Shots Studios

Shots Studios is a Los Angeles-based media company founded by brothers John Shahidi and Sam Shahidi.[1] The company creates original mobile-first content, primarily for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. With originals spanning Netflix, YouTube Originals, Facebook Watch, and Spotify Originals, Shots Studios content accrues over 22 billion minutes of watch time per year on YouTube alone.

Shots Studios
Formerly
  • Rock Software, RockLive, Inc. (2009–2013)
  • Shots Studios, Inc. (2013–Present)
TypePrivate
IndustryMCN
FoundedJanuary 4, 2008 (2008-01-04)
Founders
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
U.S.
Key people
Websiteshots.com

The company has become a creative studio to a roster of musicians and creators including Lele Pons, Jake Paul, and Rudy Mancuso. Additionally, Shots Studios produces original videos and programming across all streaming platforms.

Shots Studios was originally founded as a software development company named Rock Software in 2009, focusing on creating mobile games (such as the popular RunPee app) and, eventually, celebrity-partnered apps after an expansion and rebrand to RockLive.[2] Some early RockLive celebrity partners include Cristiano Ronaldo, Usain Bolt, and Mike Tyson.[3]

With the support of a team of investors including Justin Bieber, the company rebranded to Shots in 2013, launching a photo-sharing app. In 2016, Shots entered into partnerships with Internet creators and began producing original content as Shots Studios.[4]

Shots Studios Production

In October 2015, Shots Studios launched Awkward Puppets, an original series created by Rudy Mancuso, thus launching the recently re-branded company’s first foray into content production.[5][6]

In 2016, Shots Studios launched the YouTube channels of Anwar Jibawi, Rudy Mancuso, Lele Pons and Hannah Stocking.[7]

In July 2018, Variety announced that Shots Studios partnered with Netflix to produce a six-episode docuseries that followed the life of Brazilian pop star Anitta. The series, titled Vai Anitta, was exclusively released on Netflix on November 16, 2018.[8]

On March 13, 2019, Tubefilter announced that Shots Studios would join a handful of other creative studios and content creators to produce new original programming for Facebook Watch. Shots Studios’ slate of programs was headlined by projects from Rudy Mancuso, Juanpa Zurita and Lele Pons.[9]

On June 12, 2019, Shots Studios released a series of Mancuso-written and directed shorts titled "Stories From Our Future" in collaboration with Netflix’s Emmy-award winning series Black Mirror.[10]

On April 22, 2020, Variety announced Shots Studios’ YouTube Original docuseries titled The Secret Life of Lele Pons.[11] The first episode of the five-part docuseries premiered on May 19, 2020, on Lele Pons’ YouTube channel.

On August 24, Tubefilter announced that Shots Studios had entered a new partnership with NRG Esports for content production, social strategy, and apparel.[12]

Shots Studios Management

In addition to content production, Shots Studios also manages a roster of artists and creators including Lele Pons, Rudy Mancuso, Hannah Stocking, Anwar Jibawi, Delaney Glazer.

On August 14, 2020, it was announced that social media superstar Jake Paul signed with Shots Studios.[13]

Shots Studios previously partnered and collaborated with other entertainers such as Alesso, Anitta, Marlon Wayans, Mike Tyson, Inanna Sarkis, and Loren Gray.[14][15][16][17]

Shots Studios creators have partnered with companies such as Google, Target, Tarte Cosmetics, AXE, EA Sports, Budweiser, COVERGIRL, and many others to produce branded content.

Shots Studios Originals

Shots Studios has also produced an array of original programming and content.

In 2015, Shots Studios produced the Mancuso-written Awkward Puppets series. The series follows a diverse set of original puppet characters, most notably the Mancuso-voiced Diego. Other characters include Diego’s wife Benita (voiced by Lele Pons) and Twon (voiced by King Bach).

On September 19, 2019, Shots Studios launched Shots Studios Kids, a family-friendly expansion of the company’s content production. Shots Studios Kids’ first project was Benny’s Bee Adventures, an animated series centered around the titular Benny.[18]

In late 2019, Shots Studios unveiled "Mindie," an interactive interview series hosted by Stocking.[19] Shots Studios would expand upon this new type of programming by developing Money Games, a multi-platform brand with short-form variety game shows on YouTube and meme pages across social media.

In March 2020, Shots Studios unveiled "Blackjack," an animated news segment condensing the most pressing current events.

In May 2020, Shots Studios established the Stocking-driven “Hi, How Are U” brand featuring an informative news and pop culture segment on Stocking’s YouTube channel and an accompanying merchandise line.

Shots Studios & Music

Shots Studios has also expanded to music, specifically in management and video production.

