Party people, it's Wednesday, and NYC just lifted COVID restrictions. Treat yourself but don't forget to stay safe.

Recap: The top clicks in the last send were Koji's announcement of sponsored brand quizzes, the post-sell-out era, and the rise in creator burnout.

Today's Highlights:

• Alex Cooper's $60M deal
• Top creators are doubling down on their brand
• Platforms are cozying up to creators

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Creator Coin Watch

Top Weekly Bitclout Creators

1. elonmusk ~$57,743.94

2. naval ~$35,618.72

3. craig ~$23,707.13

4. chamath ~$21,832.90

5. balajis ~$19,893.22

6. 021 ~$18,668.46

7. jakeudell ~$18,461.17

8. HighKey ~$17,949.18

9. Da5id  ~$16,960.11

10. WhaleSharkdotPro ~$16,683.46



*BitClout data is taken prior to every newsletter send.
The current BitClout Coin price is going live and will be updated after trading.

Top Weekly Rally Creators

1. PTM Coin ~$53.07

2. Kevin Chou Coin ~$48.97

4. Allie Coin ~$38.73

3. KSK Honda Chain ~$38.65

5. Gen.G Strike Coin ~$37.77

6. TILT Coin ~$21.45

8. Gary ~$19.81

7. Skot Coin ~$18.47

8.JEFF ~$17.89

9. PLAY ~$17.63

10. Bee ~14.78



*Rally Coin data is taken every prior to newsletter send. Current RLY Coin price = $.61. Up from $.54.

Talking Creators

Top Creators Are Doubling Down On Their Brand

Earlier this week, sources reported Spotify would be buying Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast for $60M over 3 years. But that's just one of many wins this week for creators.

Graham Stephan announced he's launching a coffee brand, "Bank Roll Coffee" (fitting for a multi-million portfolio), and Josh Richards and Griffin Johnson announced their gen-z focused marketing agency Hawkez.

What do these creators have in common? They're doubling down on their brand to launch new ventures or get acquired for large amounts of money. We're still in the early days of the creator economy, but even now we're able to see that creators are changing the monetization playbook.

More On Creators

• Esports very own FaZe Clan lands on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
• Emma Chamberlain sets the record straight about her mental health.
• The two creator economies and the challenge technical founders face when building for creators.

Talking Social & Platforms

Social Platforms Are Getting In Front of Growing Creator Economy

The creator economy is growing (I know, I sound like a broken record), and platforms understand just how much power creators wield. This is why they're releasing tools and resources to help creators. Whether it's a $5,000 monthly stipend, help creators get brand deals, or the ability to earn without a take rate. The name of the game is providing the best experience for creators so they remain on your platform.

Vungle Buys Jet Fuel

As the battle for creators accelerates, creator economy startups are leveraging M&A plays to get ahead. The latest comes with Vungle's acquisition of Jet Fuel, an influencer marketing platform with 15,000 creators and reach in the billions. The acquisition of talent agencies and influencer marketing is a no-brainer for those with deep enough pockets.

More On Social & Platforms

• Spotify launches a creator fund.
• Triller is going public.
• Instagram shares more news about its monetization features.
• Microsoft wants to enable creators in Forza 5.

Gems

• How many billions: Klarna becomes Europe's most valuable startup.
• Hive Mind: A new player has entered the arena. Their name? Startupy. Their goal? Help connect the dots of unique knowledge every person possesses.
• IRL James Bond villains: Meet the siblings who control James Bond.
• A media company in disguise: It's no secret that a16z is a media company, but their recent launch of Future drives highlights just how deep in the media game they are.

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