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TikTok: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It's Popular
TikTok, launched in 2016 by ByteDance, has become a dominant short‑form video platform with over 5 billion downloads and more than 100 million U.S. users. Its AI‑driven feed fuels high engagement, attracting brands that invest heavily in viral ad formats. In April 2024, U.S. lawmakers passed a law forcing ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by 2025, a deadline now delayed by legal challenges. Simultaneously, the EU is probing TikTok under the Digital Services Act, intensifying regulatory pressure worldwide.
The Audio Industry Is Grappling With the Rise of 'Podslop'
The audio ecosystem is confronting a surge of AI‑generated shows, a phenomenon dubbed “podslop.” Platforms such as Amazon have begun auto‑creating quasi‑podcasts, while the Atlantic’s CEO noted the term flooding Spotify searches. Apple Podcasts now mandates AI disclosure, whereas Spotify...
AI Search Visibility Index: Influencer Marketing Platforms, May 2026
Net Influencer and Grow and Convert analyzed how AI chat tools surface influencer‑marketing platforms. Across 40 query runs on ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and AI Mode, 50 platforms were mentioned, but visibility is heavily skewed toward the top....
Meet the Indie Studios Funding Other Indie Studios
Among Us creator Innersloth has turned its pandemic‑era profits into an indie‑focused funding label called Outersloth. The initiative, announced in 2024, has already invested roughly $20 million across 24 games, offering grants from $50,000 up to $2 million and a revenue‑share model...
AI Can Write a Song. It Can’t Build a Career.
Artificial intelligence can now generate songs in seconds, but its deeper threat lies in exposing the music industry’s fragile economics. AI blurs authorship, challenges royalty attribution, and can inflate streaming metrics, jeopardizing artist compensation. While the technology lowers entry barriers...
All Things Creator Marketing with Mae Karwowski
Mae Karwowski, founder and CEO of influencer agency Obviously, will speak at Marketing Brew’s "The Next Phase of Social & Creator Marketing" on May 12. She notes U.S. creator ad spend is expanding four times faster than the broader media...
Triton Digital Launches Its March 2026 Canada Podcast Ranker
Triton Digital released its March 2026 Canada Podcast Ranker, confirming CBC/Radio‑Canada as the top sales network with 2.4 million average weekly downloads, followed by Audioboom and the BBC. The same three CBC‑produced shows – Front Burner, World Report and The World This...
Penske Truck Rental Renews Sponsorship of Pit Pass Indy Podcast with Award-Winning Journalist Bruce Martin
Penske Truck Rental has renewed its role as presenting sponsor of the Pit Pass Indy podcast for the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season. The weekly Wednesday episodes, running from March through September, will feature IndyCar luminaries such as Alex Palou, Scott Dixon...
Tink Media to Co-Present International Women’s Podcast Awards with Naomi Mellor of Everybody Media
Podcast growth firm Tink Media announced it will co‑present the 2026 International Women’s Podcast Awards alongside Naomi Mellor of Everybody Media. The ceremony, traditionally held online, will be hosted in Toronto later this year, marking its first North American venue....
Saudi Aviation Club Reveals Influencer Strategy that Led to 50 Million Views for Sand & Fun
Saudi Aviation Club partnered with Bold Influence to rebrand its Sand & Fun 2025 airshow from a pure aviation exhibition into a national lifestyle platform. The agency assembled a hybrid influencer roster—aviation specialists like Captain Joe and mass‑appeal creators such as Dr. Kholoud and...
Is Influencer Campaign ROI Really That Hard to Measure?
Influencer marketing’s promised 11x return on investment is largely a myth, according to the latest guide from Influencer Marketing Hub. The article outlines practical frameworks for measuring campaign impact, including multi‑touch attribution, UTM parameters, and benchmark data from a survey...
Creator Economy Event Calendar – May 4, 2026 – YouTube, Twitch, The Podcast Show: A Headline-Packed Month
May 2026’s creator‑economy calendar spans the U.S., Europe, Africa and Latin America, featuring flagship gatherings such as YouTube Brandcast in New York, Scalable Summit in Venice, and TwitchCon in Rotterdam. The schedule includes the inaugural African Social Media Influencers Summit...
