This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Jason Tsoi. Find him on Instagram at @jason.tsoi. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.

Since the launch of YouTube’s Partner Program in 2007, the social media platform has been a source for content creators to generate profit. By producing engaging content and building a following, creators can earn money through the program. Over the past couple of years, creators made revenue by vlogging and gaming. But recently, there’s been a growing niche of content creators on the app: music reactors.

Music reactors make a living by simply reacting to music and sharing their reactions, garnering thousands of views and engagements. The best music reaction videos on YouTube often come from creators, who are charismatic, humorous and passionate about music. But the popularity of music reactions did not just happen recently. They’ve been around for years.

The Popularity of Music Reaction Videos

Founded in 2007, REACT, formerly known as Fine Bros Entertainment, popularized reaction videos on YouTube with their well-known react series. From kids to elders, the channel featured a wide range of people reacting to pop culture videos, including music. In many of REACT’s videos, the channel captured people’s raw reactions to viral moments while simultaneously displaying the content that they were shown. Following their reactions, the reactors would discuss and answer questions about the content they had watched. This laid the groundwork for music reactors, as many would follow a similar approach while making their own reaction videos. So, why do we find enjoyment in watching people react to music?

One of the key reasons why people are fascinated with music reactions is to feel validated. While listening to an album, it’s common practice to choose a favorite and least favorite song. Depending on a listener’s mood or situation, a song can resonate differently with each person. After forming an opinion on a particular song, both good and bad, we direct our attention to music reactors to hear their opinion. While watching music reaction videos, we seek to validate our opinions by seeing if reactors share a similar listening experience. If a reactor has a relatable experience, it strengthens our self-esteem, affirming that our thoughts and feelings are valid. However, if a music reactor has a different experience, it can give viewers a new understanding of a song, changing their opinion. 

Another reason viewers find music reactions appealing is for entertainment. Since many music reactors have a charming personality, it’s difficult to divert your eyes off the screen. Based on their emotional responses to music, reactors can have you hysterically laughing to crying in the span of five minutes. This will have you wanting to keep returning every time a new album or music video drops. So, here’s a list of music reactors that we recommend watching.

TerryAndKaniyia

With over 1.9 million subscribers, TerryAndKaniyia are a duo, known for their enthusiastic reactions towards everything music related. As of today, Terry McCaskill and Kaniyia Brown mainly react to the latest pop music, such as Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift, as well as K-pop music from groups, like Blackpink and Stray Kids.

As a reaction duo, McCaskill and Brown bring a fun atmosphere to their videos with their playful exchanges. In many of their reactions, the duo is shown dancing, singing and cracking jokes together, adding a wholesome atmosphere to their reactions.

Reacts By Ash

Another popular music reactor is Reacts By Ash, also referred to as the “internet mom.” Known for her warm-hearted and easygoing personality, Ashley Ippolito received the nickname by her 500K subscribers for how she interacts with her audience in a caring manner. On her channel, Ippolito particularly reacts to pop artists, such as Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish.

In her videos, Ippolito personalizes her content by adding sound and video effects to elevate her reactions. She also references memes in her videos, adding a comedic layer. And to conclude her reaction, Ippolito provides a ranking of her favorite to least favorite songs from an album.

Zach Campbell

At 660K subscribers, Zach Campbell is one of the oldest music reactors on YouTube. In 2013, Campbell posted his first music reaction to Lady Gaga’s “Applause” under the alias, Darnell Bridgewater. As a result of his humorous and energetic commentary, Campbell quickly rose to popularity on the platform. Since then, Campbell has been reacting to pop and hip-hop artists, like Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj.

Campbell also stands out for his confidence and authentic reactions. He is not afraid to speak his mind, which makes his reactions feel genuine. With his bright personality, you will never get bored while watching his commentary.

HTHAZE

In recent years, HTHAZE’s music reactions have gained significant traction, making him one of the most prominent music reactors today. After originally joining YouTube in 2011 as a musical creator, Hamilton Troy Hayes transitioned to making music reactions on his channel. Unlike other music reactors, Troy films his reactions live on Twitch, and later uploads an edited version to his 890K subscribers on YouTube. Troy reacts to a variety of music genres from pop to hip hop, and musical artists both big and small.

Like other music reactors, Troy makes his reaction videos interactive by using sound and video effects, as well as occasionally dancing along to music that he finds captivating. And as a music creator, Troy incorporates an educational element to his videos by analyzing a song’s structure and lyrics.

AJay Deluxe

Finally, AJay Deluxe, formerly known as Ajayll, has established herself as a popular name in the music reactor community. Known as the “Queen of Music Reactions” by her 1 million followers, AJay Deluxe produces relatable album reaction videos of prominent pop musical artists, such as Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande.

One quality that makes AJay Deluxe’s reaction special is that she is expressive. She immerses herself in emotionally vulnerable moments, expressing many different emotions as she listens to the lyrics of songs. This makes her reactions relatable and validates the feelings that viewers may have felt when they listened to the same song.

Who do you think are the best music reaction videos on YouTube and why? Let us know in the comments.