Behind the headlines: could your kids make millions? Meet the young superstars raking it in
Meet the young superstars raking it in online
The latest young global stars have millions of fans but chances are you have never heard of them.
They are not singers or actors – but kids taking the world by storm by uploading videos of themselves to the internet.
Youtubers and social-media sensations on instagram and Facebook are the new showbiz royalty for the younger generation. And their earning potential is huge.
Take 13-year-old twins Max and Harvey, who have 2.2 million followers on the lip-synching app Musical.ly.
The boys from Berkshire are making millions by mouthing along to famous hits, and were overwhelmed by girl fans when they appeared at the Teen Awards in los Angeles this summer.
And while dad Paul won’t say how much they have earned, experts estimate web celebs such as the twins and beauty vlogger Zoella can make up to £50,000 a month.
Paul, 44, said, ‘Everyone says they’re very charismatic and charming, so i guess that’s their appeal. They also work hard. They like the attention but it hasn’t gone to their heads.’
celebrity agent Barry Tomes, who has represented the likes of The saturdays, said they could earn millions, but warned teen girls could get bored with them.
‘As Max and Harvey go from cute kids to men, they’ll have to change their style,’ says Barry. ‘That risks losing fans. With products and potential us exposure, they could earn £10m a year. The next two years are crucial.’
Here, Barry looks at other young social-media stars coining it in and gives his verdict on their potential...