In a significant move to unite the burgeoning creator economy with traditional entertainment powerhouses, The Hollywood Reporter and Access Media have announced the launch of UP NEXT: The Creator IP Market. Scheduled for October 2026 in Los Angeles, this event is designed to be a crucial platform for digital content producers to engage directly with major studios, streaming services, and other industry players. It seeks to redefine how content is discovered, developed, and monetized in an evolving media landscape where creator-led storytelling is increasingly influential.

The Hollywood Reporter and Access Media Unveil Pioneering Creator IP Market in Los Angeles

In a groundbreaking collaboration, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) and Access Media are set to host "UP NEXT: The Creator IP Market" in Los Angeles in October 2026. This innovative event aims to forge direct connections between global digital content producers and a wide array of entertainment industry entities, including major studios, broadcasters, talent agencies, and streaming platforms. Participants can anticipate curated deal-making sessions, invaluable industry networking opportunities, compelling keynote discussions, showcases from emerging creators, live intellectual property presentations, and bespoke editorial programming curated by THR.

Maer Roshan, Editor-in-Chief of THR, expressed his enthusiasm, highlighting the convergence of the rapidly expanding creator economy with Hollywood. He emphasized how digital innovators are continuously enriching talent pipelines, shaping brand marketing strategies, and redefining the path to stardom. The initiative comes at a pivotal moment when audience-first storytelling is revolutionizing content creation, financing, and distribution. This disruption has prompted Hollywood to actively seek commercially viable intellectual property and fresh talent from new media formats like podcasts and micro-dramas to diversify their content offerings.

Ferne Cohen, President of Access Media and Executive Director of UP NEXT, articulated the transformative nature of this period in entertainment. She noted that creators are at the forefront of this evolution, with traditional development models undergoing rapid change. The event is conceived as a serious business marketplace where creators, who are generating some of the most valuable and culturally resonant IP, can directly engage with the studios, networks, brands, and investors keen on shaping the future of entertainment. To steer this ambitious venture, Scott Benzie, founder of the WorldBuilder Summit and former CEO of Buffer Festival, has been appointed as the general manager of UP NEXT: The Creator IP Market.

The launch of UP NEXT: The Creator IP Market represents a strategic effort to foster direct and robust business engagements between Hollywood and the creator economy. By bringing these two dynamic forces together, the event promises to unlock new avenues for content development and monetization, ensuring that innovative, creator-driven content finds its way to broader audiences while offering traditional entertainment sectors a fresh influx of talent and ideas. Further specifics regarding the event will be disclosed by the organizers in the coming months.

This pioneering collaboration marks a pivotal moment for the entertainment industry, signaling a formal recognition of the creator economy's significant impact. It underscores the evolving landscape where authentic, audience-driven narratives hold immense value. The initiative promises to democratize access for creators, offering a direct conduit to established industry players and fostering a more inclusive and dynamic future for content creation. By bridging this gap, the event not only empowers individual creators but also enriches the entire entertainment ecosystem with diverse voices and innovative storytelling.