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Neil Waller 🐳 shared thisCouldn't be more excited to get to work everyday alongside the absolute rockstar that is Kimberly W.. Kim has become one of the most respected people in our industry whose energy is infectious, is smart as hell, and is a one of the most genuinely nice people we've had the good fortune to partner with while she was at TikTok over the last 5 years. Big things ahead.
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Neil Waller 🐳 shared thisFew people have had a bigger impact on James and me than Sir John Hegarty. A friend, a mentor and chairman of Whalar Group. John's advice has helped shape many of the most important decisions we've made over the last decade. John has a rare ability to make the complex simple, challenge your assumptions, and remind you that creativity isn't just about advertising; it's one of the most powerful competitive advantages any business can have. That's why I'm insanely excited to see the launch of The Business of Creativity series today. The conversations and ideas that John has shared with us over the years are now available to anyone interested in building, innovating and growing. And first up is a conversation with none other than Gary Vaynerchuk, who has also been a constant supporter of ours. Honestly, Whalar Group would not be the company it is today without the benefit of what we've learn from John. I highly recommend giving it a listen. https://lnkd.in/g69CnaMC
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Neil Waller 🐳 shared thisHUGE NEWS🚨: The leading Creator agency is set to join the world’s largest tech-powered creative group, in the largest Creator Economy transaction. Yep, you read that right. Accenture Song is to acquire the Whalar Agency from Whalar Group. And while that might sound like an ending to some, for us it’s actually the absolute opposite. We're doubling down on the Creator Economy! Ten years ago, James and I started Whalar with a simple belief: that Creators would fundamentally reshape the media and marketing landscape. What the team has built in just a decade has been nothing short of incredible: Industry-defining work. A culture that truly champions Creators. Over $600m in Creator campaign spend. And recognition as the most awarded Creator agency. When Accenture Song approached us, it was the first time we seriously considered this path. Not because we were looking to exit, but because of what it represented. It became clear there was no more prestigious home, no greater global reach, and no more powerful combination of AI, technology, data and creativity to help accelerate the next chapter of the Whalar Agency than Accenture Song. For Emma, Jo and the 170+ smart, passionate and kind powerhouses within the Whalar Agency team, this is a truly unique opportunity to take what they’ve so brilliantly built to a whole other level. An already industry-leading offering for brands and Creators now becomes even more powerful inside Accenture Song. It’s quite simply a 1+1 = 5. To every single person who has been part of this journey, both current and all those who contributed along the way, thank you so much. It takes a village and this would not have been achieved without all of you. A huge thank you as well to the leaders at Accenture Song, in particular Ndidiamaka, Nick, Sean, Chris and Bryan for your belief in what the Whalar Agency has built and your vision for where this can go. And lastly, but by no means least. Quite the opposite in fact. To our 250+ colleagues across the 6 remaining businesses in the Whalar Group, this moment gives us something equally powerful: Focus. Firepower. And a huge opportunity. We now have even more resources, combined with a hugely valuable and deeply strategic 3-year partnership with Accenture Song, to double down on Creators, building with them, around them, and for what comes next. Because our belief hasn’t changed: Creators aren’t a channel. They are the foundation of modern media, shaping culture, building communities, and redefining how value is created. And the future will belong to those who build around Creators, not just for them. That’s what we’ve spent the last decade doing, staying as close as possible to the people shaping what’s next, and honestly, we still believe we're just getting started! Onwards and upwards 🐳 🚀.
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Neil Waller 🐳 shared thisWe’re entering the cable TV moment of the internet. The smartest creators are no longer just building audiences. They’re building studios, networks, and modern media companies. I wrote a piece for Fast Company about why this shift matters and what it means for the future of entertainment, advertising, and culture.Why Creator-Led Networks Will Be The Next Media Business EcosystemWhy Creator-Led Networks Will Be The Next Media Business Ecosystem
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Neil Waller 🐳 shared thisBeyond proud to share the trailer for Lyrical Lemonade TV 🍋 📺 Starting next week. 14 shows. New episodes every week. 672 episodes a year! Our first project born out of Lighthouse Studios and there could be no better collaborators than the crew at Lyrical Lemonade. Cole Bennett, Joseph R., Elliot Montanez, Jake Millan, Sara Kolli and Sam McGrath...you are all the absolute GOATs. We're in the YouTube Era.
