Episodes

  • The Creator Economy’s Next Frontier: Ownership & Infrastructure
    Mar 25 2025

    In this episode of the Business of Talent Podcast, hosts Jordan and Sam explore innovative ways to monetize content and support creators. They dive into the recent developments surrounding Cam Newton's new creator studio in Atlanta and its potential impact on underrepresented voices. The episode also covers Fixated securing $13 million to enhance creator monetization and management, and India's $1 billion commitment to boost its creator economy. Tune in to understand the evolving landscape of media, talent, and entertainment, and how these changes are redefining business strategies.


    00:57 Cam Newton's New Creator Studio

    08:38 Fixated's $13 Million Funding Round

    14:06 India's $1 Billion Investment in Creator Economy

    17:53 Closing Remarks and Next Episode Teaser

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    19 mins
  • The Influencer Marketing Playbook Behind the World's Biggest Brands
    Mar 18 2025

    In this episode of the Business of Talent Podcast, hosts Jordan and Sam are joined by special guest Isabel Li, a seasoned expert in influencer marketing and social strategy. Isabel has led successful campaigns for brands like Spotify, Netflix, HBO Max, and Target. The conversation dives into the key aspects of running impactful influencer marketing campaigns, setting strategic goals, and the importance of aligning creative content with influencers' authentic styles. Isabel also shares insights into selecting the right creators, avoiding common mistakes, and maximizing ROI. The episode offers a holistic view of influencer marketing, blending business objectives with creative freedom.


    00:29 Meet Our Special Guest: Isabel Li

    01:34 Diving into Influencer Campaigns

    03:21 Setting Clear Goals and KPIs

    05:22 Successful Strategies and Campaigns

    09:57 Creative Planning and Execution

    13:13 Common Mistakes in Influencer Marketing

    16:18 Building Relationships with Influencers

    17:43 The Impact of Collaboration on Creative Output

    18:10 Expanding Influencer Roles Beyond Social Media

    18:41 Building Long-Term Relationships with Influencers

    19:30 The Evolution of Influencer Selection in the Music Industry

    21:40 Manual Research vs. Influencer Software

    25:37 Balancing Macro and Micro Influencers

    27:30 Effective Marketing Tactics and Common Pitfalls

    29:38 The Value of Influencer Relationship Management

    31:17 A Viral Success Story: Spotify Wrapped Campaign

    33:31 Favorite Tools for Influencer Reporting and Analysis

    34:33 Influencer vs. Creator: What's in a Name?

    35:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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    37 mins
  • Are Celebrity Brands A Bubble or Here to Stay?
    Mar 11 2025

    In this episode of the Business Talent Podcast, hosts Jordan and Sam discuss the rise of talent-led brands and their potential long-term viability. They explore market shifts driven by technological advancements that have made it easier to create content and build audiences. Highlighting successful ventures like Logan Paul and KSI's Prime and Kim Kardashian's Skims, alongside flops like Travis Scott's Cacti, they analyze key factors for success in this space. The conversation delves into the importance of product market fit, reducing key man risk, and long-term business fundamentals, while also weighing if this trend represents a sustainable business model or just a transient bubble.


    00:00 Introduction and Warm-Up

    00:50 Overview of Talent-Led Brands

    02:23 Market Shifts and Technology Impact

    09:33 Case Study: Prime by Logan Paul and KSI

    13:25 Key Man Risk and Brand Sustainability

    19:15 Success Factors for Talent-Led Brands

    23:51 Final Thoughts and Personal Favorites

    27:54 Conclusion and Sign-Off

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    28 mins
  • Why Traditional Media Is Buying Up Creator Companies
    Mar 5 2025

    In this episode of the Business of Talent Podcast, hosts Jordan and Sam delve into the latest trends and significant investments in the media and talent sectors. They discuss Fox Corporation's acquisition of Red Seat Ventures, Publicis Groupe's strategic purchase of BR Media Group, and Carlyle's noteworthy investment in Entertainment 360. The conversation explores the implications of these moves for creators, traditional media companies, and the shifting dynamics of content consumption. They emphasize the importance of creating and owning intellectual property in the evolving marketplace and tease exciting updates for their own ventures.


