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, Airrack is auctioning off stuff he stole from other creators. After completing a string of five-finger discounts from top stars like Jake Paul, FaZe Rug, and Salish Matter, the YouTuber is now selling the contraband at a ten-lot sale with Goldin.

CREATOR COMMOTION

The cross-country jaunt: Ryan Trahan loves a coast-to-coast challenge, so he’s giving a boost to his candy company Joyride by visiting all 50 states in search of confection-crazed fans. The stunt will conclude with Joyride Day, a live-streamed celebration that will include Guinness World Record attempts and a whole lot of sour candy.

The late-night show: Julian Shapiro-Barnum is going Outside Tonight to bring late-night TV to YouTube. Through shows like Recess Therapy and Celebrity Substitute, Shapiro-Barnum has proven that he’s an expert when it comes to kid interviews. Now, with his take on the late-night format, he will show that he has some adult interview skills, too.

The gauntlet: Ben Azelart gave it the ol’ college try on American Ninja Warrior. In his YouTube Shorts videos, Azelart sometimes draws on his extreme sports background to help him through challenges. That experience was helpful for him when he took on the Ninja Warrior gauntlet, but after conquering a few obstacles, he sank faster than a video that has been deranked in the algorithm.

The Twitch archive: Obsession has made creator-turned-director Curry Barker into a hot commodity, but he’s not the only one benefiting from the film’s success. Lead actress Inde Navarrete streamed on Twitch for years before breaking out in Obsession. Now that she’s a household name, her old The Last of Us playthroughs are getting thousands of fresh views.

As the creator economy grows and evolves, one thing remains the same: tickets to VidSummit sell out every year.

Since 2014, VidSummit has brought creators, editors, brands, managers, agencies, and production teams together to learn actionable strategies, build relationships, and grow sustainable creator businesses.

At VidSummit 2026, an expert lineup of 70+ speakers will focus on practical, data-backed insights from the people actually building creator-led brands and channels. Panels, workshops, and sessions will cover everything from practical creator growth and audience development to brand partnerships—all in a space reserved entirely for industry pros. 

Because VidSummit isn’t a fan convention. It’s a high-signal industry event built by creators for creators.

VidSummit 2026 will take place September 29 to October 1 in Dallas, Texas. Check out the website for more details on speakers, expert programming, and more. Tickets are on sale now:

MONEY MOVES

The milestones: MrBeast’s main YouTube channel is the first to reach 500 million subscribers. If you thought such a major milestone would slow Jimmy Donaldson down, then you don’t know MrBeast. His latest venture is a board game published alongside Moose Games, which also worked with Donaldson on his toy line.

The slime line: Speaking of creators who are finding their way to retail shelves, Just Ameerah has teamed up with WeCool Toys. The partnership will beget the Compound Kings range, which will bring Ameerah’s slime-making adventures to the masses. On YouTube, her primary channel reaches more than 5.5 million subscribers.

The Pit Stop: Kareem Rahma is bringing interviewees into The Pit Stop for a Toyota-branded series. Fresh off YouTube hits like Subway Takes and Keep The Meter Running, Rahma is now bringing his conversational skills to the world of branded content. His Toyota team-up takes interviews with race car drivers like Bubba Wallace and filters them through the cringe comedy lens pioneered by the likes of Eric Andre and Zach Galifianakis.

The streaming deal: KevOnStage is doubling down on Tubi with a multi-year deal. Kevin Fredricks was one of the people Tubi turned to when the Fox-owned service wanted to increase its library of creator content. The man known as KevOnStage liked working with Tubi so much that he’s now committing to multiple new projects that will be released on the platform. That allotment includes two upcoming feature films set to drop in 2027 and 2028.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

The wearables whisperer: While at Snap, Jim Shepherd negotiated relationships with celebrities and other high-profile partners. Now, he’ll occupy a similar role at Meta, with a specific eye toward wearable products. If you start seeing more cool and fashionable people clad in Meta Ray-Bans or other similar products, you can credit Shepherd with that development.

The pivot: YouTube vet Nadine Zylstra is jumping from Pinterest to NPR. After serving as YouTube’s Global Head of Originals, Zylstra occupied a similar role at Pinterest. Her next move will put her in charge of a team of 600 journalists and storytellers. As NPR’s Chief Content Officer, Zylstra will cook up content initiatives that are capable of thrilling well-to-do liberal boomers wherever they listen.

The hiring spree: Underscore Talent is going full speed ahead with 20 new hires. Across categories like comedy, sports, and fashion, the management company is deepening its Partner roster while also breaking into new territory. For example, an “experts” category will align Underscore with influencers who possess specialized knowledge in particular areas.

The sports series: For years, Lyrical Lemonade’s social channels have been dependable channels for music fans. To up the ante, the company’s programming arm is now working with Whalar Group.

Six new original shows are on the Lyrical Lemonade docket, and viewers can expect to explore categories like comedy, music, interviews, and internet culture.

Check out a trailer for that upcoming content slate here.

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