It's Sunday, and here’s a handpicked selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry.

But first, OnlyGays is a search directory for LGBTQ+ creators. The new tool, developed by Mango Digital, will increase visibility for queer influencers. Just make sure you click on the right “OnlyGays” site—unless you’re looking for a…specific type of LGBTQ+ content.

CREATOR COMMOTION

The travel series: Abdirahman Keinaan turned a racist remark into a travel series. Though he was born in Finland, Keinaan is often told to “go back to Somalia.” Now, the YouTuber is taking that taunt literally by launching a series called (you guessed it) Keinaan, Go Back to Somalia.

The vlog epilogue: PewDiePie has decided to call it quits on his vlogs. After stepping away from gaming content, moving to Japan, and having a kid with his wife Marzia, Felix Kjellberg documented his son’s early years with vlogs that offered candid snapshots of his life abroad. But as he reckons with his fame and watches his son grow, the man known as PewDiePie is moving on. “It’s a good time to stop,” he said.

The (potential) comeback: Are Zoe Sugg and Alfie Deyes planning a comeback? Once upon a time, the duo was the “it couple” in the creator community. That day has passed, but the British lovebirds haven’t given up the idea of a grand return. A woman thought she was ending Deyes’ career when she bought some of his old cameras on Vinted, but he explained that he is hanging onto the equipment he uses in his vlogs. “We don’t film on Sony don’t worry,” Deyes said. “We shoot Canon.”

The controversy: Dan Gheesling’s U.S. Army sponsorship has caused quite the stir. The Big Brother winner is one of the creators who supported a U.S. Army reality show called Field Tested. He didn’t expect to receive so much blowback from that decision, but some of his fellow streamers are objecting so vociferously that they’re putting their own careers at risk. How much is a callout worth to you?

INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS

The VidSummit panel: At this year’s VidSummit, Viral Nation Head of Programming Paul Telner will sit down with Viral Nation Director of Talent Ray Ligaya and Xavier Mortimer—a professional magician with a show in development at Viral Nation—to talk about how creators can turn their digital presences into long-lasting, cross-platform IPs. VidSummit 2026 is set to run from September 29 to October 1. (Partner Story)

The festival circuit: Coachella is going to be on YouTube, like, forever. Google’s video platform has streamed the California festival for more than a decade, and—according to an announcement made at last week’s Made on YouTube event—that streak will continue through 2030 thanks to a renewed deal.

The game show: Banijay Entertainment loves giving creators the keys to its game show formats. The latest example of that trend is a creator-led take on Beat the Star. In Beat Aaron, YouTubers Aaron Troschke and Marvin Wildhage will face off against two Twitch streamers (Zarbex and Max Schradin) across a variety of challenge formats.

The spotlights: More creators are coming to the streets of the Big Apple via LinkNYC screens. Intersection, the company that installed video boards throughout the five boroughs, has occasionally used those screens as vessels for creator campaigns. By bringing “six new voices” to its LinkNYC locations, Intersection is hoping to “capture the spirit of New York City.”

The four-show slate: As the Unwell Summer Games heat up, Alex Cooper’s media company is looking ahead to its next batch of originals. An upcoming slate of four shows will be typical Unwell, with chatty content formats featuring in-demand creator hosts like Elsy Guevara, Molly Schaeder, and Dani Babes.

PLATFORM HEADLINES

The monetization updates: To keep up with competitors like Spotify and YouTube, Apple Podcasts needs to match the monetization features podcasters utilize on those platforms. Subscriber-exclusive episodes are one way to do that, but that’s not the only change coming to Apple Podcasts. Early access and bonus content for subscribers are also on the way.

The advocates: In the British Isles, traditional broadcasters are strong-arming independent creators as they seek priority treatment. One of YouTube’s responses to that dilemma is Creator Voices, a group of industry experts who will lobby for their colleagues in the U.K. The lineup was revealed at the annual YouTube Festival in London.

The coalition: TikTok USDS Joint Venture is lighting its Lantern to keep kids safe. The U.S. version of TikTok doesn’t seem too interested in adopting Meta’s “industry standard” teen safety features, but it is joining the coalition known as Lantern. Through its proprietary tech, Lantern tracks bad actors as they move from platform to platform, enabling faster and more effective responses.

WATCH THIS 👀

The tournament: The creator who got his start streaming Rainbow Six: Siege often hosts high-stakes gaming tournaments—and a 100-person Fortnite showdown certainly fits that bill. Jynxzi’s latest tournament reached more than 150,000 concurrent viewers at its peak and spawned multiple viral videos from top creators.

At this point, Jynxzi has large-scale competitions down to a science. Will his next creator spectacle be even bigger?

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Today's newsletter is from: Emily Burton, Sam Gutelle, and Josh Cohen.