Each week, we handpick a selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry.
This week, a $40 million campaign reached its conclusion, a creator event took place in New York, and a cheeky chicken lover made a big move in London.
Creator commotion
MrBeast’s #TeamWater tops out at $40 million. After joining forces with Mark Rober to address the earth’s forests and oceans, MrBeast got charitable once again to address the global water crisis — and he successfully reached his lofty fundraising goal. Thanks to the campaign’s massive tally, Water Aid will be able to distribute potable drinking water to communities in need across the globe.
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Good Good is launching its own golf club. In this case, the word “club” refers to a social group organized via Discord, not a literal piece of golf equipment. In addition to weekly rounds, the Good Good Golf Club will offer everything from video game challenges to fantasy football to merch giveaways. Not bad for one of YouTube’s favorite golfer groups.
Kai Cenat confirms that Streamer University is coming back in 2026. There were already rumors that Cenat would bring back his college-set creator gathering, and he offered an official announcement via a newsdesk set up at his Mafiathon 3 streaming event. You can’t deny that the guy is full of creativity, especially when it comes to reveals like this.
Events and happenings
Colin and Samir made headlines with a one-day conference in Brooklyn. With Press Publish NYC, your favorite creator’s favorite creators fashioned their brand into a boutique, curated industry event. It was a place where attendees could “build connections, cultivate creativity and find inspiration,” as Colin and Samir put it in a statement.
The host of Chicken Shop Date is ringing in her longevity alongside her fans. On September 26 and 27, Amelia Dimoldenberg will celebrate ten years of her chicken-fried talk show with her first live event. The venue hosting the bash is fittingly named Protein Studios.
The next big creator economy conference is kicking off in Madrid. A get-together called CreatorHub will unite Europe’s videomaking community in September. A partner app called Luffa has been launched in advance. I’m hoping attendees will catch sight of Spanish megastars like Ibai and TheGrefg — or at least get the chance to snack on some tasty tapas.
Eric Ochoa is pivoting into the world of stand-up comedy. Old-school YouTube fans will remember the SUPEReeeGO channel as a source of hilarious sketch comedy and skits. The man behind that hub, Eric Ochoa, is set to host a stand-up show at the Spotlight29 casino on September 19.
Movers and shakers
Patreon taps a TikTok vet to pursue partnerships with top creators. In roles at the Ad Council and TikTok, Lina Renzina forged connections with a rising class of digital influencers. Those relationships will serve her well as she moves on to Patreon, where she will be the new Head of Top Creator Management.
Generative AI startup Promise names Michelle Slavich as its CMO. Slavich, a longtime public relations operations at major platforms like YouTube and Netflix, will head up marketing efforts at a buzzy new company that wants to bring genAI into the entertainment industry. Alongside Slavich, Promise has also added Tyler Mitchell and Mariana Acuña Acosta to its leadership team.
The biz
The Ninja Kidz are kicking it at a well-known New Jersey mall. The father-and-daughter duo of Jordan and Salish Matter will join the Ninja Kidz as they celebrate the opening of a new Action Park at the American Dream mall. MrBeast’s appearance at American Dream was a memorable day — and the Ninja Kidz are good bets to draw big crowds of their own.
Keith Lee reheats The Reheat alongside sponsor Microsoft. In the branded web series, Lee visits restaurants that saw their popularity explode after the TikTok-famous food critic gave them positive reviews. Season two of the show is on the way as both Lee and Microsoft look to uplift Black- and Latino-owned businesses.
Marks & Spencer has a new web series? Love That. When did web series become cool again? I don’t know, but brands are eager to get back in on this revived trend. Love That will focus on some of Marks & Spencer’s most fashionable pieces, with celebrity stylist Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe hosting.
The internet is a strange place
Druski’s whiteface routine was certainly polarizing. I understand that people have varied opinions about Druski’s decision to dress up as a lilly-white country bumpkin, complete with a coat of flesh-colored paint. But whether you love this idea or hate it, I think we can all agree that the makeup was shockingly realistic and well done.
Valkyrae used birdsong to get a cameo in a video game. While chatting with the developer of Waterpark Simulator, the streaming star imitated bird calls to convince the dev that her sound effects belonged in the game. These days, when a creator asks to be in a game, the powers that be typically oblige them, and this episode is no exception.
A Japanese VTuber agency is letting you rent a virtual grandma. Do you need some sage advice, but you don’t have any real-life wise elders to turn to? Just rent a VTuber granny who can dispense her pixelated wisdom unto you. I just hope she doesn’t encounter technical difficulties when she gets sto the moral of the story.
