THR and Access Media Team Up for Groundbreaking Creator Economy Conference in Los Angeles

The Hollywood Reporter and Access Media have announced the launch of UP NEXT: The Creator IP Market, a new industry event scheduled for October 2026 in Los Angeles. The marketplace aims to bridge the gap between digital content producers and traditional entertainment entities, including major studios, streamers, and talent agencies. This initiative reflects a significant shift in the media landscape as Hollywood increasingly seeks to tap into creator-led intellectual property and engaged digital audiences.

The inaugural UP NEXT: The Creator IP Market is designed as a premium business environment to facilitate direct engagement between the creator economy and traditional Hollywood players. Scheduled for October 2026, the event will bring together development-ready digital producers with a wide array of industry stakeholders, including broadcasters, production companies, brands, and investors. The marketplace will feature curated deal-making opportunities, networking sessions, and creator showcases alongside live IP presentations and exclusive editorial programming from The Hollywood Reporter.

Organizers emphasize that the event addresses a major transformation in how content is discovered, financed, and monetized. Maer Roshan, Editor-in-Chief of THR, noted that digital innovators are increasingly fueling studio talent pipelines and redefining stardom, while Ferne Cohen, president of Access Media and executive director of UP NEXT, highlighted that some of the world's most valuable IP now emerges from creator-led communities. The conference seeks to provide a formal structure for Hollywood to acquire commercially viable IP, such as podcasts and microdramas, to expand traditional content pipelines.

Leadership for the new venture includes Scott Benzie, the founder of WorldBuilder Summit and former CEO of Buffer Festival, who will serve as the general manager. The partnership between THR and Access Media aims to accelerate partnerships at a time when audience-first storytelling is reshaping the global media landscape. Further details regarding the specific programming and participants for the Los Angeles-based event are expected to be announced by the organizers in the coming months.