TOGETHER WITH

It’s Wednesday and there’s still one thing ChatGPT can’t do as well as Grandma’s old wristwatch. According to Sam Altman, it’ll be another year before the bot can set a timer.

PLATFORM UPDATES

The update: Meta’s latest update could signal the final demise of the link-in-bio industry. At the Shoptalk Spring conference in Las Vegas, the company announced a new feature that will bring Instagram Reels in line with analogous formats on YouTube and TikTok.

A select group of Instagram creators in five markets can now tag products in their Reels, allowing them to bypass link-in-bio solutions altogether. As tests expand throughout the spring, more creators with at least 1,000 followers will gain access to the feature. A single Reel can contain up to 30 product links.

The context: Instagram itself was indirectly responsible for the rise of the link-in-bio industry. For years, the app’s profiles only had room for a single link, spawning a glut of third-party companies that turned individual URLs into creator hubs. Some of those firms, like Linktree, hauled in massive funding rounds and attracted millions of users.

The tide began to shift in 2023, when Instagram announced that it would begin allowing multiple links in its bios. Since then, both YouTube and TikTok have used product links to open more affiliate marketing and brand partnership opportunities across videos, and the Linktrees of the world have shifted gears to serve creators’ evolving needs.

Now, Meta’s latest update adds Reels to that equation. The company noted that it will not take commissions from the new product links, as the feature is designed to uplift the creator economy across the platform.

In today's “For You” algorithm era, volume is king. For brands, broadcasters, and creators, consistent high-quality output is fundamental to achieving scalable audience growth.

That’s why Audacy chose to expand its reach with OpusClip.

Audacy—which numbers among the largest audio content creators in the U.S.—knew there was a massive audience waiting for it beyond traditional radio channels. 

The key to reaching those fans: OpusClip’s AI video clipping tools and built-in multi-platform distribution. 

As the world's #1 AI video clipping platform, OpusClip has helped millions of creators and brands create and distribute viral content in record time. Audacy was no exception. 

While other broadcasters over-indexed on one or two platforms, OpusClip allowed Audacy to expand its content output and generate 1B+ views by posting at scale across all major platforms.

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

GAME ON

The network: Golf is one of the hottest sports on YouTube, and a new network is ready to help creators in that category unlock more revenue.

Source Golf is a subsidiary of Source Media Group, a company that, according to its website, “builds media businesses for rights holders, creators and brands.” To accomplish that goal, the new entity will package together videos from its creator roster and sell those bundles to advertisers as a “unified, television-style media buy.”

At launch, Source Golf’s inaugural roster includes stars like Bryson DeChambeau, Grant Horvat, and brothers Wes and George Bryan.

The context: A press release announcing the Source Golf launch noted that golf’s current base of 48.1 million participants is driven by rapid growth among younger players. Those under-35s are eager to consume online content from their favorite golf creators—and the sports world is taking notice.

Rising demand for golf content has opened opportunities for creators to qualify for PGA events, collaborate with PGA pros, host celebrity-driven tournaments, and sponsor professional events. The 2024 Creator Classic signaled a turning point for golf’s most prominent tour, which acknowledged that digital voices are an important part of its future.

Source Golf partners are leading that wave. Horvat, for example, has teed off with Tiger Woods, while two-time major winner DeChambeau has raised his profile via an official YouTube hub. As those and other golf creators rack up millions of views, brands can no longer ignore them, and Source Golf is ready to play the matchmaker.

THINK OF THE CHILDREN

The partnership: Moonbug—aka the owner of CoComelon and Blippi—is forging a partnership with the UCLA-affiliated Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) to bring more educational merit to its content library.

The Center’s mission is to connect creators with academic research that can be used to improve programming for preschool audiences. The teams behind shows like CoComelon, Blippi, Little Angel, and CoComelon spinoff The Melon Patch will utilize the Center’s research throughout the entire creative process, from early concepting to production.

The context: Recent studies have expressed concerns about the impact of excessive screen time on toddlers’ development, and some pediatricians have criticized CoComelon for its “overstimulating” nature.

In recent years, however, Moonbug has worked closely with learning consultants and has taken strides to make its content more beneficial for its preschool-age audience. The company extended that effort in 2025 when it pledged to join YouTube’s initiative to promote “the development of high-quality, age-appropriate content for young people.”

Google is committed to uplifting those types of videos on YouTube—but Moonbug’s redoubled efforts won’t just please its platform partners.

Parents have also demonstrated a desire for more beneficial children’s content on YouTube, which is one reason why educator Ms. Rachel has achieved eye-popping viewership numbers. CoComelon’s live-action Melon Patch, led by Ms. Appleberry (pictured above), could be its answer to Ms. Rachel. Now, thanks to the CSS, Melon Patch videos may have even more merit for their young viewers.

WATCH THIS 👀

The space streams: While Artemis II mission astronauts Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, and Reid Wiseman travel farther from Earth than any other humans in history, NASA is beating its personal records on the internet.

Per Streams Charts, the April 1 launch of the Orion reached 10 million concurrent viewers across YouTube and Twitch. The most-watched distributor was NASA itself (with a YouTube stream that peaked at 3.9 million live viewers), while NASA en Español attracted 426K concurrent viewers and Fox News drew 338K. YouTuber Everyday Astronaut achieved the highest viewership among individual, non-media streamers.

As the Orion sailed toward the moon, NASA continued broadcasting 24/7 on YouTube, offering two streams: (1) a silent video of live views from the Orion and (2) an official “mission broadcast” with those same live views, plus some shots from Control and mission chatter audio. Check out that second stream here.

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