All Things Video

Ricky Ray Butler is the CEO of Branded Entertainment Network (BEN), a global entertainment marketing company that specializes in brand integrations across streaming, TV, film, music, and influencer programming. Prior to BEN, he founded Blue Frog Video Marketing, served as Director of Brand Integration at Familylink.com, and founded Plaid Social Labs, which was acquired by BEN in 2015. In this episode, Ricky and I discuss the powerful applications of AI to influencer marketing. Ricky explains the difference between structured and unstructured data and suggests that unstructured data (particularly audio) holds the key to better branded content performance. We also touch on the DOJ’s anti-trust suit against Facebook, BEN’s recent acquisition of TubeBuddy, and Dave Chappelle’s public battle against Comedy Central. Finally, Ricky argues that YT Shorts – not IG Reels – are the true competitor to TikTok and reminds us that there are hundreds of emerging Chinese social platforms, many of which will ultimately make th