4 Ways Creators are Making Money in 2026

Creator ad spend is hitting thirty-nine billion dollars in 2026, and traditional video reads are no longer the standard. In this episode, we break down our new partnership with Lexus and we outline the four ways creators are making money with brands today:

As distribution for brand reach.

As talent for native likeness.

As directors and creatives using platform expertise.

As consultants bridging the gap between major corporations and internet culture.

Lastly we review some of our favorite creator ads on YouTube with our story produce Conor.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices