No Deal With The Ringer as Talent Flocks to Platform
Several high-profile writers from The Ringer have launched independent newsletters on Substack, sparking rumors of a formal partnership. Substack's CEO has denied any official business deal, noting that the talent is acting independently to build their own networks.
Why it matters
The shift of media talent toward independent subscription platforms highlights the changing landscape of digital journalism and creator-led business models.
Four popular personalities employed by The Ringer —Sean Fennessey, Bryan Curtis, Zach Lowe, and Tom Pelissero—have launched newsletters hosted on Substack in recent weeks, fueling speculation about a formal partnership between the media outlet and the subscription publishing network. However, Substack CEO Hamish McKenzie has clarified that no such relationship exists, financial or otherwise.
“We didn’t pay them anything and there’s no special deal,” McKenzie wrote on X Wednesday in a back-and-forth with Yahoo Finance reporter Hamza Shaban. “They’re launching these substacks because they think it’s a good idea. And I agree. It’s a very good idea to build a network of substacks. Networks are powerful.”
McKenzie is the first relevant party to publicly comment on the situation. All involved talent, as well as The Ringer and its parent company Spotify—which acquired the network in 2020—have been mum regarding the speculation that the two sides have a business arrangement.
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