đŸŽ¶ Meet the Music Men of TikTok

CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER


Rodger Cleye and Ian Rae are two creators that especially stood out on TikTok in 2022, united by their love for music. Beloved clips and meme-ified fan edits of amateur singer Cleye, singing along to Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, and Christina Perri, became a viral sensation on TikTok. Meanwhile, singer and piano player Ian Rae has dabbled in the arts since he was a child but blew up on TikTok for his wholesome piano videos.

In an interview with Passionfruit contributor Charlotte Colombo, these two creators shared their origins, what turned them into online sensations, and more. Colombo also reflects on how these two “distinguished gentlemen” transcend stereotypes about Boomer-aged creators and demonstrate a shift in audience preferences toward wholesome, earnest content.


NOW LOADING


Meet the music men of TikTok: Rodger Cleye and Ian Rae


ONE GREAT TIP


TOOLS REVIEW

YouTube channel deleted image (frowning YouTube logo) on gray background

8 YouTube channels that were terminated or restricted—key takeaways for creators

Why do creators get kicked off of YouTube, and how can others avoid the same fate?

By Rachel Kiley, Passionfruit Contributor


TIPS AND TRICKS

TikTok mental health advocate Jorge Alvarez shares advice for applying for grants and awards

“Shoot your shot when the chance does come up.”

By Grace Stanley, Newsletter Editor


IN THE BIZ


TIKTOK MADE ME DO IT

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • Is Exclusivity Dead?

    Is Exclusivity Dead?

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #179 | October 24, 2023 This weekend under the shiny lights of nearby casinos on the Las Vegas strip, Twitch made a revelatory announcement: It is now, finally, officially allowing creators using its platforms to simultaneously stream across any platform. In case you’re unfamiliar, for a long time, Twitch had the sort…

  • Subterranean Homesick Blues (2008 NYC Media Club Mix)

    Subterranean Homesick Blues (2008 NYC Media Club Mix)

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #178 | October 19, 2023 Last weekend, Passionfruit threw its first-ever live event: an afternoon creator party at Karat House celebrating the release of Taylor Lorenz’s “Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence and Power on the Internet.” (And hey, after you’re done looking at the pictures, check out this new…

  • Content Feels Very Trivial Right Now

    Content Feels Very Trivial Right Now

    CREATOR NEWSLETTER Issue #177 | October 17, 2023 “Ahsoka” reactions, TikTok Halloween trends, MrBeast challenges. While these things normally are a source of levity in our lives, ‘content’ feels, at least to me, meaningless right now. And even worse, the normal things we post can seem out of touch with the current global humanitarian crisis…