Creator Upload

Roblox broke records with 47 million players during a viral developer feud, raising concerns about youth safety. YouTube introduced a new Hype feature aimed at elevating small channels, sparking debate on discoverability and viewer impact. The platform also partnered with the NFL to co-stream games with popular creators, shifting how live sports are presented. Meanwhile, Spotify's new messaging feature enhances music sharing, while YouTube faces backlash for AI enhancements on creator Shorts.

Is Hollywood's most prestigious night coming to YouTube? This week, we break down the news that YouTube has inquired about the broadcast rights for The Oscars and what it means for the future of entertainment. As the lines continue to blur, Mark Rober and Jimmy Kimmel are teaming up for a new show on Netflix, and Fox's Tubi is bringing on creators like MrBeast.Then, we dive into the serious lawsuit facing Roblox, as the state of Louisiana sues the platform over child safety concerns, leading to fears of a potential "ad-pocalypse."Finally, we have an app recommendation from Hank Green that's taking over the App Store by helping you put your phone down.Creator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.00:00 Intro00:28 Inside UCLA's Exclusive AI & Creativity Summit01:08 The Big Debate: How Should AI Pay Creators?02:57 Does New Tech Actually Destroy Industries?06:12 What is "Vibe Coding"?09:36 The Oscars on YouTube?10:53 By the Numbers: The Shocking Decline of Oscar Viewership14:33 Why YouTube Wants to Be More Like Hollywood17:40 "Every Door Was Slammed in Our Face" - How Much Has Changed20:18 Mark Rober's New Show on Netflix21:48 Tubi is Making a BIG Push for Creators23:43 Roblox Sued by Louisiana Over Child Safety29:08 The YouTuber Who Ran Predator Stings on Roblox (And Got Banned)32:39 Upload: Hank Green's #1 App "Focus Friend"36:05 OutroFollow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

Today: Lauren and Josh Cohen fangirl over Taylor Swift's first-ever podcast appearance on New Heights and assess the massive impact it had on the show's viewership and subscriber numbers.Then, they are joined by Evan Britton, the founder of Famous Birthdays, to discuss their new partnership with Pixability, a data and media solutions company. Britton explains how Famous Birthdays' platform-agnostic data on rising creators can lead to more effective advertising campaigns, citing a 58% increase in engagement and a 31% rise in conversions for campaigns using their velocity data. We also break down a new television audience measurement system from Barb that will put YouTube viewership on a level playing field with traditional TV ratings, potentially unlocking larger advertising budgets for the creator economy. Finally: Jonathan Katz-Moses, a YouTube creator and entrepreneur in the woodworking space, joins the show to discuss the $2 million investment he received from Slow Ventures. He shares his journey of building a multi-million dollar business, the importance of maintaining operational control, and his plans to use the capital for live events and product development.00:00 - Are the Hosts Swifties?00:43 - Taylor Swift's First-Ever Podcast Appearance01:54 - The Hosts' Take on Taylor and Travis's Relationship03:31 - Details on Taylor's New Album: "The Life of a Showgirl"04:44 - The "Taylor Swift Effect" on the New Heights Podcast06:19 - Why Were There No Ads on the Taylor Swift Episode?08:18 - Introducing Evan Britton, Founder of Famous Birthdays09:18 - How Famous Birthdays' Data Identifies Rising Stars11:19 - Famous Birthdays' Partnership with Pixability13:28 - The Impressive Results of the Pixability Partnership16:18 - Nielsen vs. YouTube: The Problem with TV Ratings18:44 - What "Total Viewers" Actually Means21:36 - Barb's Plan to Standardize TV and YouTube Measurement23:25 - Why Jonathan Katz-Moses Partnered with Slow Ventures24:55 - The Importance of Maintaining Operational Control26:50 - How Jonathan Plans to Use the $2 Million Investment27:22 - Why Not Every Creator Is an Entrepreneur29:37 - Helping Other Creators Build Their Businesses31:40 - A Look at the Numbers Behind the Slow Ventures Deal34:24 - Breaking Down the Revenue Streams37:13 - Why Jonathan Katz-Moses Avoids Brand Deals40:19 - Life After the Investment: Getting Off the Hamster Wheel44:17 - Cocomelon Announces Live-Action Spinoff45:56 - OutroCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

In this conversation with Caspar Lee, a former top YouTube creator turned entrepreneur and investor, listeners gain insights into the evolving creator economy. Caspar discusses how brands can thrive by thinking like creators. He highlights the growth of influencer marketing budgets and shares his venture capital thesis. The chat covers exciting updates like Instagram's new 'Repost' feature and YouTube's premium 'Shows' initiative. Plus, learn about MrBeast's philanthropic efforts for clean water and Katie Feeney's leap to ESPN.

