An anatomy of the creator brand trip’s midlife crisis

August 14, 2026
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The brand trip as we know it may be dead, but a newer, more genuine and engaging format is rising from its ashes. If brands (cough, OpenAI, cough) continue to rely on in-your-face luxury or overly curated events as ways to activate creators and reach their loyal (and increasingly discerning) audiences, they could end up facing online backlash, too.

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The Creator Economy
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An anatomy of the creator brand trip’s midlife crisis

The brand trip as we know it may be dead, but a newer, more genuine and engaging format is rising from its ashes.

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Written by Jim Cooper and Sara Jerde

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