In partnership with
The Future of Shopping? AI + Actual Humans.
AI has changed how consumers shop by speeding up research. But one thing hasn’t changed: shoppers still trust people more than AI.
Levanta’s new Affiliate 3.0 Consumer Report reveals a major shift in how shoppers blend AI tools with human influence. Consumers use AI to explore options, but when it comes time to buy, they still turn to creators, communities, and real experiences to validate their decisions.
The data shows:
Only 10% of shoppers buy through AI-recommended links
87% discover products through creators, blogs, or communities they trust
Human sources like reviews and creators rank higher in trust than AI recommendations
The most effective brands are combining AI discovery with authentic human influence to drive measurable conversions.
Affiliate marketing isn’t being replaced by AI, it’s being amplified by it.
Table of Contents
Something big is happening right now. And if you're an AI artist or video creator who's been waiting for the "right time" to build your brand, The Wall Street Journal just confirmed it. This is it.
On January 1, 2026, the WSJ published a landmark article titled "The Year the Newsletter Business Reached a Fever Pitch." Reporter Alexandra Bruell documented something we've been seeing for months: writers, investors, celebrities, and everyday creators are rushing to launch newsletters to connect directly with their audiences.
The reason? Social media is no longer trustworthy for building your brand or making money.
But here's the good news for you: Newsletter publishing has never been easier, more profitable, or more accessible. Especially for AI artists and video creators like you.
Why Are Smart Creators Making the Switch?
Let me share some numbers that might surprise you:
Substack hit 5 million paid subscriptions in early 2025. A 67% jump from the year before.
Beehiiv grew to 140,000 newsletters. Up over 60% in a single year.
Newsletter creators earned their first dollar in just 66 days on average. Faster than ever.
Paid subscription revenue jumped 138% from $8 million in 2024 to $19 million in 2025.
Major publications like TIME, The Wall Street Journal, and Newsweek have migrated their newsletters to platforms like Beehiiv. Even celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger have joined the newsletter revolution.
The message is clear: Email newsletters are where serious creators are building their futures.
Here's something I've learned in my 50+ years of business: Never build your house on rented land.
Social media platforms change their rules overnight. Algorithms can bury your content without warning. One policy shift can wipe out years of work. Facebook slashed organic reach years ago. TikTok faces constant regulatory threats. Instagram keeps changing what gets seen.
Meanwhile, search engines now show AI-generated summaries that bypass your articles entirely. Your hard work creating AI art tutorials, tool reviews, or monetization tips? It can disappear from view faster than you can say "algorithm update."
But your email list? That belongs to you. No algorithm can take it away. No platform shift can erase it. When someone subscribes to your newsletter, they're inviting you into their inbox. A personal, permission-based relationship that you control.
The Real Problems AI Artists and Video Creators Face
I talk to AI artists and video creators every week. The same struggles come up again and again:
Tool overload. New AI platforms launch every week. Leonardo, Midjourney, Runway, Pika, Kling, Sora. How do you keep up? How do you know which ones matter?
Invisibility despite talent. You create stunning work, but it gets lost in the noise. Social feeds move too fast. Your posts disappear within hours.
Feast or famine income. One month, you land a client. The next month, silence. No predictable revenue. No stability.
No authority positioning. You have skills and knowledge. But you look the same as every other creator posting on Instagram or TikTok.
Audience you don't own. Your followers belong to the platform. You can't email them. You can't reach them directly. One ban or shadowban and they're gone.
These problems share a common root: You're building on platforms that don't serve you.
A newsletter flips the equation. Here's how:
You become the curator. Instead of drowning in tool overload, you filter the noise for your readers. You test the tools. You share what works. You save them time. They trust you for it.
Your work gets seen. Emails land in inboxes with 40-60% open rates. Compare that to social media posts that reach 2-5% of your followers. Your best content gets read, not buried.
You build recurring revenue. Paid subscriptions. Sponsorships. Affiliate partnerships. Digital products. A newsletter creates multiple income streams that grow together.
