YouTube Takes the Gloves Off | The Renaissance of Branded Web Series

Today: Markiplier is bypassing traditional Hollywood by building his own indie movie studio directly on YouTube. Plus YouTube's got a new deepfake detection tool for celebrities, Keke Palmer's moving to Twitch, Jesser's major exec move and Fixated's acquisition of Studio71.What you’ll learn:-- Why creators can't just sell individual VOD movies on YouTube without a studio setup.-- How YouTube's "Content ID for likeness" acts as fire insurance for public figures.-- The reasons A-list celebrities are taking control of their own live formats.-- Why major creator brands are reorganizing into holding companies.00:00 The Mario Movie Sequel Disappointment01:13 Markiplier Becomes an Indie Movie Studio04:58 YouTube's Anti-Deepfake Tool for Hollywood10:50 Keke Palmer Launches a Twitch Talk Show14:45 The Return of Live Broadcasting18:41 Jesser Re-orgs and Hires Adidas GM22:06 Fixated Acquires Studio71Creator 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

Are B2B creators the future of the creator economy? We sit down with Alex Josephson, VP of Brandworks at LinkedIn, in the wake of its NewFronts presentation earlier this spring. He shares insights into the Top Voices 360 program and reveals that LinkedIn has tripled creator payouts over the last year.Also today: YouTube's Coachella station initiative, Justin Bieber's cred as a YouTuber, headlines today vs in 2013 (shout out AOL), and YouTube's new Shorts timer.00:00 Welcome to Creator Upload00:20 YouTube Coachella Station Initiative02:33 Justin Bieber's Coachella Performance07:05 Is Bieber a True YouTuber?10:37 Interview: LinkedIn's Alex Josephson11:10 CEOs as Content Creators14:28 The Rise of B2B Creators16:02 LinkedIn NewFronts and Top Voices22:06 Scaling Impact for Brands28:53 Tripling LinkedIn Creator Payouts30:12 Follower Count vs Real Influence33:46 Connected TV Ads on LinkedIn37:02 Hollywood on YouTube vs AOL44:22 YouTube Shorts Timer Update45:47 Wrap UpCreator 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

OpenAI just bought a creator company (TBPN) for reportedly over $100M. What does this mean for the future of the creator economy?Guest co-host Avi Gandhi, founder of Creator Access Network (CAN), joins Josh to break down the biggest news of the week.Also: we dive into how NASA is streaming the Artemis II moon mission like a top-tier creator, and YouTube's aggressive push into living room TVs.Plus, Avi shares the story behind his Creator Access Network, which is designed to save creators money on their essential business tools.What you’ll learn:-- Why NASA is pulling 10 million concurrent viewers-- How YouTube is battling Meta and TikTok for "second screen" attention-- Why brands acquiring creators could be the next massive industry trend-- How the Creator Access Network helps creators save thousands on tech Creator Upload is your creator economy podcast, usually hosted by Lauren Schnipper and Joshua Cohen. Thanks again to Avi for serving as special guest co-host today.00:00 Introduction and Avi Gandhi returns01:01 NASA’s massive Artemis II livestream05:01 YouTube dominates living room TV screens08:06 The battle for the second screen14:15 OpenAI acquires tech talk show TBPN19:10 The future of creator company acquisitions26:13 Launching Creator Access Network (CAN)30:47 Creator Access Network pricing and perks36:02 IShowSpeed stars in new anime series40:50 Final ThoughtsFollow 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 episode, Lauren and Josh break down YouTube's unprecedented move at their NewFronts presentation, where executives directly called out competitors like TikTok and Meta by name.We also explore TikTok’s brilliant new in-app integration with Cameo. Plus, we dive into Instagram’s new premium subscription and discuss whether brands funding their own web series is the next major wave of the creator economy.What you’ll learn:-- Why YouTube is urging advertisers to shift their social media budgets for an 86% higher ROI.-- How US creators can now sell and fulfill Cameo videos without ever leaving the TikTok app.-- The hidden perks of Instagram Plus, including anonymous story viewing and extended 48-hour story lifespans.-- Why major brands like Adobe and Crocs are funding the renaissance of branded web series.00:00 Intro & Passover Recaps01:12 YouTube's NewFronts Announcements01:50 YouTube Calls Out TikTok Onstage03:14 Claiming an 86% Higher ROI03:38 Is YouTube "Social Media"?05:43 Shorts vs. TikTok Audience Overlap06:39 The "Bring, Build, Boost" Strategy08:28 The Rise and Fall of Cameo10:24 Cameo Integrates Directly Into TikTok11:46 TikTok’s New Integration Playbook14:21 Instagram Tests Premium Subscriptions16:01 Anonymous Stalking vs LinkedIn Premium17:41 The Branded Web Series Renaissance18:28 History of Brand-Funded Content21:39 Outro & Where to ListenCreator 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