In 2017, Rudy Mancuso performed as the opener in Brazil for Justin Bieber’s Purpose World Tour.[20] Later that year, he continued to display his talents for instrumentation with performances at the MTV Millennial Awards in Mexico and Goiâna, a music festival in Brazil.[21]

In July 2017, Shots Studios signed Brazilian megastar Anitta.[17]

On September 3, Anitta released her first English-language single, a collaboration with Grammy-award winning producer and songwriter Poo Bear titled "Will I See You." The video earned over 10 million views in its first two days on YouTube.[22]

On October 7, 2017, Mancuso released his first single titled “Black & White” with Poo Bear.[23]

On November 19, 2017, Anitta released "Downtown," a Spanish-language collaboration with Colombian singer J Balvin. The song was nominated for "Best Urban Song" at the Latin GRAMMYs.[24]

Shots Studios also produced music videos for Grammy-award nominated Swedish producer Alesso, including the visuals for 2017’s “Is That For Me” with Brazilian star Anitta, 2018’s Mancuso-directed “Remedy” with Conor Maynard, and 2019’s “Sad Song” with Tini.[25][26][27][28] In September 2017, Alesso and American artist Hailee Steinfeld released "Let Me Go" featuring Florida Georgia Line and Watt.[29] The record was certified Platinum and amassed over 1 billion streams across streaming platforms.

In March 2018, Billboard named Shots Studios one of Dance music's "Internationalists," a company that is "leading dance music's global expansion."[30] John and Sam Shahidi were named to Billboard's Latin Power Players list for their and their artists' success in the Spanish-speaking market in November 2018.[31]

In late November 2018, Alesso released "Tilted Towers," a collaborative project with Fortnite streamer and YouTuber Ninja, which debuted live on the gamer's Twitch stream. The song appeared on Ninja's first music endeavor, a compilation project titled "Ninjawerks (Vol. 1).[32]

In August 2018, Shots Studios Music was formed in partnership with Universal Music Group and Lele Pons released her first solo single, “Celoso.” Pons would perform the record at the Latin American Music Awards after it was certified 3x Platinum.[33][34]

Shots Studios & Podcasts

In November 2019, Spotify announced a suite of podcasts and included a partnership with Shots Studios for a podcast hosted by Lele Pons. "Best Kept Secrets with Lele Pons" debuted exclusively on Spotify on August 19, 2020.[35]

Shots Studios & Consumer Goods

Shots Studios has expanded to consumer goods and merchandise.

In late 2019, Shots Studios creators began launching their unique apparel lines. The company created Lil Shop, an overarching brand to house all of the creators’ lines as well as other original designs.

In August 2020, Lil Shop became a retailer of NRG Esports merchandise after forming a partnership with the gaming company.[12]

On April 3, 2020, WWD announced a partnership between Shots Studios and Syllable, a beauty product company, to create Loops Beauty, a line of sustainable face masks. Shots Studios creators model and promote the product.[36]

Company History

Rock Software: 2009 - 2011

The company launched as Rock Software in 2009 by brothers John and Sam Shahidi in Southern California. They started as a mobile gaming company focused on iOS and Android apps, with its first commercial release being RunPee, an app which gives users the best time to use the restroom during a movie. The app was featured on The Today Show.[37] Through a mutual friend on the Cincinnati Bengals, the Shahidi brothers met star wide receiver Chad Ochocinco which led to a partnership and creation of two apps, the Chad Ochocinco Experience and MadChad.[38]

RockLive: 2011 - 2013

During this time the company continued to grow and rebranded as RockLive. They expanded their focus on mobile gaming apps and created apps for celebrities and athletes including Mike Tyson, Usain Bolt, and Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2011, the company launched a mobile game called Mike Tyson's Main Event. Across their various platforms, RockLive saw more than 3 million active users.[39]

Shots App: 2013 - 2017

In 2013 the company began moving away from mobile games and working on a new social media app. Rebranding as the Shots App, with a large investment from Justin Bieber earlier that year, they released the Shots app on November 12, 2013. The app was a selfie picture sharing app with a focus on anti-bullying.[40] Other investors include Floyd Mayweather, King Bach, Marlon Wayans, Omar Epps, Shervin Pishevar, Ben Parr, WI Harper, Upfront Ventures and DCM Ventures. This led to the move of the company headquarters to San Francisco.

After Twitter CEO Anthony Noto accidentally tweeted a message about an acquisition for Twitter, a source close to the company confirmed that Twitter was looking to acquire Shots for $150 million.[41][42][43] CEO John Shahidi stated to Fox News that the company was not for sale at the time.[44]

By 2015 the Shots app had over 7 million active users.[45] During this time, the company began partnering with digital content creators including Rudy Mancuso to explore delivering original content to its users. This led to the development of the Awkward Puppets series.

In 2017, the Shots mobile app was removed from the App Store as the company shifted focus towards producing original content for YouTube and other social platforms.

Shots Studios: 2013 - present

The Shots app launched Shots Studios and became a full-time digital studio in 2016.[43][46] After the companies transition to digital entertainment, the Shots app was removed from the App Store (iOS) in 2016.[47]

In 2016, Shots Studios partnered with Mike Tyson to launch a YouTube channel for the boxer to share sketch comedy on.[48] The company began to manage other creators, assembling a roster of Rudy Mancuso, Lele Pons, Anwar Jibawi, Hannah Stocking and Jake Paul,[49] in order to produce content on their own YouTube channels.

Shots Studios channels have tens of millions of followers combined, tapping into an increasingly digital world with online comedy, music, and other video content. The company has landed partnerships with companies such as Netflix, Google, and many Fortune 500 brands for branded content.

In addition to its core YouTube channels, Shots Studios has since launched a music division, a kid-friendly "edutainment" channel, an apparel line, and beauty products.

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