Happy Sunday. Tickets go live for our first big event on June 4, so we wanted to share with you a bit about what to expect.
Press Publish NYC is designed for 400 people from our community who want to shape what comes next.
We’ll host interactive sessions, conversations with creators and industry leaders, and give you time to connect face to face. The theme: The Future of the Creator Economy—where it’s headed, what it means for you, and how to stay ahead of the curve.
To join us on September 4 in Brooklyn, join our list here.
— Colin & Samir
Press Publish NYC: A One-Day Summit for the Creator Economy
At Press Publish NYC, we want to closely examine three trends that indicate where the future of media is headed:
1. Brands will spend more with creators—and start acting like them.
Brand deals remain the lifeblood of the creator economy: over 70% of creators cite partnerships as their top revenue stream, and 72% of marketers say they’re increasing spend in this space. Unilever’s new CEO announced a creator-first strategy, upping their spend with creators from 30% to 50% of their total ad spend. But the next shift is deeper.
Just like soap operas were invented to sell soap—and Apple (not HBO or Netflix) created Severance, companies are leaning into entertainment as a growth strategy.
Little Caesars produced a four-episode reality show in partnership with creative agency McKinney / Little Caesars
What we’ve seen so far: Little Caesar’s launched a reality show on YouTube, Ulta Beauty began paying employees to produce in-store content, and Red Bull’s “F1 vs” series now averages 6M+ views per episode. The line between creator and brand is blurring—and budgets will follow. Sponsors are on their way to becoming studios.
2. AI is changing the way we watch.
Last week, Google showcased Veo 3, its latest AI video model—bringing us closer to a future where anyone can generate high-quality video with a prompt. Check out this video for reference.
Google announced its latest generative AI video tool, Veo 3, at its annual developer conference Google I/O last week / Sabrina Ortiz, ZDNET
We’re also seeing companies like Delphi building services for creators to license their name, image, voice, and likeness— suggesting a future where creators are engaging with audiences while they sleep.
The internet is becoming more personalized. Attention is fragmented. And soon, audiences may be prompting their own entertainment.
We still believe in the power of shared experiences—but even we’ve noticed our own time shifting from scrolling to prompting.
3. YouTube isn’t becoming TV, it’s replacing it.
The former head of Paramount, Barry Diller, said “TV is TV no matter what pipe brings it forward.” Today, YouTube is the pipe.
For the first time ever, YouTube is now watched more on TVs than on phones in the US. If you’ve been reading this newsletter you already know it’s the most-watched streaming service on connected TVs. YouTube-first shows like Hot Ones, Good Mythical Morning, and Challenge Accepted are now making legitimate Emmy pushes.
(From left to right) Sean Evans, Michelle Khare, Rhett McLaughlin, and Link Neal are among the creators campaigning for a 2025 Emmy nomination / Araya Doheny, Getty Images for YouTube
What we’re seeing isn’t creators trying to break into Hollywood. Creators are building a second Hollywood. Dhar Mann’s studio spans 100,000 square feet. Alan Chikin Chow’s latest series could pass as a Disney Channel Original. Dude Perfect has a massive trick-shot compound in Texas, $100M in the bank, and plans for expansion across multiple channels.
The Emmys might still represent the old world’s gold star. But what matters more is that millions of people already voted—with their attention. So are these worlds actually on a collision course? We’ll explore that at Press Publish NYC.
Tickets go live on June 4, put your email here to get the link. We’d love to see you there ✌🏻✌🏽