Jack Link’s Finally Reveals Flavors of Limited-Edition MrBeast Collab
Jack Link’s has finally disclosed the three mystery flavors in its limited‑edition MrBeast collaboration for Australia and New Zealand: Loco Taco, Butter Tikka, and Loaded Burger. The "What’s the Flavor" campaign invited fans to guess the tastes for a chance at...
Women-Centered, Artist-Owned: A Q&A With Chera TV
Chera TV debuted this spring as the first artist‑owned vertical streaming platform, launching its inaugural drama *To Her Beat* for a one‑time price of $14.99. The service forgoes a subscription model, instead offering a gamified points system where 15,000 points...
The Future of Influencer Marketing Lies in Human+AI Coexistence: TEN-X Report
The TEN‑X report shows Saudi Arabia’s influencer and content‑creation market was worth $387 million in 2025 and is projected to reach $3.6 billion by 2033, driven by a 32.2% CAGR. The Kingdom now hosts 40% of GCC influencers, with over 263,000 media...
Ranveer Allahbadia Announces Documentary on India’s Got Latest Row After Reunion with Samay Raina on Kapil Sharma’s Set
Ranveer Allahbadia and comedian Samay Raina reunited on Kapil Sharma's Netflix‑streamed show, marking their first joint appearance since the heated India’s Got Latent controversy. The episode quickly rose to the top of streaming charts, generating widespread buzz. In his Beer...
The State of Generative AI in the Creator Economy
Generative AI has moved from a peripheral experiment to a core component of creator workflows in 2026, with 80% of creators using AI tools at some point. Platforms such as YouTube are cracking down on low‑quality AI videos, removing 16...
YouTube Tests New Music Generation and Moderation Tools
YouTube is testing a new Studio feature that lets creators generate four royalty‑free instrumental tracks to replace copyrighted audio, aiming to cut content‑ID claims. The same rollout includes a bulk comment‑moderation tool that filters replies by conversational context rather than...
Instagram Tests Option to Swap Out Text in Someone Else’s Reels
Instagram is quietly testing a new "Swap" feature that lets users replace the on‑screen text of someone else’s Reel with their own copy. The tool, briefly described in a Help Center article that was later removed, appears designed to make...
TikTok Highlights Emerging Creators for Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
TikTok announced a dedicated showcase for Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, featuring ten emerging creators across a variety of genres. The selected creators will be highlighted on the platform’s @TikTokCreators account and promoted with the #APITikTok hashtag throughout May....
‘We Pride Ourselves on Human Curation’: Vocana Is an Indie Music Service Determined to Challenge Spotify’s Payment System — I...
Vocana, an indie‑only music streaming service, launched public beta three months ago, offering 40 million tracks from 2 million artists and a user‑centric royalty model that bypasses Spotify’s pro‑rata payouts. The platform relies on human‑curated “Hubs” and community sharing instead of algorithmic...
CORE Boys Swatted Live on Stream During Day 1 at New Content House
CORE, a creator collective of former FaZe Clan members, debuted its $20 million content house in late April. On May 2, the group’s first full‑day live stream was abruptly interrupted when police arrived after a false swatting report claiming hostages in the...
Hytale Boss Doesn't Want Its Mod Browser to Feel Like "a Shopping Mall," But Is Exploring Ways to Support Creators
Founder Simon Collins‑Laflamme said Hytale’s upcoming in‑game mod browser will stay free to install, with no price tags displayed. While the studio is not committing to a paid‑mod model, it is brainstorming optional creator‑support mechanisms, such as a Patreon‑style system...
From Memes to Hosting BET Awards: Druski’s Earned Rise to Prominence
Drew "Druski" Desbordes pivoted from a college student in sports analytics to a self‑made comedy star after launching Instagram skits in 2017. A pandemic‑era boost from collaborations with Lil Yachty and Drake turned his parody label Coulda Been Records into...