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Neil Waller 🐳 shared thisWhen Evan Shapīro calls, my answer is always yes. Even more so when I get to add two of the smartest humans; Megan Lightcap and Criswell Fiordalis. Very much looking forward to speaking at StreamTV Show in Denver next month.
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Neil Waller 🐳 shared thisYesterday we hosted the inaugural Scalable Pod Summit at The Lighthouse and I’m still blown away by what Kaya Yurieff and Jasmine Enberg have built in such a short period of time. To go from an idea last summer… to launching Scalable in October… to then bringing together 400+ people for an inaugural summit that felt this special is an incredible achievement. The programming was exceptional, the conversations were thoughtful and ambitious, and throughout the day I kept hearing the same feedback over and over again: “This is one of the best gatherings of the community I’ve been to.” What made it so special wasn’t just the scale of attendance, but the mix of people in the room; creators, executives, operators, marketers, investors and innovators all genuinely connecting, learning and sharing ideas with each other. There was an energy to it that felt rare. Kaya and Jasmine should be enormously proud of what they’ve created. We’re incredibly honoured at The Lighthouse to be their joint-venture partners in Scalable and to support the vision they are building. And if this was the standard for year one… I can’t wait to see what Scalable becomes over the years ahead. Here’s to many, many more summits. Also a huge thank you to three of my rockstar Whalar Group colleagues Courtney Kaczak Bartholomew, Michelle Curtis and Liza Herlands along with everyone on the entire The Lighthouse team who worked so hard behind the scenes to help make the event such a success. Excited for everything still to come.
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Neil Waller 🐳 shared thisBenjamin Odell does it again, capturing what we're building in the most thoughtful and insightful way. I truly believe Lighthouse Studios is going to have the impact Ben is describing...and if you know us, you know while confident internally, we'd never normally be so bold to declare it externally. But with this, we're willing to break our norms....especially when partnering with the generational talent that is the team at Lyrical Lemonade / Lyrical Lemonade TV. Link to Ben's writeup (and brilliant newsletter) here; https://lnkd.in/gt3kwuNq Onwards and Upwards.
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Neil Waller 🐳 shared thisThere are some things you build because they make sense. And then there are things you build because you believe they should exist. The Lighthouse in Brooklyn has been one of those for us. A space designed not just for work, but for creativity to collide. For creators, brands and teams to come together, spend time, make things, and push ideas further than they would anywhere else. Now that it’s been open for a few months, what’s been most gratifying isn’t just how it looks (although these photos by the incredibly talented Yoshi Makino capture it beautifully)… …it’s how it feels when it’s full. The conversations. The energy. The work that’s coming out of it. In a world that’s increasingly digital, we’ve never believed more in the power of physical spaces done right. This is one of them. So incredibly proud of the team who brought it to life. And very excited for what gets created here next. Onwards and Upwards.
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Neil Waller 🐳 liked thisNeil Waller 🐳 liked thisThank you to all of our clients, retail partners, and industry peers who attended our second annual Experiential Retail Media Summit last week at the beautiful new Hotel Vin, Rogers, Autograph Collection! A clear theme throughout the day was that retail is changing, customer expectations are shifting, and what drives impact and results is not the same as what did a year ago. Cultural moments matter, and unique experiential events can have a scaled impact when done well. While it was just a fraction of the work we have done in the last year, I am so proud of Team Gratsy and the unique experiential activations that were highlighted throughout the panels. The side by side comparisons of renders versus reality were a testament to the level of creativity the team has, and the expertise it takes to physically bring that exact vision to life. From the candid conversations on stage to getting to catch up with familiar faces, it was a great day in NWA and we are already looking forward to next year!
