By Carlos Laz
Bennett Melt quietly made a name for himself behind one of the most successful gaming channels of its time: Melt Channel. Known for his sharp instincts, tireless creativity, and ability to adapt, Bennett took Melt Channel from modest beginnings to over a million subscribers and more than 145 million views—entirely through long-form content.
Bennett started the channel by uploading trickshotting clips inspired by FaZe Clan. “I would manifest myself hitting a million subscribers every night, so in a way, I knew it would happen,” he said. From his mom’s basement, he learned video editing, sharpened his camera presence, and reinvested his movie theater paychecks into better gear. That grind would eventually pay off in a significant way.
The breakout moment came in December 2019. “I hit 20,000 subscribers Dec 2, and by Dec 25, I hit 150,000,” he recalled. The viral catalyst was a now-iconic video where he used a keyboard and mouse to cheat his way into a mobile-only Fortnite clan. It was a turning point that turned a passion project into a full-time career.
Of the many videos he’s made, Bennett is most proud of Fortnite, But It’s Upside Down, calling it “the first of its kind in that format.” Unlike many algorithm-driven videos, this one leaned more into personality and funny moments, which resonated widely and launched a wave of similar content.
But even with success came hard choices. As Bennett explained, “The Melt Channel was fun but it was taking me a month to make just one video. I wasn’t that passionate about the videos leading up to me stopping it.” That’s when he and a group of friends made the bold decision to quit their channels and launch a new group channel together. “If we all worked together on one channel, we could upload once a week and make videos we enjoyed more.”
Bennett’s strategic understanding of audience retention played a key role in Melt Channel’s meteoric rise. “Back then it was all about having a proper structure: a clickable idea, a reason to watch till the end, engaging middle content, and reminders,” he said. However, in his more recent work, particularly on his new channel and brief appearance in a MrBeast Gaming video from a few years ago, Bennett has adopted a more authentic approach. “I think it’s much more important to be yourself and grow an audience that enjoys your videos for you.”
Despite Melt Channel earning over half a million dollars in revenue, Bennett is honest about the financial lessons that came with it. “Invest. I didn’t invest my money the first time, and now I’m back down to nothing. Also, if you make a lot of money, cut that in half—the tax man is coming.”
Today, Bennett Melt has no plans to revive Melt Channel. “I don’t think I will ever upload on that channel again,” he admitted. “I’m loving my new channel and the content I’m putting there. If I ever want to make gaming content again, I’d probably start a brand new channel.”
While the Melt era may be over, its impact on YouTube’s gaming scene—and Bennett’s evolution as a creative force—is undeniable. The lessons learned from Melt continue to inform his high-level work with some of the platform’s biggest stars, including MrBeast. And if history is any indication, Bennett’s best work may still be ahead of him.
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