TOGETHER WITH

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, Pinkfong—aka the Southern Korean company behind the inescapable “Baby Shark” song—is eyeing an IPO. Are you ready to see what sort of numbers Pinkfong can do-doo-doodoo-doodoo on the open market?

THE BIZ

OnlyFans considers an $8B sale and CEOs make big moves

The potential sale: OnlyFans is mulling over an $8 billion sale. Can a hub for user-generated paywalled videos (many of them NSFW) turn itself into a tech unicorn? There might be easier ways for OnlyFans to raise a big chunk of change, but that strategy would require some…saucier maneuvers.

The executive hire: Mario Joos is the Stokes Twins’ new CEO. The former Retention Manager for MrBeast announced on LinkedIn that he has accepted an offer to become the top executive for YouTube’s top identical twin duo. The Stokes Twins have shone on Shorts, getting hundreds of millions of views a week by utilizing some of the growth hacks employed by other big creators. Bringing in some of that MrBeast magic is a good way to keep the upticks coming.

The ownership stake: Steven Bartlett is stanning for Stan. The Diary of a CEO host has led the vanguard of creator-investors through his savvy business moves. Now he’s joining creator commerce platform Stan as a co-owner to build (in his own words) “the future of entrepreneurship, one Creator-entrepreneur at a time.”

🔆 PRESENTED BY TRIBECA X 🔆

Emmy-winning actors and NFL legends are headed to Tribeca X. Will you be at the summit?

On June 9 and 10, top executives and creative icons will convene at Tribeca Festival’s definitive brand storytelling summit: Tribeca X. Hear directly from industry disruptors at exclusive events—including these three can’t-miss panels:

1. “From Gridiron to Greenlight: How the Chiefs Are Rewriting the Rules of Sports Media”: Get in the game with the Kansas City Chiefs as they go behind the scenes of sports media and fan engagement.
   
   

2. “From Breaking Bad to Dos Hombres: Storytelling Beyond the Screen”: Follow along as Emmy-winning actor Bryan Cranston explores the art of creating compelling narratives.
   
   

3. “Legacy in the Making: Lena Waithe on Storytelling, Impact, and Cultural Memory”: How do stories shape our understanding of the world? Join Lena Waithe for a profound look at the legacies of cultural memory.
   
   

4. “Why Being Funny is Good for Business”: Laughter cuts through the clutter—and drives results. Join comedians Adam Pally, SmartLess Media President Richard Korson, and other experts as they unpack how to build connections through humor.

With one Tribeca X pass, you’ll gain access to all panels, the prestigious Tribeca X Awards, select Tribeca Festival premieres, and more. 

Find out more while tickets are available:

INDUSTRY HEADLINES

This week in platform news…

The X factor: X just launched an account to promote its original programming. The platform formerly known as Twitter is getting ready to roll out a lot more original shows, which will join content from celebs like Khloe Kardashian and Anthony Pompliano. Viewers who want to keep track of those programs can follow this account.

The YouTube update: Getting hit with demonetization sucks. That’s why YouTube is updating its review process to automatically investigate videos that get hit with yellow dollar signs. Peep the relevant Creator Insider video for more details.

The pop star’s platform: Kesha is launching a platform for musicians. Through Smash, users will be able to connect, collaborate, and work with other artists while retaining the rights to their creations. It would have been nice if Kesha could have named her platform after her biggest hit, but I think “TiK ToK” was already taken.

CREATOR COMMOTION

This week, creators got banned and sentenced to prison time (but it wasn’t all bad)

The bans: Should Hasan Piker have been banned for reading a murderer’s manifesto on stream? The political commentator earned yet another suspension from Twitch after he reviewed the writings of the Capital Jewish Museum shooter during a live broadcast. He indicated that if Twitch’s rules don’t change, he could take his talents to YouTube.

Despite the controversy surrounding much of his content, Piker will have plenty of options if he decides to switch platforms. Courtney Murley, on the other hand, has little choice when it comes to jumping ship. The creator got herself banned for life from Carnival Cruise Lines after sneaking alcohol onto one of the company’s ships—and then posting about on TikTok.

The trial: Murley and Piker aren’t the only influencers on thin ice for bending the rules. TikToker Murja Kunya’s decision to spray money in the air at a party in Nigeria was a flex, but one that apparently violated the country’s laws. The wealth-flaunting move ultimately earned Kunya a six-month sentence.

The bright side: In happier news, leading VTuber Filian and golf YouTuber Grant Horvat made the week a little brighter for their viewers. Filian gave out $10,000 to smaller streamers during an initiative on her Twitch stream, while LPGA Tour athlete Lydia Ko revealed that she prepared for the U.S. Women’s Open in part by watching Horvat’s videos.

WATCH THIS 📺

Is this creator’s brand “oat of this world”?

The oat G.O.A.T.: Instagram/TikTok creator Trace Alexander is taking good eats to the next level by rolling out a product line titled Trace’s Oats.

The trend of better-for-you food brands launched by creators is so hot right now, and Alexander seems to have taken inspiration from at least one of his predecessors. Following in the footsteps of creators like Unspeakable, the health influencer spent at least fifty hours attempting to send his overnight oats to space.

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