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Neil Waller 🐳 liked thisNeil Waller 🐳 liked thisChevrolet, an iconic American brand, is telling its story on YouTube — and I’m so stoked we get to be a part of it. Our first video is live and goes inside the story behind the all-new Chevrolet Silverado and its most powerful V8 yet. A special thank you to our friends at GM for trusting us to create: Rachel Templin, Melissa (Madaio) Colleluori, Jessica Wang and many more. Core to our thesis at Loud is that the best brand content brings viewers inside — giving them inside access to the people, process, and thinking behind the brand. YouTube is an always-on platform for brands to do exactly that. We’re just getting started with Chevy!! https://lnkd.in/gMN2GZaY
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Neil Waller 🐳 liked thisNeil Waller 🐳 liked thisFor the last decade, I’ve been talking about how entertainment can do better. Now we’re building what I wish existed my entire career.. Introducing loyd You get into entertainment to discover talent, work with ambitious people, make art, and build a career of passion. Then you spend your day putting out fires and updating the same information in five different places. I built AvA because I believed the people powering the entertainment industry behind the scenes deserved greater access and opportunity. loyd is the next chapter of that mission: gives them the tools to turn their relationships, knowledge, and ambition into career growth. Vince started in the UTA mailroom. I started in WME’s. Ryan built technology at Robinhood, Hebbia and Warner Music Group. We’ve experienced these problems from different sides, and we’re building the platform we wish we’d had. Big tech wants to replace you. We want to empower you. I love this industry and will keep building for its future. Hollywood isn't dead, it just needed loyd Article: https://lnkd.in/gQpq2kCW CC: Vince M., Ryan McCaffrey, Nicolo Naoni, Caroline Jacobs, Paulo M. Vinhas, Phil Quist, Nahuel Borda, Hunter McGranahan, Pranav Maddi + many more
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Neil Waller 🐳 liked thisThrilled our new office, content studios, event spaces and home of Top Banana is now open on the #RagleyEstate in the Midlands. We purchased the property in Spring 2026 and in only 12 weeks we interior designed and redeveloped the space creating a beautifully designed stylish environment for our team and our clients to use and enjoy from across the TBA. Group. It looks fantastic and hope some of you will get to visit and enjoy it…. Practising what we preach…..Alcester Lodge gives an immediate warm, stylish feeling from the moment you arrive…. #Design #sohofarmhouse #office #interiordesign #feeling #luxuryNeil Waller 🐳 liked thisYou may have noticed we’ve been a little quiet on socials lately… but we promise, there’s a very good reason. We’ve been busy packing up, moving out and settling into our brand new home! ✨ After 20 incredible years at Broome, saying goodbye was always going to be an emotional one. It’s a place filled with a lot of memories, big ideas and even bigger moments. But now, a new chapter begins. 💛 Say hello to Alcester Lodge. Our bigger, brighter, and pretty gorgeous new space, ready for plenty more creativity, collaboration and memories to be made. For now, here’s a little peek at our new home, and an exciting new chapter for Top Banana and the wider TBA. Group. We’ve got a LOT more to show you, so keep your eyes peeled! #NewOffice #AlcesterLodge #WeAreTopBanana
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Neil Waller 🐳 liked thisNeil Waller 🐳 liked thisI'm excited to share that I've been named President of @LionTree Europe. I'm deeply grateful to the clients who have placed their trust in me and LionTree during my 11 years with the firm, with transactions including with Adevinta, Ambassador Theatre Group, Apax, Areim, BC Partners, Blackstone, Bauer, eBay, EcoDataCentre, EIR, EQT, Exponent, GIC, Hyperoptic, Hyve, Permira, Providence, Stonepeak, Superstruct and Warburg Pincus. None of this would have been possible without the various team members who have worked with me over the years, a variety of truly outstanding and supportive colleagues, and the extraordinary leadership team I have worked alongside at LionTree in London, New York and San Francisco. I'm extremely proud of what we've built together and I'm looking forward to accelerating our work with visionary clients, and to driving meaningful partnerships and lasting impact. Thank you.
