- Creator Economy NYC
- Posts
- The award every NYC creator dreams of winning
The award every NYC creator dreams of winning
I’M WALKIN’ HERE WITH
Hey! Welcome to the Creator Economy NYC newsletter — the premier place for all things creator economy in the Big Apple.
In today's newsletter, we're diving into The Webby Awards and their impact on NYC's creator scene. We'll explore how these 'Internet Oscars' have celebrated online creation for nearly 30 years and what's next for NYC creators.
A big shoutout to Emmy O'Leary, who led the development of this piece — her contributions really brought it to life.
Let’s dive into it.
Stops along the way:
Upcoming events — happening soon, RSVP below!
Community callouts
Community perks
News bits
Was this email forwarded to you?
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f2b99ef9-382d-4e6a-a7f8-f9f286bdb0c3/Upcoming_Events__1200_x_130_px___10_.png?t=1704153943)
SPONSORED BY BEACONS
Navigating the creator economy can feel as complex as our subway system.
Whether you're looking to build an audience, monetize your content, or simply share your passion, there's no single line to success.
That's where Beacons comes in. Sure, you might know them for their link-in-bio tool, but that's just scratching the surface. Beacons is a full-stack platform that brings together everything you need to turn your content into a thriving business, such as:
A slick website builder to funnel your social traffic
A digital storefront for your merch and affiliate products
Automated sales funnels to promote your products and content
The best part? Just for our Creator Economy NYC community, you can sign up for a free month of Beacons’s Pro plan and get a custom domain, 0% selling fees, and more with code CENYC.
A deal sweeter than finding a rent-stabilized apartment (good luck with that!).
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f2b99ef9-382d-4e6a-a7f8-f9f286bdb0c3/Upcoming_Events__1200_x_130_px___10_.png?t=1704153943)
CITY SPOTLIGHT
Celebrating creators: the impact of the Webby awards on NYC's creator economy
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/58090ff0-ea88-4ead-9258-b99040d027a0/1.jpg?t=1721393176)
A lot happened in 1996. Apple re-employed Steve Jobs, the first flip phone came to market, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won the NBA Championship, the NY Yankees won their 23rd World Series, the historic Blizzard of 1996 hit NYC, and The Webby Awards were born to celebrate the birth of internet culture.
It’s hard to believe that all of this happened almost 30 years ago — a lot has changed since then — but Claire Graves, president of The Webby Awards, reminds us that one thing hasn’t changed: the role that creators play in The Webbys and culture at large.
The internet has always been driven by creators, innovators, artists, filmmakers, and individuals. From its inception, the creators have been entering the Webby Awards, and that is now nearly 30 years ago.
Headquartered in NYC, the Webby’s team is at the epicenter of culture and has a rich understanding of the nuances of the internet and media. Unlike the Oscars, The Webbys isn’t bound by tradition and has evolved alongside the web to celebrate all the wild, wacky corners of the internet and the companies and creators who are shaping it.
“Categories are one of my favorite things to talk about at the Webby Awards because it's the history of the internet, right? It’s the way content changes and moves from platform to platform,” remarks Graves.
There is no shortage of categories at The Webbys. With over 100 categories ranging from “Weird” (this category honors sites that just seem strange, offbeat, or odd) to Best Indie Podcast, Webby categories are a true index of the internet.
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/fe31bcfa-bc31-4040-9fa6-f44c63879a4a/2.jpg?t=1721393204)
Webby’s category page
Creators have always been a part of The Webby Awards and nominees/winners in various categories, it was only five years ago that the Webby team introduced dedicated categories for Creators under the larger social media segment. This year, they received 2,000 entries into the various Social Media categories and slightly over 300 into the Best Creator category.
While no NYC creators brought home Best Creator (the award was won by Garrison Hayes and Madison Tevlin), NYC creators and institutions took home prizes in other categories like:
Macy Gilliam, the face of many Morning Brew TikToks, won a Webby in Best Educational Social for her show “How Are You Still in Business.”
Adwoa Adusei and Virginia Marshall hosts of The Brooklyn Public Library’s podcast “Borrowed and Banned” won a Webby for Best Writing Podcast.
Best Indie Pod was awarded to Josh, Antoinette, and SaVon of “Can’t Afford Therapy” which is filmed and recorded in Brooklyn-based Full Court Studios.
The talent, passion and creativity pouring out of the creator economy is undeniable and winning a Webby can have a tremendous impact on a creators career and help propel them to the next level.
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/47e3bb1a-a5c0-4f81-8605-b9814b38e0f1/3.jpg?t=1721393226)
Macy Gilliam with her Webby Awards
For example, winning a Webby has had a significant impact on Macy Gilliam's career as a creator, sharing:
It feels great as recognition, inside and outside my current. In social it's hard to have proof that you know what you're talking about, but this is proof even for people who don't understand much about social media.
She notes that the award has boosted her credibility in the industry, particularly when reaching out for interviews. Gilliam also highlights the unique position of the Webby Awards in the digital world:
The Webbys feel like the most "real" of the internet awards both in being very in touch with the actual internet culture, and just because they've been around the longest.
