Haaaaaaaaaaappy Wednesday folks!

How’s everyone feeling on the first REAL week back to work? I’ll be honest, I’m feelin’ a little brain-dead from all the travels I’ve been doing and I’m pumped to be settled back down in one place again so I can get my mind right.

I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed recently, and after being on the run for the last three months, I’m finally getting back into a groove and it feels fantastic!

I also couldn’t be happier that everyone else is back online, too! I’ve had some incredible conversations over the last two days that get me giddy for the coming year in the creator space.

From brands giving upfront cash to creators so they can pursue their passions, to a company building an all-new method of paying and getting paid out internationally in an instant; there are massive things in the works for and by creators this year. Get excited. 😎 

I hope everyone’s first full week back goes swimmingly and you all start the year off with some incredible energy!! And if you feel like you need that energy instilled, let’s hop on a call and get you fired up about creating again!

2024 is YOUR year, let’s get after it!!! 👏 

-Luke

Peloton’s TikTok Takeover 🚲️ 

Just when I thought Peloton’s would drop in price cause that one dude died in that show, they make a move that’s going to make it even harder to get your hands on the bike, but easier to work out.

Peloton is moving and shaking the workout and content world with the launch of a TikTok partnership that’ll bring Peloton to millions of screens worldwide, and we’re not talking just on the bike. Let’s jump into the details:

• Dubbed #TikTokFitness Powered By Peloton (you guys got real creative with this one, huh?), this partnership will make TikTok workouts synonymous with Peloton, and provide some killer opportunities for fitness creators worldwide.

• These “classes” will consist of several different types of workouts and be hosted by some well-known names from both Hollywood & TikTok AND will be available right on your phone. That’s right, no need for that $3k machine, you’ll be getting bespoke classes fit for you.

• Looking to bring fitness straight to your phone with these classes, they’ll consist of everything from small sessions built for those with a busy schedule to full-blown, full-length workouts for breaking a sweat.

This collab is not only a great opportunity for fitness creators to break into a lane, but we can also see investor sentiment in a collab with a giant like TikTok. Peloton’s stock price rose by 15% after the announcement of this partnership, and that’s a reason to celebrate.

To me, this shows the value that traders see in TikTok and should be a signal to other creators that content will continue to persist as the content space envelops every market.

So creators, keep creating. These massive brands and investors see the value in creators and the content we create, we just have to keep pushing through!

NCAA 🤝 ESPN

A massive day for college athletes as ESPN and the NCAA have agreed to a $920 million deal for the US broadcast rights to more than 40 college sports championships.

But this isn’t just big bills for broadcasting rights, this opens up some incredible opportunities for female athletes with a record-breaking valuation of $65 million a year! This deal includes:

• ESPN gets streaming rights to 40 championships.

• ESPN will show 21 women's and 19 men's championships.

• The contract guarantees the March Madness final on ABC.

As mentioned, this is more than just a contract, it’s a game-changer. With name, image, & likeness (NIL) being one of the main ways for college athletes/creators to earn money, this deal amplifies women's athletics, giving them more opportunities to earn money through their content.

Let’s be real. the true value here lies in one simple fact: more broadcast time = more opportunities.

This deal will allow for so many more female athletes to get eyes on their gameplay, allowing their NIL to grow, which can help create even more monetization opportunities and find even more places to grow their personal brands as athletes and creators. Let’s get that money, ladies!!

Creating for Yourself, Not the Algorithm

I believe that Sam Dawson will become one of the YouTube greats in coming years.

From his mindset and attitude to his camerawork, editing, visual aids, and beyond, Sam has the energy of a massive YouTuber, and he’s already gone full-time with 6k subs (and over 1k of those were gained in the last 24 hours 🤯)!

Posting his channel’s first video 14 years ago, it’s clear to see that Sam grew up watching the greats, gaining inspiration, and having the creative bug instilled in him at a young age.

While Sam’s content has changed a lot over the last decade and a half, a few things have remained consistent: beautiful shots, solid narratives, and a vibe that makes you want to get your gear out and start creating yourself.

With inspiring content such as Sam’s, it’s no surprise to find that his goal is to “help inspire creators to create for them, not the algorithm.”

And that’s exactly what Sam does with his own content.

With video and editing styles reminiscent of Casey Neistat, Sam’s videos have the same infectious energy that massive YouTubers have. From how-to’s and video breakdowns to introspection or reviewing content from the biggest names in the space, Sam is a true creative whose content will undoubtedly continue to explode as he gets picked up in the algorithm.

Be sure to check out Sam’s content and show him some love in the comments, he’s been an incredible source of inspiration for my content creation and makes me hungry to try new styles that I’ve been curious to explore.

Thank you for being such a true creative and an inspiration for other creators worldwide, Sam! Keep up the killer work, I can’t wait to see your channel continue to explode! 😎 

⚡️ Quick Links

I miss being able to share some quick links to stories I enjoy or things that I think are funny, so I’m going to test this section out this week! Let me know if you enjoy these, or could do without ‘em.

• If you didn’t already see, YouTube legends Rhett and Link are going on tour! With more and more YouTubers taking their content to the live stage, a duo such as R&H only further solidifies the value of creating community and giving opportunities to bring them together.

• The Streamer Awards are coming back on February 27, and you can enter nominations for your favorite streamers here. Ludwig wins every category in my eyes, especially the VTuber category. ❤️ 

• Twitch is flippin’ like a pancake over the last few weeks, from allowing nudity to rolling back the decision days later, and now they’re banning people who pretend or appear to be naked.

🤔 What Are Your Thoughts?

In next week’s issue, I’m going to be covering some 2024 trend predictions, so if you want to help me in my research, drop some ideas for new year predictions by replying to this email!

Personally, I think we’ll see more creators turn to long form & relatable content that shows audiences more of who they are.

I believe there will be a surge in newsletters with the rise of platforms like Beehiiv and people beginning to see the value of fine folks like you (yeah you reading this right now, you’re the best!).

And finally, I believe that clickbaity content will begin to fall to the wayside as creators becoming more personal will become the norm.

Think any of my predictions are dumb? Tell me why!!

I can’t wait to hear all of your thoughts 😎 

🚀 Up Your Career as a Creator

Hope you enjoyed this week’s post. See you next week ✌️