The creator economy officially matured into a recognized branch of the global entertainment industry, challenging traditional Hollywood structures.
On the small screen, popular TV shows like "Game of Thrones," "The Walking Dead," and "Breaking Bad" were drawing massive audiences, and shows like "The Big Bang Theory" and "Modern Family" were dominating the ratings. The rise of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu was also changing the way people consumed television, allowing them to binge-watch their favorite shows and discover new ones.
Creators rely on a mix of programmatic ad revenue, direct fan funding (Patreon), brand sponsorships, and premium paywalls.