Gilliam’s experience underscores the Webby Awards' role in validating creators' work and their deep connection to internet culture.
Solving for gaps in the creator economy
The Webby's ability to create significant opportunities for creators is important and addresses one of The Webbys team's concerns for creators: longevity.
One of the things we've been talking about as a team is the importance of creators focusing on their longevity and growth as a brand. How can they maintain relevance and make that independent of a platform?
Despite this question looming overhead, the Webby’s team is committed to investing in the creator economy for the long run. They shared with us that they’ll be releasing designated categories for creators with their call for entries, opening in September. That means Creators will have an entire section for themselves. This is a big moment for creators and The Webbys, with Graves sharing:
We're super excited about it because the creator economy is such a massive, growing share of the advertising market, so we're really excited about recognizing this work and the creativity that is within it.
While this is exciting news, one of the more serious issues that Graves is keen on both brands and creators recognizing and solving is the pay disparity between white and BIPOC creators.
Webby’s team plans to use its platform to raise awareness and find solutions to this problem. This fall, they’ll host an event in NYC with long-term partner the NAACP to bring this conversation to center stage. The event, titled “Black and Viral,” will also focus on the impact that black creators can have in getting their communities tuned into the election and voting in the presidential election.
Looking ahead: trends in the creator economy
Can anyone predict what next year will look like? If they can, let me know (I need some stock picks too…).
Perhaps it’s an unfair question to ask, but when chatting with the president of The Webby Awards, it’s almost impossible not to ask what creator trends they predict for next year.
Graves is all too familiar with this question and says, “Predicting what’s going to be popular in a year is really challenging because the internet moves so fast.”
However, Graves was down to offer a few thoughts:
I think we’ll see more creators being exclusive to brands and long-form, narrative storytelling like Who TF Did I Marry? which was a 50-part TikTok series where a woman does a deep dive into the shocking unraveling of her marriage
What do you think we’ll see? Let me know by replying back to this email.
To learn more about The Webby Awards and what’s upcoming, check out:
LinkedIn: Webby Awards
Instagram: @TheWebbyAwards
TikTok: @TheWebbyAwards
This week’s City Spotlight was written and developed with significant contributions from Emmy O'Leary, Contributing Author.
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/f2b99ef9-382d-4e6a-a7f8-f9f286bdb0c3/Upcoming_Events__1200_x_130_px___10_.png?t=1704153943)
CITY HAPPENINGS
Upcoming events
Summer Mixer & Live Podcast - July 29, 6:30PM-9:30PM
We’re excited to partner with Creator Economy Live for an exclusive summer mixer and live podcast recording at the Mariott Marquis in the heart of NYC to bring together our community.
Expect free beverages, food, and great people to meet. Plus, a live podcast recording with a special NYC-creator guest, Nadya Okamoto!
Shoutout to our community partners for this event:
Teachable: the no-code platform for creators who want to build more impactful businesses through courses, coaching, and digital downloads. Start for free.
Siftsy: the comment section analytics tool influencer marketers and brands rely on. Book a demo today.
Beacons: the all-in-one monetization platform for creators (it’s more than just a link-in-bio platform). Get started for free.
Hope to see many of you there! Space is limited, so RSVP to secure your spot.
Save the date
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be0841c1-c739-4f27-88e1-f5634aef6dae/Upcoming_Events__1200_x_130_px___10_.png?t=1700369913)
COMMUNITY CALLOUTS
The Notion creator team launched a newsletter that you should subscribe to, sharing the latest Notion tips, tools, and highlights for content creators.
Great profile from Net Influencer on NYC-based talent agency owner Jake Rosen of Jake Rosen Entertainment.
This comment section breakdown from Siftsy of Mr. Beast’s most viewed video in 24 hours.
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be0841c1-c739-4f27-88e1-f5634aef6dae/Upcoming_Events__1200_x_130_px___10_.png?t=1700369913)
COMMUNITY PICKS & PERKS
Newsletter: Get 20% off your first 3 months on any beehiiv paid plan. This comes after a complimentary 30-day free trial, exclusively for our community members! Snag it here.
Travel and Lodging: Enjoy 12.5% off the best available rates for business and personal travel at any CitizenM Hotel location. Just use code CRMY1!
Wellness: Decompress and refresh at Othership. Explore sauna and ice bath experiences in NYC. Use code CENYC to claim your discount.
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be0841c1-c739-4f27-88e1-f5634aef6dae/Upcoming_Events__1200_x_130_px___10_.png?t=1700369913)
THE NEWSSTAND
![](https://media.beehiiv.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,quality=80/uploads/asset/file/be0841c1-c739-4f27-88e1-f5634aef6dae/Upcoming_Events__1200_x_130_px___10_.png?t=1700369913)
STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS PLEASE
Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you thought by replying back to this email! Enjoy the weekend!
See you next week,
Brett
Reply