While Hollywood studios are busy making light of hate crimes on Asians, Ryan “Nigahiga” Higa’s “Asian” style video channel is, at of time of this post, the most subscribed channel on YouTube. In the video below, he thanks his fans for subscribing to his channel and making him #1.
We have talked previously about Asian American YouTube Celebrities like HappySlip and KevJumba and how a new generation of Asian Americans are using YouTube to create their own work that speaks to and reaches Asian Americans (and others too). Higa has even parlayed his YouTube fame into a movie that was shown in theatres around the country. Many well known Asian Americans on YouTube hang out and network together and are seemingly dominant (they joke about token white people here at 4:30). The attraction to YouTube doesn’t surprise me seeing how Asian Americans are often washed out of traditional media. Taking advantage of technology that make it easier to produce and distribute your own work makes a lot of sense, and many do take advantage.
I personally find nigahiga to be hit or miss – some of his videos are really funny to me while others are not. Speaking of #1’s, another Asian has been the #1 in Australia for a while. Natalie Tran’s CommunityChannel has been the most subscribed in Australia for some time now. I like this vlog about how she goes as Starbuck to a Sci-Fi type convention, but people think she’s Boomer because she’s Asian.
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6 Comments to “Ryan Higa’s Channel is #1 for YouTube Subscribers”
gthro123 wrote:
woohoo! Nigahiga has some cool videos. Sometimes they're a bit much, but it's good to see asians getting heard.
Posted on 24-Aug-09 at 12:46 am | Permalink
gthro123 wrote:
also, i agree that the traditional media does wash out asians, but i'm optimistic in believing that that fact will change, probably soon. We'll make ourselves known, either through the net or through the tv.
Posted on 24-Aug-09 at 12:52 am | Permalink
8Asians.com wrote:
[...] over, Ryan Higa and other Asian YouTubers attempting to find fame online with their silly little videos. I’m [...]
Posted on 24-Aug-09 at 4:10 pm | Permalink
avaorac wrote:
As long as Hollywood is run by greedy white males who think America is racist, that won't change. Doesn't matter how popular Ryan really is – no one will sign him to do anything. See the movie The Good – they just don't see Asians as anything but butt of jokes or tokens. That will never change as long as they are in charge.
Posted on 26-Aug-09 at 11:28 am | Permalink
jeffat8asians wrote:
Ryan already made a movie that ran in a few theatres. With technology making it easier to create and distribute your own work, plus with the high expense of Hollywood movie making and promotion and its seeming lack of creativity (endless sequels, redos, etc.), traditional media's influence is lessening. I'm not saying its not powerful any more – it is – but its influence is fading and the opportunity to create alternatives is clearly here now.
Posted on 26-Aug-09 at 12:05 pm | Permalink
gthro123 wrote:
Asians will get their chance. We're already making strides in being heard more. Just gotta keep pushing and getting out there till the media sees asian men for what they can bring to the table.
Posted on 26-Aug-09 at 12:25 pm | Permalink
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