Being a creator is the American dream.
You do not wait for permission from Hollywood studio heads. To deem your story worthy.
You turn a camera on, tell your story, and people show up. Sometimes millions. That is brave. That is a business.
Over the past 18 months, I have audited 150+ creator businesses.
Most creators have 1-3 revenue streams. You need 15 to exit one day.
Some creators make 6 figures with one community or course launch.
Many creators do not realize they are a business.
They think their YouTube channel is their business.
It is not.
Your YouTube channel is the marketing arm of your business.
You are the business.
You are the media company.
You are the holdco of the future.
But what is your business? I want to help you figure it out, as I have done for many creators.
A Client Story That Shows the Path
Last year a client received a $35M offer for his content business and we walked away. With the right structure, I believed they could reach a $50M to $100M outcome in three to five years.
So I convinced him to not sell. This year they are on track for $12M in revenue across more than 15 streams, and expansion isn't slowing down any time soon. That is not luck. That is design.
What Separates the Five-Figure Hustle from the Eight-Figure Enterprise
Investors and buyers are watching. Venture firms invest and take stakes. Strategic acquirers and private equity groups buy companies.
The deals that clear the highest bars share the same foundations.
Build these four pillars:
1. Own the Audience and the Rights
Newsletter: Own your list and your direct relationship. You have to build on your own land because what happens if the algorithm changes or you lose your channel?
Trademarks and IP: File and maintain, then license with clarity.
Content library: Organize, register, and track every asset.
2. Diversify Cash Flow with Intention
Platform revenue: AdSense or platform shares are helpful but not the base.
Brand deals done right: Renewals, clear IP terms, usage, equity where warranted.
Merch and physical products: Margins you control, products that fit your brand DNA.
Courses and digital products: Turn expertise into repeatable value.
Affiliate: Align with what you actually use and love.
Paid community: Move fans off rented land and into a space you own.
3. Build Real Products and Partnerships
Software products: Creator-led tools and apps are often the most profitable revenue stream.
Revenue share partnerships: Participate in backend cash flow, not only front-end fees.
Equity-based collaborations: Become an owner, not just the face. Think Alix Earle with Poppi.
4. License What You Have Already Created
Brand licensing and clips packages: Get paid twice for work you already made.
Streamer and platform licensing: Place back catalog where it can earn passively.
AI licensing: The market is emerging and negotiation matters, especially on consent and compensation. AI licensing will hit $10B this year. Yes, with a B.
In the next few emails, I will show you the exact 15 revenue streams that you need to have to grow your creator business.
Simple Operating Rules That Compound
Treat content like your marketing engine, not your single product.
Build one durable product line at a time until it stands on its own.
Standardize contracts and deal memos so your rights do not leak.
Protect your downside with smart entity structure and insurance.
Protect your upside with trademarks, copyrights, and clean cap tables.
Where I Have Been and What Is Next
I know I disappeared. I stepped back from publishing and from your inbox to serve creators hands on. I also spent the last eight months on the road speaking and teaching at creator gatherings around the world. The Billion Followers Summit in Dubai. SXSW in Austin. The AI Summit at MIT. Cannes Lions. VidCon. Next up is VidSummit. Every room reinforced the same truth. Creators are not a trend. Creators are the next generation of media owners.
My work has focused on representing some of the largest content creators in the world and building a team so I can serve more of you. Many clients are placing their channels and catalogs into trusts for their children. Your channel will be worth more than real estate one day.
Leaders like Dhar Mann and MrBeast are proving what modern studios can look like when the creator holds the keys. They (and you) are the future studio heads.
Why Love Letters?
I have become too exclusive. Only the biggest creators can afford to hire me.
And that does not sit well with me. I started my law firm For CREATORS (it is literally in my firm name).
So now that I have a team, I am going to be of service to ALL creators of all sizes. I will start writing more (working on a book too), making more videos on YouTube and writing more on LinkedIn (my favorite platform).
In the coming weeks, I will share the exact playbooks I use with my big creator clients. Feature case studies of mistakes creators are making. Share legal protections that prevent the most painful mistakes. Deal structures that turn attention into assets. Checklists that help you get acquired later, or simply own forever with peace of mind.
Next Week
I will break down the three biggest pain points I see right now…
Starting with the surge in copyright strikes and community guideline violations. Every week I hear from creators who are getting strikes or losing their channels.
Most of these mistakes are preventable if you know what to avoid.
We are building this together.
You are building an empire. You just might not see it yet.
If you are early, I am proud of you for starting. If you are scaling, I am here to help you protect what you built and multiply it.
With love, Tyler The Creators' Attorney
Content is king. IP is queen. IP is the foundation of your entire creator business.