Four Graduates Are Building an AI Video-Dubbing Tool for African Filmmakers
Four recent graduates launched Reedapt in 2025, an AI‑powered dubbing platform built for African languages after witnessing $500,000‑plus costs and poor nuance in traditional dubbing. The Lagos‑based startup already serves over 200 users—mainly Nollywood producers and churches—and has secured two...
Hallie Harris of HLOVECO on Building Brands for Amazon and Rhone
Hallie Harris, founder and CEO of HLOVECO, leverages her creator‑economy expertise to build personal brands for high‑profile clients. She previously led a multi‑million‑dollar influencer campaign for Amazon Fire in 2017, pioneering brand storytelling through YouTube personalities. In January 2024, HLOVECO...
Mr. Fantasy Staged a Riverdale Reunion for New Music Video
TikTok sensation Mr. Fantasy released the music video “Do Me Right,” featuring Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, and Madelaine Petsch. The video follows a string of high‑profile collaborations with stars like Nick Jonas, Justice Smith and Dave Franco. Mr. Fantasy, who has already...
Instagram Algorithm Update Discourages Reposted Content
Instagram has revamped its recommendation algorithm to demote accounts that primarily repost photos, carousel posts, or reels, emphasizing original, creatively edited content. The platform reports that 75% of U.S. recommendations now stem from posts it deems original. Meanwhile, eBay is...
Threat Response: Podcast Experts Assess the Industry
A LinkedIn survey by producer Abdallah Mohamed gathered 13 global podcast experts to assess whether the podcast industry faces a real threat. The respondents highlighted ongoing layoffs, bankruptcies, and AI‑driven pressure, describing the sector as undergoing a permanent market reset...
Nekomata Okayu Visual Novel Okayu Nyumu R Will Be in English
Entergram announced that the PC version of the Hololive Vtuber visual novel Okayu Nyumu R will launch on Steam with a full English translation. The game follows the original Okayu Nyumu, which received an English release on consoles in August...
POSSIBLE Miami: 7 Lessons on the Future of Creator Marketing
Creator marketing has moved from an experimental channel to core infrastructure, as highlighted at POSSIBLE Miami. Brands like Coca‑Cola and PepsiCo are shifting to single performance metrics, focusing on value‑aligned creators, and leveraging micro‑influencers for authentic engagement. The conference underscored...
It's Bandcamp Friday Again
Bandcamp Friday is back, offering artists a full 100% share of every purchase made on the platform for the day. The promotion, first launched in 2020 to help musicians whose live‑show income vanished during the pandemic, has become an annual...
A Date With Death 2 Dating Sim Kickstarter Already Fully Funded
Two and a Half Studios launched the Kickstarter for *A Date with Death 2: Remnants* on April 30, 2026, seeking $28,783. Within a day, more than 2,300 backers pledged over $184,000, guaranteeing full funding when the campaign closes on May...
Spotify Adds 'Verified' Badges To Distinguish Human Artists From AI
Spotify is rolling out a "Verified by Spotify" badge to clearly label human artists and separate them from AI‑generated personas. The green checkmark will appear next to artist names that meet authenticity standards such as linked social accounts, consistent streaming...
Spotify Now Verifies Artists that Are Human, Not AI
Spotify announced a new “Verified by Spotify” badge that will appear next to human artists’ names, using a mix of automated filters and human reviewers to confirm authenticity. The badge rollout begins in the coming weeks and will be accompanied...
Star Wars Expands in Fortnite with Official Creator Tools and New Experiences
Epic Games is deepening its collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm by releasing official Star Wars creator tools within Fortnite. Starting May 1, players can explore hundreds of community‑built Star Wars islands using authentic assets, while three new game modes—Galactic Siege, Escape Vader and...
How Do You Turn Creator Commerce Into a Performance Channel?
The PI LIVE Europe Influencer & Commerce Summit will examine how creator‑driven affiliate marketing can evolve into a performance‑focused channel. Influencer spend reached $32 bn last year, a 35% jump, while research shows a 46% lift in affiliate sales when creators...
After Media and Commerce, Bia Granja Says Creators Are Coming for Hollywood IP
Bia Granja, veteran of Brazil’s creator‑economy firm YOUPIX, is launching HollyTube, a four‑day immersion in Los Angeles that bridges Hollywood studios with top creators. She argues the creator economy is now cracking the third gatekeeping—intellectual property—by co‑creating long‑form content with film...