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Neil Waller 🐳 liked thisNeil Waller 🐳 liked thisAfter just one week on the platform, our 3Pas Studios series #ElJuicio has become the second most watched show on Prime Video in the world. We started this project six years ago. We gave it the time and care it needed, and we had tremendous partners at Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios. #ElJuicio came to life through the commitment of a studio, the experience of its executives, producers and showrunner, the journalist who broke the original story, and the artistry of our filmmakers and incredible actors. There’s something extraordinary about what people can create together when they have the support to see it through. I’m grateful to everyone who helped bring this story to the screen—and to the audiences around the world embracing it. This is not something that can be built by AI or made for YouTube or as a microdrama. All have their place in the world. But good to remember there is real value in these structures when things come together the right way.
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Neil Waller 🐳 liked thisNeil Waller 🐳 liked thisWe're so proud to have Neil Waller 🐳 and James Street, our Co-Founders and Co-CEOs recognized alongside Colin Rosenblum and Samir Chaudry, at this year's Saban Community Clinic 4th Annual Creators In Action celebrating the impact these four have made for the digital and Creator communities at The Lighthouse.
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Conner Young
This is BizBuySell’s monthly website traffic over the last 5 years. From 2020 to 2025 there was an explosion of “investors” that are wanting to get into the SMB space. Most of these investors are brought in from the Guru’s who boast of buying businesses with $0 down and taking $500k SDE for a ‘nominal’ debt service payment (just don’t do math and it works). These are good people. Individuals who are tired of making whatever salary they’re making and get enticed by suddenly making $500k and being their own boss. It’s a great sales pitch. But it’s predatory sometimes (or a lot of the time). That has brought in tens of thousands of people that are all making bids on SMB deals which in turn just drives up multiples. That has changed the whole SMB landscape. Knowing or just talking to a broker isn’t helpful when every *good* listed business is getting 10-20 offers. People are looking elsewhere. The SMB space is now a Seller’s market. There’s 1000 buyers for every SMB with decent financials. So how do you buy a business in this type of landscape? Find the business yourself and control the entire discussion from start to finish. >This takes so much longer >Most businesses will make you pay for all legal/QOE/extra expenses >Without a mediator most businesses will drag everything out Butttttttt most of these businesses we’re seeing are selling for a 3-4x. That landscaping deal making $4M in EBITDA? They would entertain offers around $16M. Go off market.
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Victor Eduoh
Substack's narrative dilution stems from its venture-backed pursuit of scale. As startups chase jaw-dropping valuations, they often compromise their core product narratives. Substack had an impressive promise: an 'Empire of One.' Yet, as it strives to be a centralized social network, it risks alienating the very creators who once thrived on its platform. This dilution manifests in real departures—writers leaving not due to failure, but because Substack no longer accommodates their success, demonstrating the cost of unexamined scale.
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Harley Finkelstein
Michael Ovitz didn’t just work in Hollywood. He rewrote its playbook. In this week’s episode of Big Shot, David Segal and I sat down with the legendary founder of Creative Artists Agency to unpack how a kid from a blue-collar Los Angeles neighbourhood built the most powerful agency in the world. Ovitz talks about what it really takes to build from nothing: relentless work ethic, clarity of vision, and an instinct for spotting what others overlook. He shares how frustration inside William Morris led to rebellion, how a handshake could sell Ghostbusters, and how CAA’s model went on to inspire everyone from Silicon Valley investors to global talent firms. This conversation isn’t about Hollywood gossip, it’s about the art of putting people, ideas, and opportunity together in new ways. 🎙���Full episode is live now. https://lnkd.in/eABUfjCM
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Aaron Williams
AI‑built brands/IP: the future of sci‑fi fantasy entertainment WOTL Productions™ and Black Infinite Worlds Media™ are independent IPs built with the kind of long‑form, interconnected lore that major franchises rely on—but without the backing those worlds usually get. The universe is expanding across timelines, characters, and platforms, and the depth is only getting deeper. In a landscape where original sci‑fi is often overlooked in favor of reboots, creator‑owned worlds like this deserve more visibility, more support, and more opportunities to grow into the franchises they’re built to be. Full context and the latest lore drop is now live on Odysee. https://lnkd.in/guqffDUS
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