Memes Are Serious Business: Licensing, AI & Digital IP with Liz Hagelthorn of SmarterLicense | Gen C

Introduction

Introduction

In the latest episode of Gen C, hosts Avery and Sam dive into the intricate world of memes, digital IP, and the cutting-edge AI tech revolutionizing how creators and brands monetize their content. Joining them is Liz Hagelthorn, a self-proclaimed "OG meme Queen" and the founder/CEO of SmarterLicense. Liz’s journey started at just 13 years old, creating a beauty blog with her mother. Since then, she's grown a network of meme accounts totaling 300 million followers, exited to a record label, and now focuses on smarter ways to license and monetize digital content.

The Birth of a Meme Queen

Liz describes how she started making money online at a young age through a WordPress blog focused on beauty products using affiliate links. Her talents and insights allowed her to grow a large network of meme accounts on Instagram, which garnered billions of organic reaches monthly. It was this experience that birthed the idea for SmarterLicense—a platform designed to enable frictionless content licensing for creators and brands.

Challenges for Creators and Solutions through SmarterLicense

One significant pain point for creators is the complexity surrounding the rights and usage of their content. Additionally, many creators only have one primary method of income generation—custom ad deals—which are often taxing and unsustainable. SmarterLicense seeks to provide a diversified method to monetize digital intellectual property (IP), offering comprehensive licensing options and a robust backend legal structure to streamline the process.

Real-World Applications and Success Stories

Liz explains how companies can use SmarterLicense to license content and extend their digital reach affordably. An example she highlights is the Premier League, which utilized match commentators on TikTok to promote their content. By acquiring the rights of these TikTok videos, the Premier League achieved significant audience growth and high engagement at a fraction of traditional advertising costs.

The Future of Digital IP and AI

As AI rapidly develops, Liz sees immense potential for creatives. One crucial area is the interoperability of data sets, allowing creative data to be used consistently across multiple platforms. She also emphasizes the need for creatives to understand coding and AI development to harness these technologies effectively.

Memes, Money & Reformulating Content Strategies

A highlight of the episode was the discussion on meme coins and their market dynamics, which Liz believes work similarly to social media algorithms. Avery and Sam also discuss the relevance of commenting as a powerful strategy for brands, noting its effectiveness without the need for the brand to create original meme content.

Conclusion

The conversation wraps up with an exploration into how creatives of the future can leverage these evolving tools—particularly AI—to develop new formats and storytelling methods. Liz envisions a world where anyone can discover opportunities and monetize their distinct IP seamlessly.

Keywords

• Digital IP
• AI
• Memes
• Licensing
• Content Monetization
• Social Media
• SmarterLicense
• Creator Economy

FAQ

Q: What is SmarterLicense? A: SmarterLicense is a platform offering frictionless licensing options for various types of digital intellectual property, allowing creators and brands to monetize their content seamlessly.

Q: How does SmarterLicense work for brands and creators? A: SmarterLicense provides tools for collecting, licensing, and managing digital content. Brands can make offers to license content, while creators can set parameters and license their content.

Q: What are some real-world applications of SmarterLicense? A: A notable example is the Premier League using TikTok match commentators to promote content, significantly reducing advertising costs while increasing audience engagement.

Q: How can AI benefit creative industries? A: AI can facilitate data set interoperability, allowing creative IP to be used across different tools and platforms. Additionally, creatives who understand coding and AI can scale their productivity and innovate new formats.

Q: What's the importance of meme culture in brand strategy? A: Engaging with memes, either through creating one's own or by commenting on popular memes, can help brands stay relevant in pop culture and connect authentically with their audience.