaming platforms, they just don't perform as well as pure, homegrown live streaming talent. So why is that? And why would Youtubers be interested in live streaming in the first place? To answer those questions and many more, I invited Keven Gungor, program manager at The Meet Group to join me for this week’s episode. As a program manager Keven is essentially a talent manager working with our top live streaming talent on a daily basis. Prior to joining The Meet Group, Keven worked for another large live streaming platform where he often dealt with talent recruited from Youtube, so he has a first hand perspective on the topic we're discussing today.

We cover:
- How creating content for Youtube is different than live streaming and the different skill sets they require
- Examples of mistakes the Youtubers frequently make when they try to live stream
- Why Youtubers should consider live streaming and tips for those who want to start

If you have any questions for Keven, feel free to reach out to him on Instagram @villagekev
Nov 15, 201833:53
5: Streaming From Japan With Top Skout Streamer Captain Catch
Nov 01, 201830:03
4: Overview of China's Top Live Streaming Platforms Part 2

4: Overview of China's Top Live Streaming Platforms Part 2

Short Video, Gaming, and E-commerce Live Streaming Platforms in China. This is Part 2 of my overview of the top Chinese live streaming platforms you need to know going into 2019. In the last episode I focused on five platforms in the entertainment live streaming category. Today I’ll be discussing some other categories. First we’ll talk about three short video platforms that are also known for their live streaming features, Then I’ll go over the top video game live streaming platforms (aka the Twitches of China). And lastly I’ll talk about the trend of e-commerce + live streaming that is going on in China.

For those interested in learning more, there will be a corresponding article with all the information cited in this episode so keep an eye out!
Oct 18, 201820:53
3: Grow an Audience & Get More Gifts w/ Top Streamer Will Smith
Sep 25, 201829:30
2: Overview of China's Top Live Streaming Platforms Part 1
Sep 25, 201827:04
1: MOMO of the West w/ Geoff Cook, CEO of The Meet Group
Sep 25, 201829:02
Welcome to Stream Wars
Sep 12, 201802:54