YouTube's Blog


Go Vote! Ten Finalists Selected in the '08 Conventions Program
For a few weeks now, voters from across the U.S. have been submitting their videos in response to the question: "Why are you a Republican [or a Democrat] in 2008?" The Democratic and Republican National Convention Committees have reviewed those videos, and each selected five finalists for their 2008 conventions program. Starting today, you can vote for who gets to spend a day on the campaign trail with their candidate and attend the Party's biggest, well, party of the year. Vote here, until August 13 (at noon ET).



Both the Democrats and Republicans have been using YouTube extensively to connect with supporters interested in content around the conventions, including unique construction clips from Denver and St. Paul, where the events will be held. The winners of the YouTube convention contests will have their videos played live on stage at these two events, which promise to be major media frenzies, not to mention a whole lot of fun.

So go vote for your favorite clip and look out for two YouTube users to shine on the convention floor…

Yours,

Steve G.
YouTube News & Politics

Trendspotting Tuesday: Music Tutorials
No matter your skill level or style, if you've ever wanted to pick up or master any kind of instrument, let YouTube be your guide. The YouTube community is packed with guitar-technique perfectionists, multi-genre piano teachers, and singers who can teach you all kinds of vocal stylings, from operatic arias to reverberating yodels.

This week's Trendspotting Tuesday is dedicated to those skillful instructors who allow you to learn a new instrument virtually. There's popular guitarist JustinSandercoe, blues harmonica master Kudzurunner, and turntablist DJ Ellaskins for budding scratchers. For something more exotic, master drummer Laim Jassey instructs on how to tap on the African djembe, Bonnie lends her tips on how to "tag" yodel, and DJ Venolla outlines an "instant" human beatbox course from Malaysia. Check out the whole playlist here or on our home page:





Happy music making,
The YouTube Team

Etsy's Handmade Portraits Series
There's a new video series on YouTube that embodies the amazing energy and inspiration inherent in do-it-yourself (DIY) culture. Etsy has created "Handmade Portraits," a series of interviews with artists who sell their work on Etsy's site. These videos not only do a fantastic job of showing the artist's style and telling his or her story, but also they reveal what drives each project and the source of each artist's passion. In one video, the duo behind Maryink talk about how their chance encounter at a party brought them together to create t-shirts even though they live in different states...



Chanel Kennebrew studied photography and graphics but became drawn to fashion…



James Peter's chance encounter with a friend's broken guitar led him to start building handmade guitars in his garage…



Check out the entire series and get inspired to follow your own creative muse.

Keep Creating,
Sadia H.
YouTube HowTo & Style

Portishead's YouTube Treat
Today we are pleased to feature "Portishead In Portishead," a special 31-minute concert presentation from British musical group Portishead. These seven songs, from their new CD Third (which is actually their fourth album – go figure), were performed in multi-instrumentalist Geoff Barrows' former drama school classroom. Enter here.

Along with this extended concert video, Portishead also put together a list of their favorite clips on YouTube. Their selections reveal an eclectic taste in music, including a nod to current YouTube Living Legend honoree Chuck D's band Public Enemy. (Earlier this year, Chuck D reciprocated the fandom by freestyle rapping over Portishead's single "Machine Gun" on stage at a festival in Barcelona.) After you watch the band's favorite YouTube clips, check out their own animated video for new single "The Rip".

Enjoy this inside look at the enigmatic Bristol trio.

Cheers,
Michele K-Tel
YouTube Music

LonelyGirl15's Long Goodbye
With video views in the tens-of-millions, nearly 400 episodes, over 100,000 subscribers and a cover story in WIRED magazine, lonelygirl15 is undoubtedly one of the first breakthrough web series to hit YouTube. Like all good things, however, it must come to an end, and today marks the start of a long goodbye: a 12-episode finale, each one posted on the hour.



It's been amazing to witness the loyal community of fans that has cropped up around lonelygirl15. Well two years ago, when viewers discovered that Bree, who seemed like an innocent young video blogger, was actually an actress performing in a scripted series, it only heightened the mystique and interest level surrounding the show. Even when Bree's character died, the show continued to generate big views.

We've enjoyed how EQAL, the creators behind lonelygirl15, have utilized YouTube's sharing and community features to tell their story. It's also been great to have lonelygirl15 as one of YouTube's original content partners. With their participation, we've built a platform where original content creators can distribute their own work and be compensated for their creativity.

We're watching closely to see how this one ends, perhaps with a touch of melancholy, but it makes us happy to know that EQAL have a lot more in store for the future. We'll be subscribing for sure…

Signing off,

George S.
YouTube Partnership