June 2026: Ads Everywhere, AI Fails, and Automated Creators
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TL;DR
YouTube will automatically detect and label AI videos
Twitch creators will be able to stream horizontally and vertically
TikTok expands locations and opportunities for ad campaigns
Spotify and Universal allow fans to create AI covers & remixes
Tencent Music remove 250,000 songs for infringing its copyright and AI policies
France stalls bill that would force AI providers to prove they did not use copyrighted material to train their models
40% of brands are invisible in TikTok Search
Starbucks scraps AI tool after countless mistakes
TikTok ends its AI video summaries after hilarious errors
Platform News
YouTube will now automatically detect and label AI videos
With AI-generated videos becoming increasingly realistic, YouTube have announced that they will now automatically detect and label AI videos, even if the creator didn’t disclose whether AI was used. The platform is moving quickly to deal with the onslaught of AI-generated content being uploaded, with them recently rolling out their AI-likeness detection tool to all creators over 18 years old.
Their automatic labelling of AI videos has already caused some controversy, however, as it flagged a stop-motion Short as being AI-generated and promptly ended the channel’s monetisation. It’s not all bad, though, as the incident brought overnight fame to the channel and made the channel an internet sensation.
Twitch creators will be able to stream in horizontal and vertical formats simultaneously
Twitch have announced that creators will soon be able to stream horizontally and vertically simultaneously, accommodating viewers on desktop and mobile devices.
Alongside this, they will soon roll out the ability for partners and affiliates to stream in 2K (1440p).
TikTok expands ‘Out of Phone’ ad campaigns
TikTok have teamed up with Vistar Media to extend their ‘Out of Phone’ option, providing more options for where brands can advertise. Vistar controls over a million digital out-of-home ad spaces, including in New York’s Times Square, giving creators and brands the opportunity to reach more of the public.
Reddit releases new small business marketing guide
Reddit have published a 13-page marketing guide for small businesses, exploring its ad tools and how subreddits can be valuable places for product discovery, with real life business examples. They also identify trends they are seeing on the platform, such as ‘Throwbacks’, ‘Little Luxuries’, and ‘Lifelong Learnings’. It’s a handy report for those who may not have considered Reddit to be a revenue-driver for creators and e-commerce brands.
Industry
Spotify and Universal Music Group agree to let fans create AI covers and remixes
Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) have announced licensing agreements that enable fans to create AI-powered covers and remixes of songs from artists and songwriters who opt-in.
It will be a paid add-on for Spotify Premium users and the new music will be available for all users.
In Illinois, class-action lawsuits have been filed against Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, by a number of well-known journalists, podcasters, and voice actors.
The tech companies stand accused of developing AI voice software that incorporates the voices of these artists without their permission – a significant violation of the Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
Pokémon-themed YouTube channel deleted after copyright strikes from Nintendo
The YouTube channel ‘PokéNational Geographic’ has been shut down after receiving several copyright strikes from Nintendo of America. The channel produced animated Shorts that presented Pokémon in a real-world, documentary style.
While the content may have been considered fair use, it is ultimately the right holder’s decision whether to enforce their copyright. The ease with which this type of content can be produced with AI has forced brands to clamp down on unauthorised use of their assets.
Artificial Intelligence
Tencent Music took down over 250,000 songs for infringing copyright and AI policies
Tencent Music, China’s largest music streaming service provider, has removed over 250,000 songs that violate its copyright and AI policies, according to the company’s 2025 ESG Report. They removed an additional 27,000 songs that they believed to be plagiarising or altering existing works, or altering the rights ownership information.
They maintain continuous monitoring of their catalogue through audio fingerprinting, voiceprint recognition, and melody comparison to ensure the music on its platform is authentic and protected.
A coalition of 81 music, film, publishing, and press organisations in France have backed a law that would “create a legal presumption that AI providers use copyrighted content”. It would place the onus on AI companies to prove otherwise, as opposed to the current standard of creators having to demonstrate that their works have been used without permission – a complex task when dealing with huge and opaque datasets.
While the law was passed unanimously in the Senate on April 8, 2026, it has been stalled by the National Assembly who neglected to take it forward for the bipartisan week in June, either due to lobbying pressure or political dysfunction. For now, it is in the background but will still be pushed by its supporters.
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Opportunities
Target launches two new content creator platforms
Target is revitalising its creator strategy with two separate offerings: Target Ambassadors (in collaboration with LTK), aimed at large, well-known influencers, and Club Target which is a more gamified system aimed at small to mid-size creators.
Club Target provides multiple incentives for creators, such as gift cards, access to exclusive events, being featured on Target’s own social media channels, and receiving “commissions on eligible items sold through affiliate links.”
EU Council plans to invite content creators to ministerial summits and leaders’ meetings
From July, The Council of the European Union will allow up to 10 content creators per event to attend EU leaders’ summits and select ministerial meetings. While the creators will not receive press credentials or be allowed to ask questions, they will have access to the press room and doorstep areas.
It is an attempt to engage more with younger citizens and inform them on the Council’s activities, and a recognition of the growing relevance of content creators in political life.
MrBeast’s creator platform signals a more programmatic creator economy
Jimmy Donaldson (aka MrBeast) is building an AI-powered creator platform where, instead of brands managing hundreds of relationships with creators, they can log in to Beast’s system, set their goals and budget, and the platform will automatically match them to suitable creators.
The platform will own the audience data, performance prediction, and commerce, while providing automated buying and selling of creator campaigns driven by data rather than negotiation – the same logic used by Google and Facebook’s ad systems.
