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News and notes from Google Down Under
It’s time to #YouTubeRewind: Here are the videos you liked in 2019
Friday, December 6, 2019
As 2020 draws near, it’s time to celebrate the moments that defined the past twelve months in pop culture.
In 2019, you were moved by an unlikely country star
Lil Nas X
and
Lil Dicky
’s anthem for the Earth (maybe it’s something about a ‘Lil’?!), you joined forces with MrBeast and the rest of the world to make
this video
the most liked on YouTube, you watched in awe as Katelyn Ohashi nailed
that floor routine
, and you finally got to see
Gordon Ramsay sit down with Sean Evans to take on Hot Ones
.
But it was Aussie superstars, Superwog, who maintained their reign, once again appearing in the top trending videos list--this time in the number one spot making us laugh as they headed into the
gym
. Fellow Aussie creators, The Norris Nuts landed in ninth as Slender Mum let the kids turn 21 for
one vlog only
.
2019 also saw creators transform into mainstream celebrities with genre-defying influence:
James Charles
and Tati’s back-and-forth transcended the beauty community, and
Shane Dawson
continued to find success with his longform docuseries format and foray into the makeup world.
Tuning into the top trending music videos, powerhouse female artists continued to transform the sound of pop. Ari dominated with two songs (
7 rings
and
break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored
) in Australia’s top 10--but it was the newest and first Aussie to join
YouTube’s Artist on the Rise program
,
Tones and I
, that really got us dancing.
These were all the moments that had Australians watching, commenting and sharing in 2019:
Australia’s Top Trending Videos
Collectively, these 10 videos were viewed more than 393 million times globally, and the channels behind them total more than 190 million subscribers.
Going to the Gym
No More Lies
Make This Video The Most Liked Video on YouTube
Conspiracy Theories with Shane Dawson
how to create billie eilish’s “bad guy”
Gordon Ramsay Savagely Critiques Spicy Wings | Hot Ones
Minecraft Part 1
Katelyn Ohashi - 10.0 Floor (1-12-19)
LETTING OUR KIDS TURN 21 YEARS OLD **GONE WRONG** | Norris Nuts
73 Questions With Kim Kardashian West (ft. Kanye West) | Vogue
Australia’s Top Trending Music Videos
In 2019, we were hooked on the biggest global releases of the year, singing along to ‘bad guy’ (as well as
recreating it
) and busting a move to Señorita. It was a breaking Aussie artist that really captured our hearts this year however, with a banger called Dance Monkey.
Billie Eilish - bad guy
Sam Smith, Normani - Dancing With A Stranger
Ariana Grande - 7 rings
Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello - Señorita
Lil Nas X - Old Town Road (Official Movie) ft. Billy Ray Cyrus
TONES AND I - DANCE MONKEY (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
Lil Dicky - Earth (Official Music Video)
Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber - I Don't Care [Official Video]
Ariana Grande - break up with your girlfriend, i'm bored
Taylor Swift - ME! (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco)
Australia’s Top Trending Music Videos from Australian
Artists Looking at local acts, there’s no surprise that Tones and I has two songs in Australia’s top trending music list after her multiple ARIA Awards wins last month. Amy Shark makes the top 10 for the second year in a row and hip-hop is truly represented with ONEFOUR and Hilltop Hoods.
TONES AND I - DANCE MONKEY (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
ONEFOUR - Spot the Difference
ONEFOUR - The Message
TONES AND I - JOHNNY RUN AWAY (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
Guy Sebastian - Choir (Official)
Hilltop Hoods - Exit Sign feat. Illy & Ecca Vandal
Hp Boyz - BluePrint. (Official Music Video)
Amy Shark - Mess Her Up (Official Video)
ONEFOUR - Ladz in the Hood
Birds of Tokyo - Good Lord (Official Video)
Top Emerging Australian Creators
#YouTubeRewind also examined the growth of local channels to unearth the top five Emerging Aussie YouTube Creators for 2019--those that started a channel this year and have seen the largest growth.
Two car channels appear in our top five this year, with mates Al and Woody, and Benny’s Custom Works (you might recognise him from
MCMTV2
). Rounding out the list is a diverse mix of creators and content with Mully who plays in VR, and Martha from MAFS and Georgia Productions younger sister Lily Grace, who both share insights into their daily lives.
The Skid Factory
Lily Grace
Mully
Benny’s Custom Works
Martha Kalifatidis
It's also time for our annual Rewind video. Last year, we made the most disliked video on YouTube, ever. So this year we took a different approach and looked at what you liked--a lot. Our Rewind 2019 video compiles the top videos and creators that you liked, shared, and watched the most around the world, from the biggest games to must-swatch beauty palettes and breakout stars.
