Even though influencer marketing has been around for decades, the channel is now more important than ever. The ubiquity of social media combined with pandemic boredom supercharged content creation, giving rise to a new generation of influencers. Now, the creator economy is booming, with influencer marketing spending in the U.S. forecasted to reach $4 billion this year. Creators have become a staple of marketing budgets, giving brands the chance to connect with their audiences, and causing the platforms to do more to attract talent.

Join Ad Age on Sept. 13 as we bring together creators, brands, and agencies to discuss how they are navigating this vast economy—from virtual influencers, to NIL deals, to reaching diverse audiences—and what’s next.