While it could provide more opportunities for smaller creators, the increased competition could dramatically decrease the rates as they become assigned by an algorithm and remove the creator’s negotiating power.
Nestlé launches tool to turns creator content into brand-suitable ads at scale
Nestlé have created a tool in collaboration with CreatorIQ and CreativeX to identify creator posts that could perform well as advertising (provided it aligns with the company’s ad quality standards). The tool will send submissions from CreatorIQ’s creator management platform to CreativeX which then grades the submissions using AI, making the ad selection process more efficient for Nestlé.
Although creators cannot apply to CreatorIQ, their profile(s) will be automatically indexed by their system and assigned an ‘Integrity Quotient’ indicating the legitimacy of their audience. Through this tool, brands can then select the creators they want to work with.
Combined with MrBeast’s new platform, it is an indicator of the direction of the creator economy as it becomes more automated and “efficient”.
ICYMI (Highlights from this month’s Briefings)
Instagram has a new penalty for unoriginal content aggregators: No recommendations
As part of Meta’s ongoing creator-first shift, Instagram have announced a change to their content ranking guidelines to boost original content creators. Accounts reposting content from other accounts will not be recommended by the algorithm and this applies to Reels, photos, and carousel posts.
This is good news for original content creators who put thought and effort into creating unique content as they will be seen by more users, and accounts copying their work will be less visible.
Roblox raising DevEx payout to get more 18+ games
In its attempt to expand its over-18 user base, Roblox have announced that it will be raising its Developer Exchange (DevEx) rate by 42% from June 8. The raise will apply to games that use the platform’s R15 avatar framework and attract users in the United States who are 18 and older.
Alongside this, they have announced Roblox Jumpstart and Roblox Incubator, two programs aimed at helping new and experienced creators alike explore novel game creation.
A creator’s likeness is becoming a valuable asset for brands
This article examines the battle taking place between creators and brands as a creator’s likeness becomes increasingly valuable in the age of AI.
With the ability to artificially place creators in a variety of contexts and configurations at the touch of a button, there is a growing necessity for “kill switches” that enable creators to prematurely curtail their contract for inappropriate placement.
Twitch announces monetisation tools are now available to ALL users
Twitch have announced the global rollout of their monetisation tools for all users. These tools – Bits, subs, and Channel Points – were previously exclusive to Affiliates and Partners but are now available to everyone, though you are still required to “earn Partner or Affiliate status to receive a payout”. They have also lowered the eligibility requirement for Affiliate status to make it easier for users to qualify.
Featured Article
4 in 10 brands are invisible in TikTok Search
Influencer marketing platform Refluenced have published their ‘Found or Forgotten’ report where they analysed 1,068 brands and over 50,000 keywords to reveal the visibility challenges on TikTok.
The report found that 40% of brands are invisible in TikTok Search, mostly due to keywords rather than content quality, which is problematic when nearly 50% of all consumers are using TikTok as a search engine. The report is useful for creators engaging in brand deals who want to ensure visibility and engagement.
Explainer of the Month
This report analysed over 300,000 posts across various social media platforms (from U.S. creators only) to identify the latest trends in ad disclosures, brand deals, and the best months for posting on each platform.
Whether you’re a seasoned creator or a newbie, the report is worth a read for optimising your campaigns.
Disaster of the Month
Starbucks scraps disastrous AI tool
Starbucks has scrapped its AI tool just nine months after its debut. Rolled out across North American stores, it was intended to “automate inventory management” and provide real-time information for the stores to keep on top of their inventory. Instead, it consistently miscounted and mislabeled items, making it completely useless.
This incident comes soon after Starbucks’ failed attempt to incorporate AI by enabling customers to place their order through ChatGPT. Meant to be time-saving and convenient, it often took twice as long to order than through the Starbucks app, and made frequent errors.
TikTok scales back AI-generated video overviews after absurd errors
TikTok have withdrawn their ‘AI overviews’ feature which was intended to provide a summary of each video – similar to the AI overview at the top of Google search results. The feature, which was rolled out to some users in the US and the Philippines, created many inaccurate summaries for some TikTok videos, including mistaking celebrities for fruits and mistaking a video of the Kentucky Derby as an artist creating a piece of calligraphy.
Webinar
June 1 - The Affiliate Era: How Creators Became the New Sales Channel
This webinar has now passed but you can access the recording by signing up here.
Today's most effective creator programs are built around affiliates from day one. Influencers are driving awareness, consideration, and conversion in the same piece of content, and platforms like TikTok Shop have collapsed the funnel into a single swipe. The brands winning right now have stopped treating affiliate as a separate channel and started treating it as the connective tissue between content and revenue.
June 2 - Conversion 2026: Grow Boldly in a Changing Industry
Join us for Conversion 2026, StackAdapt’s annual flagship event, where senior marketers and industry leaders break down what’s actually driving results, from AI-powered activation to modern measurement and fully connected strategies.
June 4 - Winning Your Audiences’ Trust, Round by Round
What does it take to win when the stakes are high? In this keynote, we draw sharp parallels between a world champion boxer and today’s B2B technology marketer.
June 30 - Boost Smarter, Not Harder: How to Build a Winning Influencer Boosting Strategy
The number of boosted creator posts climbed 166% year over year in 2025, and brands across every category are pouring more into paid amplification to stay visible. Heavier spend isn't translating into better results. Engagement rates per view are declining, which means brands are pushing content to audiences who aren't interested.
Join Traackr and influencer marketing expert Hayley Schluter for a candid fireside chat on how to develop a winning influencer boosting strategy.
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This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Written and produced by a human. All opinions are my own.