Philadelphia’s Content Creator Challenge in the Influencer Economy

News Summary

Philadelphia is facing a shortage of content creators compared to major influencer hubs like New York and Los Angeles. Despite having notable influencers like Brandon Edelman, the city struggles for recognition in the influencer economy. Local creators emphasize collaboration and support for small businesses, while initiatives like All Caps Studio aim to uplift aspiring talent. As the influencer scene begins to grow, the city’s creative community is seeking opportunities and resources to enhance their visibility and sustainability.

Philadelphia is currently grappling with a shortage of content creators compared to major cities like Los Angeles and New York, both of which dominate the influencer economy. As outlined in a recent article from Fast Company in 2024, over 40% of content creators are concentrated in the largest metropolitan areas, primarily found in LA and NYC. Despite being the sixth-largest city in the United States, Philadelphia is infrequently recognized in discussions surrounding the Influencer Economy, presenting challenges and opportunities for the local creative community.

Local influencer Brandon Edelman, known online as Bran Flakezz, has emerged as a notable figure in the Philadelphia influencer landscape with a following of 1.3 million across social media platforms. Active for over four years, Edelman gained widespread attention after publicly sharing that his earnings as an influencer exceed $750,000 annually. Despite the thriving influencer scenes in larger cities, Edelman chooses to remain in Philadelphia, emphasizing a preference for quality opportunities rather than quantity.

Edelman has a strong commitment to local businesses, motivated by his family’s history as small business owners. He is currently assisting a local transportation startup, Ride With Ease, in its efforts to raise $30,000 through a GoFundMe campaign and aided the company’s owner in registering it as a limited liability company in Pennsylvania. His advocacy for local businesses extends to supporting Black female-owned enterprises such as Pure Green, which has successfully raised over $100,000 with Edelman’s help.

In tandem with Edelman’s efforts, another local creator, Saeed Ferguson, has launched All Caps Studio to provide resources for aspiring Philadelphia talent. Ferguson’s initiative aims to support local creatives and address the financial sustainability of artists in the area. Notably, he organizes community events that spotlight and support multiple local businesses. However, Ferguson has also recognized a troubling trend of creatives migrating to cities like LA and NYC for better opportunities.

In March, Ferguson’s studio served as a venue for a live event designed to promote local businesses, reflecting a growing movement among Philadelphia creatives to unify and support one another within the community. Both Ferguson and Edelman are advocating for increased resources and support from the city to help develop the arts and creative industries in Philadelphia.

Over the past few years, Philadelphia’s influencer economy has begun to gain momentum, with local influencers enjoying greater visibility, particularly on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. Influencers such as Kyle Pagan and LayzzTheGod are making notable contributions to the sports and music entertainment sectors within the city. However, Philadelphia is still not at the level of content creation seen in LA or NYC, and it continues to develop its creative scene.

Recent discussions concerning a potential TikTok ban in the United States elicited mixed reactions from local creators, underscoring their dependency on the platform. Many creators prepared for the possibility of the ban while simultaneously exploring alternative social media outlets. After the ban was quickly lifted, responses varied from relief to skepticism about TikTok’s future as a stable platform for content creation. Some creators voiced a determination to diversify their online presence in light of potential uncertainties surrounding TikTok.

As Philadelphia’s creative economy evolves, the combined efforts of influencers like Brandon Edelman and community leaders like Saeed Ferguson highlight the city’s potential to strengthen its foothold in the broader influencer landscape. While challenges remain, local creators are rallying to develop and support a thriving creative community that could future-proof Philadelphia’s position in the influencer economy.

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Additional Resources

• Billy Penn: Influencer Economy in Philadelphia
• Inquirer: Truist Pro-Am Creator Classic
• Metro Philadelphia: TikTok Ban and Influencers
• Fast Company: Brandon Edelman’s Earnings
• Philly Voice: TikTok Ban and Local Creators
• Wikipedia: Influencer Marketing
• Google Search: Philadelphia Influencer Economy
• Google Scholar: Influencer Economy Philadelphia
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Influencer
• Google News: Philadelphia Influencers