This week: we sit down with Tubi's Rich Bloom to break down their massive new partnership with TikTok. We dive into how they identify short-form talent like Kelon Campbell to create feature films, and how creators retain ownership of their IP.Plus, Josh gives us the inside scoop from the NewFronts in NYC. From LinkedIn's swanky party to YouTube's AI search announcements and the rise of shoppable TV.Finally, we discuss the monumental legal verdicts against Meta regarding algorithmic harm to youth and what it means for the future of social media.What you’ll learn:-- How Tubi and TikTok transition short-form stars to long-form content-- The inside details on IP ownership and revenue sharing for creators on Tubi-- The biggest trends from NewFronts, including shoppable TV and AI creator search-- What recent court rulings against Meta mean for the future of social algorithms00:00 Welcome to Creator Upload01:05 Rich Bloom on Tubi & TikTok02:40 Terri Joe's Tubi Success04:25 Picking Creators for Long-Form07:40 IP Ownership & TikTok's Strategy13:50 Tubi's Funding & Rev Share16:16 Hollywood Meets Creator Content22:07 NewFronts 2026 NYC Recap28:36 Shoppable TV & AI Integration34:18 Major Meta Lawsuit Verdicts40:20 Will Algorithms Change?43:28 Wrap Up & 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 episode of Creator Upload, Lauren and Josh break down the biggest trends straight out of SXSW 2026. We explore Phil Rosenthal moving his hit show from Netflix to YouTube, iHeartMedia's launch of TikTok Radio, and Google's new push into the micro-drama space.What you’ll learn:-- Inside Jon Youshaei’s creator "masterclass" approach-- Why creator communities are becoming the new "third space"-- How big Hollywood names are capitalizing on YouTube's growth00:00 Recap of Josh at SXSW 202603:02 Jon Youshaei’s SXSW Keynote06:01 The YouTube Influencer Opportunity07:06 Creators as the New Third Space10:00 SXSW Creator Events & Networking13:23 Somebody Feed Phil Moves to YouTube17:48 Will Netflix Add a Free Tier?18:43 TikTok Radio Launches with iHeart21:07 Google Enters the Micro-Drama Game23:01 Final ThoughtsCreator 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

Today: a new era of "creator TV" and the rising trend of short-form "kidslop" content. Lauren and Josh Cohen break down Spotter's new pitch to media buyers, and dive into a new report from the Influencer Marketing Factory revealing the harsh realities of the creator middle class. Plus, Tubefilter's Sam Gutelle joins the show to explain the wild world of "kidslop" content -- IP soup, Roblox inspiration, and why Brazilian funk music is dominating the Gen Alpha algorithm. Finally, the hosts discuss Instagram's controversial new AI shopping feature and National Geographic's new creator cohort.What you’ll learn:-- How Spotter is defining the new "Creator TV" -- The staggering stats behind creator earnings in 2026 -- Why "kidslop" channels are getting billions of views on Shorts -- Why creators are angry about Instagram's "Shop the Look" test00:00 Introduction & IRL encounters00:52 Spotter Showcase & Creator TV03:17 The stats behind Creator TV06:52 How Spotter connects creators & brands11:07 2026 Creator Economy Report13:17 The truth about the creator middle class17:51 Sam Gutelle explains "kidslop"20:57 Funk music & the Gen Alpha algorithm23:31 Opportunities for IP holders27:48 Instagram's controversial AI shopping test30:22 NatGeo's new creator cohortCreator 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

