The Athletic Confirms ‘Scoop City’ Is ‘in Transition,’ Dianna Russini’s Future on Show Unclear
The Athletic’s NFL podcast Scoop City has entered a "transition" phase, halting new episodes after a March 4 season‑finale announcement. Co‑host Chase Daniel’s contract expired, leaving his future with the show uncertain. The future of lead host Dianna Russini is also in doubt as her contract runs out in August amid a photo controversy with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. The Athletic says it is exploring new NFL‑related opportunities and will roll out fresh offerings for the upcoming season.
B*tchwork My AI Did For Me, Part 6: Writes and Publishes My Substack From a Text on My iPhone
A creator used a single iPhone text to trigger an AI workflow that drafted, illustrated, formatted, and published a Substack article to 102,000 subscribers within minutes. The system automatically generated a cover image, created a paid post, and queued social...
Fake AI Singer Hits Number One on the Charts—Not Making This Up
An AI‑generated vocalist named Eddie Dalton has surged onto the music charts, securing a number‑one spot on iTunes’ R&B list and placing three tracks within the platform’s top ten. One of his YouTube videos has surpassed one million views, drawing...
Digital Anarchy Has a New Organization Solution for Task Tracking in Adobe Premiere
Digital Anarchy has launched ShotNotes, a native Adobe Premiere panel that combines note‑taking and task tracking within the NLE. The tool lets editors attach time‑coded notes, link to other sequences or web pages, and generate clickable markers that jump to...
A First Look at Adobe’s Experimental New AI Video Technology MotionStream
Adobe has unveiled MotionStream, an experimental AI video tool that lets creators steer generated footage in real time. The system uses cursors and sliders to adjust object movement, camera angles, and secondary effects as the video renders. Adobe claims the...
Bundling for Independent Journalist Subscriptions Moves One Step Closer
Trustfnd, a startup targeting independent journalists on Ghost and beehiiv, introduced its first paid bundle in March, offering a 30‑day trial pass to three progressive newsletters for $8.50. The bundle, featuring Kat Tenbarge, Marisa Kabas and Katelyn Burns, generated roughly...
AMA with Brendan McCord
The Cosmos Institute newsletter announced it has surpassed 20,000 Substack subscribers, a milestone that underscores its growing influence in the AI‑philosophy space. To celebrate, founder Brendan McCord will host an Ask‑Me‑Anything on April 15, inviting readers to submit questions. The...
Streams Don’t Build Careers: Fans Do
The article argues that streaming counts are poor indicators of an artist’s career health, noting that 100,000 streams often bring little income or fan growth. It highlights how platforms prioritize consumption over connection, leaving musicians with inflated metrics but shallow...
I Used Notes Templates Every Single Day for 90 Days. Here’s What the Data Actually Shows.
After struggling with inconsistent subscriber gains, the author analyzed his top‑performing Substack Notes and used Claude AI to extract common structures, creating a personal Notes Writing Playbook of 30+ templates. By writing daily from these templates for 90 days, he...
Salt N Pepa Termination Rights Ruling Makes Creator Protections in US “Illusory”, Say Artist Advocacy Groups
Salt N Pepa’s lawsuit against Universal Music over 1980s recordings has become a pivotal test of the U.S. copyright termination right. The Second Circuit Appeals Court received amicus briefs from the National Society of Entertainment & Arts Lawyers and a coalition of...
French Senate Unanimously Passes Bill to Protect Artists From AI Data Scraping
The French Senate voted unanimously to adopt a landmark bill that flips the burden of proof onto AI developers, obligating them to demonstrate that copyrighted artistic works were not used to train their models. The legislation also requires transparency about...
TF1 Info Teams Up with YouTuber Gaspard G for 2027 Presidential Election Coverage
TF1 Info announced a partnership with French YouTube star Gaspard G, who commands 1.6 million subscribers, to co‑produce coverage of the 2027 French presidential election. The collaboration will blend TF1's traditional newsroom resources with Gaspard’s digital‑first storytelling style, delivering short‑form video,...
