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Today’s News

CREATOR CAUCUS

Creators can now speak directly to Congress

The context: As a $250 billion industry, the creator economy is a force to be reckoned with. But as of 2025, it still receives very little consideration for things like tax laws and regulatory bills.

That’s why, nearly a year ago, Theorist founders MatPat and Stephanie Patrick began lobbying for the creator economy on Capitol Hill. At the time, MatPat demonstrated the severity of the situation (and legislators’ complete lack of knowledge surrounding social media) by noting that one legislator opened a session with, “Question one, what is Roku, and how is it different from YouTube?”

The caucus: Now, we’re finally starting to see the fruits of the Patricks’ labor. Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) have launched the official Congressional Creators Caucus, which plans to educate not-so-internet-savvy members of Congress about the economic/social significance of the creator economy and the unique needs of the people powering it.

That caucus (which includes Clarke, Van Duyne, other reps, and multiple creators like the Patricks) is supported by two platforms that have played major roles in driving creator revenue: YouTube and Patreon. YouTube is a particularly weighty voice here; according to a report it recently shared from Oxford Economics, the platform alone contributed over $45 billion to the U.S.’s GDP in 2023, and supported the equivalent of 430,000 full-time jobs.

With champions like YouTube, Patreon, and the Patricks, the Creators Caucus is in a strong position to bring greater awareness of the creator economy—and of the specific challenges faced by creators as small business owners—to Capitol Hill.

🔆 PRESENTED BY CREATORS HQ 🔆

TikTok’s first-ever bootcamp in the Middle East is coming to Dubai this month

From June 16-20, TikTok is partnering with Creators HQ to host a five-day crash course on content creation—the platform’s first-ever bootcamp in the Middle East. Professional and aspiring creators alike are invited to refine their skills with hands-on workshops, expert mentorship, and daily challenges.

Learn how to create the right hook for your content, explore trending editing styles, gather insights from expert speakers, and master monetization strategies.

Mark your calendar for…

• Day 1 (June 16): Mastering Production – Cameras, Lighting & Angles By Sukoon 

• Day 2 (June 17): Editing Like a Pro – CapCut, Coloring & Effects 

• Day 3 (June 18): Storytelling & Content Planning – Creating a Posting Calendar 

• Day 4 (June 19): Monetization & Brand Collaborations – Getting Sponsorships

• Day 5 (June 20): Learning from the Best + Final Content Challenge 

The TikTok x Creators HQ Bootcamp is available for all Creators HQ members.

Not yet a member? At $40/month, Creators HQ membership includes a free subscription to Komi, priority UAE Golden Visa applications, access to cutting-edge production facilities, exclusive workshops, and so much more. 

Visit the website to learn more:

HEADLINES IN BRIEF 📰

• As rivals like Google push into the smart glasses market, Meta’s CTO says 2025 feels “like a pivotal year” for the company’s AR/VR Reality Labs. (TechCrunch)
  
  

• X soared up the App Store charts late last week as owner Elon Musk battled it out with Donald Trump on social media. (TechCrunch)
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• Oxylabs has launched a YouTube dataset containing four million videos—all of which were reportedly contributed by creators who “explicitly agreed to the use of their content for AI training.” (TechRadar)
  
  

• As the next deadline for a TikTok divesture approaches, AppLovin founder Adam Foroughi is the latest billionaire to make an “audacious” bid for control of the platform’s U.S. operations. (Business Insider)

SPILLING THE BEANS

Starbucks wants two creators on its payroll for a year-long, worldwide gig

The job listing: Starbucks just opened a new position: Global Coffee Creator. The international coffee brand plans to send two people—one an established Starbucks employee, one an external hire—to “Milan, Tokyo, Colombia, Dubai, Costa Rica, and more” for a 12-month job that will involve making content that captures “the local culture, community and atmosphere surrounding each Starbucks location.” Both creators will be paid a full-time salary, with travel comped by Delta and hotel stays handled by Marriott Bonvoy.

Starbucks doesn’t require that its Global Coffee Creators have significant online followings, but it does ask that they show “strong creativity and storytelling abilities” and proficiency with editing tools on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. They also have to be comfortable on camera, and show “strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, with the ability to represent the brand and adhere to company policies and standards.”

Applications are open through June 13. To apply, both Starbucks employees and potential outside hires have to make a TikTok video showing why they’re a “coffee-obsessed, chronically online, world traveler.”

The context: We’ve seen creators like Dude Perfect and MrBeast talk about how they want to establish longer-term brand relationships—essentially ambassadorships—that encompass multiple videos, activations, and product collabs. Now, it’s clear that companies themselves are looking for the same thing.

After all, Starbucks isn’t the only brand that wants creators on its payroll; just last week, we wrote about how cosmetics company Ulta Beauty is establishing an ambassador program designed to support employees who are already making content about their jobs. 

For both Starbucks and Ulta, that kind of ongoing dynamic gives the brand a way to tap creators for the long-term, instead of having to source, vet, and instruct new partners for every campaign. The resulting relationships should be a win-win for both creators and companies—as long as the creators are being compensated fairly.

LISTEN UP 🎙️

This week on the podcast…

"The ULTA-mate influencers”: On the latest episode of Creator Upload, hosts Lauren Schnipper and Josh Cohen dive into the key takeaways from The Information's "Future of Influence" conference. Tune in for an expert perspective on the evolving landscape of creator monetization, Snap's strategy for helping creators earn money, and the innovative trend of brands hiring their own employees and customers as influencers (we’re looking at you, Ulta).

It’s all right here on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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