DJing Through a Pandemic

December 2022 

Scholars have classified DJs as cultural mediators and gatekeepers. Nowhere is this truer than in Washington, DC, the Black business mecca. For decades, DJs have provided live entertainment and safe spaces to community members of all walks of life. But the abrupt intermission of live music caused by the pandemic impacted DJs on a new level. With limited options for unemployment assistance, live entertainers were forced to find other avenues for monetization. Illegal rave scenes took off during the pandemic. However, most DJs shifted online, creating new challenges for DJs. Online, sponsorship structures limited the spaces in which they could work and express their creativity.

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2022 Creator Economy Report

September 2022 

The online creator economy provides income for at least 11 million Americans, it is often overlooked by policymakers. Online creators earned over $23 billion in 2020 by posting and selling their work on web platforms across seven sectors: video, music, podcasts, writing, crafts, art and design, and influencer marketing. Tech companies herald their platforms as a democratization of industries that, for centuries, were reigned by biased gatekeepers. Our findings cast doubt, however, on claims that these platforms have delivered racial or gender equality to online creators.

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The Relationship Between BIPOC Entrepreneurs and the Communities They Serve

March 2022 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Black owned businesses, with 41% of Black owned businesses being forced to close in comparison to 17% of white owned businesses. Our latest white paper showcases how vital BIPOC entrepreneurs are to the communities they serve, spotlighting the story of Jeannine Cook, owner of Harriet’s Bookstore in Philadelphia.

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How Artificial Intelligence Impacts BIPOC Creators: Algorithms, Demonetization, and the Creator

December 2021

When it comes to social media, artificial intelligence is critical to the profitability and sustainability of both the creator and the social media platform. Our whitepaper highlights the challenges that BIPOC creators are facing in respect to artificial intelligence, spotlighting the experiences of award-winning YouTube creator Nick Huff Barili.

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State of the Creator Report 2021

December 2021  

The COVID-19 pandemic was a global crisis that touched every facet of our society. No one was immune (in more ways than one), and it has undoubtedly changed working and social norms forever. For the creator community, many of whom were already used to working from home, new and old challenges arose.

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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

November 2021  

On November 15, 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was passed, ensuring $550 billion in infrastructure investments to improve roads, utilities, and broadband. Read our policy brief detailing what this plan means for creators.

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Breaking Down Barriers For Musicians of Color: Insights from Modern Musicians Navigating a New Digital Music Industry

January 2021

In the last decade, streaming platforms like YouTube and Spotify have been monumental in expanding an artist’s listener base but have failed to properly compensate them for their works. Our whitepaper highlights the challenges of independent artists in a digital age, spotlighting the experiences of formally trained violinist and multi-instrumentalist QVLN as the pandemic hit.

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Helping Authors of Color Share Their Stories: Anti-Trust, E-Commerce, and the Creator

January 2021

Current antitrust laws cannot keep up with the digital world that we live in. Our white paper highlights the lack of protections for small businesses and creators of color, spotlighting the experience of Jason Primrose, an independent science fiction author who self-published his first book.

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Elevating Black Women Entrepreneurs: Insights from Business Owners and Take Creative Control

January 2021

Between 2014 to 2019, Black female-owned businesses grew 50 percent – the highest growth among all demographic groups. However, the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to completely reverse these gains. Our white paper highlights historical and current barriers for Black owned businesses, spotlighting the experience of SaVonne, founder of Aya Paper Co.

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Sound Recording Decoded

February 2020 

Learn about ownership of sound recordings and master recordings through our “Sound Recording Decoded” one-pager.

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Fair Use Decoded

February 2020

Learn about when you can safely use copyrighted work through our “Fair Use Decoded” one-pager.

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Copyright Decoded

February 2020 

Learn how to effectively protect your original work through our “Copyright Decoded” one-pager.

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