YouTube, Meta, and TikTok are suddenly rolling out a slate of new teen safety features. Is this a genuine effort to protect young users, or a reaction to massive regulatory pressure and potential fines? (That's not stopping YouTube from reversing a controversial policy on profanity, trusting its AI to keep advertisers happy.)And: MrBeast expands his empire, launching an animated series to create a modern-day cartoon-for-toys franchise reminiscent of 80s classics like He-Man and G.I. Joe. Finally: the PR masterclass from Astronomer, who hired Gwyneth Paltrow for a crisis-response ad after its CEO went viral for all the wrong reasons. And we break down the shocking collapse of VTuber agency VShojo, which shut its doors after failing to pay top talents like Ironmouse.00:00 Introduction 03:16 Platforms Enhance Teen Safety 05:49 YouTube Reverses Profanity Policy 09:01 Zuckerberg's AI Ad Takeover 10:42 Big Tech's Race to Protect Minors 12:27 The Real Reason for Platform Safety Updates 15:14 The Power of Incentives 18:08 MrBeast's Toy Empire Expands 22:02 UPLOAD: The Perfect Crisis Response 25:25 DOWNLOAD: VShojo Shuts Down Amid Scandal 28:41 OutroCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

Rachel Stockman, President of Law & Crime , the top trial channel on YouTube, joins today's pod! She shares insights from their extensive coverage of the Diddy trial, highlighting their innovative use of AI to recreate courtroom scenes from real transcripts due to cameras being disallowed. She also explains their "YouTube-first" strategy, especially how focusing on in-depth, long-form content for their engaged audience differentiates them from other media outlets. Finally, she touches on the upcoming Tupac trial coverage and how they decide which cases to follow based on audience interest and their commitment to victims' families, citing the unexpected virality of the Gwyneth Paltrow civil case.But first: YouTube's impressive Q1 ad revenue, nearing $10 billion, and the strategic move to exclusively stream an NFL game in Brazil, aiming for record viewership. Also: the significant sales decline of Prime, the beverage brand by Logan Paul and KSI, and the related case study on the challenges of building sustainable creator brands beyond initial virality.00:00 Welcome to Creator Upload 00:24 AI's Impact on Future Parenting 01:19 The Hunt for Undiscovered Music & Content 02:48 The Double-Edged Sword of Content Access 03:14 AI Integration in Platforms (Roblox & YouTube Shorts) 05:13 YouTube's Q1 Ad Revenue Soars 07:12 The Decline of Prime & Sustainable Creator Brands 11:01 Marketing Beyond Virality 13:41 "Nothing Kills Bad Brands Faster Than Great Marketing" 14:50 Creator Passion and Brand Building 15:39 Law& Crime Diddy Trial Coverage & AI 19:06 The "YouTube-First" Strategy 20:59 Law & Crime In-Depth Content Approach 22:24 Upcoming Trials and Content Strategy 24:14 The Gwyneth Paltrow Case: Unexpected Virality 25:58 Wrap Up & FarewellCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

The creator economy faces a stark reality with over 50% of creators earning less than $15,000 a year. Only a small fraction break the $200k mark, with factors like brand ownership crucial for success. Traditional media struggles to acknowledge creators, as evidenced by recent Emmy snubs. Meanwhile, Roblox's new initiative simplifies major IP licensing, allowing creators to monetize popular franchises. The rise of moralistic and religious content captures attention, while YouTube shifts focus to micro trends, reshaping how audiences engage with creators.

