Articles

The Creator Economy Just Had Its Best Year Since 2021. 10.1 Million People Are Now Getting Paid to Make Things.

MBO Partners' 2025 State of Independence report shows independent content creators jumped 13% last year after two years of flat growth. The platforms changed. The demographics shifted. And older creators are now part of the story too.

May 2, 2026 · By JADE KIM

5.6 Million Solo Business Owners Are Now Earning Over $100K. Most of Them Are Using AI to Do It.

The MBO Partners State of Independence study tracks 72.9 million independent workers in the US. The data on AI adoption and income growth tells a specific story about who is winning and how.

April 4, 2026 · By JADE KIM

5.6 Million Solo Business Owners Are Now Earning Over $100K. Most of Them Are Using AI to Do It.

AI Is Supposed to Change Everything. Why Hasn't It Reached the Barber on the Corner?

Everyone keeps saying AI will transform small business. So why is the solo tattoo artist still on the phone all day, and the barber still losing clients to no-shows? A look at the gap nobody's talking about.

March 29, 2026 · By JADE KIM

AI Is Supposed to Change Everything. Why Hasn't It Reached the Barber on the Corner?