Hey! Welcome to the Creator Economy NYC newsletter, your weekly dose of insights and strategies to help you build, monetize, and scale as a creator.

Happy snow day! Hope everyone is staying warm.

Our first event of the year is happening this Wednesday - we're kicking off 2025 with an incredible lineup and conversations you won't want to miss. RSVP here.

The other week, we filmed an exclusive with Ariel Viera, the first short-form content creator to win a Peabody Award.

We talked about what it means when traditional institutions start recognizing creator work as legitimate, and why that matters for all of us building in this space.

Let's dive in.

— Brett

This NYC creator's award changes everything for creators

For three years, I've watched creators in our community struggle with the same insecurity: Is this actually legitimate work?

I've know creators with six-figure businesses still struggle to state what they do for work at family dinners without diminishing themselves to "I just making videos online."

But something's changing.

We recently posted a “Creator Exclusive” on our Instagram featuring Ariel Viera who’s the first short-form content creator to win a Peabody Award.

Not a "Creator Award" or "Social Media Category." A Peabody. The thing they give to 60 Minutes and Frontline since 1940.

And he won it for making 90-second Reels on the hidden history of racism in NYC (in collab with fellow creator Kahlil Greene).

The legitimacy shift

This isn't just about one award. The James Beard Foundation added a "Social Media Account" category. Emmy nominations are going to podcasters and YouTube channels. The Webby Awards created creator-specific honors.

Traditional institutions aren't just acknowledging creators anymore. They're competing for our attention.

But here's what matters: Ariel didn't change his content to win. He didn't abandon short-form or start making documentaries. He won by doing exactly what creators do best… taking complex information and making it accessible.

"You should be able to give a compelling story but deliver in three minutes or less," he told us.

The award didn't validate him. It validated the medium.

What actually makes this legitimate work

Legitimacy doesn't come from awards, really. It comes from the businesses being built, the audiences being served, the problems being solved.

The awards are just traditional institutions catching up to what we already knew.

But there's something else happening here. What struck me most in our conversation was when Ariel said: "Make sure that you focus not just on the passion but also on the craft parts of it. The editing, the pacing, the storytelling, your presence on camera."

This is the maturation we keep talking about.

Early creator culture was obsessed with virality. Chasing the algorithm like a lottery ticket. But sustainable creator businesses are built on craft.

The difference between a hobbyist and a professional isn't passion, it's simply mastery of fundamentals. It's understanding why things work and being able to replicate that success intentionally.

What this means for you

Own the work you do. If you're building a real business, serving a real audience, solving real problems - it's legitimate. Full stop. The Peabody Awards don't give out participation trophies.

Treat craft like the competitive advantage it is. Most creators spend 90% of their time on ideation and 10% on execution. Flip that ratio. The idea matters less than how well you deliver it. Execution is everything.

Build for the business you want, not the validation you think you need. Ariel didn't set out to win a Peabody. He set out to create work he loved. The recognition followed the excellence.

The barrier to entry for content creation remains low. The barrier to sustainable success is rising.

And that's a good thing. It means we're building an industry with standards, expectations, and professional development pathways. It means "content creator" can sit alongside "journalist" or "filmmaker" without the eye roll.

The question isn't "Will I ever win an award?" It's "Am I treating this like legitimate work?"

Are you investing in the fundamentals? Are you building a business that could sustain you for a decade? Are you mastering your craft or just hoping the algorithm smiles on you?

Ariel's Peabody didn't happen because he got lucky. It happened because he mastered his craft, found his unique angle, and delivered consistent excellence.

Excellence compounds. Whether you're chasing awards or revenue.

Watch the full exclusive here.

2026 Creator Economy NYC Kickoff

​We're bringing creators, marketers and founders together to start the year in the same room - setting intentions, meeting new people, and getting re-energized for what's ahead.

​This isn't our typical event. We're doing three mini-talks designed to help you actually make moves in 2026, featuring:

​→ Brett Dashevsky (Me!) on laying out your "f*ck it, create it" goal for 2026 - what you want to bring to life, and committing to doing it

​→ AJ Eckstein (Founder of Creator Match) on documenting over creating - how to ease the creation process as you move through the year

​→ Gabrielle Judge (Founder of Ms. Anti Work) on turning content creation into a thriving, sustainable business - unlearning hustle culture, automating with AI, and building careers that fit your life

​Between talks: great drinks, good music, an interactive goal-setting activity (nothing intense, nothing corporate), and plenty of time to connect with people doing interesting things.

If you’re a creator who wants to level up in the new year, start here

F*ck It, Create It is the resource I wish existed before I started Creator Economy NYC.

It’s not about growth hacks, content calendars, or chasing algorithms.
It’s about removing the mental friction that keeps creators frozen:
overthinking, perfectionism, and the constant “I’ll start when I’m ready.”

This is short, actionable, and built specifically for creators who’ve been sitting on an idea for way too long.

Normally $97 — 20% off right now with code 2026.

Two free tools top creators use to keep themselves moving

The Creator Goal Setting Guide (FREE): A simple but powerful document to help you declare who you want to BECOME in 2026.

The Creator Accountability System (FREE): Your visual companion for consistent creation in 2026.

Thanks for reading!

If this resonated with you, hit reply and let me know - what's the biggest thing holding you back from treating your creator work as legitimate?

And if you know a creator who needs to hear this, forward it their way. We're all figuring this out together.

See you Wednesday at our first event of 2026, and back in your inbox next week.

Keep creating,

Brett