AWNY announces first global creator economy network

Advertising Week (AW) has launched its first global creator economy network.

The first announcement was made during the event’s “What’s the value of the creator economy?” panel yesterday by Anthony Brown, cofounder and co-CEO of creator agency platform Breakr. AWNY has partnered with Breakr for the network; enrollments opened following the announcement.

Advertising Week also tapped strategic consultancy JBRC as a partner for the network.

“Brands will be able to come into Advertising Weekand shop these creators,” Brown told Campaign. “We’re launching this network to tap into the very liquid pool of people in this media space — to aggregate agencies, brands and creators in one place and pay creators in real time.”

Creators have bustled throughout the flagship event throughout the week. Love Thy Nader reality stars Brooks Nader and Grace Ann Nader announced plans to host the 2025 Glamour Women of the Year red carpet during a Female Quotient panel on Wednesday. Hot Ones’ Sean Evans interviewed marketers over increasingly hot chicken wings on Tuesday, and Caspar Lee, who’s known as an “OG” YouTuber, sat two seats away from Brown on yesterday’s panel.

Influencers are attending Advertising Week, Cannes and the Sundance Film Festival with business lenses on, and Advertising Week’s global creator economy network plans to accommodate the influx quickly. The network will begin activations in the U.S. and U.K. during Q1 of 2026 and has plans to expand to Mexico City, Tokyo and Sydney. 

The network partnered with Breakr to emphasize fair and timely payment terms, Brown explained. Despite 30% year-over-year industry growth, creators continue to report financial instability and inequality due to slow net terms and underpaying creators, he said.

“Ninety percent of creators are middle-class creators,” Brown told AWNY’s audience. “It’s deeper than empathy for creators — it’s empathy for agencies, brands and publishers … “the financial turmoil we go through just trying to get creators paid needs to stop.”