Created Briefs: March 25, 2022

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This episode of "Created Briefs" was broadcast exclusively on Twitter Spaces. You can listen to the entire episode and read a transcript of the whole show on Zealous.

This Week's Creator News

Joystream Raises $5.8 Million For Its Creator Monetization Platform

Joystream wants to be a decentralized YouTube, allowing creators to mint videos as NFTs on its blockchain and issue native tokens for their channels. The company announced it raised $5.85 million in new funding from Digital Currency Group, Hypersphere, Defi Alliance and D1 Ventures. It's now valued at $60 million.

Launched in 2015 on top of the BitTorrent protocol, Joystream pivoted to its video platform in 2018. It plans to launch a mainnet in Q2 or Q3 this year that will include a custom DAO, an NFT marketplace for creator videos, and a platform for creators to monetize their videos via tokens.

Decentralized Creator Platform Joystream Raises $5.8M

The Polkadot-based platform allows creators to sell their videos as NFTs and turn their channels into tokens.

CoinDeskCameron Thompson

Shopify Takes On Linktree With 'Linkpop' Link-in-Bio Tool

The e-commerce platform has launched its own link-in-bio offering that allows creators to sell products directly from a hosted page. Included in this Linkpop page are all the important links a creator or merchant wants. It'll also have an option to launch storefronts directly on platforms where they're engaging with fans. Those same fans can then browse through the creator/merchant's product line and make purchases directly on Linkpop without needing to leave the app they were on.

• Merchants can link Linkpop page to their Shopify store
• Other links include website, articles, videos, playlists and more
• Up to 200 links can be posted to their Linkpop
• Includes built-in analytics featuring link clicks, unique visitors and other key metrics
• Merchants can customize background color, logo, font of Linkpop
• 100% free for anyone to use

Anyone can create a Linkpop but shoppable links are only available to Shopify merchants.  

Shopify launches new ‘Linkpop’ link in bio tool with built-in e-commerce features – TechCrunch

Shopify has entered the “link in bio” market with the launch of a new tool called “Linkpop.” The new offering is aimed at creators and allows them to sell products directly from their Linkpop page. Creators and merchants can include important links on the page and also launc…

TechCrunchAisha Malik

Bored Apes Yacht Club Startup Yuga Labs Lands $450 Million Investment

The startup behind the Bored Apes NFT project is now valued at more than $4 billion. This is apparently the first time the company has raised funding, with a majority of the capital coming from Andreessen Horowitz. Other investors include Animoca Brands, LionTree, Sound Ventures, Thrive Capital, FTX and MoonPay.

Bored Apes NFT startup Yuga Labs raises seed round at monster $4B valuation – TechCrunch

Yuga Labs, maker of the multimillion dollar monkey JPEGs that plenty of NFT skeptics love to hate, just raised a $450 million round from Andreessen Horowitz at a $4 billion valuation, the company announced Tuesday. The Miami-based NFT firm behind Bored Apes Yacht Club has not previously raised fund…

TechCrunchLucas Matney

Spotify's Greenroom App Will Disappear Later This Year

The Clubhouse competitor is reportedly going to be integrated with Spotify's main app sometime in 2022. The company will rebrand it to Spotify Live. It's believed the reasoning behind this move is because Greenroom has failed to gain traction. According to Engadget, "by integrating live audio into its very popular streaming app, the company would be elevating the format to a place where it would be more accessible — even if some users would complain about the app becoming even more crowded."

https://www.engadget.com/spotify-greenroom-mainline-app-171304355.html?src=rss

Twitch Launches Appeals Portal So Users Can Monitor Account Bans

Twitch has introduced a portal that lets users appeal account suspensions and monitor what's happening with their request. The company hopes that this will create more clarity and transparency around the process made for those who break the rules around livestreaming behavior.

The portal will be limited to bans enforced within the last 60 days. Anyone who faces an indefinite suspension prior to the portal's launch will be able to request an eligible case be processed through the service.

Twitch adds a new appeals portal where users can monitor account bans – TechCrunch

Twitch is updating its appeals and reporting processes, following through on product updates the company promised late last year. The biggest change is the introduction of a new portal where users facing account suspensions can appeal those rulings and monitor the progress of their requests. While …

TechCrunchTaylor Hatmaker

Instagram Opens Up Product Tagging Feature to All Users

All Instagram users in the U.S. will soon have the option to tag products in their post. No longer will you need a business or creator account. Product tagging rolled out in 2016 and Instagram has become more interested in being a shopping destination. You can not only tag products in posts but also videos, Stories and Reels.

Influencers won't receive a commission for purchases made through product tags, but Instagram is testing affiliate links.

More than 1.6 million people on the app are tagging at least one product each week. Business owners will receive a notification when one of their products is tagged.

Instagram now lets all users tag products in their posts

Universal product tagging is rolling out to users in the US.

The VergeEmma Roth

Instagram is becoming more of a mall

The platform is now letting all users tag products in their posts, making the app more shoppable.

ProtocolNat Rubio-Licht