Danny Zappin
Danny Zappin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1975 (age 43–44) Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Residence | Venice, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University |
| Occupation | Co-founder & CEO, Maker Studios (2009–13) Founder, president & CEO, Zealot Networks (2014–present)[citation needed] |
| Years active | 2004–present |
Danny Zappin (born 1975)[1] is an American businessman. He is the co-founder of Maker Studios, and the founder, president and CEO of Zealot Networks.
Contents
1 Early life and education
2 Career
2.1 Internet videos
2.2 Maker Studios
2.3 Zealot Networks
3 References
Early life and education
Zappin was born in Columbus, Ohio.[1] His mother ran a Christian heavy-metal record label.[1] His brother is hip hop artist John Reuben.[2] He spent a few quarters at Ohio State University before moving to Florida. In the mid-1990s, he moved to New York, and then to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor.[1] He had a small role in the 1999 Spike Lee film Summer of Sam.[3] At some point in 2000, Zapplin was convicted of a felony drug possession charge.[4]
Career
Internet videos
Zappin began creating videos for the Internet in the early 2000s, while working for CrapTV, an early online video streaming website.[5] In mid-2005, he began uploading videos to the then new website YouTube under the name Danny Diamond. Along with several other YouTube content creators, he began signing up online talent to create a digital studio for YouTube.[1][3]
Maker Studios
In 2009, Zappin co-founded the YouTube multichannel network and online video producer Maker Studios, serving as its CEO until his resignation in April 2013.[1][6][7] Founded in Venice, California, Maker was one of the first content providers on YouTube to reach 1 million views.[1] By the end of 2012, Maker was one of the top five networks on YouTube, with over 2 billion views per month, according to comScore.[8] The idea behind Maker was to create a new type of studio model, a collaborative, creator-friendly multichannel network helping to boost views and better monetize online short-form content.[8][9] Zappin is considered to be one of the first to recognize the platform's potential for new types of content and talent.[6]
Zappin's legal immigration history came up in the midst of a 2012 dispute between Maker Studios and YouTube celebrity Ray William Johnson over the terms of a new contract.[8][10] In 2001, Zappin was convicted of felony drug possession for smuggling Ecstasy. He was sentenced to two years in prison, and released to home confinement in 2004.[1]
In June 2013, two months after his resignation, Zappin sued Maker Studios' partners and investors, alleging there was a conspiracy to oust him from the board.[8][11] Along with three other former Maker executives, he sued Maker for a second time in April 2014, to block a shareholder vote on the acquisition of the company by the Walt Disney Company, shortly after the studio agreed to purchase Maker in a deal worth up to $950 million.[11] The lawsuit was rejected by a California judge and the sale went through.[12] Zappin earned $25 million in the sale.[13]
On October 17, 2013, Zappin announced that he had acquired digital entertainment news website NewMediaRockstars, intending to broaden its coverage of new media.[1][14]
Zealot Networks
In the summer of 2014, Zappin raised $25 million from former and current Maker employees, talent and executives, along with his own money, to form Zealot Networks.[6] In an August 2014 press release, Zappin announced the launch of his new digital media company, "a digital-first media company and growth accelerator."[6][11] By the end of the year, Zealot had raised additional capital from UK broadcaster ITV, the largest commercial television network in the UK.[15] Zealot was based in Venice, California,[16] with Zappin serving as the company's president and CEO.[13]
Zappin stated that the company was a continuation of his work with content creators at multi-channel network Maker Studios. Rather than focusing solely on YouTube talent, Zealot was a multi-company network, made up of a variety of interconnected digital media companies with different areas of expertise working together in an effort to accelerate their collective growth.[17][18]
By November 2016, the company had raised $26.5 million in venture capital and an additional $30 million in debt financing. It used that money to buy 17 other content generating companies with a combination of cash and equity, including ViralNova for $100 million in 2015.[19] Other acquisitions had included a majority stake in content-licensing company AudioMicro, the parent company AdRev in December 2014 for approximately $20 million,[20][21] Premier Sports & Entertainment in January 2015,[22] Converge Media Group and Neighbor Agency and Idea Farmer in February 2015,[23][24][25] Threshold Interactive in March 2015,[26] and in May 2015, Lord Danger and Hutch Media.[27][28]
By the end of 2016 the company was in financial trouble, and had asked its executives to forgo being paid and a team of current and former executives offered to buy Zappin out.[19] Zealot's website went down in November 2016.[29]
- In April 2017 BumpClick, which had at some point acquired ViralNova from Zealot, was sold to Function(x) for $25M.[30][31]
- In January 2018 AVL Digital Group acquired AudioMicro and its AdRev and DashGo divisions from an unnamed party for an unnamed price.[32]
References
^ abcdefghi Eriq Gardner, “Maker Studios Lawsuit: Inside the War for YouTube’s Top Studio,” The Hollywood Reporter, October 24, 2013.
