Brands, creators hold their own NewFronts-style sales pitches to win over more ad dollars

Negotiations in the upfront and NewFronts cycles can seem at odds with the fast-paced, individual-focused creator business model. But new sales presentations from creators and brands centered around the creator economy have agencies optimistic that they could create long-term, lucrative deals for creators.

The new sales pitches could also be a sign that the space is maturing as creators are expected to contribute to a global influencer market size of $32 billion in 2025, according to Influencer Marketing Hub.

Ongoing creator upfront deals are generally going to the large creators that have become celebrities and media companies (think MrBeast and Khaby Lame with followings in the hundreds of millions), according to four agencies Digiday spoke with for this story. Meanwhile, mid-tier and smaller creators have been shut out as they require more flexibility in their partnerships. Negotiations for upfront and NewFronts deals kick off next month, as networks pitch their shows and packages to advertisers to buy ad time in advance.

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Media Buying Briefing: Can principal media actually become the hero (for some) in upfront negotiations?

With upfronts season inching closer and closer by the day, the brick wall that is full-on economic uncertainty (due to the whiplash of on/off tariffs globally) will make for a possibly messy collision of circumstances. Interestingly enough, the use of principal media — somewhat of a boogeyman to many agencies who decry its use — could end up being a bit of an unwitting hero, ready to pull the marketplace out of the crash into said brick wall. 

The ups and downs on tariffs, brought on by a Trump administration that seems set to blow up global trade as it’s been done for the last several decades, have impacted some industries more than others — including heavy upfront advertisers like automotive marketers.

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