How Dave Portnoy Single Handedly Changed the Media Business Forever — Ari Lewis

Very few creators, of course, will turn out like Dave Portnoy. And, of course, you don’t need to — there is lots of space between making a solid living writing on your own and selling your website to a publicly-traded gaming company.

How Barstool Sports is Building The Future of Media (Thread) Barstool Sports has gone from a niche sports site to a $100M revenue company. I explain how 👇

VCs focus more on thought leadership than ever before, because their access to capital is less valuable than their social capital. Dave Portnoy can become one of the biggest names in finance, raise tens of millions for businesses hurt by the pandemic and move stock prices without having billions under management or a long investing track record let... See more

The explosion of influencers and creators on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok has proven yet again the power of personality. The direct connection an audience feels to these stars is powerful. We’re seeing Substack and forward thinking publishers like Complex, Barstool and Axios capitalize on this dynamic. (The risk is obviously the limited enterprise... See more

People are shocked by the notion that MrBeast can have 20 times the reach of the largest newspaper in the world. But even more shocking is the fact that this cultural shift is still in its early stages.  You ain’t seen nothing yet, folks.  And all this is happening much faster than most people realize—especially those who live inside the

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Trouble arrived early in the 21st century, when upstart companies powered by new digital technologies began to challenge the status quo. Entertainment executives reflexively dismissed the threat. Netflix was “a channel, not an alternative.” Amazon Studios was “in way over their heads.” YouTube? No self-respecting artist would ever use a DIY platfor... See more