NAB Show
Creator Economy
The Creator Economy’s Next Chapter: A Seat at the Table
The creator economy has evolved into a major force in media and entertainment, with projections estimating it could approach a $500 billion by 2027. As creators build businesses, hire teams and expand their influence across industries, conversations about the future of the sector are increasingly extending beyond content creation and into policy.
Last week, the first-ever Creator Advocacy Day happened in Washington, D.C., bringing together creators, entertainment and media policy executives, technology companies, Creators 4 Mental Health and government officials to discuss the evolving creator economy. More than 30 creators joined in conversation spanning from AI and intellectual property to sustainability of creator-led businesses.
The National Association of Broadcasters welcomed attendees for the day’s opening session, highlighting the NAB Show Content Creator VIP Program and Adobe’s efforts to help protect artists through the CREATOR Act.
Next, YouTube’s public policy team hosted creators for a preview of its newly released 2025 Creator Economy Impact Report. On Capitol Hill, creators met with members of Congress to discuss issues affecting the industry, including AI-generated likeness protections, the NO FAKES Act and the broader policy landscape shaping the future of the creator economy.
The day concluded with a meet-and-greet hosted by TikTok’s public policy team, providing another opportunity for creators and policy leaders to exchange perspectives on the evolving creator ecosystem.
As the creator economy continues to mature, collaboration across industries will be essential. Bringing together creators, platforms, media organizations and policymakers helps foster a shared understanding of how innovation can continue to grow while supporting the people driving the future of content.
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Three Things to Watch
1. Beyond Audiences: Building Community
Creator success now extends far beyond likes and views. Watch how impact is measured today, including audience sentiment, long-term engagement, brand lift and creative influence beyond surface-level performance metrics.
2. Creator Survival Guide: Contracts, Burnout & the Business of Building Content
Being a creator is not just about creating good content. Listen to NAB’s Creator Council discuss negotiating contracts, protecting your work, avoiding burnout, turning creativity into a sustainable career and our new Content Creator VIP Program.
3. Scaling Your Creator Business
How do creators evolve beyond content into sustainable businesses? This session explores how creators build structure, ownership, and long-term value around their audience and IP.
NAB Show Signal is a weekly pulse check on the ideas, people and breakthroughs reshaping media and entertainment.