CNC Indefinitely Suspends Social Media Creator Fund Amid Targeted Threats
On April 8, France’s National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) announced the indefinite suspension of its newly created Social Media Creator Fund. The program, launched earlier this year with a €10 million (≈$10.8 million) budget, was designed to support 150‑plus...
From TikTok to Television: How 'Les Groos' Made the Jump to Arte
TikTok duo "Les Groos" leveraged a decade‑long social media following to land a prime‑time slot on European public broadcaster Arte. The creators, David Mirailles and his partner, turned their short‑form sketches into a six‑episode series that debuted in spring, reaching...
Asus Expands ProArt Creators' Brand Into Networking with First Wi-Fi 7 Router, Ethernet Switch
Asus has launched its first networking devices under the ProArt brand, unveiling the PRT‑BE5000 Wi‑Fi 7 router and the PQG‑U1080 Ethernet switch. The move mirrors the company’s earlier strategy with the Republic of Gamers line, extending a creator‑focused portfolio that already...
Podcasting on Substack
Julie Ciardi, a longtime podcaster, explains why audio should be a core business strategy and outlines five reasons—simplicity, trust, convenience, voice authority, and independence—from discovery to sales. She announces her move from Libsyn to Substack, citing the platform’s all‑in‑one distribution,...
The $7/Month Mistake — and the Newsletter Pricing Model that Fixes It
The author discovered that pricing a Substack newsletter at $7 per month failed because the price was set before a clear pricing model was defined. By outlining seven distinct Substack pricing models—Content, Membership, Founding Member, Resource/Playbook, Community Access, Done‑For‑You, and Product...
For Creators – What Brands Actually Look For In Creator Partnerships
Brands now prioritize niche alignment, authentic engagement, content consistency, audience demographics, and professionalism over raw follower counts. Nano and micro creators (1K‑100K followers) consistently out‑perform macro influencers on engagement and trust, according to the Influencer Marketing Hub 2026 Benchmark Report....
The Truth About Cookbook Proposals (My LIVE with Dianne Jacob)
In a March 25 Substack LIVE, food creator Yvette Marquez sat down with writing coach Dianne Jacob to demystify cookbook proposals. They explained that a proposal is a 60‑plus‑page business plan covering concept, audience, marketing, and sales strategy—not just a...
$500 Stipend: Sound Design Residency For Narrative Podcasts (Deadline: April 24, 2026)
A new Sound Design Residency offers a $500 stipend to narrative podcast creators, providing mentorship and studio access to elevate audio storytelling. The program targets independent audio producers worldwide and accepts applications through April 24, 2026. Selected residents will work...
Making More Than Money on Substack
The author, a longtime creator, has turned Substack into a revenue engine, earning five‑figure income within weeks of activating paid subscriptions. By centralizing writing, email newsletters, and a direct audience list, Substack eliminates the need for brand deals or viral...
The Quantum Kid Podcast Gains 113,000 Subscribers, Webby Nomination Follows
The Quantum Kid, a podcast and YouTube channel co‑hosted by 9‑year‑old Kai and science communicator Katia Moskvitch, has been nominated for the 2026 Webby Awards People’s Choice category. Launched in June 2025, the series quickly amassed 113,000 subscribers by delivering...
Why Do So Many AI Video Tools Miss the Mark for Musicians?
AI video generators are booming, yet many miss the core of music by treating songs as an afterthought. Studies show professional videos sync cuts to beats, bars, and sections, a principle most tools ignore. Platforms also chase novelty and style...
Unlocking a Fix to One of Music’s Biggest Royalty Problems: Registration
Lumoza, a new music‑rights platform, lets creators upload a track, lock in contributor splits and generate a “Digital Birth Certificate” that records ownership details immutably. Its AI assistant, Lumi, extracts metadata, flags missing credits and prepares submissions for performing rights...
