YouTube’s Paris Bash Draws Banijay, Mediawan as French Giants Embrace Creator Economy

YouTube celebrated its 20-year anniversary this week in Paris with a massive bash that brought together more than 1,200 people at the Opera-Comique, an 18th-century landmark, and a lineup of major speakers from Banijay, Mediawan as well as Lvmh, alongside some of YouTube’s biggest local stars, Squeezie (Lucas Hauchard), Hugo Décrypte (Hugo Travers) and Andie Ella.

The event kicked off with YouTube’s managing director in France and Southern Europe, Justine Ryst, who unveiled key figures highlighting the platform’s impact on the local economy and viewing habits. YouTube contributed more than €1 billion to France’s Gdp in 2024 and created 24,000 full-time equivalent jobs in France, according to Ryst, who also pointed out that 43 million French people watch YouTube every month, and spend an average of 52 minutes per day on the platform. Globally, more than $100 billion has been paid to creators, artists and media companies over the past four years.

Against that backdrop,…