In this industry-shifting episode, hosts Ceci Carloni and Nii Ahene unpack three stories that show how traditional business is reshaping the creator landscape:

💼 Accenture Makes Its Move: One of the world's biggest consulting firms acquires Super Digital, the influencer agency behind campaigns for Amazon, Apple, and Pinterest. This isn't just another agency deal—it's a signal that influencer marketing has officially entered the enterprise consulting world. We explore what this means for creators when global consulting giants start treating influence as core business strategy.

📺 Private Equity Buys YouTube: PE firms are acquiring entire YouTube channels, swapping out creators for new talent and pushing harder for sponsored content revenue. We debate whether this represents real growth in the creator economy or the beginning of content factory capitalism that could strip away the authenticity that made these channels valuable in the first place.

🍟 McDonald's "Theory of Smalls": The fast-food giant ditches big brand messaging for micro-targeting niche communities through Minecraft, manga, and K-pop collaborations. This new strategy from Cannes suggests brands should focus on small fandoms that drive culture rather than mass appeal. But does going hyper-niche risk alienating the broader audience?

From billion-dollar consulting acquisitions to the financialization of YouTube to McDonald's betting on niche culture—this episode captures how traditional business is fundamentally reshaping the creator economy landscape.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

In this culture-defining episode, hosts Ceci Carloni and Nii Ahene explore three stories that capture the creator economy's mainstream breakthrough moment:

⏰ TIME Finally Gets It: The iconic magazine drops its first-ever TIME 100 Creators list, featuring Dylan Mulvaney, Keith Lee, and MrBeast. But this isn't just about follower counts—TIME's editor-in-chief calls creators "entrepreneurs who shape our culture." We debate whether this recognition is overdue, who got snubbed, and why today's creators are "what musicians were in the 90s."

📊 YouTube's Data Game-Changer: The platform launches optional creator data sharing, giving brands access to views, watch time, and demographics. This could revolutionize brand partnerships by moving beyond vanity metrics to real performance data. We explore whether this levels the playing field for mid-tier creators or just adds more pressure to an already complex ecosystem.

🤖 AI Influencer Goes Viral: Meet Mia Zelou, the AI creator who "attended" Wimbledon with perfect photos that fooled millions. As AI models become indistinguishable from reality, we dive into whether synthetic influencers represent the future or just a novelty that can't replace authentic human connection.

From mainstream media finally acknowledging creator power to the data transparency revolution to AI blurring the lines of reality—this episode captures the exact moment the creator economy crosses into the cultural mainstream.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

In this power-packed episode, hosts Ceci Carloni and Nii Ahene dive into three stories that showcase how creators are reshaping business, culture, and career opportunities:

💰 The $850 Million Creator List: Forbes drops its 2025 top creators earnings, revealing a 20% year-over-year jump with MrBeast leading at $82 million. But it's not just about the money—we explore how creators like Alex Cooper and Matt Rife are diversifying beyond content into true entrepreneurship, and whether Goldman Sachs is right that "the private funding environment for creators is as strong as I've ever seen."

🎬 Culture Integration Revolution: Olipop's partnership with YouTube's scripted series "Shanked" shows how brands are moving beyond traditional sponsorships to earn seats at the culture table. We break down why this Vice Sports collaboration represents a new era of brand storytelling and whether this model can scale to smaller creators and platforms like TikTok.

☕ The Six-Figure Dream Job: Starbucks just created the ultimate creator opportunity—two full-time Global Coffee Creator roles paying up to $136K to travel the world and document coffee culture. No degree required, just a passport and TikTok skills. We debate whether this is brilliant brand strategy or flashy PR, and if it signals a new trend of brands hiring creators as full-time employees.

