Sidemen

The Sidemen are a group of British YouTubers. The group comprises JJ Olatunji, Simon Minter, Josh Bradley, Tobi Brown, Ethan Payne, Vik Barn and Harry Lewis, also known by their online aliases KSI, Miniminter, Zerkaa, TBJZL, Behzinga, Vikkstar123 and W2S, respectively. They produce online videos consisting of vlogs, challenges, game show formats and video game commentaries, as well as selling exclusive merchandise.

For other uses, see sideman (disambiguation).

Sidemen
The Sidemen in 2016. From left to right: JJ Olatunji, Vik Barn, Harry Lewis, Simon Minter, Josh Bradley, Tobi Brown and Ethan Payne
Personal information
NationalityBritish
OccupationYouTubers
Websitesidemenclothing.com
YouTube information
ChannelsSidemen
MoreSidemen
LocationLondon, United Kingdom[1]
Years active2013–present
Genre
Subscribers101.6 million (combined)[lower-alpha 1][2]
Total views25.4 billion (combined)[lower-alpha 1][2]
Network
Associated actsJme[5]
100,000 subscribers 2016, 2018
1,000,000 subscribers 2016, 2018
Updated 12 July 2020

Founded on 19 October 2013 as an informal gaming group, the group recorded gameplays and challenges together which the members would upload to their respective YouTube channels. As their channels grew, the group began producing a wider variety of videos and other projects and, since 2018, has published primarily on their collective YouTube channels, Sidemen and MoreSidemen. As of July 2020, their eponymous YouTube channel has over 8.75 million subscribers.[6]

History

Some of the members knew each other before the group was formed: Josh Bradley and Tobi Brown both attended Bexley Grammar School in London, and JJ Olatunji and Simon Minter both attended Berkhamsted School in Hertfordshire.[7]

The group was informally created on 19 October 2013, when Olatunji, Minter, Bradley, Brown, and Ethan Payne formed a Rockstar Games Social Club group called "The Ultimate Sidemen" in the then-recently released Grand Theft Auto Online; Vik Barn joined the group soon afterwards. In January 2014, Bradley met Harry Lewis while at a FIFA gaming event in New York City and invited him to join the group.[7] Speaking about the origins of the group's name, Sidemen, Minter explained, "A sideman is basically someone's bitch who just follows them around [...] I was basically JJ's bitch that followed him around."[1]

In February 2014, Olatunji, Minter, Bradley, and Barn moved into a house together near London, dubbed the "Sidemen House",[7][8][9] which allowed them to collaborate more often.[10]

YouTube content

The group runs two collective YouTube channels, Sidemen and MoreSidemen. As of May 2020, the Sidemen channel has over 8.3 million subscribers and 1.5 billion views,[6] and MoreSidemen has over 3.4 million subscribers and 800 million views.[11] On the combined YouTube channels, the group produces a variety of videos consisting of challenges, vlogs, game-show formats and video game commentaries.[12][13][14] Since 2018, the group has released a weekly video series named Sidemen Sundays on their Sidemen channel.[15]

On 18 June 2018, the group released a web television series titled The Sidemen Show, available exclusively through YouTube Premium.[16] It comprises seven 30-minute challenge-based episodes filmed around the world alongside a number of celebrity guests.[17][18]

Other projects

Since 2014, the group has sold and distributed exclusive Sidemen merchandise through its company Sidemen Clothing Limited.[19][12]

On 18 October 2016, the group released a book titled Sidemen: The Book, published by Coronet Books, and embarked on a UK-wide promotional tour.[20][21] A number one best-seller in the UK, the book sold 26,436 copies within the first three days of its release.[22][23]

Sidemen Charity Football match 2018 at the Valley

The group has hosted three football events to raise money for various charitable causes. The first match, in 2016, was held at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, and raised over £110,000 for the Saints Foundation.[24][25] The second match was held at The Valley Stadium, London, and raised £210,000 for the NSPCC and the Charlton Athletic Community Trust.[26][27] The third and final match, again held at The Valley Stadium, raised £65,747 for the Young Minds Trust and the Charlton Athletic Community Trust.[28]

In 2018, the group helped launch the mobile sports game, BoxTuber, produced by Viker Limited.[29]

In March 2020, the Sidemen released a twenty-minute YouTube video titled "#StayHome". The video featured the Sidemen and more than one hundred other YouTube video creators and other celebrities raising awareness of the UK's "stay at home" campaign which aimed to reduce the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 in the UK.[30][31] One hundred percent of the advertising revenue generated from the video was donated to the NHS.[32]

Members
The Sidemen on their book tour in 2016

Since 2014, the group has had the following members:[33]

  • Olajide "JJ" Olatunji – known online as KSI (2013–present)
  • Simon Minter – known online as Miniminter (2013–present)
  • Joshua "Josh" Bradley – known online as Zerkaa (2013–present)
  • Tobit "Tobi" Brown – known online as Tobjizzle or simply TBJZL (2013–present)
  • Ethan Payne – known online as Behzinga (2013–present)
  • Vikram "Vik" Barn – known online as Vikkstar123 (2013–present)
  • Harry Lewis – known online as Wroetoshaw or simply W2S (2014–present)

Discography
Single with selected chart positions and year released
Title Year Peak chart positions
UK
[34]		 UK
R&B
[35]		 UK
Ind.
[36]		 NZ
Hot
[37]		 SCO
[38]
"The Gift"[39]
(featuring S-X)		 2019 7740112726

Publications
  • The Sidemen (18 October 2016). Sidemen: The Book. Coronet Books. ISBN 978-1473648166.