So this is it--what your eyes voted for:
YouTube Rewind 2019: For the Record | #YouTubeRewind
For a deeper look at the year on YouTube and to see the top videos and trends across the globe, head to this year's
Rewind site
.
Posted by Kristine Arnott, Communications Manager, YouTube Australia, and the YouTube Rewind team
Aussies back businesses in the bush and hunt for personalised gifts this festive season
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
With Christmas less than a month away and Aussie shoppers kicking their festive season shopping into high gear, it’s now or never for small businesses to make sure they are ready online and bringing a little festive inspiration to their customers.
So what’s trending this festive season? According to
Google Trends
, Aussies are on the hunt for personalised gifts for that special someone! The top related search for Christmas and gifts is “personalised Christmas gifts” - with the most searched personalised items being stubby coolers, Christmas stockings, Christmas balls, tote bags and wine.
And in a sign that Aussies are using the festive season to get behind the campaign to support retailers in rural and regional communities affected by the drought, “buy from the bush” is the top trending* search for gifts in the past month in Australia. In fact, Search interest in “buy from the bush” has spiked +12,200% in the last month.
It’s also the peak period for shopping in Australia, with figures showing that 18 per cent of all online retail sales took place between October and December in 2018 [1]. Yet many Aussie businesses are missing out on opportunities because they are missing a few quick online tricks.
To help small businesses ensure their customers can find them online when it matters -
so their customers can find what they need to put under the tree!
- Google’s elves have cherry-picked their top tips for budding businesses:
Stand out to customers online
by creating a free
Business Profile on Google
, and update your festive period
trading details
, add
photos
of festive stock or store decorations, and
create a post
sharing holiday events or services like gift wrapping.
Offer a festive deal or some inspiration to your customers online
. Attract new customers and savvy shoppers with
festive offers
through your
Business Profile
on Google.
Make sure your website is mobile friendly
, with 26.4 per cent of online sales in Australia made via mobile. [2] Use
Test My Site
to receive recommendations for your site.
Be seen and make an impact with online advertising
.
Google’s Digital Garage
offers a
free course
dedicated to just this - in three hours users can learn how to create a successful advertising and marketing strategy.
It’s never been easier to reach new customers online. And with a few simple steps, Aussie business owners will be set for online success this festive season and beyond!
[1] Australian Bureau of Statistics (2018), 8501.0 - Retail Trade, Australia, December 2018
[2]
Australia Post Annual E-Commerce Report 2019
*Trending queries are terms that have seen a spike in search interest in the given time period compared with the previous equivalent period.
SEARCH INSIGHTS
Search interest in “Christmas gifts” is up +260% in the past month in Australia.
The top related search for Christmas and gifts is “personalised Christmas gifts”, followed by “DIY Christmas gifts”.
“Buy from the bush” is the top trending* search for gifts in the past month in Australia.
Search interest in “buy from the bush” has spiked +12,200% this month.
Top related searches for “Christmas gifts” in the past month in Australia:
Personalised Christmas gifts
DIY Christmas gifts
Christmas gifts for kids
Personalised baby gifts
Funny Christmas gifts
Homemade Christmas gifts
Christmas gifts for men
Christmas gift boxes
Christmas presents for boyfriend
Christmas gifts for mum
Top related searches for “personalised gifts” in the past month in Australia:
Personalised stubby coolers
Personalised Christmas stockings
Personalised Christmas ball
Personalised tote bags
Personalised wine
Go West! Google provides free digital skills training to Perth and Rockingham communities
Friday, November 29, 2019
Grow with Google
has wrapped up 2019 by taking the free digital skills program to Perth and Rockingham for the first time.
First up, we ran workshops in Herne Hill at the local Swan Settlers Market on the outskirts of Perth where 100 local business owners and entrepreneurs picked up new skills and tips on things like how to grow their presence online, be found by new customers, and gain insights into their customers’ needs. We also ran sessions for local job seekers, teachers and students.
Caption: Attendees from our afternoon Digital Springboard session taking a quick break from the content
A big thank you to West Australian Senator Matt O'Sullivan who represented Federal Member for Pearce and Attorney-General Christian Porter in officially opening the event. And to local caterers Little Lamonts, Mr Cannolo, Perth Bells and Juice Station for providing the sustenance throughout the day and local baristas from The Black Moustache Coffee Co. who provided the caffeine hits!
From there we headed down the highway to Rockingham (aka “Rocko”) for sessions with another 80 business owners - and were joined by local Federal Member for Brand and Shadow Minister for Trade Madeleine King MP.
