Defy Media

Defy Media was an American digital media company that produced original online content for the 12–34 age group. Originally founded in 1996 as Alloy Online (later Alloy Digital), the final company was formed in 2013 by its merger with Break Media.
On November 6, 2018, the company ceased operations after its assets were frozen by creditors, leaving channels like Smosh without a company. Former employees attribute the company's financial struggles, high YouTube overhead, legal issues, aggressive expansion, and a shrinking advertising market to poor financial management.https://web.archive.org/web/20181119184635/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/defy-medias-shutdown-provokes-class-action-lawsuit-complaints-late-creator-payments-1160929https://web.archive.org/web/20181116001145/https://digiday.com/media/defy-media-youtube-shutdown/
==History==
===1996–2009: Alloy, Inc.===
Alloy, Inc., founded in 1996 by James K. Johnson and Matthew Diamond, is a holding company for Alloy, a teen-oriented magazine and website. By May 1999, the company had $15.5 million in monthly revenue and 1.3 million registered users. In January 2000, they purchased book publisher 17th Street Productions, renaming it Alloy Entertainment.https://web.archive.org/web/20181121161759/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20000117/31338-pw-internet-company-buys-17th-street-productions.html
===2009–2013: Alloy Digital===
In 2009, Alloy established Alloy Digital Networks as a division to manage its online properties.
Alloy Entertainment was acquired by ZMC in 2010 and re-incorporated as Alloy Digital in 2011. Over the next two years, it acquired Smosh,https://web.archive.org/web/20130529051203/http://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/Editorial/Featured-Articles/Smosh-YouTube-Gods-and-Unlikely-Online-Video-Superstars--85398.aspx Themis Media (parent company of The Escapist and WarCry Network),https://web.archive.org/web/20181121203853/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-11-16-the-escapist-acquired-by-alloy-digital Generate LA-NY, and Clevver Media.https://web.archive.org/web/20181121203828/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/alloy-digital-acquires-clevver-media-smosh-generate-338706 ZMC also sold Alloy Entertainment to Warner Bros. Television in 2012.
===2013-2017; Merger and investment===
In 2013, Alloy Digital and Break Media merged to form Defy Media, with RBC Capital Markets breaking the deal and ZMC, ABS Capital Partners, and Lionsgate owning part of the entity.
===2018: Decline and dissolution===
Defy sold The Escapist to Enthusiast Gaming and Screen Junkies to Fandom in July 2018.https://web.archive.org/web/20181116001145/https://digiday.com/media/defy-media-youtube-shutdown/
In 2018, the company's assets were frozen by creditors, leaving channels like Smosh without a company, attributed to poor financial management, high YouTube overhead, legal issues, and shrinking advertising market.
==Brands==
Defy Media owned various brands including viral video site Break.com, MadeMan.com (a site for young men), flash game sites AddictingGames.com, Shockwave.com, DIY prop, cosplay channel Awe.Me, and Prank It FWD (Forward).
== Gallery ==
File:Defy.png|Logo
==References==
Category:History of YouTube