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Mar 21, 2024
Curios proudly hosted their inaugural Creators Unleashed event, an all day engagement during SXSW. The event follows Curios’ recent launch of their Self Publishing Tools for digital content creators and the debut of their advanced ticketing system, and was a great opportunity to host a community of inspiring speakers and culture-leading performers.
The event featured engaging panels of creator-economy industry experts, and hours and hours of live performances, all hosted outside during the enjoyable Austin Texas spring weather. The event was a celebration of the power of creativity, and featured several captivating hip hop performances from hip hop legend Ras Kass to Lil Raskull, Yung D3mz, Chiedu Oraka, Deezkid, Joe the Third among several other amazing artists who captivated the audience, including a captivating saxophone performance by Cleo Fox.
That being said, Creators Unleashed wasn't just about the music. The event also sought to educate and inspire creators with two speaking panels from industry experts. The panels focused on sharing insights and perspectives on creativity, entrepreneurship, and cultural impact so creators can get access to advice from the world's best.
The first panel, "Empowering Athletes as Creators," was hosted by Jorge Ortiz and stood out as a highlight of the event. This engaging discussion featured insights and knowledge from Curios CEO, Grant Powell, alongside esteemed sports industry experts Rodney E. Beard, Damien Butler, and Ryan Berger. Together, they dove into the world of athlete empowerment, exploring topics such as leveraging technology for new income streams, advocating for social change, and ensuring long-term success through wellness and education. The panel provided attendees with an insightful glimpse into the future of athletes as creators and changemakers in the evolving sports media landscape. From the importance of athletes' voices in shaping societal conversations to the strategies for maximizing their impact both on and off the field, this session offered valuable perspectives that resonated with the audience long after the event concluded.
The second panel, "Building a Creator Run Future," was hosted by Greg Keogh and featured insights from a diverse array of industry leaders including Curios CEO Grant Powell, Grammy nominated, platinum certified R&B artist Ro James, Top 100 CMO, 40 Under 40 Finalist Kana LiVolsi, and Netflix Growth Design Executive Fonz Morris. Together, they explored the evolving landscape of creativity in the digital age, ranging from garage projects to global empires. The topics centered around what creators can do to stand out from the noise, how they can establish a brand and effectively reach new audiences. The group shared music industry secrets about record labels, and discussed the importance of maintaining ownership of your IP as a creator. The panel discussion was filled with actionable insights to empower creators to pursue their passions and build successful careers in the ever-evolving world of digital creation.
While Lil Raskull and Ras Kass’ performances were undeniably the most electric part of the event, an announcement from Grant Powell was certainly the cherry on top. Grant announced Curios Creator Fund, where Curios is setting aside $1 million dollars to distribute to creators to help them grow their digital content outreach in a sustainable way that allows them to keep all profits from their work as well as maintain their IP in doing so.
The $1 million dollar fund is available to anyone and is unique in its offering. There is no application process, instead any content creator, from authors, to musicians, to tv and film producers, podcasters, simply have to upload their work to Curios to start receiving these funds. More details on the program can be found at curios.com/creator-fund
The fund is an extension of Curios mission of empowering all digital content creators with self publishing tools. Curios’ tools are unique in that content creators can self publish their work, own their IP at all times, and keep the entirety of any sales. Truly a platform designed for creators to thrive.
As CEO Grant Powell mentioned in his announcement to creators “they are your fans, it's your content, you did the work, you should get all the proceeds”
The creator fund was the exclamation point on a fantastic event. All content and performances are available to attendees. The Curios ticket to the event unlocks access to all of this content on marketplace.curios.com. These content is available to anyone who wishes to view the recordings. Users simply need to claim the content on marketplace.curios.com
"Creators Unleashed" 2024 was a meticulously organized event held on Wednesday, March 13th, 2024, at the iconic Parlor Room in Austin, Texas. The event spanned from 12 pm to 12 am, ensuring a full day and night of creativity, connection, and celebration. From the moment attendees entered the venue to the final bow of the performers, every aspect of the event was carefully crafted to provide an unforgettable experience that left a lasting impression on all who participated.