From billion-dollar creator empires to innovative brand partnerships to dream jobs that didn't exist five years ago—this episode captures exactly where the creator economy is heading in 2025.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

In this explosive episode, hosts Ceci Carloni and Nii Ahene tackle three industry-shaking developments that have everyone talking:

💸 The $150 Million Wake-Up Call: Alo Yoga faces a massive class-action lawsuit for allegedly hiding paid influencer partnerships, featuring A-list creators like Summer Rae and the West twins. We dive deep into why disclosure violations are still happening in 2025, who's really to blame, and whether this legal bomb will finally force the industry to play by the rules.

💼 LinkedIn Goes Full Creator Mode: The professional platform is making serious moves to become a creator destination, with B2B influencers building entire agencies and getting "most of their inbound" from the platform. But can LinkedIn scale beyond thought leadership into a real creator economy? We explore whether this is genuine transformation or just riding the wave.

🤝 The Half-Billion Dollar Shopping Spree: Publicis drops over $500 million this year on influencer acquisitions, merging Captivate with Influential to create what they're calling "the world's most powerful connected influencer platform." We break down what this means for agencies, creators, and the future of platform competition.

Don't miss our candid take on why brands still think they can game the system, whether LinkedIn can truly support full-time creators, and if we're about to see a platform consolidation frenzy.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

In this episode, hosts Ceci Carloni and Nii Ahene dive into three game-changing stories reshaping the creator economy:

🏈 NFL's Creator Revolution: The league is going all-in on creator marketing with a new VP position dedicated to influencer strategy. Discover why even this traditional sports giant realizes that "some of our top-performing posts ever involve creators and influencers" and what this signals for the future of sports marketing.

⚠️ AI Controversy Alert: When a skincare brand used AI to generate a fake endorsement from wellness creator Arielle Lorry without permission, it sparked serious questions about ethics and rights in the AI era. We unpack what went wrong and what brands need to know about navigating these new waters.

👥 Employee Creators Take Center Stage: Employee-generated content is outperforming both brand and influencer content at major companies. With 73% of organizations saying leadership involvement is key, we explore whether this trend represents the future of authentic marketing or adds undue pressure on employees.

Join us for fast-paced, informed analysis on the stories that matter most in today's creator economy. New episodes monthly!

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

Welcome to Influence Weekly, the podcast that keeps you plugged into the pulse of the influencer and creator economy. I'm Kailani, and in today’s milestone 50th episode, we're celebrating the movers and shakers of 2024 with a rundown of the 25 most influential creators—from TikTok celebrities to YouTube legends. We'll also explore an exciting development in academia as Texas University launches the first-ever degree in Digital Media Influence, aimed at grooming the next generation of digital stars. Plus, we dive into the story of Viggle AI, an AI startup whose viral memes have led to a massive $19M funding round for their ambitious expansion. Join us as we unpack these fascinating stories from the world of digital influence.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

Welcome to Influence Weekly, the podcast where we delve into the latest in influencer marketing and the creator economy. I'm Kailani, and in today's packed episode, we're unraveling the secrets behind MrBeast's 36-page guide to YouTube success and the controversies it's stirring up. We'll also discuss how TikTok has edged out YouTube, becoming the preferred platform for nearly 70% of brands in video marketing. And, we're taking a closer look at the recent Democratic National Convention, where 200 TikTokers and Instagrammers made headlines, highlighting the growing political engagement with influencers. Join us as we break down these pivotal moments shaping the digital and political landscapes.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.

Welcome to Influence Weekly, the podcast that keeps you at the forefront of influencer marketing and the creator economy. I'm Kailani, and in today's episode, we're dissecting the strategic moves by TikTok and Snap as they aim to outpace Meta's stronghold on influencer agencies. We'll also dive into the highlights from President Biden's first-ever Creator Economy Conference, where influencers gathered to discuss hot topics like AI and privacy. Plus, we uncover the inspiring journey of Zoé Mahfouz, who transformed from a shy student into a TikTok sensation celebrated for her 'likable strangeness.' Tune in as we explore these dynamic developments that are shaping the future of digital content creation.

The Big Three by Influence Weekly: 3 Biggest Stories. 1 Essential Conversation.