QNAP and CyberLink Extend Partnership to Optimize Media Creation with Reliable Storage Solutions
QNAP Systems announced an expanded partnership with CyberLink, designating QNAP NAS as the recommended storage platform for CyberLink’s PhotoDirector, PowerDirector, and PowerDVD applications. The collaboration offers creators a private‑cloud solution that centralizes media storage, management, and protection without recurring public‑cloud...
AI Tools I Am Using Now
The post outlines a curated AI stack that enables solo creators to replace traditional teams, covering design, research, video, social media, project management, copywriting, web development, and payments. Each tool—such as Lovart for branding, Perplexity for research, Claude for long‑form...
The Personal Branding Paradox
Manish Pandey argues that creators are chasing a fake authenticity, over‑optimizing their image while neglecting genuine connection. In 2026 the most effective personal branding strategy hinges on consistency, niche specificity, depth of content, and building a tight community rather than...
Why Most Newsletters Never Make Money
The post argues that most newsletters fail to generate profit because creators focus on building an audience rather than a revenue engine. While consistent publishing and value delivery boost subscriber numbers, they rarely translate into earnings without a monetization framework....
HarperCollins Is Turning Authors’ Books Into AI YouTube Shorts
HarperCollins has signed a multiyear agreement with AI‑powered studio Toonstar to convert the publisher’s top‑selling titles into short‑form animated videos for YouTube. The partnership will generate a pipeline of AI‑driven YouTube Shorts designed to capture the attention of younger viewers...
JomBoy Meets World
Major League Baseball has taken an equity stake in viral video creator James “JomBoy” O’Brien’s YouTube channel, allowing the 37‑year‑old to incorporate official MLB footage into his content. The partnership is part of MLB’s broader push to win over Gen Z...
The First Podcast That Made Money Didn’t Look Successful at All
Most podcasters equate large audiences with success, but the first profitable show Liam Austin observed proved otherwise. Smaller, niche podcasts can generate consistent five‑figure monthly revenues through layered sponsorships, subscriptions, and merchandise, even without cultural buzz. The post argues that...
How Much Do Content Creators Really Make in 2026?
The Influencer Mastercourse Earnings Report reveals that creators of all sizes are generating real income in 2026, with user‑generated content (UGC) and brand partnerships driving the bulk of earnings. A creator with under 6,000 followers made more than $12,000 in...
The Campaign That Built 621 Superfans for Under $1,000
An independent artist leveraged a low‑budget "Fandom Funnel" to identify 621 superfans while spending less than $1,000. The effort produced a sold‑out listening‑party show in four hours, generated $1,100 in merchandise sales, and drove a 160% increase in the direct‑email...
Let's Go Get You some Subscribers...
Substack has relaunched its Notes Boost program for 2026, a community‑focused initiative designed to help writers gain momentum on the Notes platform. The weekly boost appears every Tuesday in the Events section of paid‑subscriber and Premier member posts and remains...
SoundBetter's New Storefront Helps Music Creators Earn Beyond Freelance Work
SoundBetter has introduced Storefront, a unified hub that lets music creators sell beats, sample packs, plugins, courses, mentorship, and live sessions alongside its traditional freelance services. The marketplace, which has already facilitated more than $120 million in earnings since its 2012...
How to Start Print-on-Demand Store with Wix: The Easy Process for Total Beginners
Print‑on‑demand (POD) is projected to reach $33.6 billion by 2030, and Wix now offers a native Printful integration that streamlines product creation and order fulfillment. The platform bundles payments, hosting, email automation, and AI‑driven copy tools into a single dashboard, removing...
Competitive Advantage
A recent Acast report shows that while listeners value female podcast hosts—63% appreciate their perspectives and 77% think more women would improve the industry—the market still features far fewer female‑led shows. The gap is not demand‑driven but stems from three...
Q&A and Playlist: Jermaine Stone, the Wolf of Wine
Jermaine Stone, known as the “Wolf of Wine,” turned an accidental entry into the wine world into a decade‑long podcast that fuses wine tasting with hip‑hop culture. His series “Tasting Notes from the Streets” earned James Beard and Emmy nominations and...