Discover the future of social commerce directly from the experts at LTK, YouTube Shopping, and Gap Inc. Live from SoCom in sunny Venice, Lauren and Josh break down the shift from relevance to revenue in the creator economy. In this episode, we explore why follower counts are losing their weight, how affiliate marketing is evolving, and the ways legacy brands integrate social platforms into retail experiences.What you'll learn:-- Why social followers and subscribers don't matter anymore.-- How LTK's new brand platform is democratizing creator marketing.-- The massive impact of YouTube Shopping timestamps and auto-tagging.-- Gap Inc.'s omnichannel approach to capturing consumer demand.00:00 Intro: Live from SoCom05:13 Interview: Amber Venz Box (LTK)09:08 Why Followers Don't Matter Anymore16:41 Democratizing the Creator Ecosystem20:26 AI Chatbots and Trust in Creators25:46 Interview: Lauren Celinski (YouTube Shopping)28:25 Maximizing YouTube Shopping Features36:05 Interview: Damon Berger (Gap Inc.)38:59 Gap’s Social Commerce Strategy44:50 Final Thoughts and 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

Is live shopping the future of e-commerce? We sit down with Whatnot's VP of Categories and Expansion, Armand Wilson, to find out.You can see Whatnot's 2026 State of Live Selling Report here.We dive into the $10 billion live shopping phenomenon, exploring how the app generated over $8 billion in gross merchandise value in 2025.Plus, we break down the watershed social media addiction trial involving Meta and Google, and discuss Apple's huge move into video podcasts.What you’ll learn:-- How 1 in 8 Whatnot sellers are now operating on the platform full-time.-- The surprising details from Mark Zuckerberg's testimony regarding Instagram's age limits.-- Why Apple is finally bringing a video experience to its native podcast app.-- The latest on Snap creator subscriptions and Night's massive $70 million funding round.00:00 Welcome & SoCom04:08 The Live Shopping Boom07:55 Why Buyers Love Whatnot11:55 Full-Time Whatnot Sellers14:30 $8 Billion in Gross Sales17:37 The Community of Commerce20:03 The Future of Live Shopping22:23 Meta & Google Addiction Trial28:30 TikTok & Snap Settle Out32:44 Apple Launches Video Podcasts38:00 Snap Creator Subscriptions39:15 OpenAI Hires Charles Porch40:02 Night Raises $70 MillionCreator 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 a historic creator economy move, a digital-first company has acquired a legacy cable network. We sit down with Rachel Stockman, President of Law & Crime, to break down their massive acquisition of Court TV and what it means for the future of media.What we cover in this episode:-- Why Law & Crime bought their biggest rival (and how they buried the hatchet).-- The strategy behind unlocking 3,000+ trials from the archives.-- Adam Mosseri’s testimony on social media addiction and his “TV show” comparison.-- New data: Why 120-minute videos are out-earning shorter content.-- MrBeast’s move into financial services.00:00 Intro & The “Fake” Sky01:04 Why 120-Minute Videos Earn More02:06 Law & Crime Buys Court TV03:24 Digital Media Flips the Script04:52 Keeping the Brands Separate05:52 The YouTube-First Strategy07:07 From Rivals to Partners09:21 Unlocking the Trial Archives11:42 Social Media Addiction Lawsuits12:48 Mosseri: “It’s Like a TV Show”15:37 Meta’s New Navy SEAL Motto16:24 The Global Push for Bans17:11 Safety Ratings for Social Apps18:59 MrBeast’s Financial Move19:32 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