Authority comes naturally. When you show up in someone's inbox every week with valuable insights, you become the expert. Not because you claimed it. Because you earned it.
You own your audience. That email list is yours. Export it anytime. Move platforms if you want. No algorithm decides who sees your message.
If you're creating AI art or video content, a newsletter isn't just smart. It's essential for building a $5,000-$10,000 monthly income. Here's why:
You become the trusted guide. AI tools change weekly. New features drop constantly. Your subscribers rely on YOU to make sense of it all. They'll pay for that expertise.
Multiple income streams open up. Paid subscriptions, sponsorships, affiliate commissions, digital products, and coaching. All becomes possible when you have an engaged email audience.
You build real authority. A newsletter positions you as an expert, not just another creator posting on social media. That authority attracts better clients, higher-paying opportunities, and speaking invitations.
Your content compounds. Every issue you send builds trust. Every subscriber who opens your emails becomes more likely to buy from you. This is how sustainable businesses are built.
Why Early 2026 Is Your Critical Window
Timing matters. And right now, we're in a rare sweet spot.
The tools have matured. Platforms like Beehiiv and Substack have spent years perfecting their features. Monetization tools work. Analytics are reliable. You don't need to be technical. You don't need a big budget.
AI content creation is exploding. Millions of people want to learn about AI art and video tools. They're searching for guidance. They're hungry for someone to trust. The demand exists. The supply of quality newsletters is still limited.
Early movers win. The Wall Street Journal's report shows that sophisticated creators and major brands are flooding into this space. Competition grows every month. The creators who establish themselves now will have massive advantages over those who wait.
A year from now, standing out will be harder. Two years from now, much harder still. But today? Today, you can still be early. You can establish yourself as a go-to voice in AI art and content creation while there's still room to grow.
Your Next Step: Start This Week
I know what you're thinking: "But Hugh, I don't know how to start a newsletter. I've never done this before."
That's exactly why I wrote "The 7-Day Newsletter: How to Launch Your First Email Publication This Week (Even If You've Never Hit 'Send' Before."
This book walks you through every step. From choosing your newsletter focus to hitting publish on your first issue. In just seven days. No tech overwhelm. No confusing jargon. A simple, clear path from idea to inbox.
Because here's what I care about most: I want to see you succeed. I want you to build something that generates income, establishes your authority, and gives you freedom from algorithm anxiety.
The Wall Street Journal has confirmed what we already knew: newsletters are the future for creators who want to own their audience and their income.
The only question is: Will you be one of the smart creators who act now?
3 Key Takeaways
1. Social Media Is Rented Land — Your Newsletter Is Owned Property
The article establishes that AI artists and video creators face a fundamental problem: they're building audiences on platforms they don't control. Algorithms change overnight, reach gets slashed, and years of work can vanish with one policy update. A newsletter flips this equation. Your email list belongs to you. No algorithm decides who sees your message. When subscribers invite you into their inbox, you gain a direct, permission-based relationship that compounds over time. This is the difference between renting and owning.
2. Newsletter Publishing Solves the Five Core Problems AI Creators Face
The article identifies specific struggles: tool overload, invisibility despite talent, unpredictable income, lack of authority, and audiences they don't own. A weekly newsletter addresses each one. You become the trusted curator who filters the noise. Your content reaches 40-60% of subscribers (compared to 2-5% on social). You build multiple revenue streams through subscriptions, sponsorships, and digital products. Authority develops naturally when you show up consistently. And you own your audience data completely.
3. Early 2026 Represents a Critical Window That Won't Stay Open
The timing argument is urgent but grounded. Newsletter tools have matured. AI content demand is exploding, with millions seeking guidance. The Wall Street Journal confirmed that major brands and sophisticated creators are flooding into the space. Competition grows every month. Creators who establish themselves now gain advantages that late arrivals won't have. A year from now, standing out will be harder. Two years from now, much harder still. The opportunity exists today for those who act.
Get your copy of "The 7-Day Newsletter" and start building your audience-owned business today.