Caption: Madeleine King MP talks to Rockingham locals about the importance of digital skills
It was great hearing feedback from locals at both events that they picked up something new - even though they were all at different stages in the digital journey.
A
report
released by AlphaBeta in September found that Google’s advertising and productivity platforms were helping more than a million Aussie businesses and had helped deliver business benefits of $35 billion so far this year - including supporting 13,300 West Australian jobs through our economic activity.
As we wrap up 2019 and reflect on what we’ve done and where we’ve been, we’re so thrilled to have worked with so many wonderful communities across Australia to learn and share new digital skills that will help people grow their businesses, careers and lives.
And we passed an important milestone, too, with Google now having trained more than half a million Aussies through our travelling digital skills workshops and other STEM outreach and curriculum support we are providing through the education system.
But there’s still much to do! We can’t wait to get back out on the road in 2020 to visit even more communities in all corners of the country, so that we’re supporting future jobs, economic growth and prosperity in Australia.
While the events have wrapped up for 2019, you can still access tips and resources online at
http://g.co/GrowAustralia
A big thank you to the communities, business chambers, government agencies, the Walkley Foundation and the Google team who helped make Grow with Google a great success this year. See you in 2020!
Posted by Rebecca Mason, Grow with Google program lead, Google Australia
Caption: Another 'first!' - Perth saw us welcome our first furry, four-legged friend to one of our digital skills workshops.
YouTube Shines a Light on Next Generation of Superstars with global Artist on the Rise Program
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Tones and I named first Australian YouTube Artist on the Rise
Many fans can tell you about the first time they heard an incredible new song or watched a groundbreaking video from a musical newcomer. Some of the most memorable moments with artists happen early.
To support and help more artists get discovered at every phase of their career, last year we launched a new monthly program called Artist on the Rise.
The program promotes a diverse lineup of music’s most important new voices across all genres, connecting them with fans worldwide through in-product promotion and programming, out-of-home, social and fan events at YouTube Spaces. The Artist on the Rise Trending tab also features three songs a week from emerging artists that are making a significant impact on YouTube.
For the first time, an Australian will be added to Artist on the Rise program -- Tones and I -- joining artists like Maggie Rogers, DaBaby, Rosalia and Jessie Reyez. Known for her alternative, roots-pop sound, soulful voice, and kooky, up-beat stage performances, Tones and I has entered the music industry at full force. In just ten months, she has gone from living in her van and busking on the streets of Byron Bay, to selling out global tours, and breaking Australian and global records.
She's grown from an aspiring artist whose YouTube channel had just 8,000 subscribers at the beginning of July this year, to become a star in her own right, with a current tally of 637,000 subscribers. But it’s not just her subscriber count that has taken off. Over this same period, Tones and I’s channel has grown from 1.3 million views to more than 254 million views. Dance Monkey has also spent nine weeks on
YouTube’s global Music Charts
, and is currently the top song.
Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube, said: “This song is WOW. The video has taken the world by storm and I think we can all now see the way Tones and I shines. I tried to come up with own ‘Dance Monkey’ routine and let's just say no one is begging to see me dance just one more time, and I should probably stick with being a record executive. We are excited to have Tones and I as our first Australian Artist on the Rise and to be a part of what comes next."
To close out and celebrate the HUGE year that Tones and I has had, she’s up for eight gongs at this year’s 2019 ARIA Awards in partnership with YouTube Music. Wishing her the best of luck at the Awards, with 2020 set to be even bigger and better!
To check out more from Tones and I, visit her artist page on YouTube Music, or visit @YouTubeMusic on social, for future updates on YouTube's Artist on the Rise program.
Posted by the YouTube Music team
Supporting storytelling at the Museum of Australian Democracy
Monday, November 18, 2019
Access to information is an essential part of any democracy. Today the
Museum of Australian Democracy
(MoAD) launched its new
Truth, Power and a Free Press
permanent exhibition, which begins a conversation about media and issues affecting democracies.
The
Google News Initiative
, along with the ABC, SBS, 7 and Nine have supported this exhibition which brings together stories from respected Australian journalists and objects from Australia’s media history.
One of the major installations of
Truth, Power and a Free Press
is a bespoke audiovisual installation that uses technology developed by Google’s Creative Lab in partnership with SBS Digital Labs.
The installation shares the complex challenges and motivations of 12 renowned Australian journalists in their own words, including Hedley Thomas, Ghassan Nakhoul, Chris Masters, Hamish MacDonald and Adele Ferguson.
The broader exhibition includes the printing press used by Sir Henry Parkes, Peter Greste’s letters smuggled to his family from an Egyptian prison, the protective vest worn by war photographer Neil Davis and more.
