YouTube stars upload fame after scooping internet awards

TAY Zonday morphed from an unknown musician to an internet superstar who got booked on national TV shows after his song Chocolate Rain — an amateur clip of his baritone crooning — went viral last year.

He is among the 12 winners of the second annual YouTube Video Awards, recognising the top user-created videos of 2007.

YouTube users voted on six nominees for each category: music, sports, comedy, instructional, short film, inspirational, commentary, creative, politics, series, eyewitness and “adorable”.