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2017 British Book Awards Non-Fiction: Lifestyle Book of the Year Sidemen: The Book Nominated [40]
2019 Shorty Awards Best YouTube Ensemble Sidemen Nominated [41]

Notes
  1. Includes the Sidemen's two group channels and fifteen of their individual channels which host Sidemen content.
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References
  1. "KSI: how the YouTube millionaire, who beat Logan Paul in a celebrity boxing rematch, made his name". Business Insider. South China Morning Post. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  2. See:
  3. "Talent". Omnia Media. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  4. "Sidemen". OP Talent. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  5. Wynter, Courtney (30 March 2020). "Jme Joins Sidemen For A Hilarious Virtual Rap Battle". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  6. "Sidemen's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  7. The Sidemen (18 October 2016). Sidemen: The Book. Coronet Books. pp. 52–57. ISBN 978-1473648166.
  8. Shaw, Dougal (19 April 2020). "Coronavirus: UK's first 'TikTok house' opens during outbreak". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  9. "TikTok UK house: Who's in it and what do you need to know?". Newsround. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  10. Reiner, Andrew (30 April 2015). "An Interview With YouTube Sensation Vikkstar123". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  11. "MoreSidemen's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  12. Andrews, Farah. "Insomnia Dubai: YouTube stars Sidemen coming to gaming convention". The National. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  13. "YouTube stars The Sidemen at Insomnia Dubai Gaming Festival". Gulf News. 10 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  14. Dodgson, Lindsay. "Then And Now: How 30 of the world's most famous YouTubers have changed since their first videos". Insider. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  15. Patterson, Calum (31 October 2018). "Vikkstar123 explains why he's leaving the Sidemen House". Dextero. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  16. Clarke, Stewart (4 June 2018). "YouTube Orders 'The Sidemen Show' Original Premium Series". Variety. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  17. White, Peter (2 June 2018). "'The Sidemen Show': YouTube Debuts First Trailer & Dates Premium Reality Challenge Format". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  18. "YouTube commissions Blue Ant's Sidemen Show". RealScreen. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  19. "Sidemen Clothing Limited – Overview". Companies House. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  20. Cowdrey, Katherine (2 June 2016). "'YouTube royalty' The Sidemen to Coronet". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  21. Barr, Gordon (22 September 2016). "YouTube sensations The Sidemen come to Newcastle". Chronicle Live. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  22. Dillon, Poppy (26 October 2016). "The Sidemen's Debut Book Tops Charts". TenEighty. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  23. Flood, Alison (26 October 2016). "YouTube stars the Sidemen are frontrunners in race for Christmas books No 1". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  24. Castro, Danilo (25 August 2018). "KSI Net Worth: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". heavy.com. Heavy Inc. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  25. Rimell, William (4 June 2016). "Charity football match Sidemen FC v YouTube Allstars at St Mary's in Southampton raised more than £100,000 for the Saints foundation". dailyecho.co.uk. Southern Daily Echo. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  26. "The Valley to host charity football match featuring famous YouTubers". Charlton Athletic F.C. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  27. Charlton Athletic FC [@CAFCofficial] (25 July 2017). "👏 A half-time presentation confirms that the @SDMNFC match at The Valley in May raised £210,000 for @NSPCC and @CAFCTrust! #cafc" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. Gutelle, Sam. "YouTube Supergroup Sidemen Raise £65,747 For Charity, Premiere Trailer For YouTube Premium Series". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  29. Kent, Mike (20 August 2018). "KEEMSTAR, TrueGeordie and The Sidemen launch YouTube Boxing Mobile Game". Dexerto. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  30. "Coronavirus: YouTube stars urge fans to stay at home". BBC News. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  31. "KSI and Saffron Barker urge fans to stay inside as YouTube stars band together during coronavirus crisis". Metro. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  32. "Coronavirus: YouTube stars and celebrities rally together to urge fans to 'stay home'". Daily Mirror. 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  33. "Sidemen Clothing Limited – Overview". Companies House. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  34. "UK Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  35. "UK R&B Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 26 December 2019.
  36. "UK Independent Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 26 December 2019.
  37. "New Zealand Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  38. "Scottish Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 26 December 2019.
  39. "The Gift – Single by Sidemen on Apple Music". Apple Music. 15 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  40. "Hachette and Penguin Random House lead British Book Awards Books of the Year shortlists". The Bookseller. 15 March 2017. Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  41. "Michelle Obama, Noah Centineo, Marie Kondo, John Mulaney Win 2019 Shorty Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
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