"Media Empires" | The Business of Newsletters, Podcasts, Creators, and Data Acquisition

Dave Nemetz, founder of Bleacher Report and Inverse, talks about media business models, sports growth, web3, and B2B media. They discuss the pros and cons of subscriptions and ads, funding in media, innovative approaches to supporting creators, and strategies for media companies.

Jamie Rawsthorne, former Zac and Jay show member turned YouTube strategist, discusses viral videos, monetization, and growth tactics. From 400k views in a month to YouTube's future, he shares insights on creating engaging content, optimizing titles, and exploring business opportunities on the platform.

Jordan Zaslav, COO at Axios HQ, discusses Axios' smart brevity approach, the importance of adapting to AI in media, challenges in media business growth, and the value of different audiences. They also dive into the opportunities and challenges of embracing AI in media and the future of cable in the post-internet era.

Nathan Barry, Founder of ConvertKit, discusses the creator economy, prioritizing long-term equity, and the rise of 'business creators'. They delve into newsletters' role in audience growth, agencies' significance, and the flywheel effect for creators.

Andrew Sharp, co-host of Sharp Tech and Greatest of All Talk, shares insights on building a podcast network at Stratechery. Topics include the future of podcast networks, tips for hosting, lessons from sports media, and advice for aspiring hosts.

In this episode, Erik sits down with Joe Pompliano, an investor, entrepreneur, and one of the fastest-growing personalities in sports, to talk all about sports media and business. From opportunities for entrepreneurs in the sports industry, to athlete entrepreneurship, to the importance of mastering a niche content creation within the realm of sports, this episode is a masterclass in the intersections between sports, digital media, business, and investment. This conversation was recorded in early 2023.--RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ECON 102 W/ NOAH SMITH - Keeping econ entertaining - Noahpinion author Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg break down business news and politics every week.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1696419056Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs--LINKS:Joe Pompliano:https://www.joepompliano.com/Huddle Up on Substack Huddle UpX / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@JoePompliano (Joe)TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Episode preview(04:03) The Evolution of Sports Media(06:11) The Power of Athletes in Business(11:59) The Global Reach of the NBA(15:21) Investing in the Sports Industry(20:05) The Potential of Athletes as Entrepreneurs(24:57) The Challenges of Minority Ownership in Sports Teams(26:17) Opportunities to Make Money in Sports(27:54) Content Creation in Sports(29:35) The Role of Agents in Sports(31:52) The Future of Sports Media(33:14) Investing in Athletes(38:47) The Power of Sports Broadcasting(44:01) The Future of the NBASPONSOR:Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

This week on Media Empires, Brian Morrissey, author and podcast at The Rebooting, who was formerly editor-in-chief of Digiday and editor at Adweek, shares insights about the evolving media landscape, shifts in the marketplace, the rise of platforms that enable more independence for creators, the future of ‘micro-media,’ and much more. This conversation took place in 2023, and since recording, Brian's podcast and newsletter The Rebooting launched a private membership tier.--RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ECON 102 W/ NOAH SMITH - Keeping econ entertaining - Noahpinion author Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg break down business news and politics every week.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1696419056Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs--LINKS:The Rebooting:https://www.therebooting.com/X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@bmorrissey (Brian)TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Episode Preview(01:58) A journey through Brian’s media evolution(02:47) Building a sustainable media ecosystem(04:02) The role of advertising and subscriptions(10:07) Niche audiences(17:14) The impact of AI on media(20:51) Investing in media(25:29) The power of collective writing(26:52) Exploring high value areas(27:44) Networking is powerful(32:13) The role of experts(34:51) Intersections between tech and media(41:32) Future of media and tech companies(45:36) Being a solo entrepreneur isn’t for everyone(47:24) Potential of VC for creators(48:19) Realities of running a media businessSPONSOR:Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

Megan Lightcap from Slow Ventures joins Erik Torenberg to discuss both of their insights into evolving creator economy and the role of strategic investment in digital creators and entrepreneurs. Megan discusses strategies for investing in creators, leveraging her experience, how to evaluate potential in creator businesses, deal structures, challenges of this new asset class, and how the future of creator financing might unfold. --RECOMMENDED PODCAST:🎙️ECON 102 W/ NOAH SMITH - Keeping econ entertaining - Noahpinion author Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg break down business news and politics every week.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1696419056Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6q7Gn5lP8TTtBPuV1NJSGs—LINKS:Slowhttps://slow.co/—X / TWITTER:@eriktorenberg (Erik)@mmlightcap (Megan)@slow (Slow Ventures)—TIMESTAMPS(00:00) Episode Preview(02:25) Funding creators(05:52) The art of choosing the right creator to back(07:23) Examples of successful creator investments(15:24) Potential in creators building marketplaces(17:33) Creator investing vs investing in startups(23:25) The concept of creator franchises(25:31) Involving angel investors(28:33) The challenges of investing in humans(31:08) Entrepreneurs vs creator investment(32:59) The creator economy(35:30) The use of funds(45:05) The future of social tokens and NFTs(48:05) The future of in creatorsSPONSOR:Head to Beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝to https://Beehiiv.com and use code "EMPIRES" for 20% off your first three months.

Nathan Baschez, co-founder of Every Inc. and creator of Lex, an AI-powered writing tool, discusses the nuances of podcasting, impact of AI on content creation, business models of platforms, financing creators, and the future workflow for writers.

In this podcast, Justin Mares and Sean Linehan discuss startup ideas such as dating apps based on spending patterns, a matchmaking platform for singles, and an exclusive dating app with angel investments. They also explore concepts like Google Maps for market ontologies and a personal trainer for life. Furthermore, they discuss the potential of curated expert-driven platforms as an alternative to Wikipedia and explore various business ideas for optimizing productivity.