Dhar Mann, the visionary behind Dhar Mann Studios and a TIME100 Creator Titan for 2025, dives into his ambitious strategy for acquiring other creators. He shares insights on stepping down as CEO and his future plans, emphasizing why brands should think like creators. The conversation also touches on TikTok's upcoming U.S.-only app and Amazon's new approach to creator commissions for Prime Day. Mann's take on avoiding traditional brand deals and the necessity of a Chief Creator Officer for brands adds a fresh perspective to the evolving media landscape.

We're back from a whirlwind week of travel to cover the biggest events in the creator economy. Fresh off the plane from France, we share our key takeaways from Cannes Lions. We discuss why the world's biggest advertising festival, while having a much louder conversation around creators than last year, still feels like an "old school advertising convention" that has yet to fully embrace creator-led campaigns. Plus, Josh shares a powerful insight from the StreamTV conference in Denver on how legacy media is finally realizing that it has to partner with YouTube, which now consumes over 12% of all TV consumption.We also cover YouTube's new "Open Call" feature, designed to help more creators land brand deals, and a summer trend of kid-focused content collaborations from TikTok, Mark Rober, Cocomelon, and the company behind Baby Shark.And since we couldn't be at VidCon, friend of the podcast Phil Ranta, CBO at Fixated, calls in to provide an expert recap. Phil covers the on-the-ground vibes , the hot topics dominating the panels (like AI and industry consolidation), and the surprising lack of major announcements from the platforms this year.00:00 Intro00:23 Why Casey Neistat Wears Sunglasses01:20 Lauren's First Time at Cannes02:28 Is Cannes Still Not Creator-Centric?03:32 The Volume of Creator Conversation is Louder04:27 Creator Awards Without Creators?06:12 Why Creator Campaigns Aren't Winning Yet06:55 How Dove is Winning with Creators07:27 Coca-Cola's Innovative UGC Campaign08:44 The Future of Media, Marketing, and Advertising09:43 Josh's Trip to StreamTV in Denver11:09 Legacy Media is Finally Embracing YouTube12:28 Prediction: Disney-Level IP Will Launch on YouTube14:10 YouTube's Big Announcement: 'Open Call'15:40 How YouTube Will Prevent Creator Burnout17:50 YouTube's Incentive to Win Short-Form19:32 This Isn't For MrBeast20:27 Trend: TikTok Summer Camp22:14 More Summer Collabs: Mark Rober, Baby Shark & Cocomelon23:57 VidCon Recap with Phil Ranta24:16 VidCon Vibes: Chill, Accessible, and Fewer Brands24:40 VidCon Hot Topic: AI25:24 VidCon Hot Topic: Brand Impact & Shoppable Content26:22 VidCon Hot Topic: Consolidation & M&A27:02 A Lack of 'Boffo' Announcements28:56 OutroCreator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand

In this special episode of Creator Upload, recorded live from the 72nd annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, hosts Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen feature a fantastic lineup of guests across the creator economy, including:Ed Davidson, Chief Growth Officer for Cannes Lions International Festival: Davidson discusses the growth of the creator track at Cannes Lions, now in its second year, highlighting the increasing integration of creators into the advertising industry and the festival's long-term commitment to this shift. Val DiFebo, CEO of DNY: DiFebo shares insights into how DNY is putting creators at the center of their work through their SOCI Studio offering. She discusses how creators are involved from the initial stages of campaigns and how this approach is opening new avenues for the agency. Shaina Zafar, Executive with the Next Gen Practice at UTA Marketing: Zafar, whose company JUV Consulting was acquired by UTA, talks about building intimate relationships with creators and facilitating brand deals. She also highlights the increasing presence and spontaneity of creators at Cannes this year. Sarah Potter, Global Dove Director – PR and Social Influencer, Unilever: Potter explains Dove's long-term partnerships with creators who align with the brand's values. She shares details about their #ShareTheFirst campaign, which leveraged creator-first content for a global reach. Potter emphasizes giving creators creative control and involving them in product innovation. Oui hope you enjoy!Creator Upload is your creator economy podcast, hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen.Follow Lauren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnipper/Follow Josh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajcohen/Original music by London Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/londonbridgemusic/Edited and produced by Adam Conner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamonbrand