The Business of Influence, Tracked.
The Business of Influence, Tracked.
Analysis
“Why wouldn't a podcast be part of that mix?”: Jimmy McLoughlin on why politicians are turning to creators
Former Downing Street adviser turned podcaster Jimmy McLoughlin has seen political communications from both sides. He tells The Daily Influence why creators and podcasts are becoming part of the political playbook, and why businesses should be paying attention too.
Aug 20, 2026
"I never made a DOAC trailer in a bid to go viral": Anthony Smith on doing things differently, and choosing to start again
Anthony Smith built the trailers that helped turn The Diary of a CEO into an industry benchmark. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Influence, he reflects on the moment he knew he'd made something special, why he decided to leave, and what comes next.
Aug 14, 2026
Disney's TikTok deal puts an "untapped labor force" of fans to work
Disney's recently announced TikTok partnership has been positioned as a new way for fans to create with some of the entertainment giant's biggest franchises, but it also raises a question about the value of the content those fans are producing, and who ultimately benefits from it.
Aug 13, 2026
Employee-generated content is having a moment. So are the legal questions around it
Employee-generated content is booming, from M&S's TikTok-famous food director to formal programmes at Starbucks and Gap. But as staff build valuable audiences for their employers, a messier question is emerging: when the relationship ends, who actually owns the content, the followers, and the goodwill?
Aug 10, 2026
OpenAI's brand trip backlash reveals a tension the creator economy still hasn't resolved
What happens when people say they're wary of AI, but keep rewarding it anyway? OpenAI's first influencer brand trip has unexpectedly become the latest flashpoint in the creator economy's debate over where AI belongs.
Aug 5, 2026
YouTube's Peacock deal signals a new balance of power
NBCUniversal's decision to bundle Peacock into YouTube Premium is being framed as a sign that legacy media and creator-led platforms are converging. But behind the deal is a bigger debate about who now owns the audience.
Jul 30, 2026
Jack Sylvester helped build The Diary of a CEO into one of the world's biggest podcasts. Now he's starting again
Jack Sylvester helped turn The Diary of a CEO into one of the world's biggest podcasts. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Influence, he reflects on the lessons from scaling the business, why he decided to leave, and what's next for him and the creator economy.
Jul 21, 2026
Record World Cup audiences show creators and broadcasters can coexist
The World Cup became the biggest test yet of whether creators belong inside official sports coverage. The audience figures suggest they do.
Jul 20, 2026
Full-price beauty sales collapse on UK TikTok Shop as discounting takes over
Discounted beauty products are now driving the vast majority of sales on UK TikTok Shop, The Daily Influence can exclusively reveal. Between July 2025 and June 2026, they brought in $449 million in revenue – more than double the $212 million generated by products sold at full price.
Jul 13, 2026