2020’s Top Moments of Online Creativity

While the COVID-19 pandemic forced much of daily life to take place online in 2020, the shift has resulted in many bright spots of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Below are a few of our favorite highlights from the year — all made possible by platforms that rely on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

→ One man’s TikTok video became a viral sensation, tripling sales of Fleetwood Mac’s hit “Dreams” and sending Ocean Spray so much free publicity they sent him a new truck.

→ Andrea Bocelli gave an Easter Sunday concert available for free and live on YouTube.

→ In place of book tours, authors found new ways to connect with readers via Zoom, Instagram and Facebook Live.

→ Dolly Parton read a bedtime story to kids from her Imagination Library project each week on YouTube.

→ With new demand for face masks, Etsy’s small businesses sold more than $600 million worth of masks this spring and summer, and consumer interest in personalized gifts and supporting small businesses looks to drive even more sales to America’s small makers.

→ John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” series on YouTube became must-watch weekly content to lift our spirits.

→ Twitch, TikTok and Spotify helped new musicians sidestep record labels to get their music directly to audiences, with 68% of independent artists saying they’ve made more music in the pandemic. 

→ 28 million people took part in #BlackoutTuesday on Instagram and other platforms, part of a surge in online activism this year.

→ President Obama and other celebrities honored high school seniors with a special commencement ceremony broadcast on cable and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

→ A kids’ yoga teacher saw views of her online videos spike to more than 1 million per day as parents looked for ways to keep kids active and mindful.