Audacy is quietly shutting down Creator Lab on November 1 — the hosting and monetization platform it rebranded from Podcorn after a $22.5M acquisition.  Despite a splashy 2025 relaunch and YouTube integration this spring, the service never caught fire, hosting just 426 shows.  And the weird part?  Audacy hasn’t acknowledged the shutdown. The site still promotes Creator Lab, and they’ve advertised on 52 podcasts this week.
We also break down fresh listening data from Sounds Profitable showing why people actually tune in — from topic‑driven curiosity to commuting and workouts.
Plus, YouTube just made a major commerce move: eligible U.S. creators can now tag Amazon products inside the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program.  It’s a powerful shift, even if it’s only visible in select regions and surfaces for now.
A platform shutting down, another leveling up — and creators caught in the middle.

Creator Economy Plot Twist: Audacy Out, YouTube Turns Up Commerce!

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