Lincoln Alumni Stories: Adam Reed
Adam Reed studied Level 1 and Level 2 Diplomas in Computing and IT at the College and works as both a radio presenter at Siren Radio and a full-time YouTuber at the time of writing. His journey into broadcasting began with a passion for content creation, and his college experience played a key role in helping him grow personally and professionally.
“I always wanted to be a YouTuber, which is why I enrolled in Computing and IT courses at the College in the first place,” Adam explained. His commitment to building an online presence started early, launching his YouTube channel in 2012. By the time he finished college in 2014, his channel had already reached over 500,000 subscribers. Today, with over 3.2 million subscribers, Adam continues to engage his growing audience with resonant content.
Breaking into Radio
Adam’s role at Siren Radio came about through one of his YouTube connections, who recognised that his talents would translate well to radio. Since 2016, Adam has hosted his own radio show at Siren Radio, based at the University of Lincoln, every alternate Friday night. The combination of radio and online content has significantly boosted Adam’s popularity, and he’s now looking to expand his brand by exploring opportunities in television and other entertainment platforms.
Personal Growth at the College
Reflecting on his time at the College, Adam shared, “My time in college did help me to get where I am today, but not academically. College helped me grow as a person and gain confidence and independence.” This personal growth was pivotal in his ability to succeed in such a competitive field.
Career Milestones
Adam’s most significant career moments are closely linked to his YouTube milestones. “My proudest achievement to date would be the times I hit the subscriber milestones on my YouTube channel,” he said. He has received the YouTube Silver and Gold awards for surpassing 100,000 and 1 million subscribers, respectively, and is striving towards the YouTube Diamond Award for 10 million subscribers.
Overcoming Challenges
Success hasn’t come without challenges. Adam recalls the difficulties caused by the infamous YouTube algorithm crash, which disrupted his ability to reach his audience. “All my videos weren’t getting to my fan base because of the algorithm crash, and it took me at least 4 or 5 months to recover my fan base after YouTube repaired the algorithm.” Despite the setback, Adam’s perseverance ensured his channel’s continued growth.
Future Aspirations
Looking ahead, Adam is determined to keep expanding his influence in the entertainment world. “My ultimate career goal is to expand my brand even further. I’m already online and on radio, but I really want to also expand to TV and other platforms.” He envisions his brand reaching across all sectors of the entertainment industry and hopes to fulfil his dream of living in a mansion in Beverly Hills.
Adam’s advice for aspiring creators is simple yet powerful: “Stay focused, keep your eye on the prize, make as many connections as you can along the way, and never think that your dream is too big.”