5 Ways to Implement Social Intelligence at Your Organization
The article outlines a five‑step framework for turning raw social data into a strategic asset, urging firms to move from reactive listening to proactive social intelligence. It highlights the "practitioner paradox" where insights stay siloed, and cites that 64% of...
The Morning After: Instagram Will Try to Penalize 'Unoriginal' Posts
Meta is expanding its 2024 algorithm tweaks to penalize unoriginal photo and carousel posts on Instagram, joining the earlier restrictions on recycled Reels. The change will throttle reach for accounts that simply reshare content without material edits. Meanwhile, Samsung is...
Influencer Marketing in Saudi Arabia: A Complete 2026 Guide for Brands
Influencer marketing in Saudi Arabia has become a high‑engagement, culturally specific channel as social‑media penetration hits 94%—about 35 million active users—and platforms like TikTok and Snapchat dominate usage. Arabic‑first content consistently outperforms translated English by 35‑50%, while the General Authority for...
Why Refy Handed Creators Full Control — No Approvals — for Its Latest Launch Campaign
Refy launched its Skin Base Skin Tint, a $40 gel‑like product with hyaluronic acid and patented Inclusium, and paid 12 TikTok creators to promote it without requiring any pre‑approval. The brand’s head of brand, Charlotte Geoghegan, said the decision stemmed from...
YouTube Tests Variable Display Sizes for Video Thumbnails
YouTube is testing a limited experiment that automatically adjusts video thumbnail sizes to match the viewer’s device, aiming to improve visual impact on mobile screens. The platform says original files remain unchanged, though some images may appear cropped. Creators who...
Instagram Cracks Down on Accounts That Mostly Post Unoriginal Content
Instagram is extending its originality guidelines, which previously applied only to Reels, to include photos and carousel posts. Accounts that primarily repost others’ work without meaningful creative input will be removed from recommendation feeds. The policy gives aggregators a 30‑day...
Instagram Updates Algorithm to Benefit Original Creators
Instagram announced a major algorithm update that elevates original photos, carousel posts, and how‑to guides while reducing the reach of aggregator accounts. The change expands the Reels‑focused system introduced in 2024, which previously doubled original Reel views and watch time....
Meta Brings Stablecoin Payouts to a Massive Global Ecosystem
Meta announced a partnership with Stripe to let creators receive payouts in Circle’s USDC on the Solana and Polygon blockchains. The service, available through popular wallets such as MetaMask, Phantom and Binance, bypasses traditional banking delays and fees. By leveraging...
Tech Startup Nebula Partners with Ghazi Shami’s Supply Chain to Launch What It Calls an ‘Earn-Before-You-Stream’ Music Distro Service
Music tech startup Nebula has teamed with Ghazi Shami’s white‑label distributor Supply Chain Music to debut an “earn‑before‑you‑stream” service. The platform lets fans buy fractional stakes in unreleased tracks via Nebula’s marketplace; once the song streams on services like Spotify...
Three Models for Building Community for Your Podcast
Substack is positioning itself as a one‑stop hub for podcasters, offering email delivery, native recording, Chat, live video, and the short‑form Notes feed. The platform outlines three community‑building models—a lightweight companion newsletter, a paid‑bonus tier, and a full multimedia hub—each...
Brian Robbins’ Next Big Shot Bet: An Animated Series Based on ‘The Bucket List Family’ (Exclusive)
Big Shot Pictures, led by former Paramount co‑CEO Brian Robbins, is developing an animated series based on the travel‑vlog phenomenon The Bucket List Family. The show will blend original animation with real‑life footage from the Gee family’s adventures across more than...
Believe and TuneCore Are Blocking Distribution of Generative AI Tracks Made on ‘Pirate Studios’ Like Suno – While Inking New...
Believe announced a major update to its generative‑AI policy, automatically blocking distribution of tracks created on unlicensed platforms such as Suno. The company says its detection system can identify the AI model with 99 % accuracy, preventing illegal content from reaching...