OpenAI Acquires TBPN: A New Era for Creators
OpenAI has acquired the daily tech show TBPN for an estimated low‑mid nine‑figure sum, roughly $200 million. The channel commands about 70,000 average daily viewers and a combined 400,000 followers on X and YouTube, making it the largest single‑creator sale to...
Beyond the Song: Why Artists Need Transmedia Storytelling
Artists are turning to transmedia storytelling to turn music into multi‑platform brands, as shown by BTS’s ARIRANG campaign that linked Spotify, Instagram and Google fan activities. Record labels are backing the trend, with Warner Music striking an exclusive Netflix documentary...
From Feeds to Events: How Content Creators Are Reshaping TV Strategy
The line between creator‑driven channels and traditional streaming TV is blurring as both adopt event‑driven tactics. Mark Rober’s 12‑video‑a‑year model shows low‑frequency, high‑impact releases can generate water‑cooler buzz on YouTube, while the Sidemen combine daily short‑form clips with premium, Hollywood‑style...
Why Social Media Is Failing Artists, And What To Do Instead
The article argues that social media platforms are ill‑suited for artists because algorithmic feeds favor outrage and shallow engagement, leaving creators without genuine audience connection. It proposes that artists reclaim sovereignty by hosting their work on personal websites and using...
25 More Funding Opportunities with April 2026 Deadlines
The latest newsletter from Grants for Creators adds 25 new non‑dilutive funding opportunities with April 2026 deadlines, bringing the total U.S. creator‑eligible awards to 86. The list spans architects, artists, writers, entrepreneurs, filmmakers and more, and is segmented for paid subscribers...
Inside The Chernin Group’s Bet on Creator-Led Empires
The Chernin Group (TCG) is doubling down on creator‑led media, channeling $40 million into UK podcast powerhouse Goalhanger and expanding its stake in audio‑first brands like Audiochuck. The firm’s thesis treats community audiences as the core asset, favoring multi‑revenue models that...
Yes, You Can Turn Followers Into Substack Subscribers
Substack has rolled out tools that let creators import social‑media followers directly into their email lists, effectively turning platform fans into paying subscribers. The new "Follow" widget and API integrations pull contact data from X, Instagram and LinkedIn, then prompt...
Influencer Marketing Today: CreatorIQ-Sprinklr Tie-Up, BDB's Payment Play, and Breast Cancer Now's Influencer Push
CreatorIQ and Sprinklr announced a partnership that embeds CreatorIQ’s intelligence engine—processing 123 million creator posts daily—into Sprinklr’s social‑media reporting suite, promising unified measurement of organic, paid and creator content. Billion Dollar Boy, together with Lumanu, launched a "Creator Payments" service to...
Your Weekly Creator Economy Update
YouTube unveiled a Gemini‑powered Creator Partnerships suite that lets brands discover and manage creators using natural‑language prompts and first‑party audience data. The platform also plans API integration to streamline affiliate links and future on‑platform messaging. Simultaneously, industry voices are championing...
Creator Economy Briefing: Alix Earle Launches Skincare Brand, Unilever Appoints Influencer Agency, Ambassador Marketing Gains Traction
Today's creator‑economy briefing highlights a shift toward long‑term ambassador partnerships, the rise of influencer‑turned‑founders, and enterprise‑level investments in structured influencer programs. Brands are replacing one‑off campaigns with ongoing creator relationships to boost credibility, while Alix Earle launched her skincare line...
Results Are In: NBC’s Olympic Creator Bet Won Gold — Inside the Playbook
NBCUniversal’s Olympic Creator Collective delivered more than 4 billion impressions during the Milan‑Cortina Winter Games, a 437 percent jump from Beijing 2022. The program, now in its second iteration after a successful Paris pilot, paired over 25 influencers with athletes, while Project Fortius...
PLATFORMS BEHAVING BADLY
This week’s creator‑economy briefing highlights escalating platform governance and legal challenges. Grammarly’s new “Expert Review” feature, which let users receive feedback attributed to high‑profile writers for $12 a month, triggered a class‑action lawsuit alleging violation of publicity rights. Roblox announced...