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It's Sunday and here's a handpicked selection of stories to give you a snapshot of trends, updates, business moves, and more from around the creator industry.

But first, even ChatGPT gets brainrot. A recent study exploring AI learning found that LLMS experienced a "cognitive decline" after viewing too much unappealing content.

CREATOR COMMOTION

Drama and announcements are still coming out of TwitchCon

The TwitchCon mix-up: Gifts left for VTubers at TwitchCon didn't reach their intended recipients. After the convention concluded, multiple streamers apologized to their fans upon learning that TwitchCon staff had thrown out tributes left by IRL fans. It looks like the Emiru situation isn't the only controversy coming out of TwitchCon this year, as the titular platform continues to struggle with creator relations.

The Shorts series: MrBeast's first animated Shorts arrived this weekend. The YouTube star has been working with Moose Toys to develop a series that will promote some of his brand's physical products. Fans can tune into the first two installments of the show now, with upcoming releases continuing throughout the rest of the calendar year.

The brand deal: Esfand is now a Red Bull partner. At TwitchCon, the popular streamer and former college football player announced that he'd made a pact with one of the most digital-savvy brands in the esports biz.

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CreatorWeek Conference and Academy kicks off tomorrow. Will you be there?

This weekend, CreatorWeek Macao took over the city with wellness workshops, fan meet-and-greets, and live performances featuring 20 rising stars from around the world.

That excitement will continue lighting up Macao tonight—and then tomorrow, CreatorWeek Conference and Academy officially kicks off.

With 50+ industry and creator speakers, nailing down your conference schedule isn't easy.

Here are 3 panels that should be on your CreatorWeek agenda:

The State of the Creator Economy 2026 • October 27, 10:15 AM
Explore the future of the creator economy with industry commentator Jim Louderback, Gushcloud CEO Althea Lim, Google Greater China CEO Ben Wong, creator Jordan Matter, and Branded CEO Jasper Donat.

The CreatorWeek Gateway to China • October 27, 11:05 AM
Discover how creators and platforms are rewriting the rules of engagement with insights from Ivy Wong (Founder/CEO, VS Media), Aiden Qin (Founder, Boom Technology), and Brittany Li (General Manager, North Asia Branded), and others.

The Tubefilter CreatorWeek 'Ask Me Anything' - Part 1 • October 27, 5:15 PM
Hosted by Tubefilter's own Drew Baldwin, this panel unites four top creators—including Mikey Bustos (aka Antscanada) and Merrick Hana—for a candid Q&A session about their creative journeys, challenges, and growth.

Register for CreatorWeek →

AD WORLD

This week in the advertising world…

The Boorito challenge: Chipotle's Boorito campaign now includes a TikTok challenge. It's hard to fathom that Chipotle's Halloween-themed discount is now 25 years old, but the chain is pulling out all the stops for its signature promotion's big birthday. If you share your burrito Halloween costume on TikTok, you'll be entered to win a gift card—and you'll get to show all your friends how fly you look.

The new rules: TikTok Shop is trying to enforce updated guidelines for sellers. If you're planning to use TikTok's vending hub during the Black Friday rush, you'll want to read this one. Sellers participating in the platform's upcoming promotions will need to buy ads using the app's GMV Max tool. Not all Shop partners are happy about the power play, but TikTok has enough ecommerce volume to pull off a move like this.

The test feature: Meta is experimenting with skippable ads for Instagram Reels. The tech giant wants its short-form ads to be more like YouTube's (that is, less interruptive and easier to blow past). If you want to see how this feature plays out, you'll have to "skip ahead" to the end of Meta's testing period.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

The Sidemen's expansion will be steered by Arcade Media Chairman Pete Cory

Execs are shaking things up at Arcade Media, Wasserman, and Epidemic Sound

The Chairman: YouTube alum Pete Cory will steer the Sidemen's expansion. As the Chairman of Arcade Media, Cory will take a prominent role at the management firm that has worked with the Sidemen for years. The septet's future could be growing far beyond YouTube and Netflix.

The SVP: Victoria Bachan is the new SVP at Wasserman. The veteran creator economy operative—who has experience at management firms like Sixteenth—announced her move in a LinkedIn post that described Wasserman as "an agency that already houses the #1 music agency and the #2 sports agency." In her new role, Bachan will "help lead and develop the creators division into a world class and innovative arm of the business."

The partnerships vet: Epidemic Sound has added a Head of Strategic Creator Initiatives. That's the name of the role that will be occupied by Gracie Schram, who previously served as the company's Senior Partnerships Manager. Epidemic Sound already provides usable music for thousands of creators; now, it can step up it partnerships with those digital tastemakers.

WATCH THIS 📺

Justin Bieber is a Twitch streamer now

The singer-turned-streamer: Justin Bieber's new Twitch streams are high-concept affairs. The singer has promised to stream every day on his brand-new account.

Rather than providing fans with formal streams, the Biebs has offered slice-of-life snippets as he shoots hoops and plays video games. Is the man once known as kidrauhl on YouTube innovating once again, or will he bore of his Twitch presence in the near future?

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