When the pandemic canceled his stage career and his legacy broadcast show, our Guest pivoted to survive, and got 3 MILLION followers on TikTok by creating joy.

We chat with the HILARIOUS, Darcy Michael (@thedarcymichael), Canadian comedian, Tik Tok sensation, and new media entrepreneur. We learn how, in just fifteen months,  Tik Tok’s free, instant global export model allowed him to widen his national audience to a global audience of millions, and how working hard at being funny generated money: brand deals, sponsorships, and even increased revenues to his previous legacy work. We’ll also learn how TikTok’s audience-based model is threatened by Canada’s newly proposed legislation, Bill C-11, The Online Streaming Act, and why Darcy decided to speak out to explain, to the Canadian government, the importance of Canada’s new media economy and its hard-working entrepreneurs.

Access the transcription and relates articles and resources from this episode HERE

Mediaucracy, with Irene Berkowitz, PhD, is a limited series in the Audience Lab podcast hub. Audience Lab is a media audience research group at The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University (recently renamed).

We tackle challenging questions in audience research, digital communication, and human-computer interaction. We’ve led groundbreaking and international collaborations with CBC, CMF, CMPA, Google, Playback, and more. 

If you want to learn more OR you have comments, questions, or guest requests for Mediaucracy, please email our host, Dr. Irene Berkowitz at iberkowi@ryerson.ca.

Credits:
Executive Producer and Host: Irene Berkowitz
Podcast Producer, Distribution, and Promotions Design: Sam McNulty
Series Cover Art and Web Designer: Nancy Ly
Audience Lab Director: Robert Clapperton
The Creative School Marketing: Rana Latif, Ashley Haraburda, Tania Ulrich
Dean of The Creative School: Charles Falzon