New Zealand’s Top Five Cyber Celebrities

MySpace.com Announces New Zealand’s Top Five Cyber Celebrities

Do the names Ricky Danger, Caleb Smith, Ike Hamon, James Jeffery or Michael Freeman ring a bell? You may have never heard of these people, but for over almost a quarter of a million New Zealand MySpace users, they are veritable cyber celebrities.

[3 February, 2009] MySpace.com today revealed the nation’s most popular cyber celebrities. An eclectic mix of artists, musicians and even a professional stuntman, the ‘MySpace Top Five Friended’ boast almost a quarter of a million friends between them and offer a unique insight into cyber culture and New Zealand life. 

After removing comedy sensations Flight of the Conchords, who have over 160 000 friends [www.myspace.com/conchords] and other celebrities including Crowded House who have over 23,000 friends [www.myspace.com/crowdedhouse], New Zealand’s five most popular cyber celebrities are: 

Ricky Danger, www.myspace.com/rickydanger

New Zealand’s most popular cyber celebrity, 29 year old ‘Ricky Danger’ from Auckland, in fact holds three of the New Zealand’s most friended MySpace accounts.  In addition to his personal account, which has an impressive 150,000 friends, Ricky also manages a profile devoted to helping fellow MySpace users with their layouts and customisation [www.myspace.com/xrickyxdangerx] , as well a  profile devoted to his two very popular Siamese/Burmese cats Mina and Miah who have over 10,000 fans [www.myspace.com/thedangerkittens].

What began as a competition to accrue more virtual friends than another MySpace friend almost two years ago quickly turned into a long term pursuit for Ricky. The mortgage manager from Auckland says he tries to squeeze in around two hours per day updating his various MySpace accounts and connecting with his online friends.  As well as a social tool, Ricky uses MySpace showcase his own music and to give other MySpace users tips on how to get the most out of their MySpace profiles. In fact, he’s even given Dave Nevaro of Chilli Peppers and Jane’s Addiction fame pointers on how to use MySpace.

With the creation of his own line of ‘Ricky Danger’ t-shirts, Ricky’s celebrity status has moved offline and there is talk of a ‘Ricky Danger’ doll in the making. So what does it take to become the nation’s most popular cyber personality?  As Ricky explains “The secret to becoming so popular on MySpace is to pique people’s interest and retain an air of mystery. I’m yet to reveal my real name on MySpace. In fact, I only unveiled photos of what I really looked like once I had over 5,000 friends. I always wanted to be number one in the country for something; I never thought it would be being the most popular person on MySpace, but I’ll take it.”

Caleb and Hanna Smith, myspace.com/brushedbyblack  

Caleb Smith runs ‘Hello’ aka ‘Hello Rulz’, a fashion and streetware store in New Plymouth with his wife Hannah, as well as New Zealand’s second most popular MySpace prolife.  A veteran MySpace user, Caleb initially used MySpace as a social tool before deciding to upload their handmade goods onto MySpace’s photo galleries.

After pictures of their Japanese inspired toys, custom designed t-shirts and quirky jewellery and collectables hit the ‘Hello Rulz’ profile, their popularity soared into the tens of thousands. “In one year our profile has gone from having 9,000 to 23,000 friends on the back of interest from people around the world who love what we make” explains Caleb.

Caleb and Hanna use their MySpace profile as an informal gateway to their online store as well as an organic way to connect with customers.  Caleb says a key to their MySpace popularity has been their obvious love for what they do and willingness to personalise their interactions online. “Nobody wants to go to a ‘dead’ website or MySpace profile. People are attracted to sites that they can connect with and get to know you through. So we make sure we talk to people and make an effort to get to know them,” he explains.

James Jeffery, www.myspace.com/playthemdrums

20 year old James Jeffery is a drummer/student from Auckland and New Zealand’s third most popular MySpace personality. Currently on an exchange scholarship, studying Business and Finance at the University of California Los Angeles, James uses MySpace daily pursue his passion for music and to keep in touch with friends whilst overseas.

James joined MySpace about a year and a half ago to discover other musicians. “As a drummer I knew MySpace would be a great way to network with other bands and musicians, as well as being an easy and accessible way for other musicians to listen to my music.”  Through MySpace James found other musicians to write, record and play music with, including the members of his first band Harlequin Arcade,  as well as making contact with renowned drummer Don Famularo, who gave James encouragement and recommended drum tutors to visit in Los Angeles.

Michael Freeman, www.myspace.com/epxt

51 year old Michael Freeman from Auckland is an amateur photographer and New Zealand’s fifth most popular MySpace personality. Director of his own Graphic and Product Design Consultancy Designz Limited, Michael uses his MySpace account to showcase his photography and receive feedback, as well as introducing his quality eCard site which features over 14,000 of his photographs.  

A self-confessed MySpace addict, Michael joined MySpace three years ago and now spends between one and two hours a day on the social destination, inviting people to befriend his profile and encouraging them to leave comments on his photos and to try his eCard website. “The positive feedback I have received through MySpace has been fantastic! It has been amazing to view my photography through the eyes of others and reviews from people who have visited epxt.com have been very encouraging” he says.

 “With almost a quarter of a million friends between them, New Zealand’s ‘MySpace Top Five Friended’ embody today’s new breed of celebrity. The internet celebrity or media personality have emerged in the wake of user generated platforms like MySpace and are increasingly replacing traditional media identities in their cultural influence. MySpace and user generated media have inverted the traditional flow of information and allowed people like ‘Ricky Danger’ to become their own media channels and  broadcast magnets with devoted  followers and loyal fans” explains Susan Carlton head of Sales and Business Development MySpace.com New Zealand.

MySpace.com launched in the New Zealand market in January 2007 and is a social destination where over 421,000[1] New Zealanders connect every month. On MySpace Kiwis connect with people from all walks of life, including those with shared interests, friends, family, colleagues, associates and people they want to get to know better. MySpace users connect with other New Zealanders as well as the wider world, there are 122 million[2] people using MySpace each month across 29 international regions.
 
MySpace also provides New Zealanders with a destination to discover user generated as well as professional content that is both informative and entertaining as well as tap into culture spanning music to fashion to film to politics [www.myspace.com/kiwihub].

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