    00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks

    00:23 Weekly Updates and Personal News

    01:07 Podcast Overview and Main Topics

    01:58 Carlisle's Investment in Entertainment 360

    09:51 Publicis Acquires BR Media Group

    16:07 Fox Corporation Acquires Red Seat Ventures

    24:38 Concluding Thoughts and Next Week's Preview

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    26 mins
  • Why Creators Got $200M+ in Funding Last Week
    Feb 25 2025

    In this episode of the Business of Talent Podcast, hosts Jordan and Sam dive into the evolving landscape of the creator economy, emphasizing the growing significance of niche content creators and creator-led businesses. They discuss Slow Ventures' $60 million fund aimed at investing in niche creators, touching on the challenges and opportunities presented by algorithm-driven platforms and creator burnout. The episode also analyzes key insights from Patreon's State of Create report and celebrates MrBeast's groundbreaking success with his unscripted show on Amazon Prime Video, setting a new paradigm for creators in traditional media.01:00 Trends in the Creator Economy01:32 Slow Ventures' Investment in Niche Creators03:00 Challenges and Opportunities for Creators07:43 Patreon's State of Create Report14:40 MrBeast's Impact on Unscripted Shows17:05 Conclusion and Sign-Off

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    18 mins
  • 11 Shocking Stats About the Future of the Creator Economy
    Feb 18 2025

    In this episode of the Business of Talent Podcast, hosts Sam Hysell and Jordan Williams dive into 11 surprising statistics about the creator economy. They discuss the rapid growth projections for the industry, the increasing influence of brand collaborations, and the evolving landscape for content creators. They highlight key insights such as the rise of creator-led brands, the dominance of short-form videos, and the varied categories of creators. They also touch on the potential for a middle class of creators and the significance of authentic endorsements. This episode provides a data-driven look at the current state and future trends of the creator economy.00:00 Introduction and Overview00:22 Welcome to the Talent Podcast00:52 11 Shocking Stats About the Creator Economy01:18 Stat 1: Creator Economy Growth Projections05:23 Stat 2: Rapid Expansion of the Creator Economy06:29 Stat 3: Blockbuster Agency Acquisition09:56 Stat 4: Brand Investments in Creators12:26 Stat 5: Who Are the Creators?15:22 Stat 6: Gen Z's Preference for Influencers17:34 Stat 7: Creator-Led Brands19:45 Stat 8: Power of Celebrity Endorsements22:46 Stat 9: Audience Size23:57 Stat 10: Top Creator Categories25:42 Stat 11: Dominance of Short Form Videos27:38 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

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    28 mins
  • Why Big Brands Are Investing in Emerging Artists
    Feb 11 2025

    In this episode of the Business of Talent Podcast, hosts dive into an engaging conversation with Mike Boyd from Gary Vaynerchuk's (Gary Vee) VaynerX. They discuss Boyd's journey in the music industry, including his transition from managing artists to becoming the head of music at VaynerX. Boyd shares stories about discovering and supporting emerging talent like Tierra Whack and Gunna, as well as his experience with music-related campaigns for brands such as Budweiser and K-Swiss. Special guest Guy joins the dialogue to discuss his collaboration with VaynerX and his aspirations for 2025. The episode explores the intersection of music, marketing, and cultural influence, highlighting the potential impact of artist-brand partnerships.

    00:00 Introduction and Special Guest

    01:47 Mike Boyd's Journey and Role at VaynerX

    04:15 Evolution of VaynerMusic

    06:52 Campaigns and Artist Relations

    10:39 Brand Partnerships and ROI

    20:04 The Power of Influencers in Marketing

    20:46 Success Stories: VaynerX and Custom Music

    22:23 The Cultural Influence of Hip Hop

    27:15 Identifying and Supporting Emerging Talent

    33:26 Special Guest: Guy's Journey with VaynerX

    36:46 Looking Ahead: Future Projects and Excitement

    38:15 Closing Remarks and Reflections

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    39 mins
  • This Platform is Redefining Creator x Brand Partnerships
    Feb 4 2025

    In this episode of the Business of Talent Podcast, hosts Sam and Jordan are joined by Tiffany Kelly, the founder and CEO of Curastory. They discuss the transformative impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) for student-athletes, the future of influencer media, and how creators can better monetize their content.

    Tiffany shares her journey from being a sports analytics associate at ESPN to creating Curastory, a platform enabling creators to monetize across their social profiles. The episode’s news segment also covers Chamath Paliapatiya's investment in Mr. Beast and the NFL's new program granting former players access to official footage. With insights into programmatic advertising and creator growth strategies, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of the creator economy.

    00:00 Introduction to NIL and Creator Economy

    00:18 Welcoming the Audience and Introducing the Podcast

    00:50 Special Guest: Tiffany Kelly of Curastory

    02:05 Weekly News Segment: Mr. Beast's Series A Funding

    07:22 NFL's Access Pass for Legends

    12:46 Brand Safety and Creator Autonomy

    17:51 Interview with Tiffany Kelly: ESPN to Curastory

    31:23 Early Partnerships and VC Funding

    33:36 Starting with Sports in the Creator Economy

    36:47 Navigating Advertiser Demand

    37:40 The Evolution of the Creator Economy

    41:03 Data and Analytics in Advertising

    45:47 Exploring B2B Creators

    47:31 Hot Takes and Final Thoughts

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    57 mins