CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER
Issue 66 | September 8, 2022
Despite increased talks about pay transparency and compensation expectations, there is still a lot of work to be done when it comes to making a living as an influencer. It is common for creators to be paid in free products rather than actual money, although many criticize this standard. According to Marketing Brew, pay advocates view gratis products as “a tool influencers need to do their jobs, not appropriate compensation.”
This is a sentiment shared across niches in the creator community and was a subject of debate among Philadelphia influencers over the past couple of weeks. One local food blogger clashed with a public relations firm after she said its founder blacklisted her. She claimed she was barred from events after expressing discomfort in posting about a restaurant she disliked. The incident raised questions about the obligations influencers have to PR companies that don’t pay them. Passionfruit reporter Grace Stanley spoke to the people at the heart of the controversy about their thoughts and experiences on creator compensation and the expectations of public relations firms.
– Daysia Tolentino, Passionfruit Editor
THE HIGHLIGHT
Philadelphia influencer drama sparks debate over the relationship between creators and PR companies
“If there’s no compensation, there should not be a requirement to post.”
By Grace Stanley, Passionfruit Reporter
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FROM THE INSIDE
SoundCloud executives Lauren Wirtzer Seawood and Tracy Chan reposition the platform in the creator economy by monetizing fan power
“We’ve really been on this mission to transform our company into a music and entertainment company as opposed to a technology platform.”
By Grace Stanley, Passionfruit Reporter
IN THE BIZ
- Hundreds of Instagram profiles—including those for reality TV stars, jewelers, and plastic surgeons—were falsely verified using a scheme that tricked Meta’s moderators into believing the accounts belonged to professional musicians. (via ProPublica)
- Despite recent layoffs and increasingly stiff competition, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel says the company is “far from reaching our full potential.” (via Vox)
- YouTube is launching new features to improve the learning experience for viewers of educational content on the platform, including a new embedded player for certain education apps that lets people watch ad-free. Select creators will also be able to provide free or paid courses on the site next year.
TIKTOK MADE ME DO IT
Stackable sandwich plates!