We’re pleased to have the opportunity to support
MoAD
and
Truth, Power and a Free Press
, and hope that it helps to inform visitors about the critical role of journalism and press freedom for years to come.
Posted by Nic Hopkins, News Lab Lead, Google Australia and New Zealand
Google takes digital skills training to South Australia
Monday, November 11, 2019
Google headed to Adelaide and Kangaroo Island in South Australia last week to run digital skills workshops for businesses, community organisations, and locals looking to grow their businesses, organisations, careers and education.
It’s the first time the
Grow with Google
workshops have been held in Adelaide and Kangaroo Island, and it was great to see locals picking up new skills regardless of where they were on the digital journey.
Grow with Google in Adelaide
First up, more than 200 Adelaide locals joined special training workshops in Glenelg. We were joined by Steve Georganas MP who officially opened the event.
Caption: Grow with Google visited Glenelg in Adelaide
Local businesses learned how to grow their presence online and gain valuable insights about their customers — and individuals at all stages of the digital journey picked up new skills.
One Adelaide business that has been using digital tools to grow successfully is outdoor camping gear retailer,
Snowys
. They created an online shop in 2011 to complement their existing physical retail store, and it’s helped the company grow significantly. Today half of their employees work solely on fulfilling online orders.
Learning new STEM skills at Madison Park
We also visited Madison Park School to help students prepare their FIRST LEGO League (FLL) team for the upcoming regional competition. Together with the FLL team from
Pedare Christian College
we ran through robotics missions and provided feedback on their innovative solutions to this year’s
City Shaper
challenge. We also spent time with the older students talking about careers in STEM and answering all their questions about Google and technology.
Caption: Googlers visited Madison Park School to help students prepare for competition.
With support from Schools Plus and Google, Madison Park has introduced a STEM learning program across all year levels, aiming to lift student engagement in STEM and develop teachers’ skills and confidence in incorporating STEM learning in the classroom.
Last year, Madison Park was not only able to participate in the FLL Competition for the first time, but they won the regionals to then earn a place at the Nationals in Sydney later that year! Through Schools Plus, Google is providing STEM education in schools across Australia, reaching more than 1300 students and 480 teachers.
Grow with Google Kangaroo Island
Then it was on to Kangaroo Island where we ran workshops over two days for sixty local businesses and community organisations. It was great to see the locals picking up new skills they can put to use to grow their businesses and organisations beyond the Island!
Caption: Kangaroo Island locals joined Google experts for digital skills workshops
A big thank you to South Australian Senator and Shadow Minister for Tourism Don Farrell and State Member for Mawson Leon Bignell for officially opening the event.
A
report
released by AlphaBeta in September found that Google’s advertising and productivity platforms were helping more than a million Aussie businesses and had helped deliver business benefits of $35 billion so far this year - including supporting 7,400 South Australian jobs through its economic activity.
Grow with Google
aims to provide all Australians with access to digital skills training online and in-person, to help them make the most of the Internet. It includes an
online learning hub
accessible from anywhere, on any device, with hundreds of handy training modules. The next Grow with Google event will be held in Perth on 19 November. Find out more at:
http://g.co/GrowPerth
.
Posted by Hannah Frank, Public Policy Manager at Google Australia
Indigenous entrepreneurs gain new digital skills to grow their businesses
Friday, November 1, 2019
We were thrilled to welcome forty Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesspeople to our Sydney headquarters today for digital skills workshops designed to help them grow their businesses further.
The
Grow with Google
workshop was hosted in partnership with
Supply Nation
, and was the first one fully dedicated to empowering the Indigenous business community.
At today’s event, businesses learned how to grow their presence online and gain valuable customer insights, and individuals at all stages of the digital journey picked up new skills.
We know there are lots of opportunities for Australian businesses that have a strong online presence, and use the Internet to engage with customers and grow their business. But many aren’t sure how to go about it — so we hosted this event with the community to share digital tips and tools they can put to good use.
Vets on Call
is a great example of a business that has been using digital tools to build awareness of their service and engage with customers effectively. Morgan Coleman, a Torres Strait Islander man and owner-founder of the company, created the mobile app which allows users to book veterinarians for home visits.
Google Australia has a Reconciliation Action Plan of which partnering with Indigenous communities to support their economic development and providing access to technology are key components.
Grow with Google
aims to create opportunity for all Australians to grow their skills, careers, and businesses with free tools, training, and events. It includes an
online learning hub
accessible from anywhere, on any device, with hundreds of handy training modules.
A big thank you to Laura Berry, CEO of Supply Nation, and to the local Gadigal people and broader Indigenous business community who made this initiative possible.
Posted by Jean Magalhães, Small Business Marketing Manager, Google Australia
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