^ Justin Sarachik, “John Reuben has Enough Songs for a New Album,” Rapzilla, March 24, 2016.
^ ab Jeff Klima, “A Timeline: Former Maker Head Danny Zappin Sues Ex-Girlfriend Lisa Nova – Where Did the Love Go?” NewMediaRockstars, June 28, 2013.
^ Joshua Cohen (December 12, 2012). "Maker Studios CEO Sends Letter to Employees, Addresses Past and Ray William Johnson". TubeFilter. Retrieved January 14, 2013..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Cohen, Joshua. "Danny Zappin - Event / Speaker Platform". Social Media Week. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
^ abcd Mike Shields, “Ex Maker Studios CEO Danny Zappin Raises Funding For New Web Video Venture,” Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2014.
^ John Kell, “Maker Studios Ex-CEO Seeks to Block Takeover by Disney,” Wall Street Journal, April 10, 2014.
^ abcd Ryan Lawler, "Maker Studios Co-Founder Danny Zappin Sues The Company Over His Ouster," TechCrunch, June 26, 2013.
^ David Zax, “A YouTube Studio Borrows the Old Hollywood System to Make Big Hits,” Fast Company, June 11, 2012.
^ Peter Kafka, “YouTube Powerhouse Maker Studios Fights With Its Biggest Star. It’s Not Pretty.” All Things Digital, December 12, 2012.
^ abc Saba Hamedy, “Ex-Maker Studios CEO launches digital media company,” Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2014.
^ Brooks Barnes, “Bid to Upend Disney’s Deal for Maker Studios Falls Short,” New York Times, April 14, 2014.
^ ab Nicole Laporte, “Maker Studios’ Former CEO Takes Disney’s Millions to Move Beyond YouTube,” Fast Company, August 4, 2014.
^ Todd Spangler, “Maker Studios Founder Danny Zappin Buys Website NewMediaRockstars,” Variety, October 17, 2013.
^ Melissah Yang, “Zealot Networks Valued at $100 Million,” Los Angeles Business Journal, December 22, 2014.
^ Natalie Jarvey, “Danny Zappin’s Zealot Heads to Venice,” The Hollywood Reporter, September 17, 2014.
^ Evan DeSimone, “Danny Zappin Goes Beyond the MCN With Zealot,” NewMediaRockstars, August 4, 2014.
^ Natalie Jarvey, “Zealot Networks Acquires J.B. Smoove’s Converge Media Group,” The Hollywood Reporter, February 5, 2015.
^ ab Reim, Garrett (11 November 2016). "After Financial Problems, Bid Underway to Acquire Zealot Networks & Remove Danny Zappin as CEO". Los Angeles Business Journal.
^ Todd Spangler, “Danny Zappin, Ousted CEO of Maker Studios, Raises $25 Million to Launch Digital Studio,” Variety, August 4, 2014.
^ Peter Kafka, “Maker Studios Founder Danny Zappin Is Back in Business and Buying Companies. Here’s His First Deal.” Re/code, December 18, 2014.
^ Melissah Yang, “Zealot Networks Acquires Premier Sports & Entertainment,” Los Angeles Business Journal, January 8, 2015.
^ Todd Spangler, “Danny Zappin’s Zealot Networks Buys Converge Media Group Talent Agency From JB Smoove and Others,” Variety, February 5, 2015.
^ Natalie Jarvey, “Zealot Networks Acquires J.B. Smoove’s Converge Media Group,” The Hollywood Reporter, February 5, 2015.
^ Omar Shamout, “Zealot Networks Buys Two Creative Marketing Companies,” Los Angeles Business Journal, February 17, 2015.
^ Tim Peterson, “Zealot Networks Buys Threshold Interactive, Its Third Ad Agency,” Ad Age, March 12, 2015.
^ Sahil Patel, “Zealot Networks Buys Music-Video Production Company Lord Danger,” Video Ink, May 12, 2015.
^ Garrett Reim, “Zealot Buys Small Publisher, Hints at Future,” Los Angeles Business Journal, May 18, 2015.
^ "Wayback Machine entry for Zealot". Retrieved 11 June 2018.
^ "Sillerman's Function(x) on clickbait buying spree". IQ Magazine. 3 April 2017.
^ "Press release: Function(x) and BumpClick Amend Terms of Binding Term Sheet To Eliminate Cash Payment at Closing". Function(x). May 11, 2017. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017.
^ "Press release: AVL Digital Group acquires AudioMicro, AdRev, and DashGo". AVL Digital Group via Radio and Music. 10 Jan 2018.
