More related content on the BRIDGE
- Picture Panel 9 December 2:15 - 2:40PM
Cinema That Sees You
The next evolution of cinema won’t just be watched; it will watch us. As AI, sensors, and emotional data enter storytelling, films can now react to our expressions, attention, and feelings in real time. This session explores how directors become designers of living stories that adapt to each viewer, blurring the line between creator, audience, and machine consciousness.
Explore by InstagramSpeakers
Moderator
- Gaming Fireside 8 December 5:30 - 5:45PM
From Melodies to Multiplayers
As Imagine Dragons’ longtime manager, Mac Reynolds has helped build one of the world’s most successful music brands. Now, he and his brother Dan Reynolds, the band’s frontman, are channeling that same creative and business savvy into gaming with Night Street Games and recently launched the beta of Last Flag, a multiplayer game. In this chat, Mac shares how he made the leap into interactive IP and explores where the worlds of music and gaming intersect, overlap, and diverge.
Explore by Instagram - Media Presentation 9 December 1:15 - 1:30PM
Memes as a Media Business
Memes have evolved from inside jokes to infrastructure, shorthand for how culture communicates, trades attention, and builds identity. What began as internet humour now drives audience behaviour, politics, and brand value. In this session, the architects of today’s meme networks unpack how they’ve scaled communities into businesses: from managing millions of followers to producing longform shows, podcasts, live activations, and brand IP. Together, they explore the transition from meme pages to media empires — and what that says about the future of storytelling, fandom, and cultural authority.
Explore by InstagramSpeakers
- Media Panel 9 December 11:00 - 11:20AM
Turning Legacy into a Launchpad for Sports Innovation
Legacy, passion, and expertise are powerful currencies, but only if transformed into platforms that back and scale new ideas. The sports tech investment industry stands at an inflection point where heritage meets innovation. How can investors and founders convert legacy into leverage and turn passion into profitable, next-generation ventures?
Central Stage - Creator Economy Workshop 8 December 3:30 - 4:10PM
Content & Amplify
X is the “Home of Culture,” empowering creators to build real-time connections, amplify their voices, and monetize passion through advanced tools and revenue sharing programs.
X - Creator Economy Panel 9 December 12:00 - 12:15PM
Breaking Down the Creator Monetization Stack
The creator economy is set to exceed $500 billion by 2027, driven by over 50 million individuals building businesses on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Patreon, according to Goldman Sachs. While brand deals remain dominant, creators are increasingly monetizing through subscriptions, affiliate marketing, merchandise, and direct-to-fan models. The UAE is at the forefront of this shift, with initiatives like the New Media Academy, 1 Billion Followers Summit, and regulatory exemptions contributing AED 2.5 billion to GDP in 2024. As monetization channels multiply and governments invest in creator-friendly infrastructures and supports, how can creators further grow revenue stacks to reflect their values, engage their communities, and support long-term growth?
Academy StageModerator
