Fast Company and Inc. tighten up paywalls to grow consumer revenue amid traffic volatility

Fast Company and Inc. are tightening up their paywalls. Up until a few weeks ago, the Mansueto Ventures-owned publishers would put one new story a day behind a paywall. Now, four daily stories are reserved only for paying subscribers.

Part of the reason for doing this is to create more value for subscribers, but the paywall changes are also part of a larger strategy shift to grow consumer revenue at Mansueto Ventures, in light of referral traffic challenges.

“The real reason for it … is that traffic is really fickle, and we have to find more ways to build a direct connection with our audiences [and] have that kind of stability that comes from having the subscription business,” said Stephanie Mehta, CEO of Mansueto Ventures, who spoke at the Digiday Publishing Summit in Vail, Colorado, on Monday.

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Snapchat, LEGO, Disney and Courageous Studios are among the 2025 Digiday Media Buying and Planning Awards finalists

The Digiday Media Buying and Planning Awards recognize companies, campaigns and technology that have been most successful in the modern media landscape. This year’s nominees prioritized technology-driven storytelling, strategic brand partnerships and immersive and interactive experiences. 

Snapchat and LEGO stand out in the Best Emerging Technology Campaign category for the pair’s redefined digital play with Bricktacular, an always-on AR game designed to reintroduce play to adults. Leveraging Snapchat’s latest AR technology, including Spectacles, the campaign transformed passive scrolling into interactive creativity, allowing users to build with virtual LEGO bricks on real-world surfaces using voice and hand controls. With over 1 million unique creations and more than 8 million minutes of play, Bricktacular showcased AR’s limitless potential in gaming. The campaign’s global impact cemented LEGO’s relevance among adult audiences while pushing the boundaries of AR as a tool for engagement and creativity.

Disney Entertainment’s campaign for “Agatha All Along” on Disney+ delivered a high-impact, omnichannel experience that captivated audiences and drove engagement at scale, earning it a nomination for Best Creative. Partnering with Roku, Disney+ launched an immersive “Fan Experience” offering exclusive sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content and character introductions, seamlessly linking users to the streaming platform. The campaign generated 870 million impressions, doubled Disney+ signups beyond benchmarks and boosted streaming hours by 42%. By integrating awareness, acquisition and engagement strategies, Disney Entertainment set a new standard for creative digital campaigns, leveraging interactive experiences to deepen fan connection and expand Disney+’s reach.

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